NEW YORK—Director Joe Pytka of Venice, Calif.-based PYTKA was among the award recipients at the fourth annual Directors Guild of America (DGA) Honors, a gala affair held at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Nov. 16. The event celebrates individuals, institutions and organizations that have made distinguished contributions to American culture through filmmaking and television. This marks the first time a commercial director has been honored at this DGA ceremony.
Ed Sherin, national VP of the DGA noted during his introductory remarks that "Joe Pytka’s commercials are legend … and can sometimes be the highlight of an evening of TV viewing." He also praised the director for the ads he helmed for the New York Miracle campaign created by BBDO New York for the Office of the Mayor, which promoted the city in the wake of the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Actor Sam Bottoms (Seabiscuit, The Outlaw Josey Wales) introduced Pytka, and also lauded his work on the New York Miracle ads. "They gave hope and inspiration," said Bottoms. "[That campaign] was inspiring. … It let people know New York City was back in business." Bottoms praised Pytka’s other work as well, noting, "Joe has an uncanny ability to create messages that linger in the mind." He also poked fun at the director’s sometimes mercurial temperament.
While accepting the award from the DGA, Pytka said, "I am overwhelmed. [This award] is an unexpected thing for me." He also thanked Austin McCann, his long-time colleague and assistant director, as well as those who contributed to his body of commercial work. Pytka concluded by saying he would be "sharing the award with his daughters."
Pytka’s fellow honorees were: director Robert Altman (The Company, M*A*S*H); director/screenwriter Curtis Hanson (8 Mile, Wonder Boys); Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who is the co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1613, an anti-runaway production measure; and John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, and author of America Needs A Raise: Fighting for Economic Security and Social Justice. Additionally, a $10,000 scholarship award was presented to the film program at the University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles. Elizabeth Daley, dean of the USC School of Cinema and Television, was on hand to accept.
Pytka, who has directed more than 5,000 commercials, is a three-time winner of the DGA Award for best commercial director, and has been nominated a total of 13 times. (He and director Leslie Dektor of Dektor Film, Hollywood, are tied for the most nominations in the commercial category.) Pytka won the award in ’82, ’86 and ’91. He was last nominated in ’02, with an entry card comprising the spots "Skating" and "The Deli," for the aforementioned New York Miracle campaign; "Pillow Talk" for Disney out of Leo Burnett USA, Chicago; and the Ad Council’s childhood hunger awareness PSA "Ketchup Soup," via Bartle Bogle Hegarty, New York. (Bob Kerstetter, who now directs via Lushadelic, San Francisco, won the honor that year.)
