As the controversy over the U.S.’ involvement in Iraq dominates the headlines, DGA members were able to view a film that dramatizes some portion of that debate during An Evening with Director Philip Haas at the Guild’s New York Theatre on Wednesday, January 10, 2007.

The evening featured a screening of Haas’ new film, The Situation, the first U. S. feature that dramatizes a story from the current war.

Following the screening, the audience was treated to a discussion with Haas (The Music of Chance, Angels & Insects) about the making of The Situation moderated by DGA director member Marc Levin (Protocols of Zion, America Undercover: Back in the Hood: Gang War II). It was noted that the timing of the event was a case of cosmic coincidence as it fell on the same night as President Bush unveiled his new strategy for the Iraq War.

“I wanted the film to be multi-layered with various narratives,” said Haas. “And it's a complicated situation in Iraq. Something that was always on our mind in shooting it was how to take something complex and make it comprehensible.”

Haas joined the DGA in 1997.