Motion Picture Directors Association
Encyclopedia
The Motion Picture Directors Association (MPDA) was an American
non-profit fraternal organization formed by twenty-six film directors on June 18, 1915 in Los Angeles, California
.
Its articles of incorporation stated as that the organization existed to:
The following year MPDA members helped their fellow directors working in New York City
to form their own branch association. It was officially incorporated in January 1917 with Allan Dwan
elected as its first head.
Lois Weber
(1879-1939) was the only woman granted membership in the Motion Picture Directors Association.
The organization lasted until 1936 when members of the MPDA helped create the Screen Directors Guild, an official craft union.
Some of the founders and early members of the MPDA were:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
non-profit fraternal organization formed by twenty-six film directors on June 18, 1915 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Its articles of incorporation stated as that the organization existed to:
- To maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of motion picture directors;
- To cultivate the usefulness and exert every influence to improve the moral, social and intellectual standing of all persons connected with the motion picture producing business;
- To cultivate social intercourse among its members;
- To aid and assist all worthy distressed members of this association, their wives, widows and orphans.
The following year MPDA members helped their fellow directors working in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to form their own branch association. It was officially incorporated in January 1917 with Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan was a pioneering Canadian-born American motion picture director, producer and screenwriter.-Early life:...
elected as its first head.
Lois Weber
Lois Weber
Lois Weber was an American silent film actress, screenwriter, producer, and director, who is considered "the most important female director the American film industry has known", and "one of the most important and important and prolific film directors in the era of silent films". Film historian...
(1879-1939) was the only woman granted membership in the Motion Picture Directors Association.
The organization lasted until 1936 when members of the MPDA helped create the Screen Directors Guild, an official craft union.
Some of the founders and early members of the MPDA were: