Kaaren F. Ochoa (First Assistant Director) joined the DGA in 1986 and has worked as an assistant director on such films as Milagro Beanfield War and A River Runs Through It, both with Robert Redford directing; Gettysburg; Selena with Greg Nava directing; Introducing Dorothy Dandridge with Martha Coolidge; and White Oleander.  She was Unit Production Manager in Ecuador on Proof of Life, directed by Taylor Hackford.  Kaaren has over 30 years experience in the film industry, starting as a writer, co-producer and director on documentaries and children's films for ABC, NBC and PBS.  Two of these documentaries were nominated for the Peabody Award in 1979 as part of the La Raza Series for ABC.  Kaaren's recent work as 1st A.D. includes Appaloosa, directed by Ed Harris, Crazy Heart, directed by Scott Cooper, and Georgia O'Keeffe, directed by Bob Balaban. She is an associate member of the WGA and a past President of New Mexico Women in Film.