All AD/UPM members were welcome to a breakfast event that presented valuable information about the workings of the DGA during the Western AD/UPM Council’s Navigating the DGA event on Saturday, October 10, 2009. Held in the Guild’s Los Angeles boardroom, the seminar gave detailed information about DGA benefits, Guild activities and issues directly affecting ADs and UPMs, presented by experienced members and DGA staff.

Western AD/UPM Council Chair Cleve Landsberg welcomed the participants and introduced the Council members and DGA staffers responsible for the day’s programming.

Landsberg then turned the floor over to the morning’s first informative session: a presentation detailing the benefits available to DGA members given by DGA-Producer Pension & Health Plans representatives Merri McAvoy and Crystal Tran.

Next Western AD/UPM Council Secretary-Treasurer/UPM Herb Adelman gave a brief history of the Guild, which was followed by 1st AD Liz Ryan’s presentation on how to satisfy Guild requirements before, during and after a job, and AD/UPM/ Mentor Committee Chair Randy Turrow’s list of information sources.

In the “Frequently Asked Questions” session saw UPM Michael Schlenker covered the subject of how the Guild helps members working in commercials; 1st AD Bob Lewis demystified the Availability Lists, Qualifications Lists (QL), and Low-Budget Agreements, then explained how the QL and the Residency and Production Centers agreement affect members.

In the final presentation, DGA Field Rep Matt Antonucci revealed how the Field Reps and the DGA Contracts Department work to protect the membership. The room was then opened to general questions from the audience before the event concluded with an informal mixer.