DGA Monthly

N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 6 I 2 1 See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. In celebration of Latin Heritage Month, on October 3, attendees gathered in the Guild's Los Angeles Theater for Built to Last, the sixth annual DGA Latino Summit. Hosted by the Latino Committee's (LC) Latino Summit Subcommittee and the Latino Summit Direct Connects (LC/ DC) Subcommittee — both dedicated to empowering Latinos in all Guild categories — the event provided attendees with an opportunity to connect and learn from their successful peers during an inspiring day of community, career development, and celebrating Latino excellence in the arts. The Summit also sought to reaffirm the Guild's commitment to inclusion, representation and amplifying diverse voices across the entertainment industry. Following a welcome from DGA National Board Member Kabir Akhtar, Summit Subcommittee Co-Chairs Alejandro Brugués, Eli Gonda and SJ Main Muñoz, all of whom have served as current or former LC Co-Chairs spoke about the work of the committee and the importance of events such as this before introducing the first panel of the day that dealt with working with actors. Built on Trust: Actors on What Makes a Director Worth Following In an unfiltered playbook for building collaborations that liberate great performances moderated by Director Monica Raymund, Actors Belissa Escobedo, Jesse Garcia and Justina Machado shared what actually earns an actor's trust and loyalty. Highlights from this conversation included Escobedo noting she wants to follow are always the ones who treat Actors like peers; Machado sharing that what makes her follow great Directors is trust; Garcia advising Directors to take an acting class; and Raymund revealing how directing has changed her experience as an Actor. Built on Craft: Turning Vision Into the Work Noting that your vision is only as strong as the team executing it, this panel featured DP Hilda Mercado, Production Designer Franco-Giacomo Carbone, Editor Jessica Hernández and Casting Director/Disney's EVP & Head of Casting Tricia Wood in a conversation about what makes for a fluid and inspiring process, and what turns a crew into your crew. During the conversation moderated by LC Co-Chair Eli Gonda, the panelists generally agreed that the Director needs to be the lead in the process with Hernández saying, "if the leader is lost in the desert, then the rest of us are too." Built to Last: In the Directors' Chairs DGA Latino Summit 2026's final panel featured a thought-provoking conversation between Directors Linda Mendoza and Kyle Patrick Alvarez where they dissected the technical rigor and singular vision required to build a career that remains vital at the highest level. Sharing their blueprint for creative authority and longevity, forged through uncompromising excellence, Alvarez noted that the most valuable thing is someone believing in you, and Mendoza described her career as being built over many years and many baby steps. Latino Committee Direct Connects Latino Summit 2026 also featured LC/DC, an in-person speed networking event themed on the process of pitching. Led by LC/DC Co-Chairs Regina Ainsworth and Antonio Negret, the session matched DGA members with well-developed projects that are packaged and needed further momentum with other members who could offer guidance or assistance. DGA Latino Summit 2026: Built to Last A Latino Committee Event See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. DGA Events Roundup photos by Quintin Lundy 1 6 2 3 7 4 5 8 9 10 11 Photos: 1. Directors Kyle Patrick Alvarez and Linda Mendoza engage in the Built to Last: In the Directors' Chairs panel. 2-5. DGA National Board Member Kabir Akhtar, Summit Subcommittee members Alejandro Brugués, SJ Main Muñoz and Eli Gonda welcome the audience to Built to Last, the Latino Committee's sixth Latino Summit. 6. Director Monica Raymund (moderator) and Actors Jesse Garcia, Justina Machado and Belissa Escobedo were the panelists for Built on Trust: Actors on What Makes a Director Worth Following. 7. LC Co-Chair Eli Gonda (moderator) and Editor Jessica Hernández, Cinematographer Hilda Mercado, Production Designer Franco-Giacomo Carbone, and Casting Director Tricia Wood were the panelists for Built on Craft: Turning Vision Into the Work. 8-11. LC/DC Co-Chairs Regina Ainsworth and Antonio Negret facilitate the Latino Committee Direct Connects in-person speed networking event and DGA members with well-developed projects confer with those in a position to assist them.

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