The Directors Guild of America (DGA) announced today the recipients of two special service awards, recognizing exemplary service to the Guild and for extraordinary career achievements. The awards will be presented at the 78th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
Associate director/stage manager David Charles will receive the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award, which recognizes extraordinary service to the industry and the Guild, and Commercials First AD Gregory G. McCollum will receive the Frank Capra Achievement Award, which is given in recognition of notable career achievements and for outstanding service to the DGA.
“David and Gregory are two incredible leaders and collaborators,” said DGA President Christopher Nolan. “They have given so much of their time and talent to improving the lives of our AD/SM/PA members working in live television and our ADs and UPMs working in commercials, respectively. We are proud to recognize their contributions to their fellow Guild members – and their professional success – with these important special service awards.”
2026 Franklin J Schaffner Achievement Award: David Charles
A DGA member since 2000, David Charles’ service to the DGA began when he was elected as an alternate for the first of his eight terms on the Western AD/SM/PA Council. He went on to serve two consecutive terms as a Council member and three terms as the Council’s first vice chair. He has also served as a member of the BA/FLTTA Negotiations Committee in 2020 and 2023. He is currently co-chair of the Guild’s Reality Television Committee.
Charles’ credits as a stage manager span commercially successful scripted and live television shows including Sesame Street, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Deal or No Deal, Shark Tank, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Comic Standing, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, America’s Next Top Model, The Masked Singer, Dancing with the Stars, and more.
In 2020, Charles was nominated for a DGA Award in the Reality Programs category for his work directing an episode of World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji, “3,2,1…Go!”.
Past Recipients of the Franklin J Schaffner Achievement Award
Gary Natoli (2024)
Valdez Flagg (2023)
Garry W. Hood (2022)
Joyce Thomas (2021)
Arthur E. Lewis (2020)
Mimi Deaton (2019)
Jim Tanker (2018)
Tom McDermott (2016)
Julie E. Gelfand (2015)
Vincent M. DeDario (2014)
Dency Nelson (2013)
Dennis W. Mazzocco (2012)
Maria Jimenez Henley (2010)
Scott Berger (2009)
Barbara Roche (2008)
Terry Benson (2007)
Donald E. Jacob (2006)
Stanley Faer (2005)
Peery Forbis (2004)
Esperanza “Candy” Martinez (2003)
Anita Cooper-Avrick (2003)
Robert Van Ry (2001)
Scott L. Rindenow (2000)
Robert Caminiti (1999)
C. J. Rapp-Pittman (1998)
Joseph L. Dicso (1997)
Don Lewis Barnhart (1996)
Larry Carl (1995)
James E. Wall (1994)
James “Woody” Woodworth (1993)
Marilyn Jacobs-Furey (1992)
Chester O’Brien (1991)
Mortimer O’Brien (1991)
2026 Frank Capra Achievement Award: Gregory G. McCollum
Gregory G. McCollum joined the DGA in 1985 as a second AD. His service to the Guild began in 2009 when he was chosen to serve as a member of the DGA’s Commercial Negotiating Committee, a role he would go on to continue for every negotiations cycle since. He was first elected as an Alternate member of the Western AD/UPM Council in 2018 and has served in that role for seven consecutive terms. He also currently serves as the chair of the Council’s Commercial Committee and is only the second member working in commercials to receive the Frank Capra Achievement Award.
Throughout his long career in commercials, McCollum has served as a first AD on countless Super Bowl spots and over a thousand projects for brands across consumer categories from automotive, lifestyle, financial services, sports, electronics, and more. Several of these projects have gone on to receive Emmy nominations.
McCollum’s first AD credits also include features and short films such as Gary McKendry’s Everything In This Country Must (2004), Tenney Fairchild’s The Good Humor Man (2005) and Vikes (2017), Ericson Core’s Point Break (2015), Jim Jenkins’ I Can Change (2020) and David Shane’s television pilot Driven (2021).
Past recipients of the Frank Capra Achievement Award
Thomas J. Whelan (2025)
Janet Knutsen (2024)
Mark Hansson (2023)
Joseph P. Reidy (2022)
Brian E. Frankish (2021)
Duncan Henderson (2020)
Kathleen McGill (2019)
Dwight Williams (2018)
Marie Cantin (2017)
Mary Rae Thewlis (2016)
Phillip Goldfarb (2015)
Lee Blaine (2014)
Susan Zwerman (2013)
Katy E. Garretson (2012)
Cleve Landsberg (2010)
Kim Kurumada (2009)
Liz Ryan (2008)
Jerry H. Ziesmer (2006)
Herb Adelman (2005)
Stephen Glanzrock (2004)
Yudi Bennett (2003)
Burt Bluestein (2002)
Cheryl R. Downey (2000)
Tom Joyner (1999)
Bob Jeffords (1998)
Peter A. Runfolo (1994)
Willard H. Sheldon (1993)
Howard W. Koch (1991)
Stanley Ackerman (1990)
Alex Hapsas (1988)
Henry E. “Bud” Brill (1987)
Jane Schimel (1985)
Abby Singer (1985)
William Beaudine Jr. (1983)
William C. Gerrity (1983)
Wallace Worsley (1982)
David Golden (1982)
Francisco “Chico” Day (1981)
Emmett Emerson (1980)
