DGA Monthly

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 I 5 3 CLASSIC FILM SERIES King Kong Directed by Merian C. Cooper The Special Projects Committee invites you to join them for a special 35mm print screening of Director Merian C. Cooper's 1933 classic, King Kong. A fi lm crew goes on a location shoot to a tropical island that turns out to be the stomping ground of a colossal ape who becomes smitten with their blonde starlet. Disaster strikes when they capture him and bring him back to New York City. Upon his escape, Kong wreaks havoc upon the city as he searches for his diminiutive would-be girlfriend. King Kong's stop motion effects by Willis H. O'Brien left a lasting impact on the fi lm industry worldwide and inspired other genre fi lms such as Mighty Joe Young, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Mothra and Jurassic Park. In 1975, King Kong was named one of the 50 best American fi lms by the American Film Institute and in 1991, the fi lm was deemed "culturally, historically and aesthetically signifi cant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Starring: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot. Running Time: 100 minutes - Print Courtesy of Park Circus LA Wed., Dec. 3 7:00 p.m. DGA Theater 1 RSVP Online at www.dga.org The Classic Film Series screens revered fi lms, often followed by a panel discussion about the fi lm and its Director's contribution to the world of cinema. Merian C. Cooper — Merian Caldwell Cooper (1893-1973) was born in Jacksonville, FL. Before entering the movie business, he fought in the World War I as a pilot in the United States Army Air Service and later in the Polish Air Force. He got his start in fi lm as part of the Explorers Club, traveling the world and documenting adventures. During his career, he worked for companies such as Pioneer Pictures, RKO Pictures, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In 1925, he and Ernest B. Schoedsack went to Iran and made Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life, a documentary about the Bakhtiari people. A DGA member since 1946, Cooper's other directorial credits include The Four Feathers, The Last Days of Pompeii, Mighty Joe Young and he co-directed This Is Cinerama where he is credited as co-inventor of the Cinerama fi lm projection process. Cooper said that he thought of King Kong after he had a dream that a giant gorilla was terrorizing New York City. When he awoke, he recorded the idea and used it for the fi lm. He was going to have a giant gorilla fi ght a Komodo dragon or other animal, but found that the technique of interlacing that he wanted to use would not provide realistic results. He offi cially pitched the idea for King Kong to David Selznick at RKO Pictures in December 1931. Merian C. Cooper business, he fought in the World War I as a pilot in the United States Army Air Service and later in the Polish Air Force. He got his start in fi lm as part of the Explorers Club, traveling the world and documenting adventures. During his career, he worked for companies such as Pioneer Pictures, RKO Pictures, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In 1925, he and Ernest B. Schoedsack went to Iran and made A DGA member since 1946, Cooper's other directorial credits include Joe Young Cooper said that he thought of he recorded the idea and used it for the fi lm. He was going to have a giant gorilla fi ght a Komodo dragon or other animal, but found that the technique of interlacing that he wanted to use would not provide realistic results. He offi cially pitched the idea for King Kong This screening will be followed by a discussion featuring special guests, Directors Gareth Edwards and Jon Turteltaub, moderated by Director Arthur Allan Seidelman. The Social Network: DGA Members On Set Send Us Your On Set Photos and Follow Us On Social Media The DGA is looking for a few good stills from your on set experiences for this series and our social media platforms. If you have current photos of yourself and/or fellow members at work, please send them, along with details about the image to: Press@dga.org. And remember to stay connected with the DGA by following us across social media to learn about events and Guild activities. Join the conversation by following our channels today! Facebook: www.facebook.com/directorsguildofamericadga Instagram: www.instagram.com/directorsguild YouTube: www.youtube.com/@directorsguildofamericaDGA Front Row L-R: 2nd AD Rick Rosset, 1st AD Shane Kalman, 2nd ADs Jenny McCabe, Alex Schwerin and Maggie Callis and Stage Manager Laura Mack. Back Row: Stage Managers Rhoda Gilmore, April Smith, Arthur E. Lewis and Thomas Ucciferri, 1st AD Ryan Kenney, Associate Director Jodie Alexandra Taylor, 2nd ADs Annie Tompkins, Gregory Loftus, Brigitte Henderson and Melissa Morphet and Stage Managers Mike Kilkenny and Jeff Buda in front of the Manhattan Center's Hammerstein Ballroom. (Not pictured: Associate Directors Marcy Kempner and Michael Torello) — Submitted by Stage Manager April Smith at work on the special, One Shot with Ed Sheeran

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