Newly Elected

Speaking of unions and democracy ...

Paris Barclay was elected president of the Directors Guild of America, the union announced on Saturday.

"I am profoundly honored to be elected President of the DGA," said Barclay to the assembled delegates after the vote.

"The DGA has worked for more than three-quarters of a century to advance the creative and economic rights of directors and their teams and I look forward to continuing this strong tradition of service. As the son of a glass blower and a tile maker from Chicago, I am extremely humbled to have the honor to serve in the footsteps of the legendary leaders of the DGA like Frank Capra, Robert Wise and Gil Cates."

Barclay is a well-established television director, having directed over 130 episodes of television, including: Sons of Anarchy, Glee, Smash, House, Cold Case, NCIS: Los Angeles, In Treatment, The Good Wife, CSI, Lost, The Shield, The West Wing, ER and NYPD Blue. ...

The DGA is one of the most effective entertainment unions out there. The Guild is particularly adept at negotiating its contracts. Officers and staff research, the confer with members, and then go into meetings with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers focused on where they want to go, with a plan to get there.

It's had one strike over contract negotiations in its history. The strike lasted fifteen minutes.

The Animation Guild works with the DGA on foreign levy issues, since the Directors Guild distributes residuals from overseas to TAG directors. Congratulations to all the new DGA officers.