DGA Unit Production Manager Burt Bluestein will be the recipient of the Directors Guild of America's Frank Capra Achievement Award, DGA President Jack Shea and Awards Committee Chairperson Howard Storm announced today. The Capra Award, given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of career achievement and service to the DGA, will be presented to Bluestein at the 54th Annual DGA Awards on March 9, 2002, at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
Bluestein, who joined the DGA in 1964, has served the Directors Guild of America in various capacities since 1979. He has served on the DGA Negotiating Committee through five DGA/AMPTP contract negotiations, including the 2002 negotiations that yielded the historic Interim Settlement Agreement. He has been a member of the DGA National Board since 1981, serving as Vice President for one term. Bluestein was elected to the AD/UPM Council East for four terms, including one term as Chair, and was elected to the AD/UPM/TC Council West for ten terms, including two terms as Chair. In addition, he has served on the DGA's Internal Complaints Committee and the East/West AD/UPM/Interchange Committee (representing the East). Bluestein is currently serving as co-chair of the DGA Political Action Committee (DGA-PAC) which he helped create; he has been a Pension & Health Plans Trustee since 1979 and Chairman of the Trust's Benefits Committee since 1988. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees in 1987 and 2002.
Bluestein's work as an Assistant Director has included commercials, the movie for television F. Scott Fitgerald & the Last of the Bells and television series including Kojak, Bay City Blues and Hill Street Blues. He worked as an Assistant Director on the feature films On a Clear Day You Can See Forever; The Godfather, Part II; Claudine; Thieves; and Somewhere in Time.
As Unit Production Manager, Bluestein worked on the movies for television Ernie Kovacs... Between the Laughter and China Nights; the mini-series Centennial and Gangster Chronicles; numerous episodics such as 2nd Family Tree, Bay City Blues, Hill Street Blues, Private Eye, American Gothic, The Burning Zone, and Nash Bridges; and, the feature films Bloodsport, Point Break, Leap of Faith and Drop Zone.
