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Beyond Allies: Putting Race, Sexuality and Gender Allyship into Action

July 17, 2021

A DGA Committee of Joint Co-Chairs Virtual Event

On July 17, the DGA Committee of Joint Co-Chairs (CJC) hosted the virtual event, Beyond Allies: Putting Race, Sexuality and Gender Allyship into Action. Designed for all parts of the directorial team, the gathering featured a special panel moderated by Director Steven J. Kung where Directors Sam Bailey, John Krokidas and SJ Main Muñoz, and the Actors Fund's Looking Ahead program social worker and supervisor Chris Smith spoke about how DGA members can better support our co-workers.

The event kicked off with a welcome from CJC member Maria Burton, then Kung introduced the panelists who covered topics such as privilege, active kindness, and best practices for addressing and receiving criticism.

Following the panel discussion, the attendees separated into virtual break-out discussions groups where they explored tips and techniques designed to enable DGA members to be better allies to one another. The groups all reassembled at the end of the day to reveal the fruits of their discussions during a debrief session.

 ABOUT THE PANELISTS:

Director Sam Bailey
Bailey is the creator of the Gotham-nominated webseries, You’re So Talented, and the Director and co-creator of the Emmy Award-nominated webseries, Brown Girls. Her other directorial credits include the mini-series East of La Brea; and episodes of Grown-ish, The Chi, Diary of a Future President, Mixed-ish, First Wives Club and Dear White People. Bailey joined the DGA in 2018.
 

Director John Krokidas
Chosen by Variety as one of their "Top Ten Directors to Watch," The Advocate as one of their "Top 40 Under 40," and as one of Out Magazine's “Out 100,” Krokidas’ directorial credits include the feature film Kill Your Darlings; and episodes of Star, Empire, American Crime, Wayward Pines and Black Box. He is currently preparing to direct his second feature, Tunnels. Krokidas joined the DGA in 2013. 
 

Director SJ Main Muñoz
Main Muñoz has worked in production for nearly 20 years in roles including Director of Development, Production Supervisor and Post Supervisor. Her directorial credits include episodes of Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med and numerous short films. In 2020, Main Muñoz was the only Latina narrative Director to be invited into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She’s been a member of the DGA since 2020 where she’s an active member of the Latino Committee.
 

Chris Smith, The Actors Fund Looking Ahead program
Smith is the Social Worker and Supervisor of the Actors Fund's Looking Ahead program in Los Angeles, a program that supports the social and emotional well-being of child professional performers (Actors, Singers, Dancers) and their families. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) and provides trainings on mental health, suicide prevention and group facilitation and also runs a therapy private practice in the Los Angeles area.
 
Director Steven J. Kung (moderator)
Kung has been telling POC, queer and female-forward stories for his entire career.  His directorial credits include the feature film, A Leading Man; episodes of Fresh Off the Boat; and the award-winning documentary, SPEW: The Competitive World of High School Debate. Kung has been a DGA member since 2011 and previously served as a co-chair of the Asian American Committee. 
About the Committee of Joint Co-Chairs

The Committee of Joint Co-Chairs (CJC) is a group that brings together the co-chairs of the African American Steering Committee (AASC), Asian American Committee (AAC), Eastern Diversity Steering Committee (EDSC), Focus on Women Committee (FOWC), Latino Committee (LC), and the Women’s Steering Committee (WSC), who look for avenues for these committees to work together to increase diversity and inclusion in the industry through meetings, seminars, networking, training and events.

Pictures


View slideshow
Top Row: Directors John Krokidas, SJ Main Muñoz and Steven J. Kung (moderator) and Bottom Row: Director Sam Bailey and the Actors Fund's Looking Ahead program Social Worker and Supervisor Chris Smith were the panelists for the Committee of Joint Co-Chairs presents hosted the virtual event, Beyond Allies: Putting Race, Sexuality and Gender Allyship into Action.
Top Row: Directors John Krokidas and SJ Main Muñoz, Latino Committee Co-Chair Alicia Zaragoza and Women’s Steering Committee Co-Chair Maria Burton. Middle Row: Focus on Women Committee Co-Chair Annetta Marion, Women’s Steering Committee Co-Chair Liz Ryan, Latino Committee Co-Chair Regina Ainsworth and Director Steven J. Kung (moderator). Bottom Row: Director Sam Bailey, Actors Fund's Looking Ahead program social worker and supervisor Chris Smith and Eastern Diversity Steering Committee/Focus on Women Committee Co-Chair Joyce Thomas pose for an image during the Committee of Joint Co-Chairs virtual event, Beyond Allies: Putting Race, Sexuality and Gender Allyship into Action.

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