Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1540124
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 5 I 1 5 A documentary by Thomas C. Grane Please join us for this special screening of a documentary about the making of the Avatar sequels, followed by a virtual Q&A with Director James Cameron. Fire & Water: The Making of the "Avatar" Films, provides a fascinating glimpse into the making of Director James Cameron's Oscar®-winning box office phenomenon Avatar: The Way of Water and a first look at his upcoming feature, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Director Thomas C. Grane and his team traveled from Manhattan Beach, San Pedro, Shasta Lake, and the Channel Islands to the Bahamas, Hawaii, and New Zealand, to follow the cast and below-the-line team as they work to hone and perfect the techniques of underwater performance capture technology and learn to free dive in a massive, state-of-the-art 680,000-gallon water tank. The film features exclusive behind-the- scenes footage, concept art, and interviews with cast and filmmakers including: James Cameron, Producer Jon Landau, 1st AD Maria Battle-Campbell, 2nd Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator Garrett Warren, Actors Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Kate Winslet and Sigourney Weaver, and more. • OCTOBER UPCOMING EVENTS • Running Time: 82 minutes • Print Courtesy of 20th Century Studios and Lightstorm Entertainment Special Projects is the educational and cultural arm of the Directors Guild of America. It provides opportunities for creative exchange with programs for members and industry colleagues to celebrate the history and achievements of its members, advance their professional skills, and prepare them for the technological changes of the future. Tuesday, October 21 7:00 p.m. — DGA LA Theater 1 To RSVP, please log-in as a member at www.dga.org/Events and click on Upcoming Events. The DGA Special Projects Committee presents: Fire and Water: The Making of the "Avatar" Films photo courtesy of Rolex Saturday, October 18 5:00 p.m. — DGA LA Theater 1 7:00 p.m. — DGA NY Boardroom To RSVP, please log-in as a member at www.dga.org/Events and click on Upcoming Events. LGBTQ+ Committee presents: In Times Like These: Greg Berlanti's Legacy of LGBTQ+ Storytelling Please join the LGBTQ+ Committee for a tribute to Director Greg Berlanti. This event will take place live in Los Angeles, with a live stream in the Guild's New York Boardroom. Television changed when Greg Berlanti stepped behind the camera, and so did the lives of millions in the LGBTQ+ community. Over more than two decades, his career has become a testament to the power of visibility, marked by groundbreaking moments from Dawson's Creek's first same-sex kiss on network television to Love, Simon, Supergirl, Brilliant Minds, and beyond. Berlanti has built more than hit shows and films — he has built space. Space for queer love stories, trans visibility, and authentic representation. For BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and emerging Directors to thrive. Through his unwavering commitment to inclusive storytelling and assembling some of the most diverse creative teams in Hollywood, he has opened doors, shifted culture, and amplified the voices of generations of viewers, creators, and crew. Few have changed the television and film landscape like Berlanti. A DGA member since 2009, his work was recognized by the Guild with a 2012 DGA Movies for Television and Mini-Series Award nomination for his pilot episode of Political Animals. With courage, clarity, and craft, he has brought queer stories from the margins to the mainstream, redefining what's possible in broadcast, streaming and in theaters. This special DGA evening celebrates his enduring vision and the resilience behind the stories that continue to inspire and transform. Director Greg Berlanti photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images For questions regarding this event, please contact lgbtqplus@dga.org Founded in 2021, the LGBTQ+ Committee is dedicated to empowering and advancing the professional interests of DGA members who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer, and to promoting and working for employment equity throughout the entertainment industry. Director James Cameron