Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/618780
dga quarterly 13 Dear Members: Welcome to the 80th anniversary edition of the DGA Quarterly. I always consider it a privilege to work on these special issues. Looking through boxes of newspaper clips, minutes of meetings, Guild newslet- ters, and Visual Histories of members takes the past out of the vault and makes it come alive as stories of real people striving to build and protect the Guild. The heart of this issue is a timeline that we've assembled, aptly named "80 Years Strong." This is not meant to be the definitive history of the Guild—that would take volumes. What you have here are some of the land- marks and accomplishments along the way. Behind all these events is a longer story of members who made a contribution, and we've included links to previous pieces we've done that tell even more of the story. The Stevens clan holds a unique place in Guild history. George Sr. embodied the ideals of the Guild. He was a two-time president, a great filmmaker, and, at a crucial point at the fateful blacklist meeting in 1950, he was the conscience of the Guild. George Jr. and his late son Michael continued George Sr.'s values of service and responsibility, as F.X. Feeney reports in "The Family Business." To celebrate the accomplishments of our members, much of this issue features clips from earlier issues of the Quarterly. What I noticed in selecting excerpts from 10 years of Independent Voice is the incredibly wide range of directors who got their start working under the rubric of "indie" films. I guess that's what truly makes them independent voices. For On the Job, we drew quotes from the large talent pool of ADs, UPMs, associate directors, and stage managers from the past and present who we've covered in the magazine. What is fascinating is the clear through line in the work itself—the creativity, skill, and superb organization—all in support of the direc- tor's vision. Some things never change. In Classics, we applaud the work of female directors who got a shot to direct feature films in the 1970s. This was a slight crack in the window for women, one that showed future generations what was possible. And now the window needs to open fully. Other stories, like Shots to Remember, a collection of how-they-did-it moments from our greatest direc- tors, and Guild President Paris Barclay looking at the artistry of Robert Altman in Nashville for Screening Room, pay homage to the craft of filmmakers now and then. For the photo essay, we've put together a selection of behind the scenes shots of Lifetime Achievement Award winners from features, television, news, and sports—an impressive collection. Looking at the past, as much of this issue does, only reinforces the idea that Guild history is a con- tinuum, and the core values and goals remain the same. In that regard it is a living history. And as past President Gil Cates used to say, "Onward and upward with the arts." See you next issue with a new look for the Quarterly. In the meantime, I wish you all a happy and creative new year. Best, James Greenberg jgreenberg@dga.org PHOTO: S. BETH ATKIN EDITOR'S L E T TE R