March 6, 2023
The DGA mourns the passing of UPM and 1999 Frank Capra Achievement Award recipient Tom Joyner.
Between 1984-2012 Joyner served 13 terms on the Western AD/UPM Council, being elected Council Chair from 1996-1997 and as Second Vice Chair from 1991-1992. He also served three terms as an Associate or Second Alternate on the DGA National Board between 1999 and 2005; was a member of the 1973, 1999 and 2008 Negotiating Committees; and served as a Trustee on the Board of the DGA-Producer Pension & Health Plans from 2003-2020.
A DGA member since 1971, Joyner began his career in the film industry in 1969, when he was accepted into the DGA-Producers Assistant Directors Training Program. He worked as a Second Assistant Director on feature films including Steven Spielberg's Sugarland Express, Clint Eastwood’s High Plains Drifter and Robert Aldrich’s Ulzana's Raid.
His first feature film as a First Assistant Director was Spielberg's classic, Jaws, followed by such well-received titles as John Badham's The Bingo Long Traveling Allstars and Motor Kings, George Roy Hill's Slapshot and Eastwood’s Bronco Billy. He would then go on to serve as Unit Production Manager on a number of memorable features including John Landis's The Blues Brothers, John Carpenter’s Starman, Taylor Hackford’s Against All Odds and Bruce Beresford's Tender Mercies.
In recognition of his career achievement and service to the Guild, Joyner received the DGA's Frank Capra Achievement Award in 1999.
Joyner’s work ethic and service to his Guild can be summed up by his response to a DGA Visual History program question he was asked about what advice he’d give to novice members.
“As long as you love what you’re doing, keep doing it, but if you’re going to do it, do it a hundred percent, don’t do it halfway. I think you should always strive for excellence. And surround yourself with the best people possible. It’s worth it.”