Jay D. Roth, national executive director of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), announced that Frank Bennett Gonzalez will take on an expanded role in overseeing the Guild’s diversity efforts.
“Frank’s commitment to increasing diversity in DGA-covered categories has been a valuable asset to our Guild,” said Roth. “And that benefit will continue to grow as he steps into this expanded role designed to strengthen the diversity programs and resources available to our membership.”
As executive in charge of Diversity Programs and Committees, Gonzalez will manage the DGA’s expanded diversity programs including the DGA Director Development Initiative–a networking and educational program launched in January–which prepares members for opportunities to further their television directing careers; as well as an upcoming director mentorship program. He will also continue to coordinate the DGA’s diversity strategy in concert with the Guild’s Diversity Task Force and committees. Gonzalez reports to Bryan Unger, associate national executive director.
Prior to joining the DGA in 2014, Gonzalez worked for more than 13 years on diversity initiatives for the Disney/ABC Television Group, most recently serving as director of creative talent development, where he spearheaded and expanded keystone creative initiatives and talent development programs such as the Disney/ABC Writing Program and the Disney/ABC-DGA Directing Program. In that position, Gonzalez also worked closely with the entertainment guilds and built strong relationships with community arts organizations. Gonzalez earned an MFA from the UCLA School of Film & Television Producers Program and a B.A. in Film Studies from UC Irvine.
Judge Awards Blake Lively Legal Fees But No More Damages In “It Ends With Us” Dispute
Blake Lively can recover some legal costs from fellow actor and director Justin Baldoni but not punitive damages and other relief she sought after settling her legal claims over their 2024 film "It Ends With Us," a judge ruled Friday.
Judge Lewis J. Liman said in a written decision that Lively can recover legal fees and costs related to her defense against a countersuit Baldoni brought against her after she sued him in December 2024.
In his written ruling Friday, Liman cited a California law designed to protect survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory lawsuits meant to intimidate and silence victims.
The judge said the law requires that the plaintiff must pay the defendant's legal fees and costs if a defamation claim made in response to a lawsuit is dismissed, even if the facts of the case have not been developed through the gathering of evidence.
Liman said an exception would be if Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, could prove malice fueled Lively's claims, but that Baldoni and Wayfarer had produced no evidence to show that.
The judge rejected her claims to triple any damages and pursue punitive damages as well under the California law, saying that they did not fall within "carefully crafted federal procedural rules designed to protect the rights of the parties."
Lively and Baldoni settled the bulk of their dispute last month just as a trial was about to start on Lively's retaliation claims. She received no money from the deal but was permitted to pursue legal fees.
In their statements, both sides cast Liman's ruling as a victory.
Lively lawyers Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson said the award of legal fees "makes it clear that Ms. Lively brought her claims in... Read More