Untitled, the Santa Monica shop headed by executive producer Jim Evans, has signed director Kathryn Bigelow and the helming duo the Cronenweths (brothers Tim and Jeff) for commercials…. Executive producer Heidi Gottlieb has launched New York-headquartered Go Man Go Productions, which is affiliated with bicoastal feature film distribution/production/finance company First Look Media. Go Man Go opens with director John Towse, formerly of bicoastal/international hungry man. Additionally, executive producer Rachel Griffin joins Gottlieb in making director feature filmmaker Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) available to helm spots via Go Man Go….Director Michael Patterson, formerly of Rhythm & Hues, Los Angeles, has joined Visitor, the Hollywood-based production company under the aegis of owner/ director James Wahlberg and executive producer Lisa Hollingshead….Superior Assembly Editing Company closed its doors in Santa Monica last month. Several key artisans from that shop have emerged at new roosts. Prior to Superior’s closure, editor Jeff Grippe left to join Sliced Grape, the offline editorial division of West Los Angeles-based The Grape Group. Coming over with Grippe to Sliced Grape were former Superior Assembly managing director Valerie Schadt and producer/marketing executive Dillard Sholes. Editor Nicholas Erasmus, who spent the past four years at Superior, has joined Santa Monica-based Terminal….Rick Boyko, chief creative officer of WPP Group’s Ogilvy & Mather North America and co-president of Ogilvy & Mather, New York, will retire from the agency next year. He will become the managing director of the Adcenter at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. O&M co-president Bill Gray will assume sole management of the agency, with executive creative directors David Apicella and Chris Wall becoming co-creative heads….Fluid, New York, has signed editor Scott Philbrook, who comes over from Mad River, New York. Additionally, composer Andy Mendelson has joined the post/music house….Composer Michael Bacon has signed for commercial representation with bicoastal Fearless Music. Bacon has scored a large number of feature films (King Gimp, Twisted), and will continue to score features out of his eponymous shop, Michael Bacon Music. He tours regularly with his brother Kevin, as one half of The Bacon Brothers band….Editor Robin Burchill, formerly of New York-based Consulate, has joined Slingshot Edit and Post, New York ….
DGA Feature Nominees: Audiard, Baker, Berger, Corbet and Mangold
The field of feature nominees for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards spanning two categories is set. Nominated for the DGA honor for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 are: Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Conclave, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, and James Mangold for A Complete Unknown.
The DGA also revealed the nominees for the Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film. The first-time narrative feature directors are: Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light, Megan Park for My Old Ass, RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys, Halfdan Ullman Tondel for Armand, and Sean Wang for Diddy.
“2024 has been a truly extraordinary year for storytelling--and today’s nominees have created audacious and unique films that expand the possibilities of cinematic excellence,” said DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter. “I am thrilled to congratulate all our nominated directors for their brilliant work, which is visionary, inspirational and speaks to the depth of the human experience. To be chosen by one’s peers is the true marker of outstanding directorial achievement and what makes these nominations so very special.”
The winners will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 8.
Here’s a fuller rundown of the nominees in both DGA Award categories:
THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 (in alphabetical order):
JACQUES AUDIARD
Emilia Pérez
(Netflix)
SEAN... Read More