August 15, 2012
UPDATED: November 14, 2012
Earlier this year, the DGA National Board voted to allow studios and distributors to send “for your consideration” screeners to DGA members beginning this awards season. Below, please find answers on how the screener program will work.
Who receives screeners?
All DGA members in good standing, including retirees, will receive Awards screeners, digital screener notices and screenings mailings. DGA members who are suspended are not eligible to receive screeners or to vote on the DGA Awards.
What kinds of screeners will I receive?
You may receive screeners (physical DVDs), digital screener notices (notices in the mail with a code that allows you to stream or download screeners online) as well as screening mailings (notices in the mail letting you know about screenings in theaters that you can attend).
We anticipate that most studios and distributors will choose to send physical DVDs while others may choose to send notifications about streaming or downloads. Members may not choose the format – it is up to the studios and distributors to determine whether to make physical or digital screeners available to DGA members.
When will I receive screeners, and how many?
Studios and distributors may send Awards screeners, digital screener notices and screening mailings to DGA members beginning in the autumn of 2012 and ending in January 2013. We do not know at this time how many screeners studios and distributors may choose to send to DGA members this awards season. At this time, screeners will be limited to films eligible for the DGA’s Feature Film Award.
Where will the screeners be sent?
Awards screeners, digital screener notices and screening mailings will be mailed to the member home address currently on file with the DGA. Screeners cannot be sent to P.O. Box addresses so if you use a P.O. Box, you will need to supply a different mailing address to the DGA.
Some screeners will be sent via Fed-Ex or UPS and will require a signature for delivery.
Can I have my screeners sent somewhere other than my home address?
Yes. Simply log in as a member to the DGA Website, go to "Account Settings" and click on the "Print Mail Settings" tab to update your Awards mailing preference or change your home address.
If you have any questions, please call the Web Support line at 310-289-2082 or email dgawebsupport@dga.org.
Who is sending the screeners? Will the DGA share our mailing address or other contact information with the studios?
Awards screeners, streaming, or download notices will be sent to DGA members via third-party fulfillment houses such as Deluxe or Technicolor. The DGA will not permit the fulfillment houses to share any DGA member contact information of any type with the studios or distributors or any other individual or entity.
Who pays for sending screeners?
Studios and Distributors will be responsible for all costs associated with screener-related mailings.
Why does the DGA need my email address?
Without an email address on file, you will not be able to log on to the DGA website – and therefore, you will not be able to vote online for the DGA Awards. Additionally, we will be providing most of the information related to the DGA Awards through email communications with members.
To provide your email address to the DGA, please call (310) 289-2082 or email CJarrett@dga.org.
Who do I contact if there’s a problem with my screener?
All Awards screener notice mailings will contain both phone and email contact information so that DGA members may immediately contact the appropriate Studio/Distributor or fulfillment house representative if there is a delivery or technical issue with the physical or digital screener.
What steps will the studios and distributors take to keep track of screeners?
Most screeners will be digitally watermarked specific to the individual DGA member recipient, which means that any unauthorized copy of the screener found online or otherwise in the public domain will trace back to the DGA member to whom it was sent. Therefore, a DGA member should know, at all times, the whereabouts of all screener materials sent to them.
In addition to the new screener program, the Guild will continue to operate its extensive theatrical screening program at its state-of-the-art theaters in Los Angeles and New York and additional screenings in Chicago, San Francisco, London and Washington, DC, and members can continue to use their DGA Membership cards for free admission to certain public screenings in commercial theaters for the studios that allow them to do so.