The African American Steering Committee (AASC) was born of a desire to address the specific needs of the African-American members of the Directors Guild. Clearly, the greatest concern among members is in the area of employment. One of the primary goals of the committee is to establish a productive line of communication between African-American members and the creative community. With that in mind, the Committee meets monthly planning events throughout the year celebrating the achievements of African-Americans, as well as forums with industry executives pro-actively addressing what can be done to hire more African-Americans.
African American Steering Committee
African American Steering Committee Announces New Class for the 2025 The Learning Tree Fellowship Directing Program
The program was created to support, mentor, inspire and prepare emerging African-American Directors for the unique experiences they may face in their careers.
Contact
- Taylor Roberson
Committee Coordinator(310) 289-5368TRoberson@dga.org
committee links
committee chairs
Pete Chatmon
Co-Chair
Crystle Roberson Dorsey
Co-Chair
Eric Dean Seaton
Co-Chair
Daniel Lorenzo Willis
Director Category Representative
Nicole Rodgers
AD/UPM Category Representative
Debbie Allen
Debbie Allen discusses her 40-year directing career in episodic television, her step-by-step production process on Grey’s Anatomy and how her background in choreography informs her directing.
Ernest Dickerson
Director Ernest Dickerson discusses his 30-year career as a director and shares insight into his creative process through recalling his feature films (Juice, Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight), movies for television (Strange Justice, Our America), and his various episodic television credits (The Wire, Raised By Wolves, and Dexter).
Dwight Williams
UPM Dwight Williams speaks about his 50-year career in television and feature film as a First Assistant Director and Unit Production Manager, including his work on Malcolm D. Lee’s Girls Trip, The Hughes Brothers’ Dead Presidents; working with the late Director John Singleton on Baby Boy and other features; and his extensive Guild involvement.
Oz Scott
Oz Scott (The Jeffersons, Picket Fences, CSI: NY), recounts his 30-plus year career directing episodic television and TV movies, his beginnings in theater (for colored girls who considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf), and his feature film, Bustin’ Loose, starring Richard Pryor.
Stan Lathan
Director Stan Lathan discusses his 40-plus year career directing episodic and variety television (Sanford and Son, The Steve Harvey Show, Real Husbands of Hollywood, Def Comedy Jam); starting out at WGBH-TV; and his collaboration with iconic comedians Redd Foxx and Moms Mabley.
Michael Schultz
Michael Schultz recalls his career through four decades of directing, beginning in the theater, successes with Cooley High and Car Wash, and his prolific work in episodic television.