Jessica Dimmock, director and Directors Guild of America (DGA) member, needed time off work to recover from birth and bond with her new baby. But the DGA policy requires members to meet a minimum earnings requirement, and as a result Jessica lost her health insurance at a time when she needed it most. Now she’s fighting to change that and end this parenthood penalty. Join us.
Jessica’s fight is for all parents - moms, dads, and adoptive parents - to have the time they need to welcome a child. Because policies that are equally accessible to men and women have been proven to support the retention of female talent, advance women in leadership roles, and even close the gender wage gap. Winning the #DGAParenthoodPenalty campaign is an important step towards making Hollywood a more equitable and just industry.
Support the campaign and add your name.
LETTER TO DGA
To the Board of the DGA,
I joined the DGA in 2017 while co-directing the Netflix series Flint Town with my partner. I was pregnant at the time and worked until the day I gave birth. However, after the birth of my daughter it was necessary that I take some time to care for her and recover physically. My partner was not faced with quite the same physical pressures. That first year, while my partner retained his yearly minimum, I did not. I needed to switch to Cobra with enormous monthly fees while he retained his healthcare. Because my directing partner is also our child’s father, I was able to see in such a clear way the ways that having a child impacted me and not him, even though we were similarly situated. Since then, I’ve spoken to other members of the DGA who have had similar experiences.
Click to read more of Jessica's letter »
As it stands, the DGA offers no form of leave for women in the lead-up and following child birth. In order to retain benefits, all members must reach a yearly minimum. Women, being underrepresented in this field, are already at a disadvantage towards reaching these minimums. To state the obvious, directing is a rigorous, intensive endeavor, often taking place away from home. Pregnant women are not allowed to travel during their final trimester, putting them at a disadvantage from the start. Add to this the stigma of applying for directing jobs while visibly pregnant. Subsequently, women are penalized for having children in a way that their male counterparts are not. Failure to meet yearly minimums introduces economic and health care insecurity when it could be argued that it is needed most. And, importantly, a lack of maternity leave will continue to be an obstacle in achieving parity in the field of directing unless corrected. It is imperative that in this moment of such positive gains that we work to clear this obstacle.
Over the past several years major strides towards inclusivity have been made. The DGA diversity report released in November shows that women directing episodic television rose to a record of 31%, more than doubling the last five years. 2020 is forecasted to continue in this positive direction and it is both encouraging and timely that these changes are happening.
The right to maternity leave is part of an important national discussion and ranks as the most important benefit to workers. Implementing forms of maternity leave will increasingly become the norm, and this gives the DGA an opportunity to put their efforts behind their stated goals of gender equality and will provide a reputation boosting moment when implemented.
Here is our ask. New mothers should be afforded additional time to make their yearly minimum in the year that they give birth. This provides new parents the opportunity to take the time they need to physically care for their child as well as recover and recuperate. Women will return to their work better equipped to handle the challenges of balancing parenting and work and better equipped to delve into their future projects. This should apply for adoptive parents as well.
At its core, we know that this isn’t just about numbers. Numbers matter. They show us how great the gap has been. But ultimately, this is about spaces for stories that stretch beyond a single perspective.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
SIGNERS
Jessica Dimmock, Director
Alma Har’el, Director and founder of Free the Work
Brooke Posch, Partner at Jax Media
Lilly Burns, Director and co-founder of Jax Media
Amy Poehler, Director
Ava DuVernay, Director
Greta Gerwig, Director
and more than 400 others »
A.E. Treco-Wells, Producer
A.V. Rockwell, Director
Abbey Hansen, Director
Abbi Jacobson, Director
Abteen Bagheri, Director
Adele Caine, Producer
Aesli Grandi, Director
AG Rojas, Director
Agnes Peel-McGregor, Director
Alana Katzner, Director
Alesia Glidewell, Producer
Alesther Asmundson, Actor
Alex Richanbach, Director
Alex Kalymnios, Director
Alexandra Nicole, Actor
Alexia Hernandez, Actor
Alexis Dvorak-Nakamura, Director
Alexis Spraic, Director
Alicia Daniels, Director
Alison Klayman, Director
Alissa Torvinen, Director
Allyson Ryan, Actress
Alyssa Boffoli, Director
Alyssa Sthay, Art Director
Amanda Marsalis, Director
Amanda Micheli, Director
Amber Tamblyn, Director
Amber Templemore-Finlayson, Director
America Ferrera, Director
Amir Farhang, Director
Amy Schumer, Director
Andrew Ahn, Director
Andrew Miller, Director
Angel Kristi Williams, Director
Angela Barnes Gomes, Director
Angelina Brillon, Actor
Angi Bones, Director
Anita Gou, Producer
Anitra Stevens, Director
Anna Boden, Director
Anna Hashmi, Producer
Anna Rose Holmer, Director
Anna Swando, Director
Annabel Jankel, Director
Anne Hamilton, Director
Annie Simons, Director
Anthony Annone, Director
Anthony Hill, Actor
Aoife McArdle, Director
April Johnson, Actor
April Maxey, Actor
Ariel Danziger, Director
Autumn DeWilde, Director
Ava Berkofsky, Cinematographer
Aya Tanimura, Director
Ayse Altinok, Director
Bennet Silverman, Director
Beth Correll, Director
Betsy Thomas, Director
Beverly Bullock, Actor
Brandon Cordeiro, Director
Brennan Stasiewicz, Director
Bri Knickerbocker, Actor
Brie Larson, Director
Bryce Dallas Howard, Director + Actress
Caity Lotz, Director
Callum Hanlon, Actor
Canella Williams, Unit Production Manager
Canella Williams, Producer
Caroline Filips, Actor
Caroline Onikute, Executive Producer
Carrie Stett, Producer
Cat Solen, Director
Catherine Losing, Director
Cathleen McFadyen, Assistant Director
Chad Hartigan, Director
Chell Stephen, Director
Chelsey Cary, Actor
Chiara Clemente, Director
Chioke Nassor, Director
Chris Riddle, Director
Chris Leggett, Producer
Chris Wayne, Director
Christina Price, Producer
Christine Will Wolf, Director
Christopher Werner, Director
Christopher Zou, Director
Christy Turlington, Director + founder of Every Mother Counts
Cindy Chupack, Director
Claire Edmondson, Director
Clara Aranovich, Director
Constance Zimmer, Director
Constance Zimmer, Actor
Courtney Franklin, Director
Courtney Lovell, Director
Cristiana Miranda, Director
Cristina Diaz-Guijarro, Actor
Crystal Moselle, Director
Cynthia Wade, Director
Dan Beers, Director
Dan Cogan, Producer
Dan Lindsay, Director
Dana Zolli, Director
Danielle King, Director
Danny Lugo, 1st Assistant Director
Darcy Parsons, Director
Darsan Solomon, Actor
Dawn Wilkinson, Director
Dennie Gordon, Director
Dennis Liu, Director
Diego Contreras, Director
Dillon Neaman, Director
Diondra Bolling, Producer
Dito Montiel, Director
Donna Imbarrato, Director
Douglas Avery, Director
Drea Cooper, Director
Drew Van Steenbergen, Director
Dugan O'Neal, Director
Eddie Rubin, Producer
Eliza Hittman, Director
Elizabeth Banks, Director
Elizabeth Camp, Actor
Elle Ginter, Director
Elle Poindexter, Actor
Ellen Kuras, Director
Elliot Gannon, Director
Emily Kai Bock, Director
Emily Maye, Director
Emily Hogan, Director
Emma Bell, Actor
Emma Tammi, Director
Erin Heidenreich, Director
Erin Linares, Director
Eryn Krueger Mekash, Producer
Eva Longoria, Director
Eva Vives, Director
Eva Michon, Director
Fernando Cardenas, Director
Fleur Fortuné, Director
Floria Sigismondi, Director
Fran Weinstein, Director
Gandja Monteiro, Director
Gareth Moses, Director
Geeta Malik, Director
Georgi Banks-Davies, Director
Georgia Tribuiani, Director
Gerson Paz, Director
Gillian Robespierre, Director
Grace Zane, Actor
Grant Spanier, Producer
Gunnar Olafsson, Director
Haifaa Al-Mansour, Director
Halcyon Person, Director
Hannah Fidell, Director
Hannah Kasulka, Actor
Heather Keenan, Actor
Heather Santora, Producer
Helen Estabrook, Director
Helen O'Brien, Actor
Henry Hobson, Director
Ian Stratta, Actor + Production Assistant
Isaiah Seret, Director
J. Michael Polisano, Director
Jake Schreier, Director
Jake Szymanski, Director
James Fitzsimmons, Actor
James Patton, Actor
James Tripp-Haith, Unit Production Manager
James JD Taylor, Assistant Director
Jamie Coates, Director
Janet Andrews, Director
Jared Knecht, Director
Jason Suhrke, Director
Jeffrey Lazar, Director
Jenni Konner, Director
Jennifer Fox, Director
Jennifer Kent, Director
Jennifer Derwingson-Peacock, Producer
Jennifer Getzinger, Director
Jennifer Lafleur, Actor
Jennifer Ricks, Production Assistant
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, Director
Jeremy Hardwick, Director
Jesse Peretz, Director
Jessica Craven, Actor
Jessica Eason, Actor
Jessica Elbaum, Producer
Jessica Norris, Production Assistant
Jessica Weixler, Actress
Jessie Barr, Actor
Jill Soloway, Director
Jill Breitzman, Producer
Jillian Stricker, Director
J J Adler, Director
Joe Tuttle, Actor
John Bernard, Director
John Lind, Director
Johnny Hall, Actor
Jonna McLaughlin, Producer
Jorma Taccone, Director
Josephine Decker, Director
Julia Campanelli, Director
Julie Delpy, Director
Julie Margilaj, Agent
Kara Doherty, Director
Karen Moncrieff, Director
Karen Fischer, Director
Karina Fontes, Actor
Kasi Lemmons, Director
Kat Coiro, Director
Kate Perotti, Director
Kate Barker-Froyland, Director
Kate Oppenheim, Producer
Kathi Prosser, Director
Kathleen D. Brennan, Director
Katie Roberts, Actor
Katina Mercadante, Director
Katrina Morris, Actor
Kay Denmark, Actor
Keith Ehrlich, Director
Kelly Walker, Actor
Kelsey O'Brien, Actor
Kerry Washington, Director
Kevin Berlandi, Director
Kevin Moore, Director
Kim Gehrig, Director
Kim Gordon, Musician
Kim Jacobs, Director
Kimi Howl Lee, Director
Kinga Burza, Director
Kirsten Izzett, Actor
Krysten Ritter, Director
L P, Director
Laerke Herthoni, Director
Lara Shapiro, Director
Lara Everly, Actor
Laura Murphy, Director
Laura Prepon, Director
Laura Napoli, Actor
Laura Willcox, Actor
Laurie Collyer, Director
Leah Meyerhoff, Director
Leah Foster, Actor
Lena Beug, Director
Lena Dunham, Director
Lena Waithe, Director
Lesly Lynch, Director
Leslye Headland, Director
Libby Ewing, Actor
Lily Garcia, Director
Lincoln Myers, Director
Linda Goldstein Knowlton, Director
Lindsay Crystal, Director
Lisa Gunning, Director
Lisa Rich, Director
Liz Garbus, Director
Liz Hinlein, Director
Liz Patrick, Director
Lloyd Lee Choi, Director
Lorene Scafaria, Director
Lucia Aniello, Director
Lucy Tcherniak, Director
Luke Matheny, Director
Luke O'Gara, Director
Luke Sherman, Director
Luke Taylor, Director
Lulu Wang, Director
Lyda Blank, Director
Lynn Ramsay, Director
Maggie Kiley, Director
Maggie Gwin, Actor
Marcella Steingart, Director
Margot Hand, Producer
Maria Dizzia, Actor
Marielle Heller, Director
Marina Michelson, Actor
Mark Ballou, Director
Marla Hudnall, Director
Marlo Carroll, Director
Marsha Thomason-Sykes, Actor
Maryann Perrone, Actor
Matt O'Shea, Director
Matthew Lenski, Director
Matthew Pollock, Director
Matthew Heineman, Director
Matthew Smith, Director
Maureen McHugh, Writer
Maya Forbes, Director
Meagan Lopez, Actor
Megan Kelly, Director
Megan Lombardo, Director
Melanie Cruz, Actor
Melina Matsoukas, Director
Melissa Culligan, Producer
Meta Valentic, Director
Meta Valentic, Producer
Michael Bonfiglio, Director
Michael Moore, Director
Michael Nobel, Actor
Michelle Solotar, Associate Director
Mike Tsucalas, Director
Miles Crawford, Actor
Mimi Cave, Director
Mimi Leder, Director
Mindy Kaling, Director
Mindy Ma, Director
Minhal Baig, Director
Miranda July, Director
Molly Kennedy, Actor
Morgan Lawley, Director
Morgan Christie, Director
Nanfu Wang, Director
Natalia Anderson, Director
Natalia De Castro Leite, Director
Natalie Johns, Director
Natalie Portman, Director
Natalie Higgins, Director
Natasha Lyonne, Director
Neil Daly, Director
Nicolás Celis, Producer
Nicole Evranian, Director
Nicole Turney, Editor
Nigel Lim, Actor
Nikki Weavers, Unit Production Manager
Nina Shiffman, Producer
Nisha Ganatra, Director
Nora Kirkpatrick, Director
Olivia Wilde, Director
Olivia Newman, Director
Pamela Romanowsky, Director
Parry Creedon, Director
Patch Darragh, Actor
Patricia Santana, Director
Patricia Velasquez, Actress + Director
Paul Colaizzo, Director
Paul Scheer, Director
Paul Latham, Actor
Paula Cohen, Director
Payman Benz, Director
Pete Waterman, Director
Peter Atencio, Director
Peter Holmes, Actor
Peter S. Jackson, Director
Peyton Kennedy, Actor
Phil Pinto, Director
Rachel Feldman, Director
Rachel Morrison, Director
Rachel Dickson, Director
Rachel McDonald, Director
Ramaa Mosley, Director
Ramona Murphy-Adair, Director
Randall Foreman, Actor
Rashida Jones, Director
Rayniece Holmes, Director
Rebecca Holopter, Actor
Reed Morano, Director
Reese Witherspoon, Actor
Renee Hill-Sweet, Director
Rhonda Guthrie, Director
Ro Haber, Director
Robert Krone, Actor
Robyn Willey-Pratt, Director + Stage Manager
Ry Russo-Young, Director
Ryan Case, Director
Ryan Dowling, Art Director
Sabina Friedman-Seitz, Actor
Sachie Alessio, Actor
Sam Taylor Johnson, Director
Samantha Melville, Director
Sandra Winther, Director
Sara Colton, Actor
Sara Neuffer, Director
Sarah Chatfield, Director
Sarah Spillane, Director
Sarah DiLeo, Producer
Sarah Fairchild, Director
Sarah Olivieri, Director
Sarah Sophie Flicker, Actor
Sasie Sealy, Director
Savanah Leaf, Director
Savannah Gilmore, Actor
Scott Carthy, Director
Sean Pecknold, Director
Shana Feste, Director
Shane Kalman, Director
Shari Springer Berman, Director
Shelley Lewis, Director
Shere Hulet, Director
Sian Heder, Director
Simbi Hall, Director
Skylar Sutton, Director
Sophia Takal, Director
Sophie Mitchell, Actor
Spike Jonze, Director
Stacey Lee, Director
Stephanie Handley, Director
Stephanie Lovell, Director
Stephanie Mora, Director
Stephanie T. Keefer, Actor
Stephen Gyllenhaal, Director
Stephen Cole Webley, Director
Steven Carbajal, Director
Steven Valle, Assistant Director
Summer McCoy, Production Assistant
Susanna Fogel, Director
T.J. Martin, Director
Taimi Arvidson, Director
Tara Nicole Tjahjadi, Director
Tate Nova, Director
Tati Barrantes, Director
Tayo Amos, Director
Tchaiko Omawale, Director
Terrisha Kearse, Director
Theo Marshall, Actor
Thomas Macnamara, Producer
Tim Wilkime, Director
Tj Martin, Director
Tom Noakes, Director
Tom Tresemer, Director
Tomas Leach, Director
Tracee Ellis Ross, Director
Tracey Landon, Director
Tracey Poirier, Director
Trudie Styler, Director
Vanessa Hickey, Director
Victoria Haynes, Actress
Victoria Rios, Actor
Wendi Cohen, Producer
Wendy Morgan, Director
Xan Aranda, Producer
Yangzom Brauen, Director
Yasmina Cadiz, Director
Zachariah Simmons, Actor
Zara Hayes, Director
Zee James, Actor
SHARE YOUR STORY
Make your voice heard! The pandemic has underscored how vulnerable DGA members are whether you need time to welcome a new child or care for a loved one during a global health crisis. You can help make change by making sure the DGA hears from you. Will you take a moment and share your story? Some things to think about:
Have you taken unpaid leave and experienced an adverse impact to your career or your benefits because of the current benefit structure? What happened?
Have you ever decided not to take the time you needed because you were worried about maintaining your benefits or livelihood? How did that impact you and your family?
TAKE ACTION
ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LETTER
Sign the petition below to pressure the DGA to change its policy and end the parenthood penalty. We’re fighting for parents to have 18 months (instead of 12) to meet their minimum earnings requirement without losing crucial benefits. Together, we can make Hollywood a more equitable place.
PARTNERS
PAID LEAVE FOR THE UNITED STATES
PL+US (Paid Leave for the United States) is the national campaign to win paid family leave by 2022. Founded by Katie Bethell, who Fortune Magazine named one of the world’s greatest leaders, the organization has helped win paid family leave for over 7 million people at companies like Walmart, Starbucks, CVS and more in partnership with employees, employers, consumers, and investors.
FREE THE WORK
FREE THE WORK is a nonprofit initiative dedicated to identifying systemic inequalities in film, television, advertising, and media, and finding actionable solutions to expand access for underrepresented creators. This mission is supported by FREE THE WORK's curated talent-discovery platform, offering a holistic approach to sourcing underrepresented talent.
JAX MEDIA
Founded in 2011, JAX Media is a television and film production juggernaut run by Partners Tony Hernandez, Lilly Burns, John Skidmore and Brooke Posch with offices in New York, Los Angeles and London. Jax Media has created a production model that allows talent to maintain control of their content and the results have been answered with awards and critical acclaim. As a company, they provide comprehensive production from development through post with a highly experience in-house production team who expertly implements the unique Jax Media model that has proven itself time and time again as a success for studios, networks and creatives alike. Jax Media currently has 11 shows in production and was nominated for 18 Emmy Awards for the 2018-2019 TV season alone.
PRESS
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