Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/618780
1975 1977 New Contract Negotiated >Basic Agreement provides for payments for supple- mental markets and a separate scale for network primetime shows. Creative Rights Protected >Under the new Basic Agreement, a director cannot be replaced by any person initially assigned to or performing in a motion picture. Robert B. Aldrich Elected DGA President >Serves 1975-1979 New Deal >Guild negotiates first industrywide live and tape television contract covering employment with independent production companies. Pension and Health Plans Assets Exceed $50 Million Membership Reaches 5,000 he first endeavor of its kind among entertain- ment guilds, the Special Projects Committee was inspired by a three-page letter written to the DGA Western Directors Council in 1975 by Elia Kazan, who believed that a guild "...has the obligation to inspire its every member to better work … pass on its tradi- tions, see that they do not die, that the lessons of experi- ence are not ignored, that achieve- ment builds on achievement." Then-President Robert Aldrich appointed a committee, chaired by Robert Wise, to explore the mat- ter further. A recommendation to establish a special projects program was unanimously approved by the National Board. For several years, starting with a session with Howard Hawks in Laguna Beach in 1977, the committee presented up-close-and-personal weekends spotlighting the work of a single director. The initial work of the commit- tee also included oral histories and media educators' work- shops. The oral histories have since given way to the Visual History Program. There are more than 170 visual histories posted at dga.org exploring the careers of directors and team members in all genres. The Special Projects Committee continues to organize trib- utes, technology seminars, workshops, a global cinema series, a documentary series, as well as the ever-popular annual Digital Day event, which provides presentations and hands- on demonstrations of the latest technological advances. In 2000, Jeremy Kagan succeeded Wise as chairman of Special Projects. As the needs of members evolve, so does the work of the committee. DGA.org/SPFounding 1976 FAR-RANGING SPECIAL PROJECTS Members try out the latest in technology at the Special Projects 2015 Digital Day. 1978 First Woman Winner >Perry Miller Adato wins for TV documentary and becomes the first woman director to win a DGA Award. Negotiations Victory >Right to arbitrate contract disputes established. Michael Franklin Named National Executive Secretary >Franklin succeeds Joseph Youngerman, who held the job for 27 years. One Director Per Film >Negotiations ensure that only one director will be assigned to direct a motion picture at any given time. " I think Special Projects is what I'm most proud of in my service with the Guild, because it is something that has grown to be a highly thought of program and has extended and broadened its outreach. " ROBERT WISE "When you stop learning, you stop living." —JEREMY KAGAN | Chair Special Projects Committee PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE, TOP RIGHT) DGA ARCHIVES; HOWARD WISE; DGA ARCHIVES (2); ALBERTO E. RODRIGUEZ/GETTY IMAGES dga quarterly 45 T