September 2, 2005
Dear Members:
Our hearts are with the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as they weather the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Right now, food, water, shelter and medical care are the necessary and immediate priorities of those affected. But in the days, weeks and months to come, finding employment and rebuilding lives will become the focus of the men and women with their families whose world has been irrevocably altered.
More than anything else, what we have heard from our members most affected is the fear that all the jobs and opportunities from production in Louisiana and surrounding states will dry up; at a time when having a job is most vital. The mission of our Guild is to protect the economic and creative rights of all its members - and a primary part of that mission is doing everything we can to make sure our members have the opportunity to work.
In the coming months, your Guild will be doing all it can to encourage and assist those productions scheduled to film in affected areas to continue so that our members and those who live in those states will have opportunities to work.
In the short-term, immediate financial assistance is available to members in financial crisis from the DGA Foundation. This program has been available to all members in hardship since 1945, but is particularly applicable to our members affected by this disaster. If you, or a member you know, have been impacted by Katrina please see the information in the box below.
If you have other questions of a non-immediate nature, please contact Fern Wakneen, Assistant Executive Director, who is coordinating the Guild’s response in this area. She can be reached at (800) 356-3754.
Michael Apted
President, Directors Guild of America
The following is emergency information for DGA members affected by Hurricane Katrina:
If you are a DGA member or a family member and require emergency assistance related to Hurricane Katrina, please call the DGA Foundation at (310) 289-2037, or the toll-free number (800) 421-4173 ext. 2037, or email laraine@dga.org and leave detailed contact information. A Foundation representative will get in touch with you with information.