DGA First Vice President Paris Barclay, who also participated as the Co-Executive Producer of CBS series Cold Case, welcomed the group stating his pleasure at being able to wear two hats to the event. “I get to wear my DGA Vice President hat and welcome the network, studio and show-runners, and remind them all how I started out directing music videos when I was given my first directing shot. Then I get to put on my Cold Case co-executive producer hat and scout for new talent.”
The requirement for the attending DGA members was having had a deal memo within the last five years. Thus qualified, these members participated in the one-on-one sessions with an impressive list of show-runners from CBS and Paramount programs (see list below).
The event was well received by both DGA members and CBS/Paramount. Chris Davidson, VP, CBS Current Programs, who said he had great positive feedback from their participants. Josie Thomas, CBS Senior Vice President, Diversity concurred. “It was the right people in the right place at the right time,” said Thomas. “Producers of returning CBS series with director slots to fill are some of the most sought after people in Hollywood and they were all at the DGA that evening. We worked closely with the DGA to create an event where the possibility of concrete results was the greatest. We have high hopes that diverse DGA members will get assignments on CBS series as a direct result of this collaboration.”
Whether or not this particular mixer led to a job, members were pleased that their Guild was taking proactive steps by arranging these events. Director Henry Chan expressed his confidence that just having these opportunities to meet with the decision makers face-to-face was a positive step that could lead to something beneficial down the line. “There is nothing new about job hunting,” said Chan. “It’s contacts, contacts and more contacts. Any time we can meet producers or network executives helps put our names and faces in their minds.”
Chan’s assessment is borne out by the fact that for some, previous DGA mixers have already produced positive results.
“Three years ago I met Sean McNamara and David Brookwell at a DGA event,” said Director Rachel Feldman. “I just got back from directing four episodes of their newest show. Without that event, they would never have known my work. And I met a producer at the WSC’s Feature Directors Mixer last month who wants to take a pilot of mine to the networks. Without this kind of Guild support, I would never in a million years have been able to get a script in front of this man.”
“As always, we found people worth following up on,” said Barclay, echoing the consensus of the evening that both sides of the table found the event beneficial. “Thanks to the participation of everyone involved, it ended up to be a wonderful evening, and I hope the start of many future working relationships.”
Attending CBS/Paramount Producers and Executives:
- Paris Barclay - Co-Executive Producer/Director, Cold Case
- John Behring - Producer/Director, Numb3rs
- David Brownfield - Sr. VP, Current Programs, CBS
- Christopher Davidson - VP, Current Programs, CBS
- Elizabeth Devine - Co-Executive Producer, CSI: Miami
- Glenn Geller - VP, Current Programs, CBS
- Sarah Goldfinger - Writer/Producer, CSI
- Janie Goossen - Coordinator, CBS Diversity Institute
- Jennifer Grisanti - VP, Current Programs, Paramount
- Diego Gutierrez - Executive Story Editor, Without A Trace
- Alix Jaffe - VP, Current Programs, CBS
- Chas. Floyd Johnson - Co-Executive Producer, NCIS
- Jeanne Mau - Manager, Current Programs, CBS
- Tom Russo - Sr. VP, Current Programs, Paramount
- Ian Sander - Executive Producer, Ghost Whisperer
- Pamela Soper - VP, Current Programs, CBS
- Veena Sud - Writer/Producer, Cold Case
- Rosemary Tarquinio - Director, Current Programs, CBS
- Josie Thomas - Sr. VP, Diversity, CBS
- Aaron Zelman - Supervising Producer, Criminal Minds
