March 28, 2023
Los Angeles – Directors Guild of America President Lesli Linka Glatter announced today the appointment of Paris Barclay and Thomas Schlamme as Co-Chairs of the DGA Outreach Team.
The mission of the DGA Outreach Team, which is made up of a broad cross section of DGA members across the entire membership, is to support increased member engagement and awareness as we prepare for negotiations.
“With their experience as former presidents of the DGA and their unrivaled knowledge of our industry, Paris and Tommy will serve as incredible representatives of our Guild to our members as we prepare to win the best possible contract for our members,” said Glatter. “With their guidance, the DGA Outreach Team is ready to unite our 19,000 members to fight for our future.”
Jon Avnet, DGA Negotiations Chair, said, “Paris and Tommy are the strong, experienced leaders our Outreach Team needs as we prepare our membership for this upcoming round of negotiations with the Studios. They understand exactly the issues our members care about and will play a crucial role in keeping us united as we head into this difficult round of negotiations.”
Barclay and Schlamme added, “We’re looking forward to joining the incredible DGA Outreach Team who have already stepped up to this vital role to ensure our members are informed, educated and mobilized and will keep them up to date about our efforts to win a contract that treats us fairly and with respect. These negotiations will shape the future of our industry, and we’re ready to fight for that future.”
The DGA and AMPTP have agreed to begin negotiations on May 10, ahead of the June 30 expiration of the DGA’s major contracts.
Paris Barclay served as President of the Directors Guild of America from 2013 to 2017 and is the current Secretary-Treasurer. Thomas Schlamme served as President of the Directors Guild of America from 2017 to 2021 and is the current Co-Chair of the Creative Rights Television Committee.