1936

King Vidor

A small group of outstanding motion picture Directors, hoping to achieve proper recognition and creative freedom for all Directors, create the Screen Directors Guild. Articles of incorporation filed on Jan. 13, 1936. Four days later, 100 Directors applied to join the new Guild at the first general meeting. King Vidor is named first president.

Learn more about the founding of the Screen Directors Guild in the DGA Quarterly article:

BEFORE THE GUILD

King Vidor's contribution to the craft and to the Guild:

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING

The Man Who Would Be King

King Vidor

King Vidor helped bring directors together to form the Guild and became its first president during the early, perilous years. His legacy as a great filmmaker and fighter for directors' rights continues today.

Director's Cut - 75th Anniversary Video Compilation

Director’s Cut commemorates 75 years of directing history through the compilation of hundreds of clips illustrating the entire range of our members’ work. The focus is on images of directors working—not just the work itself—underscoring to audiences that these lasting images are the result of a director’s vision.

Explore the DGA Visual History Program

In-depth peer-to-peer interviews of veteran Guild members sharing the journey of their artistic and professional careers.