Page 12 - aruba-today-20220321

a12 people & arts
Monday 21 March 2022

Producers Guild presidents to end

trying, triumphant tenure

By LINDSEY BAHR
AP Film Writer
Gail Berman and Lucy
Fisher were both Hollywood
veterans when they were
elected as co-presidents
of the Producers Guild of
America in June 2018. But
while both had overseen
big studios, films and
television shows, nothing
could have prepared them
for what they'd encounter
in their four years Iin office
with the PGA, including
the #MeToo revolution, the
Black Lives Matter protests
of 2020 and the COVID-19 Co-presidents of the Producers Guild of America Lucy Fisher,
pandemic. left, and Gail Berman arrive at the 2020 Producers Guild Awards
"We didn't know each in Los Angeles on Jan. 18, 2020. Associated Press
other when this shotgun
marriage was formed," the guild. Fisher has been and helped form safety
Berman said. "But we sort of a studio executive for over protocols when production
joined hands and said, "let's 40 years, overseeing films was able to start again.
try our best to move this like "The Goonies" and "The When people started
forward." And we've had Fugitive" at Warner Bros., getting back to work, PGA
the best time with each and "Men in Black," "Jerry members would gather on
other. It was definitely more Maguire" and "My Best Zoom to share information,
than we ever considered Friend's Wedding" as vice give advice and ask for it
when we said yes, but I chairman of Sony Pictures. too. The community spirit
will say that we're leaving Berman, meanwhile, made was unprecedented and
with our heads held high her name in television as shone a spotlight on a
with a lot of pride for the an executive producer job that often only gets
organization and what the of "Buffy the Vampire noticed when things go
organization has been able Slayer" and an executive wrong.
to accomplish in a difficult, at Fox, overseeing the "In the midst of all the horrors
difficult time." development and of the last year, producers
Before they bid farewell to scheduling of shows like prevailed," Fisher said.
their co-presidency, they "American Idol" and "Producers are the unsung
will celebrate Saturday "Arrested Development." heroes and don't often get
night at the 33rd PGA During their tenure at the the recognition. Our job is
Awards in Los Angeles. The Producers Guild, they to be sometimes invisible
untelevised show gives led efforts to combat and push everybody
awards to producers of sexual harassment in else forward and make a
films (nominees include their business, worked to working machine, which
"The Power of the Dog," diversify their membership we try to do. And obviously
"CODA" and "Dune") and and provide mentorship the director is at the helm,
television shows (from "Ted for underrepresented but I think it's been a good
Lasso" to "Squid Game"). groups at various career time for producers to be
And they'll also be honoring stages and encouraged able to stand tall and for
the likes of George Lucas, greener productions. the world to respect what's
Kathleen Kennedy, Issa When the pandemic hit been accomplished
Rae, "Dune" producer Mary and production came to because it could have
Parent, Greg Berlanti and a standstill, Berman and been that there was no
Rita Moreno. Fisher helped establish a business. And that didn't
Both women were already relief fund for members, happen."
trailblazers in their industry transitioned community They also helped blur
before taking the job with events to virtual settings and level out old divisions
between television and
movie producers within
the guild. Berman's
involvement, Fisher said,
was key to that since
there had never been a
high-powered television
producer in the president
role. Now, they have the
highest number of paying
members they've ever
had: 8,400 people.q