November 24, 2020
Dear Members:
This is the glorious time of year when we can give thanks and gratitude for the blessings in our lives. As our nation continues to grapple with this pandemic, we have all encountered challenges and have had to make many sacrifices – yet there are still bright spots to be thankful for.
That includes the good news that many of us are back to work after months of unemployment. In September, we turned a significant corner following our multi-union negotiations with industry employers to develop stringent testing and protocols to keep film and television workers safe on set. Since that time, production has slowly been ramping back up. And although we cannot eliminate all risk, early signs indicate that the protocols are achieving their objective of reducing risk and catching infected individuals early in the disease, in most cases before they are contagious.
To help stay on this upward trajectory, there are some actions we can all take over the holidays to stay safe. It does unfortunately mean sacrificing for a bit longer when we all want to be surrounded by our loved ones. After a year of isolation, there is nothing more any one of us would rather do than gather around the table with our friends and family. I am definitely one of those people. But with COVID-19 spiking throughout the U.S., holiday travel and large indoor gatherings have been deemed high risk for the spread of the virus. Across the board, experts are recommending that we cut back our festivities to protect our families, our colleagues, and our communities. So whether you celebrate virtually this year, have a small outdoor gathering (with masks and social distancing), or postpone your big holiday dinner for a safer time, a little bit of caution will go a long way to keep us all working and safe.
I just want to take a moment on behalf of all of us to extend our gratitude for another bright spot, and that’s the DGA staff. This extraordinary group of professionals didn’t miss a beat to support us in every way imaginable. Whether defending our rights, fighting for financial relief in Washington D.C., getting residuals and foreign levies into our pockets, keeping us connected to one another, and everything in-between – our professional staff has risen to the highest of challenges.
As we all work together toward a brighter future, we can look forward to the normalcy of our traditional gatherings a year from now, when we can once again be surrounded by our friends, extended families, and each other.
Stay safe.
Thomas Schlamme
DGA President