Nelson Coates has been elected president of the 2,300-member Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800) for a three-year term, succeeding Mimi Gramatky. Also elected for three-year terms are Patrick DeGreve as VP, Oana Bogdan as treasurer and Thomas Wilkins as secretary. Scott Roth continues as ADG’s executive director.
Coates said, “I am thrilled to receive this mandate from my fellow ADG members. Our future strength lies in the unity of all our uniquely creative parts. I look forward to working with Pat, Oana and Tom and making our Guild stronger than ever.”
A member of Local 800 since 1996, Coates has been designing features, television and commercials for more than 25 years. Known for such films as Flight (2012), Runaway Jury (2003) and The Proposal (2009), he has also designed miniseries such as Stephen King’s The Stand (Emmy nomination), and the series October Road for ABC. His work was recently seen in Hot Pursuit (2015) and Secret in Their Eyes (2015). A member of the Television Academy and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Coates is one of the few members of Local 800 to begin his entertainment career as a professional actor. When not on a set, he does design projects such as the restoration and reimagining of the Witch’s House in Beverly Hills.
Coates was instrumental in creating and organizing the first new member orientation, and the first member directory for the Art Directors Guild.
A frequent lecturer, guest mentor, and panelist at numerous colleges, universities & film festivals, Coates actively works to educate future designers and filmmakers throughout the US and internationally.
