New and veteran Associate Directors, Stage Managers and Production Associates received valuable information about the workings of their Guild during a Navigating the DGA orientation. Hosted by the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council on March 13, members gathered in the boardroom of the Guild’s New York offices to hear instructive and educational discussions about a variety of issues that affect these categories, delivered by Council members and DGA staff.
Council Chair Joyce Thomas welcomed the attendees and spoke about the importance of attending the monthly Council meetings before she outlined the agenda for the evening.
DGA Assistant Executive Director Michael Berger gave the first report of the night: the history, organization and procedures of the Guild. Berger also explained how the DGA’s contracts are designed to protect the members and how the Field Reps work in concert with the Contracts Department to maintain that protection.
Council Member and DGA Associate National Board Member Dennis W. Mazzocco delivered a brief tutorial on the structure and governance of the Guild, from its Constitution and National Board, to the other Councils and Committees and the DGA Staff.
Council Second Vice Chair Amanda Rodriguez spoke about the benefits that come with a DGA card such as economic and creative protections, the Pension and Health Plans, Residuals, Guild events and more. Then Council Member Bruce Martin followed up with the responsibilities of membership, such as why members must work only for signatory companies, the importance of deal memos and reporting income and what to do when starting a new job.
AD/SM/PA Council East Secretary-Treasurer Terry Benson presented information on both the DGA-Producer Pension and Health Plans and the DGA PAC. Benson explained how the Plans function and how members can employ these benefits. He also revealed how the PAC has been successful in its ongoing mission to fight for the rights of DGA members through legislative efforts, but needs the support of members.
In the final report, DGA Administrative Assistant Suci Madjidji gave a live demonstration of the many services available online via the DGA website and showed how members can report work and pay dues online, see what’s going on at the Guild via the events section, and make use of the many forms and deal memos available in the contracts and employers sections.
The orientation ended with a Q&A session, moderated by Thomas, where the attending orientation participants could have their questions addressed by the Council members and DGA staff.
About the Council:
The Eastern AD/SM/PA Council is the elected body that represents the Guild members who reside in the Eastern region and work in television as Associate Directors, Stage Managers or Production Associates.