About the Directors Guild of Pakistan
The Directors Guild of Pakistan is a labor, non-profit organization that represents the creative and economic rights of directors and members of the directorial team working in film, television, commercials, documentaries, news, sports, and new media.
Founded in 2021, the Guild began when a small group of founding members and directors came together to protect the economic and creative rights of directors. The DGP is Pakistan’s preeminent organization representing directors and directorial team members.
On behalf of its members, the Guild negotiates industry-wide agreements that govern minimum compensation, benefits, working conditions, and duties of DGP members. Through these negotiations, the DGP aims to secure significant gains for its members, including health plans and provisions that allow members to financially benefit from the reuse of their work. Additionally, the Guild facilitates the development of flexible, low-budget agreements that enable even the most modestly budgeted films, television programs, and media productions to be made under a DGP agreement.
The Guild provides its members with an infrastructure and safety net, allowing directors and their teams to flourish with the assurance that the DGP is here to support them.
Benefits of DGA membership include
On behalf of its members, the Guild negotiates industry-wide agreements governing the minimum compensation (salary), benefits, working conditions and duties of DGA members. Negotiating these collective bargaining agreements provides the DGA with the opportunity to address changes in the industry and to negotiate further gains for DGA members.
Directors are guaranteed the right to be actively involved in all aspects of the filmmaking & television direction process, including (but not limited to): one director to a film; the right to a designated period of time to edit the first version of a motion picture or television episode without any interference; the right to select the First AD; the right to participate in casting; the right to direct all reshoots or additional photography and ADR.
DGA contracts guarantee members certain minimum rights regarding compensation, working conditions and creative rights. The Guild represents members in enforcing these rights, as well as certain rights that arise from a member’s personal services agreement. Many times, DGA field representatives, executives or other Guild staff members can resolve a dispute by discussing it with an Employer. If informal avenues do not lead to a resolution, the dispute may result in a grievance or be referred to the DGA’s Legal Department to file an arbitration claim. If necessary, the Guild may go to court to enforce an arbitrator’s award.
The DGA aims to host numerous seminars, workshops and cultural events each year through our various Committees, Councils and Special Projects Department. These programs are designed to heighten the profile of directors and their teams within the industry, help our members stay abreast of the latest trends in the art and craft of filmmaking and allow them to add new skills or brush up on old ones.