DGA Diversity & Inclusion Mission Statement
The Directors Guild of America believes storytelling should be as diverse as the world around us, and that a critical mass of different perspectives on screen is vital for the wellbeing and development of society.
Our goal is to be a global industry leader in the fight against discrimination by working to fairly represent all of our members and to increase employment opportunities for DGA members from under-represented groups to achieve fair and equitable representation that reflects the population. We are also committed to fair and equitable representation within the Guild’s leadership and staff and are determined to build and maintain an inclusive union.
We will engage companies, studios, and producers who are responsible for hiring directors and members of the directorial team to achieve equitable, inclusive hiring practices for women and ethnic minority Guild members. We will create continuing educational opportunities for our existing members designed to prepare and promote a diverse talent pool. We will expand the widening of the talent pool by encouraging the industry to hire more diverse talent to join the ranks of the Guild.
In January of 2016, the DGA launched a new diversity initiative in Los Angeles. The program focused on education, networking and career development for DGA members through career and craft workshops and a curriculum-based speaker series. In June 2017, the program was expanded to include the East Coast.
Speaker Series & Career Workshop
The DGA hosts a number of DDI events throughout the year including a curriculum-based speaker series and networking mixers as well as a career workshop.
Click here to watch video highlights and and review events from the DDI Speaker Series and Career Workshops.
Craft Workshop and Mentorship Program
As employers across the industry heed the call to expand their hiring pipelines and establish a level playing field, the DGA’s upcoming Craft Workshop and Mentorship Program were created for members who aspire to direct or expand their directorial careers in episodic television. The program serves as the culminating experience of the Director Development Initiative.
The DGA for years has called attention to the issue of diversity through the publication of highly publicized data reports rich with statistics reflecting current industry hiring trends. In these reports, we call public attention to the worst of the worst when it comes to diverse hiring practices, as well as the best of the best.
Click here to review all of the DGA’s reports on industry diversity hiring.
Diversity Committees
Several DGA committees are dedicated to building communities within the Guild of those who are members of ethnic or gender groups that are underrepresented in the entertainment industry. Each of these committees works to increase diversity and inclusion in the industry through meetings, seminars, networking, training and events. For information about each Committee, click the links below.
Click here for information about, and links to, television studio director development programs focused on diversity.
Commercial Director Diversity Program
During the 2014 National Commercial Agreement negotiations, the DGA and AICP agreed to establish a diversity program to expand opportunities for directors with an emphasis on increasing diversity in commercials and marketing communications. The program is facilitated in three phases centered around workshops, mentoring, and networking. Participating fellows are given a grant to create a spec commercial that is showcased at an industry premiere at the conclusion of the program.
Awards
Student Film Awards
The Directors Guild of America Student Film Awards for African-American, Asian-American, Latino, and Women Filmmakers are designed to honor, encourage, and bring attention to outstanding minority and women film students. Over 40 film schools from around the country participate in the program. Past winners include: Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never); Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed); Nicole Kassell (The Following, The Americans); Patricia Riggen (The 33, Lemonade Mouth); and Sylvain White (Hawaii Five-0, Person of Interest).
DGA Diversity Award
The DGA Diversity Award honors outstanding commitment to and leadership in the hiring of women and ethnic minorities in DGA categories. It has been bestowed only five times in DGA history: Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, Shondaland, 2014; Stephen McPherson, ABC Primetime Entertainment President, 2005; Home Box Office, 2000; Steven Bochco, 1999; Bruce Paltrow, John Wells & Christopher Chulack (ER), 1997.