DGA Monthly

A U G U S T 2 0 2 6 I 2 9 See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. DGA Events Roundup "You know when you make a list when you're 12, and then another one at 25, and then 45? Well, I'm still working through the 12-year-old list," confessed Director Reginald Hudlin about his career. "There was a point halfway through my career where I had to stop and see what was working and what was not. I realized the things that worked were the ones I was super passionate about and the things that weren't were the 'smart move.' The super passionate things were the things that people thought were terrible ideas and those always succeeded and advanced my career. So, this is a very simple filter, just do what you want to do." On June 13, the audience in the DGA's Los Angeles theater gathered for an evening in Hudlin's honor as the African American Steering Committee (AASC) hosted a special event to celebrate the Oscar and Emmy-nominated Director and Producer. The show — directed by Fay Hauser- Price with Stage Manager Anthony Kinniebrew — featured notable industry guest speakers who have worked with Hudlin and have been influenced by his extensive body of work. An active DGA member since 1991, Hudlin has more than 50 directorial credits including the features House Party, Boomerang, Serving Sara, Marshall; television specials such as Richard Pryor: The Funniest Man Dead or Alive; and episodes of Everybody Hates Chris, The Bernie Mac Show, The Office, Modern Family, Murder in the First and The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. He also served on the Guild's Theatrical Creative Rights Committee from 2018-2021 and he was the second African American to executive produce The Academy Awards (2016), the first to executive produce The Emmy Awards (2020, 2021, 2022) and for over a decade, has been the Executive Producer of the NAACP Image Awards. The festivities began with a welcome from AASC Co-Chairs Pete Chatmon, Crystle Roberson Dorsey and Eric Dean Seaton and Alternate Co-Chair Kelly Park, who saluted Hudlin and spoke about the Committee's rich history and its mission to address the specific needs of the African American members of the Guild. Hudlin's career was illustrated through a retrospective reel, helmed by AASC Activities & Events Subcommittee Co-Chair Abdul Malik Abbott which featured an interview with Hudlin conducted by Seaton. The guest speakers sharing personal anecdotes on the impact Hudlin has had on them personally, as well as the industry at large included Director Jonathan Mostow, who first met Hudlin as a fellow Harvard film student; former Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President, Professor Cheryl Boone Isaacs who has worked with Hudlin on the Academy Awards shows and more; Actors Terry Crews who starred in Hudlin's pilot for the series, Everybody Hates Chris and Sterling K. Brown from his feature, Marshall; and Composer Marcus Miller who has collaborated with Hudlin on multiple projects for the screen and beyond. The audience also viewed a series of heartfelt video tributes from Hudlin's colleagues and collaborators including industry talents such as Director Nandi Bowe; Actor/Director Chris Rock, Producer Nicole Avant; Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.; Producer/Actor/Writer D.L. Hughley; and Actor/Producer/Director Tichina Arnold. After the live and taped accolades, Hudlin was invited to the stage by his longtime friend, Director Nelson George, who served as moderator for a lively conversation about his career. Revealing how he continuously fuels his creative energy throughout his career, he said, "If you're expressing yourself – not just working – but you're expressing yourself and envisioning your ideas, then someone who is tasteful will see your vision and say, 'hey, he's got something to say.' There is an opportunity because you can make an opportunity. If you make an opportunity, you can make a difference. Don't give people power that they don't have, just take your own power and do what you want." His parting advice to those who would follow in his footsteps was, "When people come to me and say they don't have a script and can't make a movie, I say, 'Well make it a play. You can do something, you have a phone in your pocket, and you can make a movie on that phone. So, please don't tell me what you can't do. Show me what you're doing!' That applies to me. There is never a reason to stop making stuff." Photos: 1. Director Reginald Hudlin. 2. AASC Co-Chairs Eric Dean Seaton, Crystle Roberson Dorsey, and Pete Chatmon and Alternate Co-Chair Kelly Park. 3. Activities & Events Subcommittee Co- Chair Abdul Malik Abbott. 4-8. Director Jonathan Mostow, Professor Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Actors Terry Crews and Sterling K. Brown and Composer Marcus Miller. 9. Hudlin spoke about his career during a conversation with Director Nelson George (moderator). 10. Hudlin with guest speakers and members of the AASC. A Tribute to Director Reginald Hudlin A DGA African American Steering Committee Event See video highlights from this event at www.dga.org. photos by Quintin Lundy 1 9 10 2 5 4 3 8 7 6

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