Jay D. Roth: DGA Presidents Award

January 9, 2017

On January 9, 2017, DGA President Paris Barclay announced that National Executive Director Jay D. Roth will be the recipient of the Presidents Award. The award, which will be presented at the 69th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 4, 2017, is given for leadership and extraordinary efforts in enhancing the welfare and image of the Guild and the industry and is bestowed only by a unanimous vote of the sitting and former DGA Presidents.

See video of Roth's acceptance speech below.

“The Presidents Award has only been previously given to the most exceptional leaders of the DGA – in 1998 to former DGA President George Sidney, and then in 2001 and 2005 to former Presidents Robert Wise and Gil Cates,” said DGA President Paris Barclay when announcing the award. “These were remarkable presidents who left a lasting impact on the Guild. And in Jay Roth, we have a kindred spirit whose brilliant mind and incredible accomplishments, including our groundbreaking recent negotiations, have forged a deep footprint – a legacy which has advanced both this Guild and our industry. Jay’s entire professional career has been dedicated to representing people and helping to make their lives better – early on as a civil rights and labor lawyer, and for more than three decades, as an essential part of the DGA’s life as its greatest adviser, defender and coach.”

On the heels of the revelation of this award came the announcement that after more than two decades in the post, Roth has decided to retire from his position in the late spring of 2017 and transition to a new role as senior adviser.

Roth has served as DGA National Executive Director since 1995. In the decade prior, he was the DGA’s long-serving outside general counsel, successfully representing the Guild in pivotal labor, copyright and international matters before he was asked to take the Executive Director post by legendary Guild leaders including Gene Reynolds, Gil Cates, Sheldon Leonard, Jack Shea, and John Rich. In doing so, Roth fulfilled the critical mission of engaging a new generation of members and jumpstarting the Guild to build upon its strengths for the future. Membership grew and members prospered – creatively and economically.

“Jay is one of those rare individuals who sees the forest and the trees – in 3D – recognizing how to bring every puzzle piece together in service of a greater vision,” added DGA Secretary-Treasurer and Past President Michael Apted. “His tremendous impact transcended our own walls as he bolstered the standing of directors and the reputation of our Guild. Whether protecting members’ livelihoods by corralling the industry to rally against runaway production and piracy, or coordinating intense negotiations to strengthen pension and health plans for members and their families, or expanding global jurisdiction and cultural exchanges, his three decades of leadership are well recognized by the industry at large as being a vital element in shaping the future of the motion picture business.”

As National Executive Director, Roth led eight successful rounds of negotiations addressing head-on the industry’s changing production, distribution and exhibition models fueled by the Digital Age. From the blending of outdated, disparate contracts that paid members differently for the same work, to a revitalized health and pension plan with record levels of funding, to establishing jurisdiction and agreements that cover new media and residuals in subscription video on demand – members and the industry were set on a course for future success.

Under his leadership, the DGA’s operations, professional staff and resources were centered around member service and the management of the Guild’s core functions including: collective bargaining, contract enforcement, organizing and jurisdiction. In addition, Roth spearheaded service-oriented efforts to implement the National Board’s direction to reflect organizationally the Guild’s mission and support the work of DGA directors and their teams. As membership grew 65% during his tenure at the Guild, key on-the-ground support for members outpaced that growth – the number of field representatives tripled and the contracts department grew nearly five times in size. Annual residuals payments to DGA members increased 300% to nearly $400 million. The Guild’s global presence was also expanded – including staff assigned to international affairs and the development of a new Coordinating Committee in London – to reflect the changing dynamics of the industry. In recognition of his work in helping to create and promote the Franco-American Cultural Fund, for which he was a founding board member, President Sarkozy of France named Roth a recipient of the French Legion of Honor in 2009.

To provide industry-leading retirement and medical security for members – Roth has served as the chairman of the DGA-Producer Pension and Health Plans and, for nearly 20 years, as co-chair of its Finance Committee, which, jointly with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and other industry producers, administers a $3 billion pension and health fund for DGA members and their families.

“I’m honored by this recognition from our current and past Presidents,” said Roth. “We’ve served alongside one another to carry into the future the vision upon which this Guild was founded: protecting and advancing the creative and economic rights of directors. I’m proud of what we’ve all accomplished together to build the Guild and advance our mission of protecting the creative and economic rights of our members – every single new contract, compensation increase, residual, creative right and expansion of jurisdiction that has allowed our members the freedom and security to create the best motion pictures in the world. I look forward to the next chapter of my work with the Guild – and to the new milestones that will be achieved by the DGA and its members.”

Born and raised in New York, Roth is a graduate of the University of Vermont and Boston University Law School. He is married to his wife of 45 years, Sherry Grant, an attorney who represents injured workers. Together they have a daughter and son-in-law, Gina and Dan O’Donnell, and two grandchildren, Jack and Caroline, ages 9 and 4.

Roth accepts DGA Presidents Award.

Past recipients of the DGA Presidents Award: