Director Taylor Hackford was re-elected president of the Directors Guild of America by acclamation at the Guild’s National Biennial Convention held today at DGA national headquarters in Los Angeles.
Additionally, 140 delegates representing the 14,500 members of the DGA elected a new slate of officers and members of the National Board of Directors.
Hackford, who joined the DGA in 1974, was first elected president in 2009. He began his service to the Guild as a member of the Special Projects Committee and served as chair of the DGA PAC and co-chair of the PAC Leadership Council (together with Paris Barclay). Hackford was elected to the Western Directors Council in 1996, became a member of the National Board in 2002 and was elected third VP of the National Board in 2005. He has also served on the Creative Rights Committee and currently co-chairs the DGA Task Force on Social Responsibility.
In 2007, the Guild honored Hackford with the Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award for extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership.
“It is my honor to accept once again the position of president of the Directors Guild of America in this, our 75th anniversary year,” said Hackford. “This is the greatest distinction anyone can have in this town. I am so proud to be a member of this Guild and to be part of the leadership, and I can promise you that, as I have in the last two years, I will work as hard as I possibly can to represent our members and fight for their creative and economic rights — whether that be at the bargaining table, on the set or in Washington, DC.”
“I’ve been proud to serve by Taylor Hackford’s side for the past two years,” said Steven Soderbergh, who placed Hackford’s name in nomination. “People don’t realize how much work, time and dedication it takes to do this job–it’s not easy by any means–and I have no doubt that Taylor will continue to serve the members of this Guild with the same passion and skill that he’s already given to us for the last two years.”
Soderbergh was re-elected national VP of the DGA; Gilbert Cates, who formerly served two terms as DGA president, was re-elected secretary-treasurer.
Also elected were first VP Paris Barclay; second VP William M. Brady; third VP Betty Thomas; fourth VP Gary Donatelli; fifth VP Thomas Schlamme; sixth VP Vincent Misiano; and assistant secretary-treasurer Scott Berger.
In more than 35 years as a director, Hackford has helmed an extensive list of feature and documentary films. His feature films include An Officer and a Gentleman, Against All Odds, White Nights, Everybody’s All-American, Dolores Claiborne, The Devil’s Advocate, Proof of Life, Ray and Love Ranch. His documentaries include Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock n’ Roll and When We Were Kings. He is currently preparing to shoot Parker from a novel by Donald Westlake.
Hackford was nominated for a DGA Award and an Academy Award for best director for An Officer and a Gentleman in 1983 and for Ray in 2005. He won the Academy Award for live-action short Teenage Father in 1979. Hackford also won a Grammy for the soundtrack to Ray.
Brand New School Extends Reach Internationally Via Partnership With Animation Studio BRUT
Brand New School (BNS) has entered into a strategic partnership with BRUT, a Barcelona-based animation studio. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in BNS’s expansion strategy, with BRUT serving as its inaugural global outpost.
Under the leadership of executive creative director Martin Allais, who will now be represented by BNS for directorial ventures, BRUT joins BNS as part of its collective roster. This partnership combines BNS’s established reputation for innovative creative work with BRUT’s expertise in diverse artistic techniques, including 2D cel animation, stop-motion, 3D animation, and seamless integration of live action.
With Allais leading BNS Spain, Brand New School is expanding its reach to serve a growing network of global clients. This partnership incorporates BRUT’s fresh methodology of working and diverse pool of talent to create content that resonates across cultures. Located in the heart of the European market, the new BNS location will further support and enhance its work with international clients, broadening its ability to meet their unique needs. This partnership represents a thoughtful blend of creativity and expertise, designed to strengthen and grow Brand New School’s global presence.
BRUT was founded by director Allais as an experimental incubator for innovative ideas and techniques. He is also a multidisciplinary artist of Latinx heritage who brings a wealth of creative experience to the partnership. His portfolio spans commercials for global brands like Oreo, Facebook, Samsung, and Dr. Pepper, earning accolades including Cannes Lions for his work on the Samsung Holiday campaign. Recently, Allais’ animated VR experience capturing New York City’s punk scene in the ‘70s, narrated by... Read More