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Quick DGA Action Leads Warner Bros. Discovery to Revisit Dismantling
TV Directors' Development Program
On October 11, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that as part of a series of layoffs and
budget cuts at Warner Bros. TV Group, it would dismantle its TV Directors' development
program. The program was established as the result of the DGA's decades of work to
pressure the Studios to diversify their hiring practices. On October 12, the DGA announced
its commitment to fight against that decision and that the Guild would not stand idly by while
WB/Discovery seeks to roll back decades of advancement for women and Directors of color.
"It is unconscionable that proven efforts to diversify our industry are so quickly and cavalierly sacrificed,"
said the Guild in an official statement issued to the press. "This important program, mandated by the
DGA collective bargaining agreement, seeks to promote inclusive hiring practices for diversified talent
and concludes with program participants provided an opportunity to direct an episode of TV. The program, and others like it, is essential to establish an
inclusive directorial workforce in the entertainment industry. We have been in contact with WB and have received their commitment to work with us to
remedy this important matter. We will do everything in our power to make sure they do so."
The WB directing program, run in collaboration with veteran Directors Bethany Rooney and Mary Lou Belli, has been exceptionally successful in mobilizing
inclusive talent with new stories to tell. The industry has greatly benefited from the successful alumni of these workshops including Directors Regina King,
Jude Weng, Laura Belsey, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Stacey Black, and Nina Lopez-Corrado, among many others.
Immediately after the DGA statement and other outcry from the industry, WB/Discovery announced that it would work with the DGA on the formulation of
a new program.
For more information about the DGA's Diversity & Inclusion efforts, visit the Diversity section of www.dga.org.
Mid-Term Elections Date:
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Courtney Franklin Elected to DGA National Board
At the DGA National Board meeting on October 15, 1st AD Courtney M. Franklin was to fill the
vacancy caused by the untimely passing of National Board member Duncan Henderson. Franklin
was previously elected as an Associate Board Member at the last biennial convention.
1st AD Kevin Koster, who was previously serving as a Second Alternate Board member, was elected to fill
Franklin's post as an Associate Board member and 1st AD Donald L. Sparks was elected to take Koster's
previous position as a Second Alternate Board Member.
See the full roster of DGA Board members on www.dga.org.
The DGA Reminds You To
