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Director Kathleen Dowdey’s Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis

On October 5, the African American Steering Committee (AASC) and Women’s Steering Committee (WSC) presented a screening of Director Kathleen Dowdey’s documentary, Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis. The film has been released on the 50th anniversary year of the historic march for voter’s rights in Alabama that that proved a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement and launched Lewis’ legacy.

After a welcome by WSC Co-Chair Mary Lou Belli, the standing room only audience in the Guild’s Los Angeles headquarters theater viewed the story of the acclaimed civil rights activist, from his role as a student participant in the Selma to Montgomery March that came to be known as “Bloody Sunday,” to his rise to revered U.S. Congressman and outspoken human rights advocate. Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis is the first biographical documentary the civil rights legend who was beaten and jailed over 40 times, but still devoted himself to a life of nonviolent challenges to discrimination and injustice.

Following the screening and an introduction by AASC Co-Chairs Jeff Byrd, Oz Scott and Carl Seaton, Dowdey was joined on stage by the film’s Executive Producer Charles Floyd Johnson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Civil Rights Activist Peggy Preacely, who discussed its making and its importance in a conversation moderated by Director Donna Brown Guillaume who also served as a consulting producer on the project.

In addition to Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis, Dowdey’s filmography includes the documentaries A Celtic Trilogy, Blue Heaven and Dawn’s Early Light. She has been a DGA member since 2004.


ABOUT THE COMMITTEES:

The African American Steering Committee (AASC) was born of a desire to address the specific needs of the African-American members of the Directors Guild. One of the primary goals of the Committee is to establish a productive line of communication between African-American members and the creative community. The Committee meets monthly to plan events throughout the year celebrating the achievements of African-Americans, as well as forums with industry executives to proactively address what can be done to hire more African-Americans.

The Women's Steering Committee (WSC) was created to advance the professional interests of its members, and to heighten their visibility and career opportunities in the entertainment industry. The WSC currently promotes diversity through sponsoring networking events, screenings and seminars. The Committee fosters relationships between the members to provide support, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Pictures & Video

Photos by Byron Gamarro - Print Courtesy of: Early Light Productions

Watch Highlight
FULL TALK (37:51): Director Donna Brown Guillaume leads a discussion on the film, Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis, with Director Kathleen Dowdey, Executive Producer Charles Floyd Johnson, Civil Right Activist Peggy Preacely and Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Civil rights activist Peggy Preacely, longtime friend and colleague of John Lewis, describes his uncommon quality for reconciliation.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Congresswoman Maxine Waters offers her perspective on the shifting role of civil rights leaders of the past within the Black Lives Matter movement.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Executive Producer Charles Floyd Johnson tells why Lewis' "iron resolve" made him want to bring this film to a large audience.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Director Kathleen Dowdey speaks about the long journey of completing the film and how President Obama's campaign for presidency in 2008 contributed to making the film a reality.
Producer Charles Floyd Johnson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Director Kathleen Dowdey, Civil Rights Activist Peggy Preacely, and Director Donna Brown Guillaume (moderator)
DGA members and guests fill the theater for the screening of Director Kathleen Dowdey’s documentary, Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis.
WSC Co-Chair Mary Lou Belli welcomes the audience to the DGA Theater in Los Angeles.
An image from Director Kathleen Dowdey’s documentary, Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis.
An image from Director Kathleen Dowdey’s documentary, Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis.
AASC Co-Chairs Carl Seaton, Jeff Byrd and Oz Scott introduce the evening’s panelists.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Producer Charles Floyd Johnson, Civil Rights Activist Peggy Preacely, Director Kathleen Dowdey, and Director Donna Brown Guillaume (moderator) take the stage to discuss the making and importance of Dowdey’s documentary, Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis.
DGA members and guests give Director Kathleen Dowdey a standing ovation for her documentary, Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis.
Director Kathleen Dowdey discusses the making of her documentary, Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis.
Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis Executive Producer Charles Floyd Johnson speaks about his involvement with the project.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) discusses the impact of the film’s subject, Congressman John Lews.
Civil Rights Activist Peggy Preacely recalls the fight for equal access to the voting booth.
Director Donna Brown Guillaume (moderator) asks a question.
Two of the original 1961 Freedom Riders, Bob and Helen Singleto,n add to the conversation.
Front Row: WSC Co-Chairs Liz Ryan and Mary Lou Belli, Producer Charles Floyd Johnson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Director Kathleen Dowdey, Civil Rights Activist Peggy Preacely, and Director Donna Brown Guillaume (moderator). Back Row: AASC Co-Chairs Carl Seaton, Jeff Byrd and Oz Scott.
A reception attendee chats with Director Kathleen Dowdey and WSC Co-Chair Liz Ryan.
Producer Charles Floyd Johnson, AASC Co-Chair Jeff Byrd Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Producer/Director Stephanie Frederic, AASC member Abdul Malik Abbott, Director Donna Brown Guillaume (moderator), and AASC Co-Chairs Carl Seaton, and Oz Scott pose for a photo during the reception.

Calendar

7/28/2025 - 8/3/2025

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