Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/618780
uring negotiations, the Creative Rights Committee met for several months with studio CEOs, as well as network execu- tives, grappling with many issues that confront direc- tors in their work. The results were the historic creation of a Code of Pre- ferred Practices detailing the basic creative rights guidelines for directors. Also established was the right of directors to edit their films for post-theat- rical release. The overall creative rights of directors were pub- lished for members in the first Creative Rights Handbook, which is continually revised. The introduction to the Hand- book states, "This Code is a set of guidelines that the studios and networks have agreed is the way the directing process ought to work." DGA.org/CreativeRights ➨ 1996 1997 1998 New Contract >Economic highlights in- clude increase of 51 percent for Fox residuals; increase for directors of tape shows outside network primetime; increase for first stage man- ager on primetime dramas. Guild Celebrates 60th Anniversary >National Board designates "year of diversity" as theme for 60th anniversary. Political Action Committee Founded >PAC created to ensure that the Guild is heard on political issues. Jack Shea Elected DGA President >Serves from 1997-2002 DGA Holds First Diversity Summit National Board Adopts Revisions to Low Budget Agreement DGA Issues Annual Report on Women and Minority Hiring Guild Sponsors First Sundance Film Festival Directing Award and First Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Directing Award DGA News Relaunches as DGA Magazine, a Bimonthly Publication 1996 CREATIVE RIGHTS CODIFIED JACK SHEA " It is very important that the people who are governing a guild be people who are functioning in the business. This is because some people like to be on councils long after they've stopped functioning in the business, and that is not fair to the working members. " Guild Creates Independent Directors Committee >Independent Directors Committee created in Los Angeles to address the needs of Guild members who work in the indepen- dent arena. Michael Apted becomes the first commit- tee chair. In 2002, a New York committee is created with the same mission with Steven Soderbergh as chair. "In the ever-changing landscape of both film and television, it's more important than ever for indie directors to have opportunities to get together and share experiences." —JONATHAN DAYTON AND VALERIE FARIS | Co-Chairs Independent Directors Committee "Every member should understand that these [Creative Rights] are 'use them or lose them' rights; each time we choose not to exercise them, we further their chances of erosion." —JONATHAN MOSTOW | Co-Chair Creative Rights Committee 52 dga quarterly 80-YEAR ANNIVERSARY 80-YEAR ANNIVERSARY PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE, TOP RIGHT) DGA ARCHIVES; HOWARD WISE; DGA ARCHIVES (3) D