Statement From DGA President Michael Apted Regarding Passing of Sydney Pollack

May 26, 2008 -- LOS ANGELES, CA — Directors Guild of America President Michael Apted made the following statement on the passing of Director Sydney Pollack:

"Sydney Pollack was the recipient of the DGA Honors John Huston Award for Artists Rights in 2000.

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Sydney Pollack: Photo by NYCArthur (CC)

"Called the quintessential 'actor's director," Sydney let the dialogue and the emotion of a scene speak for itself. Not given to cinematic tricks, his gentle and thoughtful touch and his focus on the story let us inhabit the world he created in each film.

"From the romance of The Way We Were to the sweeping vistas of Out of Africa, from the out-of-work actor in Tootsie to the architectural prowess of Frank Gehry -- Sydney told a story like no other. For his storytelling excellence, Sydney received three nominations for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film -- in 1969 for They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?; in 1982 for Tootsie; and in 1985 for Out of Africa."

Source: DGA