The Caucus: Why Should It Exist?

The Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors is an institution unlike any other in the entertainment field. The caucus is an organization of creative people whose main purpose is: 1) to elevate the quality and diversity of all television, 2) to restore to all members of the creative community rights assumed over a period of years by broadcasters, so as to regain creative freedom and to exercise creative judgment on material and personnel.

The Caucus is not concerned with those issues incorporated in the contracts of the guilds. The Caucus does work to invigorate the Interguild Council (a coalition of the DGA, PGA and WGA) in the hope of strengthening the collaboration of the three guilds. Accordingly, the presidents of all three guilds are members of the Caucus.

The Caucus is an honor society. To become a member, one must have a body of quality work, a sine qua non for membership. Many of the creative individuals who played a role in the growth of television are members as are many of today's top creative forces. In addition, we seek new leaders who have a record of achievement and we urge them to join -- even if they have secured their own creative rights through their personal success.

What has the Caucus achieved in its twenty year history? Our handful of Founders and their followers are now recognized not only by the networks and cable interests at the highest levels, but by government -- including the FCC, the White House, the Senate and House Communication Committees, advertisers and their agencies, talent agents and other related industries, academia and the media.

We have made creative freedom and creative rights major issues and have recently won modest concessions dealing with producer credits at the highest network level. We have made an impact on network television by our concerted effort on diverse issues ranging from required educational programming for children, and the use of seat belts, to asking all the creative community to exercise responsibility in matters dealing with excessive and gratuitous violence. In that connection the Caucus has been invited, and has accepted, a role with the groups chosen to monitor violence: The Center for Communications Studies at UCLA sponsored by the networks, and Mediascope, which is being funded by the National Cable Association.

Through the publication of the CAUCUS QUARTERLY, the Caucus has thrown light on a variety of industry issues and the publication has made an impact on the FCC, on various public interest groups, on the MPAA, the media and academia. Top leaders of the industry and related fields, including FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, Commissioner James Quello, and former Commissioner Ervin Duggan, have met with Caucus members. The Caucus has also met with Governor Pete Wilson, many Senators and Congressmen, MPAA president Jack Valenti, the presidents and CEO's of the four networks and industry leaders such as Sidney Sheinberg, Sumner Redstone and Michael Fuchs.

Over the years we have tackled tough subjects, such as: the package commission, the survival of independent producers, the acceptance of the PGA as a bargaining union, and in Founder Leonard Stern's memorable phrase, we have become not only the rallying point for our own members, but "the conscience of the creative community." Now we are becoming the "voice of the creative community."

To paraphrase Longfellow: "In union, there is strength." Think of how the entire creative community can be reached by the voice of the Caucus.