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Photo Exhibit Honors
Movies for Television Directors
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Director John Herzfeld with photo from the set of Don King: Only In America. (Photo: Joe Coomber) - click image for larger view |
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Participants and guests attending the Ninth Annual Meet the Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television Symposium at the Guild's Sunset Boulevard headquarters were, appropriately, the first to view a new DGA photographic exhibition honoring Outstanding Direction of Movies for Television, inaugurating the historic exhibition.
Former Guild President Jack Shea reminded attendees that the audience for TV movies "far exceeds features" and has long been "the first to cover issues major theatrical pictures and studios passed up." This exhibition specializes in "capturing award-winning directors at work and celebrates half a century of movies for television."
Organized by DGA Special Projects, the exhibit contains production stills of DGA award-winning directors at work on their television movies. Located in the DGA headquarter's lobby, the exhibit covers the 45 winning directors of television movies from 1953 to 2000.
Some of those award-winning directors were in attendance to witness the official opening, including Lamont Johnson (Oscar W. Underwood Story, 1964; My Sweet Charlie, 1970; That Certain Summer, 1972, and Gore Vidal's Lincoln, 1988). "It's very moving," Johnson said. "There were films by some of the guys I acted for before I turned to directing. With these photographs you see the absorption, the focus of attention, the passion that these guys had, the key elements of emotion, attention, enthusiasm and a bit of luck."
Fellow winner Daniel Petrie, Sr. said the exhibit "adds prestige to the role of television movie directors. I'm very proud to have three of mine up there; it brings back memories."
John Herzfeld represented in the exhibit for his Don King: Only in America (1977), commented that many of the award-winning movies for television had been about relevant subjects. "It's a history lesson of society. It's like reading the front pages of The New York Times."
Rod Holcomb, also a winner, for ER in 1994, said the exhibit was another indication of the growing respect given to movies for television and those who direct them. "I've always said that we've been doing motion pictures on television and it seems to be changing to a general thought that directing is directing."
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