LOS ANGELES, CA - Directors Guild of America President Michael Apted today announced the recipients of four special awards that are presented each year to recognize the extraordinary contributions of directors and members of the directorial team to the organization, the craft of filmmaking and to the entertainment industry at large.
Achieving special recognition at the DGA annual awards celebration on February 7, 2004, for their leadership are: Larry Auerbach, who will be presented with the Honorary Life Member Award; Jeremy Kagan, Robert B. Aldrich Award; Stephen Glanzrock, Frank Capra Achievement Award; and Peery Forbis, Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award.
"The strength and unity of the Directors Guild, as well as the future of our industry, depends on the dedicated service and accomplishments embodied in these four very special award winners," Apted said. They are the people who toil behind the scenes to ensure that the economic and creative rights of their peers are protected and that the future is secure for all of us. They are the real heroes of our organization."
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Larry Auerbach has been a director since the early years of television, and his commitment to improving the landscape for those making a career of filmmaking goes all the way back to his committee and council work at the Radio and Television Directors Guild, one of the precursors to the DGA. He has served for many years on the DGA National Board, including as National Vice President, and has done many stints on the Eastern Directors Council, where he still serves in an ex-officio capacity. He also has served as a trustee of the DGA-Producer Pension and Health plan, serving three times as chairman. Over the years, Auerbach also has been on several negotiating committees to hammer out contracts with the AMPTP. In 1951, Auerbach was hired to direct Love of Life and has been directing daytime serials ever since. His honors include a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding direction in 1983-84 for One Life to Live. The Honorary Life Member Award is given in recognition to outstanding creative achievement, contribution to the Guild, or the profession of directing. |
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Jeremy Kagan is the notable director of theatrical films such as Heroes, The Big Fix and The Journey of Natty Gann. In December 2000, after many years as a member of the Special Projects Committee, he succeeded legendary director Robert Wise as chairman. The Special Projects Committee stages a variety of events such as seminars on changes brought on by the advent of digital technology and other innovations, as well as threats to DGA members' creative rights. Over the last decade he has also moderated the annual Meet the Feature Film Nominees seminar that has included some of the most recognized names in filmmaking and published a compilation of those conversations entitled, Directors Close Up. He has also served for more than 15 years on the Western Directors Council as well as the National Board. The Robert B. Aldrich Award applauds extraordinary service to the Directors Guild and to its members. |
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Stephen Glanzrock's thirty plus years in the business has been dedicated to protecting the working conditions and creative rights of everyone on the set, as an Assistant Director, and off the set, as a key leader within the Guild. He has served as an Associate Member of the DGA National Board for the last two years and is currently is serving his seventh full term as a member of the Eastern AD/UPM Council and has held the position of chairman for the past six years. He has been an integral part of the Guild's Commercial Agreement negotiating committees since 1984. His feature film credits as an AD include King Kong, Man in the Glass Booth and Godfather II. He also worked as 2nd AD on the Emmy-nominated miniseries The Two Mrs. Grenvilles. The Frank Capra Achievement Award is presented to an Assistant Director in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the DGA. |
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Peery Forbis has worked behind the scenes at every DGA Annual Awards Dinner since 1987 as associate director, ensuring a perfect program to better spotlight the award dinners. This year, he will step out of his booth for a few minutes to take the stage himself – and accept the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award, which is given to an Associate Director, Stage Manager or Production Associate in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the DGA. His many contributions to the Guild include serving as an Associate National Board member, a delegate to the DGA National Convention and as a frequent – and current – member of the Western AD/SM/PA Council. His credits include the features Dave and Pretty Woman, and the television series Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, Life Goes On and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. |
"I want to congratulate these leaders in the DGA for their commitment to the principle that together we are stronger than one – but that each one must do their part," Apted concluded.
