Valdez Flagg: 2023 Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award

Stage Manager Valdez Flagg will become the 32nd recipient of the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award, which will be presented at the DGA Awards ceremony in February. The Schaffner Award is given to an Associate Director or Stage Manager in recognition of their service to the industry and the Guild.

 Flagg joined the DGA in 1987 as a Stage Manager on the variety special, Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon. He would go on to have an illustrious career working on variety and live productions such as the Oscars, American Music Awards, Grammy Awards, ESPY Awards, NFL Honors, Essence Honors, NAACP Image Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Democratic National Convention, and In Performance at the White House for three presidential administrations. His other notable production credits include In Living Color, Martin, The Voice, BET Awards, ALMA Awards, MTV Music Awards, Tracy Ullman: Live and Exposed, and A Supernatural Evening with Carlos Santana.

His work has been instrumental to DGA Award-nominated productions with legendary live Directors such as Jeff Margolis, Walter Miller, Bruce Gowers, Louis J. Horvitz, Glenn Weiss and Don Mischer. He has also contributed his skills to three DGA Award-winning productions: Bruce Gowers’ 2004 Variety/Musical Award-winner, Genius: A Night for Ray Charles, Glenn Weiss’ 2017 Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Specials-winner, The Oscars and James Burrows and Andy Fisher’s 2019 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Specials-winner, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons.’

 Flagg thanks the support other DGA members who were vital to the trajectory of his career such as Directors Stan Lathan and Terri McCoy. He also acknowledges Producers Maura Mandt and Jeff Smith who, in 2018, were compelled by his exceptional DGA skills which led to him receiving a Peabody Award as a Co-Producer of the ESPY Awards segment, Spartan Silence: Crisis at Michigan State.

Despite his busy career, Flagg has been unwavering in his commitment to serving the Guild. Initially elected in 2007 as an alternate member of the Western AD/SM/PA Council, he would go on to serve 11 terms, elected by the members a record seven times as Council Chair between 2008 and 2019.  Recalling his inspiration for Guild service, Flagg stated, “It was during the 2008 Oscars that DGA Past President Gil Cates invited me to serve on the Negotiating Committee. Gil recognized something in me that quickly sparked my dedication to serving the Directors Guild of America. He continues to be a personal inspiration for my work in the Guild.”

Flagg’s DGA service also includes six Negotiation Committees and two terms as an Associate DGA National Board member, including the current term. He has long served as a trustee to the DGA-Producer Pension and Health Plans and has served as a member of the DGA PAC Leadership Council.

When asked how he feels about being chosen by his peers to receive the prestigious acknowledgement of the Schaffner Award, Flagg replied, “Being voted the recipient of this award by my colleagues and the DGA members is an honor. I’m proud to have served and represented us for all these years. Thank you!”

Valdez Flagg accepts the 2023 Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award