Three senior executives at the Directors Guild of America (DGA)–Russ Hollander, David Korduner and Bryan Unger–will take the title of associate national executive director, with each responsible for different areas related to representation, service and the management of the Guild. The announcement was made by Jay D. Roth, DGA national executive director.
The organizational changes are intended to provide greater clarity about leadership roles and responsibilities for each of the Guild’s core functions while also more clearly defining the role of the National Office and the regional offices.
Hollander’s full title will be associate national executive director/Eastern executive director. In this capacity, he will have national responsibility for administration and enforcement of the Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement; the National Commercial Agreement; all Non-Dramatic Programming (including Basic Cable); New Media; all Network News, Sports and Operations; and all Local Stations.
Hollander joined the DGA in 2001 as assistant Eastern executive director and was promoted to Eastern executive director in 2002. Prior to joining the DGA, he was a partner at Cohen, Weiss and Simon LLP, a law firm representing labor organizations and employee benefit plans. Hollander received his law degree from Harvard University and his undergraduate degree from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Unger’s full title will be associate national executive director/Western executive director. In this capacity, he will have national responsibility for administration and enforcement of the Basic Agreement; Low Budget Agreement; all Dramatic Programming (including Basic Cable); Creative Rights; Diversity; and Agency Relations.
Unger began his career at the DGA in 1994 as an assistant executive director. He was promoted to associate Western executive director in 1999 and then to Western executive director in 2000. Prior to joining the DGA, Unger worked in film and television production for several years before becoming a labor executive at NABET Local 15 and then serving for five years as an International representative with the IATSE in New York. He graduated from the New York University Film School.
Additionally, Unger will be responsible for local service and representation related to the Western offices of the Guild, while Hollander will be responsible for local service and representation related to the Eastern offices of the Guild. These local duties include: responsibility to local councils and coordinating committees; field operations; monitoring member work, non-union work, discipline and local organizing; and geographical contract administration and enforcement.
Meanwhile Korduner’s full title will be associate national executive director/sr. general counsel. In this capacity, he will have responsibility for oversight and management of Guild departments including Residuals; Membership; Credits; Reports Compliance; Signatories; Human Resources; and Legal.
Korduner first joined the DGA as Associate General Counsel from 1995-2001 before becoming sr. counsel, Labor Relations at ABC/Touchstone Television and senior counsel, Legal Affairs at Disney/ABC Cable Networks. Korduner rejoined the Guild in 2005 and was promoted to general counsel in 2007. He received his B.A. with honors from UC-Santa Cruz, his M.Sc from the London School of Economics and his J.D. from the UCLA School of Law.
“I believe these well-deserved promotions and organizational changes will enhance the Guild’s ability to serve the membership with even greater excellence and commitment to representation and service,” stated Roth.
All three associate national executive directors will continue to report directly to the national executive director, as will the Communications, Finance, Government Affairs, Operations and Special Projects departments.
Trump Asks Supreme Court To Delay TikTok Ban
President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a "political resolution" to the issue.
The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk.
"President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act's deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case," said Trump's amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump's choice for solicitor general.
The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table.
He has been holding meetings with foreign leaders and business officials at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida while he assembles his administration, including a meeting last week with TikTok CEO Shou Chew.
Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger... Read More