DGA Diversity Task Force hosts Inter-Committee Retreat

August 1, 2015

On August 1, members of the DGA’s Diversity Task Force hosted the first DGA Diversity Task Force and Inter-Committee Retreat – which brought together the DGA Diversity Task Force and the DGA Diversity Committee co-chairs – at the Guild’s Los Angeles headquarters. The half-day strategic planning session was dedicated to furthering the Guild’s efforts to level the playing field for women and ethnic minority members.

The meeting was chaired by DGA Diversity Task Force Co-chair Todd Holland and participants included DGA First Vice President and Diversity Task Force member Betty Thomas; Diversity Task Force members; and Co-chairs from the Guild’s African American Steering Committee (AASC), Asian American Committee (AAC), Latino Committee (LC) and Women’s Steering Committee (WSC). Co-chairs from the Eastern Diversity Steering Committee (EDSC) and the Eastern Directors Council’s Focus on Women Subcommittee joined part of the session via teleconference. DGA Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director Bryan Unger was present to lend support and guidance.

To kick-off the session, Holland welcomed the attendees and Frank Bennett Gonzalez, DGA Assistant Executive Director – Diversity, gave an overview of the key goals and objectives for the day. Attendees then discussed the Guild’s diversity history, key milestones to date and the current state of the industry. In the afternoon’s break-out sessions – moderated by DGA Special Assignments Executive Mayra Ocampo and DGA Field Rep Gabe Kahsay – attendees engaged in “blue-sky” brainstorming with a focus on future diversity initiatives. Topics included new goals, intra-Guild synergy opportunities, metrics and data tracking, mentorship, and networking strategies. The day concluded with attendees working together to determine next steps in future planning.

About the Diversity Committees:

The DGA Diversity Committees are dedicated to their respective communities and work towards supporting women and ethnically diverse members who are underrepresented in the entertainment industry. Each of the committees endeavor to increase employment opportunities for directors and their directorial teams through meetings, seminars, networking, and special celebratory events.

Click here for more information about the DGA’s diversity efforts.

Pictures

Los Angeles Retreat photos by Tonya Wise

View slideshow

DGA members and staff hear reports and brainstorm during the first DGA Diversity Task Force and Inter-Committee Retreat.

DGA Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Todd Holland welcomes the attendees.

DGA Assistant Executive Director, Diversity Frank Bennett Gonzalez then presents an overview for the plan for the day.

DGA Field Rep Gabe Kahsay details the history of the Guild’s diversity efforts.

Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Betty Thomas and AASC Co-Chair Carl Seaton view a report.

DGA Special Assignments Executive Mayra Ocampo gives a report.

AAC Co-Chair Ron Dempsey and Task Force member/WSC Co-Chair Liz Ryan listen to the reports.

DGA Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director Bryan Unger makes a suggestion.

AASC Co-Chair Jeff Byrd and Task Force members Felix Alcala listen to the reports.

LC Co-Chair Alejandro Treviño makes a comment.

Diversity Task Force members Bill Duke and Henry Chan study the information.

AAC Co-Chair Steven J. Kung studies the information.

Front row: Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Betty Thomas, WSC Co-Chairs Liz Ryan and Mary Lou Belli, AAC Co-Chair Kevin Berlandi, Diversity Task Force members Felix Alcala and Bill Duke. Back Row: DGA Executive Assistant Kristen Marston, DGA Assistant Executive Director, Diversity Frank Bennett Gonzalez, AAC Co-Chairs Steven J. Kung and Ron Dempsey, Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Todd Holland, LC Co-Chairs Alejandro Treviño and Rami Rivera Frankl, Diversity Task Force member Henry Chan, AASC Co-Chair Carl Seaton, and DGA Special Assignments Executive Mayra Ocampo.

East Coast Teleconference Attendees Eastern Directors Council’s Focus on Women Subcommittee Co-Chair Laura Belsey.
EDSC Co-Chairs Jason Medina, Rebecca Strickland and Joyce Thomas.