On November 3, Bay Area-based DGA members gathered for a celebration of the Northern California film, television and video/digital industry during the San Francisco Coordinating Committee (SFCC)’s 2024 Fall Networking Mixer. The evening was part of the Committee’s mission of facilitating the exchange of ideas, maintaining contacts with other guilds and unions, and furthering professional opportunities for all Northern California DGA members and was attended by over 100 diverse individuals involved in Bay Area Film making. In addition to DGA members the crowd included representatives from regional film commissions, producers, visual effects, stunts and Teamsters.
Following a welcome from SFCC Chair Jason Halley, SFCC Executive Committee Member Ted Leonard moderated a conversation with East Bay Film Collective Executive Board members: Directors W. Kamau Bell, Cheryl Dunye and Jim Labrecht and Producers Patrick Caliguri and Peter Nicks. They discussed the unique character of the Bay area as a historic home for diverse voices and stories from activists and historically underrepresented groups.
Through an initiative known as “Make it Bay,” the East Bay Film Collective seeks to uplift the Bay Area’s cultural economy and generate jobs by attracting film and TV production to the region. The panelists also discussed the local tax incentive available when projects shoot in Oakland, with additional funding available when working in particularly depressed areas of the community.
Following the discussion, the attendees enjoyed an afternoon of networking and socializing with their peers and other Northern California industry professionals.
About the Committee:
The SFCC was formed in 1978 to coordinate Guild activities in the Bay Area. The Committee hosts a number of educational presentations and networking events during the year, in order to fulfill its objectives of facilitating the exchange of ideas, maintaining contacts with other guilds and unions, and furthering professional opportunities for all Northern California DGA members.