Directors Guild of America (DGA)

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) represents directors, assistant directors, unit production managers, and associate directors working in film, television, commercials, and new media. While not an actor union, many actors transition into directing and seek DGA membership.

DGA membership requires either being hired for a DGA-covered position or meeting specific qualification criteria through the Assistant Directors Training Program. The initiation fee is $18,367, reflecting the guild's position as one of the most prestigious in entertainment.

For actors who direct or aspire to direct, understanding the DGA is important. The guild negotiates creative rights, minimum compensation, working conditions, and residual payments for directors on union productions.

The $18,367 initiation fee is among the highest of any entertainment guild. Annual dues are a base amount plus a percentage of DGA-covered earnings. The high bar reflects the significant earning potential of DGA-covered directing work.

DGA membership is aspirational for actor-directors looking to transition into directing careers. Many successful actors have leveraged their on-set experience and industry relationships to build directing careers under DGA coverage. Notable actor-directors who have worked under DGA coverage include Clint Eastwood, Ben Affleck, Greta Gerwig, Bradley Cooper, and Jordan Peele, all of whom transitioned from acting to directing with significant success. The DGA's strength lies in its ability to protect creative rights that directly affect the final product — including rights to the director's cut, protection against unauthorized re-editing, and control over credits. For actors contemplating a directing career, understanding the DGA's role is crucial because it defines the professional standards and protections that govern directing work at the highest levels of the industry.

The DGA's fee structure reflects its position as one of the most exclusive guilds in entertainment. The initiation fee of $18,367 is payable in installments over a defined period, and quarterly dues consist of a base amount plus 1.5% of DGA-covered earnings. While these costs are substantial, they are proportional to the significant minimum rates the DGA negotiates for its members — a first-time feature film director working under a DGA agreement earns a minimum of approximately $200,000, and television episodic directors earn minimums that vary by show budget but typically range from $48,000 to $80,000 per episode. The guild also negotiates residual payments for directors when their work is re-aired, streamed, or distributed in secondary markets. For actors accustomed to SAG-AFTRA's fee structure, the DGA's higher initiation fee can be a barrier, but many actor-directors find the investment justified by the earning potential and creative protections.

Actor-directors who are actively pursuing a directing career with credible projects in development should seriously consider DGA membership as a long-term goal, as the guild's protections and minimum rates significantly increase your earning potential and creative authority on set. However, actors who are merely curious about directing or who primarily work on independent projects may find the financial and jurisdictional commitments premature — building a body of directing work through non-union independent projects first allows you to develop your skills and track record before committing to guild membership. If you are not ready for DGA membership, consider joining the DGA's Assistant Director category if your on-set experience qualifies, as this provides a pathway into the guild while maintaining your acting career. Alternatives for emerging directors include organizations like Film Independent, which offers directing labs and mentorship without the financial commitment of guild membership.

If you are an actor considering the transition to directing, start by directing short films, web series, or theater productions to build your skills and develop a visual portfolio that demonstrates your storytelling ability behind the camera. Shadow working directors on set whenever possible — many DGA directors welcome observers, and the experience gives you practical understanding of set management, camera blocking, and the workflow between departments. Research the DGA's Assistant Directors Training Program early, as it is one of the most reliable pathways to DGA membership and provides comprehensive training in set operations. Build relationships with producers who can eventually hire you for DGA-covered work, as the most common path to DGA membership for actors is being attached as director to a project that a signatory producer agrees to produce under a DGA agreement. Keep your SAG-AFTRA membership in good standing throughout your transition, as maintaining dual guild membership in SAG-AFTRA and DGA allows you to continue acting while building your directing career.