Acclaimed film and television director Michael Apted will receive the DGA Honorary Life Member Award at the 70th annual DGA Awards Dinner on Feb. 3.
The award recognizes leadership in the industry, contributions to the Guild and the profession of directing, and nonspecified outstanding achievement.
“Michael is a game changer for our Guild and our industry. Whether having the foresight as a young man to conceptualize the revolutionary documentary series ‘7 Up’ still going on decades later – or guiding Hollywood through a digital revolution, he is a fearless, visionary leader, and we are all the beneficiaries. Having served as either president or co-chair for every major new media and SVOD negotiation, Michael has skillfully navigated the DGA through times of great change, setting the path for our members and our industry to flourish,” Schlamme said in a statement.
“His search for the truth and what’s right is evident in all that he endeavors – from negotiating directors’ creative and economic rights, to rallying our industry’s fight against piracy and runaway production, to advocating for independent filmmakers and inclusion,”Schlamme continued. “All the while, he has taken the time to lend a hand to those behind him. As a mentor to so many, myself included, Michael has activated leadership in others and inspired us all to be more engaged in our Guild.”
Apted was the president of the DGA for three terms, from 2003 to 2009, which was the longest consecutive presidential service since George Sidney in the 1960s. During his tenure, he successfully negotiated and protected health benefits in 2004, and in 2007 established jurisdiction and compensation formulas for new media.
After his presidency, he served as the co-chair of the DGA Negotiating Committee in the 2014 and 2017 cycles, where he most recently made gains in the subscription video on-demand residuals. He currently serves as DGA Secretary-Treasurer.
Apted first joined the DGA in 1978 and became active in the Guild in 1997, when he was first elected to the Western Directors Council. In 2001, he was elected to the National Board. With Steven Soderbergh, he founded the Guild’s Independent Directors Committee in 1998, and served as chair until he was elected president.
Apted also counts an extensive list of feature films and documentaries to his credits. Some of his feature films include “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” “Amazing Grace,” “The World Is Not Enough,” “Thunderheart” and “Enigma.” His documentary credits include “Bring on the Night,” “Me and Isaac Newton” and “Power of the Game.”
He most recently directed episodes of Showtime’s “Masters of Sex” and “Ray Donovan,” as well as HBO’s “Rome” for which he won the DGA Award in the Dramatic Series category.
Past recipients of the DGA Honorary Life Member Award include Roger Ebert, Robert Iger & Barry Meyer, Sidney Lumet, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Charles Chaplin, Tod Browning and Frank Capra.
11 Directors Who Followed in Their Dads' Filmmaking Footsteps (Photos)
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron ("Birdman") is working on a new untitled movie that chronicles a year in the life of a middle-class family in Mexico City in the early 1970s, while his son Jonas directed 2016's "Desierto" and is rebooting "Zorro."
Tom and Colin Hanks
Tom last directed "Larry Crowne," while son Colin directed the documentary "All Things Must Pass" about the rise and fall of Tower Records.
Carl and Rob Reiner
Carl's legendary career spans seven decades, while his son Rob directed the rom-com classic "When Harry Met Sally..." His next film, "LBJ," is about the political upheaval that Vice President Johnson faced when he was thrust into the presidency.
Clint and Alison Eastwood
Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood's ("Unforgiven") incredible career includes four Academy Awards and five Golden Globes, while daughter Alison's second feature as a director, a Mississippi-set drama called "Battlecreek," recently played the Santa Barbara and Newport Film festivals.
Ivan Reitman is best known for comedies "Meatballs" and "Ghostbusters," while his son Jason ("Up in the Air") has four Academy Award nominations, two of which are for Best Director.
Francis, Roman and Sofia Coppola
The celebrated director of "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now" has poured much of his energy lately into his wines and resorts. His son Roman directed the 2001 indie "CQ" and recent episodes of "Mozart in the Jungle." Meanwhile, daughter Sofia received an Oscar nom for her work on 2003's "Lost in Translation" and will next tackle "The Beguiled," a remake of the 1971 Clint Eastwood classic.
Hayao and Goro Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki attained international acclaim in his 50-year career as a masterful storyteller and a maker of anime films. His son, Goro, worked as a landscaper before before becoming a filmmaker. He has since directed "Tales from Earthsea" (2006) and "From Up on Poppy Hill" (2011).
John and Nick Cassasvetes
As a child, Nick Cassavetes appeared in two of his father's films: "Husbands" (1970) and "A Woman Under the Influence" (1974). Nick is best known for the 2004 romance "The Notebook" and will next direct UFC fighter Ronda Rousey in a remake of the '80s action classic "Road House."
John and Max Landis
John Landis recently premiered a restored version of his 1981 horror classic "An American Werewolf in London" at the Venice Film Festival. His son Max, who is on a tear as a screenwriter, made his directorial debut with "Me Him Her."
Melvin and Mario Van Peebles
Mario's 2004 biopic "BAADASSSSS!" describes the making of his father Melvin's seminal film, "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song." Mario directed the film, and also portrayed his father in the lead role.
Directing is the family business for Ridley Scott ("The Martian") and his progeny. Luke made his directorial debut with the 2016 sci-fi horror film "Morgan." His brother, Jake, directed the 2010 Kristen Stewart indie "Welcome to the Rileys," and continues to direct music videos. Their half-sister, Jordan Scott, directed the 2009 film "Cracks" with Eva Green and Juno Temple.
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As Alfonso Cuaron’s son Jonas marks the opening of his film, ”Desierto,“ TheWrap looks at other directors who took their dads’ career lead