The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) has promoted Mark Friedlander to director of new media, effective May 21. Friedlander will head the Guild’s newly formed new media department and will report to Pamm Fair, SAG’s deputy national executive director.
“Mark’s expertise in new media and interactive contracts, combined with his knowledge of emerging technologies and his legal background, make him the perfect choice for this new position,” Fair said. “Our elected leaders and staff have made new media a top priority and this new department, along with our research and economics department, will provide essential research, analysis and strategy to guide our long-term decisions and policies.”
Friedlander and the new media department will work closely with the Guild’s new technologies, interactive contract, and organizing committees, as well as negotiating committees for all SAG contracts and the newly formed national joint new media subcommittee. Friedlander will be charged with hiring additional professional staff over the coming months.
“This is the dawn of a new era in entertainment,” Friedlander said. “The developments in new media formats give actors new opportunities, but it’s important to make sure they are compensated fairly for their work, no matter what the format. This department will help accomplish that, and I’m excited to lead this critical area for the Screen Actors Guild.”
Friedlander came to the Guild in ’05 as a business representative in the contracts department, specializing in theatrical, new media and interactive projects. Prior to SAG, he was an entertainment attorney.
DGA Feature Nominees: Audiard, Baker, Berger, Corbet and Mangold
The field of feature nominees for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards spanning two categories is set. Nominated for the DGA honor for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 are: Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Conclave, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, and James Mangold for A Complete Unknown.
The DGA also revealed the nominees for the Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film. The first-time narrative feature directors are: Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light, Megan Park for My Old Ass, RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys, Halfdan Ullman Tondel for Armand, and Sean Wang for Diddy.
“2024 has been a truly extraordinary year for storytelling--and today’s nominees have created audacious and unique films that expand the possibilities of cinematic excellence,” said DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter. “I am thrilled to congratulate all our nominated directors for their brilliant work, which is visionary, inspirational and speaks to the depth of the human experience. To be chosen by one’s peers is the true marker of outstanding directorial achievement and what makes these nominations so very special.”
The winners will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 8.
Here’s a fuller rundown of the nominees in both DGA Award categories:
THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 (in alphabetical order):
JACQUES AUDIARD
Emilia Pérez
(Netflix)
SEAN... Read More