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About the African American Steering Committee

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.
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History of the African American Steering Committee

The AASC grew out of the DGA's Ethnic Minority Committee, formed in 1980, largely due to the efforts of Wendell J. Franklin, the first African-American member of the DGA, and fellow African-American directors Ivan Dixon, William Crain and Reuben Watt. In January of 1994, the DGA National Board approved a revived African-American Steering Committee, co-chaired by Roy Campanella II, Deirdre Dix and Kevin Hooks.

The Committee now has a formal structure with twenty members elected annually to represent the Guild's African-American members. In its current format, the AASC actively explores ways to assist the Guild in improving employment opportunities, working conditions and financial compensation for ethnic minority members. Subsequent Co-Chairs of the Committee include DGA Past-President Paris Barclay, Abdul Malik Abbott, Reginald D. Brown, LeVar Burton, Bill Duke, Courtney Franklin, Van Hayden, Erma Elzy-Jones, Loretha Jones, Ted Lange, Bob Reid, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Michael Schultz, Carl Seaton, John Singleton and Carl Weathers. The AASC's current co-chairs are Jeffery W. Byrd, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Dwight Williams.

The AASC organizes numerous events including seminars, panel discussions and has presented tributes to pioneering directors such as Debbie Allen, Bill Duke, Wendell J. Franklin, Melvin Van Peebles, Stan Lathan and Gordon Parks. Some of these events have led to actual change such as the panel discussion, Moving Forward: A Catalyst for Change, held on November 16, 1994, which resulted in the eventual creation of the DGA-Disney Directors Training Program. A year later, the AASC partnered with Warner Brothers to present an all-day seminar, Getting Work in Film & Television. Along with the Women's Steering Committee and the Latino Committee, the AASC participates in the Annual DGA Student Film Awards. In addition to its membership functions, the AASC encourages the greater participation of African-American members in all Guild activities, and maintains a healthy line of communication with the DGA leadership, the executive decision-making structure of Hollywood and various organizations within the creative community. 


For more information about the DGA African-American Steering Committee, contact Jennifer Peat, DGA Special Assignments Executive, at (310) 289-5305, or via email at JPeat@dga.org

DGA Members: Please log in for meeting times and other African American Steering Committee information.

 

Contact
Jennifer Peat
DGA Special Assignments Executive
(310) 289-5305
JPeat@dga.org
Committee Chairs
Abdul Malik Abbott
Director Category Representative
LaTrisa LJ Jackson
AD/UPM Category Representative
Jill Dove
AD/SM/PA Category Representative
DGA Diversity & Inclusion Mission Statement
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.