DGA Monthly

2025 Frank Capra Achievement Award 77 th J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 I 1 6 "Tom's remarkable career is matched only by his own deep commitment to uplifting others through his service to the DGA," said DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter. "Tom has fostered a close-knit community through his leadership of the Eastern AD/UPM Council, and he has helped create a more inclusive and supportive Guild. He embodies the spirit of collaboration, dedication, and excellence that makes our Guild thrive. We congratulate Tom for being selected as a recipient of this year's outstanding service awards." After starting his industry career as an Assistant Location Manager, Whelan joined the DGA in 1997 as the LM on Richard Pearce's movie for television Thicker Than Blood. He would go on to forge a career with features such as Miloš Forman's Man on the Moon, Kasi Lemmons' The Caveman's Valentine, Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums, David Mamet's Heist, Terry George's Reservation Road and Jonathan Demme's Rachel Getting Married. His UPM credits include series such as Blue Bloods, Gotham, Evil, Night Sky and Diarra from Detroit. Whelan was also part of the DGA Award-nominated teams on Barry Levinson's movie for television You Don't Know Jack and nominated episodes of Sex & the City. His prolifi c professional career has never dissuaded him from Guild service, fi rst being elected as an alternate member of the Eastern AD/UPM Council in 2000. He would go on to serve for over twenty years as a Council member or alternate, including three years as 2nd Vice Chairperson, three years as 1st Vice Chairperson and three years as Council Chair. He is the Founding Chair of the Council's 2nd AD/Location Manager Committee, served as Co-Chair of the Eastern Internet Liaison Committee, the UPM Committee, and the Proposals Committee; and also served on the Council's Location Manager Exploratory Committee, Sustainable Production Committee, Waiver Review Committee, and Member Education Committee. He has led Council working groups to create a Council Handbook and a New York edition of The Jeffords Rules, as well as participating in the New York Production Coalition. Whelan has also served on the DGA Website Advisory Committee and for six cycles on the BA/FLTTA Negotiations Committee from 2008- 2023. Additionally, he was twice elected as a Second Alternate on the DGA National Board and is a member of the DGA PAC Leadership Council and a Trustee to the DGA Foundation. On being lauded by his peers as the latest Capra recipient Whelan said, "I was able to listen in on the October National Board meeting via Zoom. When the agenda got to Awards and Kathy McGill began her Capra Award intro and I realized she was introducing me, I was fl oored. And now that it's sinking in that the Board voted me worthy to join honorees like Kathy, and like Joe Reidy, and Marie Cantin, Mark Hansson, Duncan Henderson, Cleve Landsberg and Steve Glanzrock — many of my DGA mentors — well, it's a bit overwhelming. I'm a bit of a late-bloomer in this business and in the Guild. So after all these years of just getting up and just doing what needs to be done each day, to now to be nominated to receive this honor from my DGA colleagues is highly gratifying and validating. All the effort and energy we production folks devote to career and service can actually add up to something. What's especially meaningful to me, as a person whose path was through the ranks of 2nd AD/Location Managers and AUPMs, is the hope that this recognition will inspire current and future 2nd AD/ Location Managers to get involved, and continue to advance and protect the craft of Location Managing in the DGA." Past Recipients of the Frank Capra Achievement Award 2024 Janet Knutsen 2023 Mark Hansson 2022 Joseph P. Reidy 2021 Brian E. Frankish 2020 Duncan S. Henderson 2019 Kathleen McGill 2018 Dwight Williams 2017 Marie Cantin 2016 Mary Rae Thewlis 2015 Phillip M. Goldfarb 2014 Lee Blaine 2013 Susan Zwerman 2012 Katy Garretson 2010 Cleve Landsberg 2009 Kim Kurumada 2008 Liz Ryan 2006 Jerry H. Zeismer 2005 Herb Adelman 2004 Stephen Glanzrock 2003 Yudi Bennett 2002 Burt Bluestein 2000 Cheryl R. Downey 1999 Tom Joyner 1998 Bob Jeffords 1994 Peter A. Runfolo 1993 Willard H. Sheldon 1991 Howard W. Koch 1990 Stanley Ackerman 1988 Alex Hapsas 1987 Henry E. "Bud" Brill 1985 Jane Schimel, Abby Singer 1983 William Beaudine, Jr. William C. Gerrity 1982 Wallace Worsley David Golden 1981 Francisco "Chico" Day 1980 Emmett Emerson photo by Marcie Revens Thomas J. Whelan UPM Thomas J. Whelan will become the 39th recipient of the Frank Capra Achievement Award, which will be presented at the DGA Awards ceremony on February 8, 2025. The Capra Award is given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of their career and service to the industry and the DGA 1 6 I D G A M O N T H L Y

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