General Info

The Directors Guild of America was established as the Screen Directors Guild in 1936, to give recognition and creative freedom for directors. It represents more than 12,000 members working in United States cities and abroad. The guild's members creative work is represented in theatrical, industrial, educational and documentary films and television, as well as videos and commercials. Members of the organization have access to legal information within the industry and can be advised about contracts and negotiations, labor laws, working conditions and compensation. The Residuals department monitors industry compliance with the reuse provisions of guild agreements. Its members are entitled to additional compensation whenever their pictures are reused on videocassette, pay television, basic cable or free television. In 1948, George Marshall, the president of the Screen Directors Guild, which became the Directors Guild of America in 1960, announced that the guild would begin an awards program to honor directors for directorial achievement.