The Visual History Program was established in 2000 by the DGA’s Special Projects Committee to expand its efforts to document the careers of Directors Guild members by seizing the opportunity provided by new developments in digital video technologies. Director Jeremy Kagan, Chair of the Special Projects Committee, drafted a template of questions focusing on key areas of the art and craft of directing for film and television. This template has since been adapted for interviews with members of the director’s team, including assistant directors, unit production managers and stage managers.

The interview templates are designed to structure the interviews within the framework of the program’s mission to document the experiences, reflections and working methods of DGA members. The questions are provided in advance to both the interviewer and the interview subject. Interview sessions generally take between three and eight hours to complete, and may take place over several days.

The questions cover many aspects of the interview subject’s craft, working process and concerns. Topic areas include: Starting out; the qualities and traits of a director, assistant director, unit production manager or stage manager; working with creative collaborators and crew; pre-production; production; post-production; marketing & distribution; the best and worst about the job; and Guild involvement.

From 2000 to 2009, close to 117 visual history interviews (by August 2009) have been videotaped with directors and director’s team members. The collection continues to grow as new interviews are recorded in Los Angeles, New York and other locations.