Code of Preferred Practices
The Code of Preferred Practices comprises a set of guidelines for Directors and executives who work with Directors. It is presented to the industry by the DGA-Employers Creative Rights Committee. Although the Guidelines set forth in the Code are voluntary, they express the sense of the Committee as to preferred industry practice. They will not necessarily apply in all instances to all Directors and all Employers. The Code is separate and apart from provisions of the DGA Basic Agreement.
CODE OF PREFERRED PRACTICES - CREATIVE RIGHTS
- That the number of people giving notes to the Director should be limited. In television, the preferred practice is that the number of people giving notes be limited to one person from the producing staff, one from the studio and one from the licensee.
- That motion pictures (theatrical and television) should not be unnecessarily delayed, so as to reduce the Director’s preparation or editing time.
- That ordinarily, the Producer should accept the Director’s choice of key personnel on a theatrical or long-form motion picture.
- That the presentation of the Director’s Cut of a theatrical film should include a temp mix and musical score sufficient to demonstrate the Director’s intentions.
- That on television series, Directors should be employed only if they are committed and available to do the work of preparation and post-production.
- That for theatrical motion pictures, before a final below-the-line budget is approved by the Employer, the Employer shall have employed the Director, Unit Production Manager, First Assistant Director and Production Designer, and the Director shall have had the opportunity to scout locations and review all key elements of production.
- That for longform television motion pictures, if the Director is hired before a final below-the-line budget is approved by the Employer, then, before said budget is finalized, the Employer shall employ the Unit Production Manager, First Assistant Director and Production Designer, and the Director shall have the opportunity to scout locations and review all key elements on the production.