February 1, 2001
Robert N. Van Ry will be the recipient of the Directors Guild of America’s 2001 Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award, DGA President Jack Shea and Awards Committee Chairperson Howard Storm announced today. The Schaffner Award, given to an Associate Director or Stage Manager in recognition of service to the industry and to the DGA, will be presented to Van Ry at the 53rd Annual DGA Awards on March 10, 2001, at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
Van Ry, a Stage Manager who has been a DGA member since 1964, served on the DGA’s eastern AD/SM/PA Council from 1969-1988. In addition, he served as an Alternate on the National Board from 1985-1987 and served on four network contract negotiating committees in 1972, 1975, 1978 and 1984.
Van Ry, an NBC staff employee from 1964 – 1995, worked on such shows as Hullabaloo, Kraft Music Hall, and Live from Studio 8H which won two Emmys. In addition, he worked on the Miss America Pageant from 1975 – 1992, NFL Live wrap show, 1975 – 1992 , Super Bowls XI, XIII, XV, XVII, XX, XXIII and XXVII; the 1986 World Series, political conventions from 1972 – 1984, the summer Olympics in 1992 and Saturday Night Live! from 1975 – 2000.