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Building a Bridge for the Future: A 2019 Mixer for the Director's Team

On May 15, more than 70 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. The event provided an opportunity for director’s team members to make connections and establish relationships for the future.

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, the event featured one-on-one sessions with production team members who have hiring authority as well as open discussions in the DGA Boardroom. While open to all DGA members, this event was specifically designed for the Guild’s women and ethnically diverse AD/UPM and AD/SM/PA members.

The mixer kicked off with an informal reception, after which event coordinator Alicia Zaragoza and DGA Executive in Charge of Diversity Programs and Committees, Frank Bennett Gonzalez welcomed the attendees and explained the logistics of the evening. Then UPM/Producer Dwight Williams, who was also one of the participating VIP guests, spoke how the Building a Bridge for the Future mixer offers a chance to build associations that members can carry through their careers.

“This evening is only one of many events your members have put together for the sole benefit of our membership,” said Williams. “It is specifically events such as this mixer this evening which bring us together, one-on-one in front of potential employers where we get to display our mastery of our crafts; our understandings of the complex, ever changing cinematic wizardry which is our day-to-day work worlds and our abilities to organize and create those environments on sets, stages and locations where our director members can excel at their craft.”

With that idea in mind, the attending DGA directing team members met with the participating VIPs and were able to get acquainted during the one-on-one sessions.

The 2019 Building a Bridge for the Future VIPs were:
  • UPM/Producer Franny Baldwin – (Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return)
  • UPM/Producer Greg Bartlett – (An Inconvenient Truth)
  • Director Paul G. Casey – (Real Time with Bill Maher)
  • UPM/Producer Tara L. Craig – (Friendsgiving)
  • UPM/Producer Robert Del Valle – (Cloak and Dagger)
  • UPM/Producer Gerard DiNardi – (Us)
  • UPM/Producer Elaine Dysinger – (Dead Again in Tombstone)
  • UPM/Producer Brian Frankish – (Righteous Kill)
  • UPM/Producer Cathy Gesualdo – (Treehouse)
  • Director Lenn Goodside – (Let's Make a Deal)
  • UPM Franklyn Gottbetter (The Kominsky Method)
  • UPM/Producer Michele Greco – (Deadly Class)
  • Stage Manager Garry Hood – (Dancing with the Stars)
  • UPM/Producer Mark Moran – (Pet Sematary)
  • UPM/Producer Carrie Lynn Morrow – (The Romanoffs)
  • UPM/Producer Richard H. Prince – (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
  • UPM/Producer Jeanine Rohn – (End Times Girls Club)
  • UPM/Producer Liz Ryan – (Station 19)
  • UPM/Producer Daniel Sollinger – (Immortality or Bust)
  • Production Executive Amanda W. Timpson – (Project Runway All Stars)
  • UPM/Producer Dwight Williams – (Girls Trip)
  • UPM/Producer Melissa Wylie – (You're the Worst)

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.

In addition to event coordinators Stephenie Galvan and Alicia Zaragoza, this year’s “Table Talk Hosts” were: John P. Aguirre, Christopher J. De Celle, Courtney M. Franklin, A. Laura James, Jessica Lowrey and Jonathan X. This year’s “Event Volunteers” were: Pamela Altieri-Paterra, Merry Chen, Christopher J. De Celle, Kevin Huie, Vanessa Rose Ioppolo, Lucille OuYang, Barbara Roche and Ellen M. Rosentreter.


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

2019 Building a Bridge for the Future VIPS: (Left-Right Front Row) UPM/Producer Richard H. Prince, Stage Manager Garry Hood, UPM/Producers Elaine Dysinger, Liz Ryan, Production Executive Amanda W. Timpson and UPM/Producers Franny Baldwin, Melissa Wylie and Daniel Sollinger. (Back Row). Director Lenn Goodside, UPM/Producer Greg Bartlett, Director Paul G. Casey, UPM/Producers Mark Moran, Robert Del Valle, Dwight Williams, UPM Franklyn Gottbetter, UPM/Producer Carrie Lynn Morrow, Gerard DiNardi, Cathy Gesualdo, Michele Greco, Jeanine Rohn and The Squid Farm Founder/President Tara L. Craig.
Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendees sign up for one-on-one sessions with UPMs and other VIPs during the 2019 mixer for director’s team members.
DGA Executive in Charge of Diversity Programs and Committees, Frank Bennett Gonzalez, welcomed the participants to the 2019 Building a Bridge for the Future mixer.
Building a Bridge for the Future event coordinator Alicia Zaragoza speaks about how the evening will transpire.
2019 Building a Bridge for the Future mixer participants hear how the evening will feature one-on-one interview sessions with the participating VIP guests.
UPM/Producer Dwight Williams, who was also one of the participating VIP guests, speaks about how the Building a Bridge for the Future mixer offers a chance to build relationships.
Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendees meet one-on-one with Unit Production Managers, Production Executives and other VIPs during the 2019 event.
Stage Manager Garry Hood meets with a Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee during the 2019 event.
UPM Franklyn Gottbetter meets with a Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee during the 2019 event.
A Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee meets with UPM/Producer Michele Greco during the 2019 event.
UPM/Producer Liz Ryan meets with a Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee during the 2019 event.
A Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee meets with UPM/Producer Daniel Sollinger during the 2019 event.
UPM/Producer Gerard DiNardi meets with a Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee during the 2019 event.
UPM/Producer Cathy Gesualdo meets with a Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee during the 2019 event.
UPM/Producer Richard H. Prince meets with a Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee during the 2019 event.
UPM/Producer Mark Moran meets with a Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee during the 2019 event.
A Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee meets with Director Paul G. Casey during the 2019 event.
A Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee meets with UPM/Producer Robert Del Valle during the 2019 event.
A Building a Bridge for the Future mixer attendee meets with UPM/Producer Brian E. Frankish during the 2019 event.
Building a Bridge for the Future VIP guest, Director Lenn Goodside, chats with “Table Talk Host” Jonathan X.
Building a Bridge for the Future “Table Talk Host” Jessica Lowrey chats with mixer participants.
Building a Bridge for the Future “Table Talk Host” Courtney M. Franklin chats with mixer participants.
DGA Women’s Steering Committee Co-Chair and “Table Talk Host” A. Laura James and event participant Jodi Erhlich celebrate the 2019 Building a Bridge for the Future mixer.
The 2019 Building a Bridge for the Future VIPs pose for a photo with event coordinators Alicia Zaragoza and this year’s “Table Talk Hosts.”

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