The Western AD/UPM Council is the elected body that represents the more than 3,200 Assistant Director and Unit Production Manager members of the Guild who reside and/or work in film, television, commercials and new media the Western Region. In accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the DGA, the Council is comprised of 16 members and 10 alternate members who meet the criteria for these categories.
This section provides AD/UPM members with information that is specific to their categories; and the public with information about the activities of this council. Please click the "more" button for a welcome message from Western AD/UPM Council Chair Linda Montanti. DGA Members, log in for meeting times and other Council information.
Western AD/UPM Council
Gregory G. McCollum: 2026 Frank Capra Achievement Award
78th Annual DGA Awards
1st AD Gregory G. McCollum will become the 40th recipient of the Frank Capra Achievement Award, which is given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of their career and service to the industry and the DGA.
Contact
- Faith Santilla
Assistant Executive Director(310) 752-5999FSantilla@dga.org - Viviane Ugalde
Administrative Assistant(310) 289-5987vugalde@dga.org
Council Links
Reminder: New Mandatory Safety Requirements for AD/UPMs and AD/SMs
November 21, 2024
As part of the Guild’s ongoing efforts to elevate the importance of safety in your workplaces, the 2023-2026 Basic Agreement (BA) and Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement (FLTTA) include requirements for DGA employees to complete additional training courses.
Qualification Lists
The DGA Contract Administration (DGACA) maintains lists of individuals who have met the minimum requirements for work as Unit Production Managers, First Assistant Directors, and Second Assistant Directors in the Motion Picture Industry.
Phil Rawlins
Visual History Interview
UPM and Assistant Director Phil Rawlins discusses how working as a stuntman on the sets of westerns of the 1950s led to a career working on the sets of big budget feature films.
Yudi Bennett
Visual History Interview
Assistant Director Yudi Bennett shares stories from her extensive career from the early beginnings of the DGA’s Assistant Director Training Program in New York, to the sets of award-winning feature films and television movies.
Abby Singer
Visual History Interview
Assistant Director and Production Manager Abby Singer talks about his career in features and television, his involvement in the Guild, and his personal perspective on changes in the entertainment industry spanning 50 years.