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African American Steering Committee, Asian American Committee and Focus on Women Committee Announce Election Results

August 16, 2022

Directors Jeffrey W. Byrd, Princess Monique and Gina M. Prince-Bythewood have been elected co-chairs of the African American Steering Committee (AASC). Directors Kabir Akhtar, Maureen Bharoocha and Kai Kim have been elected co-chairs of the Asian American Committee (AAC); and Directors Maggie Greenwald and Annetta Marion and Associate Director Joyce Thomas have been re-elected co-chairs of the Focus on Women Committee (FOWC).

Additionally, Director Abdul Malik Abbott and 2nd AD LaTrisa LJ Jackson have been elected as the Director and AD/UPM category representatives of the AASC; Director Lily Mariye has been elected as the Director category representative of the AAC; and Director Liliana Olszewski, UPM Lyn Pinezich and Stage Manager April Smith have been elected as the Director, AD/UPM and AD/SM/PA category representatives of the FOWC. Each position will cover a two-year term.

About the African American Steering Committee Co-Chairs

Director Jeffrey W. Byrd
Byrd’s directorial credits include the features, King’s Ransom and A Beautiful Soul; the movies for television, Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story, Seventeen Again and Jasper, Texas; and episodes of the series, The Flash, Tom Swift, Good Trouble, Star Trek Discovery, Dynasty, Charmed, Black Lightning, Soul Food and Single Ladies. A DGA member since 1999, he has served on the Western Directors Council and previously served terms as the AASC Co-Chair from 2020 to present and from 2014 to 2018; and as the AASC Director category rep from 2018-2020. 
 

Director Princess Monique
Monique’s directorial credits include the movie for television, Seasons of Love; and episodes of Grand Crew, The Goldbergs, Our Kind of People, Black-ish, Greenleaf; and the documentary short, Nerdist the Impact of Black Panther. She has been a DGA member since 2019. 
 

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood
Prince-Bythewood’s directorial credits the award-winning features, Love & Basketball and The Secret Life of Bees; the award-nominated feature, Beyond the Lights; the critically acclaimed feature, The Old Guard; and the upcoming historical epic, The Woman King. Other directing credits include the movie for television, Disappearing Acts; and episodes of the series, Women of the Movement, Cloak and Dagger, Shots Fired, Girlfriends and The Bernie Mac Show. She has been a DGA member since 1999 and has served as an alternate on the Western Directors Council and as a co-chair of the African American Steering Committee. 
 
About the Committee

The African American Steering Committee (AASC) was born of a desire to address the specific needs of the African-American members of the Guild with goal of advancing career and job opportunities. The Committee meets several times a year, planning events throughout the year celebrating the achievements of African Americans, as well as forums with industry executives.

About the Asian American Committee Co-Chairs
Director Kabir Akhtar
Akhtar’s directorial credits include episodes of the series, Never Have I Ever, Resident Alien, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Sex Lives of College Girls, BH 90210, The Unicorn, Mumbai Calling, Saved by the Bell and Grown-ish; the pilot episode of Primo; and the relaunched edition of Unsolved Mysteries. Akhtar was nominated for the 2020 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for his “Opening Night” episode of the series, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series; and he also won a Primetime Emmy for his editing work on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Akhtar has been a DGA member since 2005 and previously served as a co-chair of the Asian American Committee.
 
Director Maureen Bharoocha
Bharoocha’s directorial credits include the feature films, The Prank and Golden Arm. She has directed episodes of the series, Saved by the Bell, Drama Club and the upcoming Pitch Perfect television series. She was previously a segment Director for three seasons on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Bharoocha has been a DGA member since 2016 and previously served as the alternate co-chair of the Asian American Committee and co-created of the Women’s Steering Committee’s WSC Squad mentorship program. 
 

Director Kai Kim
Kim began his directing career by helming multiple episodes for the daytime drama, The Young and The Restless. He launched his career in the entertainment industry in creature effects, custom props and as a camera operator with multiple Daytime Emmys for his camerawork on The Young and The Restless. A DGA member since 2014, he previously served as a co-chair of the Asian American Committee from 2020 to present, as alternate co-chair of the Committee from 2018-2020 and on the DGA Committee of Joint Co-Chairs. 
 
About the Committee

The Asian American Committee (AAC) was created as a networking group to provide a forum for interests and issues that concern Asian American Guild members. Through outreach efforts in the entertainment industry that emphasize career development and skills enhancement, the committee provides a variety of networking opportunities as well as screenings, seminars and discussions with industry professionals.

About the Focus on Women Committee Co-Chairs
Director Maggie Greenwald
Greenwald’s directorial credits includes the features, Sophie and the Rising Sun, The Last Keepers, The Ballad of Little Jo and the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury prize-nominated features, Songcatcher and The Kill-Off. She also directed the movies for television, What Makes a Family, Tempted, Comfort and Joy, Get a Clue, Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane and Good Morning, Killer; and episodes of Madam Secretary, Wildfire, Nashville, The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo and The Adventures of Pete & Pete. A DGA member since 2000, Greenwald is an alternate of the DGA National Board, a member of the Eastern Directors Council and previously served as a chair of the Focus on Women Committee.
 

Director Annetta Marion
Marion’s directorial credits include the television movie documentaries, Oprah’s Master Class: Civil Rights Special and Nicki Minaj: My Time Again; the television specials, Oprah Goes to Broadway: The Color Purple and Oprah’s Master Class: Belief Special; episodes of the series, The 47th Floor and of the television series documentaries Oprah’s Master Class and Mission Juno. A DGA member since 2009, Marion is a member of the Eastern Diversity Steering Committee, has served on the Eastern Directors Council and previously served as a chair of the Focus on Women Committee in both its earlier and present formats. 
 
Associate Director Joyce Thomas
Thomas has worked at CBS for more than 30 years, joining the Guild in 1996 as an Associate Director/Technical Supervisor in the Broadcast Operations Department and currently works as an Associate Director/Technical Manager at the network’s Media Distribution Center in New York. She currently serves as the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer on the DGA National Board and has served on the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council for more than 20 years, including three terms as Council Chair. Thomas was previously elected as a Co-Chair of the Focus on Women Committee and is a former Co-Chair of the Eastern Diversity Steering Committee, currently serves a co-chair of the Guild's Network Negotiating Committee and served on three previous Network Negotiating Committees. 
 
About the Committee

Originally a sub-committee of the Eastern Directors Council, in 2020 the Focus on Women Committee (FOWC) was designated an official and permanent committee of the DGA National Board for women members residing in the Eastern Region. The Committee is dedicated to empowering and advancing the professional interests of female members in all Guild categories, and to promoting and working for employment equity throughout the entertainment industry.

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