MovieChat Forums > The Name of the Game (1968) Discussion > Was Spielberg in the DGA at the Time??

Was Spielberg in the DGA at the Time??

posted 14 years ago by billgbg
1 reply | jump to latest

My understanding of television now and in those days, is that it is such a union town, that you can't even deliver sandwiches to the set unless you're in a union!

So how did Spielberg get to direct this episode without ever completing a feature or working in the real industry for any length of time?

Now I do know that he was friends with Lew Wasserman, one degree removed via his friendship with Mr. Sheinberg, but does anyone know how this was arranged?

Because, the usual career route for nearly everyone in television is the opposite. One begins their career as an apprentice, then finishes their career at the top, in this case Directing a TV episode. How did the unions see fit to allow just anyone, especially a "kid", access to that position?

[–] worldofbong 13 years ago

I'm not sure you understand the purpose of unions. The unions just collect fees from you, in exchange for supposedly fighting for your rights and a retirement fund. It's up to the studios to decide who gets to direct, or act, or anything else on a show or movie. The unions don't tell the studios who to hire, they only get mad if the studio hired somebody non-union cuz that means this person hasn't paid the union any money.

Chuck Norris Sunbelt Ryders Cartoon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-JphygYybU