OUTfest Luncheon
By Jeremy Arnold
Photos by Robert Hale
Outfest 2001 luncheon attendees - click image for larger view
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About 100 directors gathered at Pinot Hollywood restaurant to meet and mingle over a DGA-sponsored two-hour lunch as part of Outfest 2001.
After introductory speeches by DGA Third Vice President Paris Barclay, director Randal Kleiser, Fest organizer Stephen Gutwillig and DGA Assistant Executive Director Elizabeth Stanley, the microphone was passed around from table to table so that all directors present could introduce themselves and their films.
This proved very appropriate, for the main purpose of the event was to demystify the Guild and allow new indie directors to understand that Guild membership is indeed relevant to them. In his opening speech, for instance, Barclay briefly explained the Low Budget Feature Film Agreement and the way the Guild works to ensure proper residuals payments. "There are misconceptions about the DGA," he said, namely "that it's really expensive to join, it's not for me, they won't be responsive to the kinds of films I make, and I won't be able to make small films anymore." He pointed out that director Steven Soderbergh joined the DGA after sex, lies, and videotape, and is now a Board member. "There are a few Steven Soderberghs sitting in this room. I will find you."
The luncheon seemed to serve its purpose quite well. Many attendees said they had little or no prior knowledge of the DGA, its benefits or joining procedures. They generally seemed in awe of the Guild, assuming it was something that could only apply to their careers far in the future, when they were more successful. Jack Plotnick, co-director with Dennis Hensley of the short, Evie Harris: Shining Star ("Our first movie with credits"), said, "It took me a long time to get into the Writers Guild, and to even be on the radar for the Directors Guild is astounding to me. But it sounds like a real possibility. I did, after all, make a movie."
Gypsy 83 feature director Todd Stephens "liked the idea that as a creative person you want to be focused mainly on your art, and as Paris was saying, you don't want to be spending your time making sure you're getting paid properly. That interested me a lot."
Guild issues aside, there was a strong sense of appreciation among those present that the Guild had made an effort to reach them. "Having Outfest at the DGA creates an atmosphere of professionalism about this work, a lot of which is made on a dime, very heroically, and in a community where validation of this kind really makes up for a lot of unfair disadvantages," said Outfest Programming Co-director Shannon Kelley.
"The fact is," continued Barclay, "unless we increase and diversify the DGA membership with women, young people, gay/lesbian/transgender people, people of color and every other minority, we'll be seeing the same movies for the rest of time."
A diverse membership, in other words, means a wider array of perspectives contributing to American culture, which in turn hopefully means that the ultimate beneficiaries of all this will be the filmgoers of the future.
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