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Building a Bridge for the Future: A 2018 Mixer for the Director's Team

On May 8, nearly 120 DGA members participated in an evening of networking and conversation at Guild Headquarters in Los Angeles during the annual Building a Bridge for the Future mixer designed for director’s team members. The event provided an opportunity to make connections and establish relationships for the future.

The evening was hosted by the DGA Inter-Committee, which brings together elements of the Guild’s Diversity Committees to explore avenues for leveling the playing field for DGA members.

A week prior to the event, a preparatory workshop was held in the DGA Boardroom. Event coordinators Alicia Zaragoza and Stephenie Galvan moderated a panel with Directors Maria Burton and A. Laura James, Stage Manager Valdez Flagg and UPM Liz Ryan. The panel covered tools and tips to interviewing and how best to prepare for the event and mixer the following week. Breakout groups were held after the panel for members to workshop their resumes.

The mixer itself kicked off with an informal reception, after which Zaragoza and Galvan welcomed the attendees and explained the logistics of the evening. Then DGA National Board and Diversity Task Force member Liz Ryan spoke about the importance of the event and how it offers a chance to build relationships that members can carry through their careers. Following through on that idea, DGA directing team members met with the participating VIPs during the one-on-one sessions.

The invited VIPs included:
  • UPM/Producer Franny Baldwin - Abominable Pictures
  • UPM Philipp A. Barnett (LOVE)
  • Executive Vice-President/Co-Executive Producer Bill Bracken - Brad Lachman Productions
  • UPM Debbie Cass (Claws)
  • Director/Producer Rob Corn (Grey’s Anatomy)
  • Founder/President Tara L. Craig - The Squid Farm
  • UPM/Producer Elaine Dysinger (Ray Meets Helen)
  • UPM/Line Producer Melanie Elin (Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Reboot)
  • Head of Production Sara Fischer - Shondaland
  • Stage Manager Valdez Flagg (The Voice)
  • UPM/Line Producer Nicci Freeman (The Message)
  • UPM/Producer Cathy Gesualdo (Deported)
  • UPM/Producer Phillip Goldfarb (The Librarians)
  • UPM Franklyn Gottbetter (The Kominsky Method)
  • UPM/Producer Michele Greco (SMILF)
  • UPM/Line Producer Victor Ho (Wish Upon)
  • UPM/Co-Executive Producer Merri Howard (For the People)
  • Director of Production Adrienne Jones - Skydance Television
  • UPM/Producer Shea Kammer (The Yellow Birds)
  • UPM/Producer Todd King (Better Things)
  • UPM/Producer Stewart A. Lyons (Roswell)
  • UPM/Producer Carrie Lynn Morrow (The Romanoffs)
  • UPM Robert D. Nellans (Genius)
  • UPM/Producer Richard H. Prince (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
  • UPM Kimberly A. Ray (Eyewitness)
  • UPM/Producer Jeanine Rohn (Sacrifice)
  • UPM Robert Rothbard (Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.)
  • UPM Liz Ryan (Station 19)
  • UPM/Producer Valerie Bleth Sharp (The OA)
  • UPM/Line Producer Deb Spidell (Alone Together)
  • UPM/Producer Jimmy Sprague (All Saints)
  • UPM/Producer Clayton Townsend (Bird Box)
  • Executive Vice President Television, Physical Production Carol Turner - Skydance Television
  • UPM/Producer Jeanne Van Cott (I’m Dying Up Here)
  • UPM/Producer Melanie Wagor (My Dead Ex)
  • Producer/Production Manager Sally Young (Modern Family)

After getting acquainted with our members during the one-on-one sessions, each of the participating VIP guests also received a resume booklet of all the attendees and were able to continue to socialize with them in the informal reception that continued after the event.


About the DGA Inter-Committee

The DGA Inter-Committee brings together elements of the Guild’s Diversity Committees. For more information about these committees click the links below:

Pictures

photos by Elisa Haber

UPM Liz Ryan, Director A. Laura James, event coordinators Stephenie Galvan and Alicia Zaragoza, Director Maria Burton and Stage Manager Valdez Flagg participated in a panel discussion during the preparatory workshop held a week prior to the Building a Bridge for the Future mixer.
Assistant Directors, Associate Directors, Stage Managers and Production Associates meet one-on-one with Unit Production Managers, Production Executives and other VIPs during the 2018 Building a Bridge for the Future mixer.
A Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee signs up for one-on-one sessions with Unit Production Managers, Production Executives and other VIPs during the 2018 mixer for director’s team members.
Building a Bridge for the Future event coordinators Stephenie Galvan and Alicia Zaragoza welcome the participants to 2018 mixer.
DGA National Board and Diversity Task Force member Liz Ryan speaks to DGA members attending the 2018 Building a Bridge for the Future mixer.
Assistant Directors, Associate Directors, Stage Managers and Production Associates engage in one-on-one sessions with Unit Production Managers, Production Executives and other VIPs during the 2018 Building a Bridge for the Future mixer.
Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendees meet one-on-one with Unit Production Managers, Production Executives and other VIPs during the 2018 event.
Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendees meet one-on-one with Unit Production Managers, Production Executives and other VIPs during the 2018 event.
Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendees meet one-on-one with Unit Production Managers, Production Executives and other VIPs during the 2018 event.
Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendees meet one-on-one with Unit Production Managers, Production Executives and other VIPs during the 2018 event.
Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendees meet one-on-one with Unit Production Managers, Production Executives and other VIPs during the 2018 event.
Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendees meet one-on-one with Unit Production Managers, Production Executives and other VIPs during the 2018 event.
Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendees meet one-on-one with Unit Production Managers, Production Executives and other VIPs during the 2018 event.
DGA members continue the conversations during the reception portion of the 2018 Building a Bridge for the Future mixer.
DGA members continue the conversations during the reception portion of the 2018 Building a Bridge for the Future mixer.
The 2018 Building a Bridge for the Future mixer VIPs pose for a group photo.

Calendar

7/29/2025 - 8/4/2025

DGA LAYOUT