A Toyota Prius pulls up to a curb and parks underneath a tree, ostensibly for some shade. But the tree provides far more than just protection from the sun.
Both the car and the tree are in front of an old multi-story hotel. We hear an argument from one of the upper floors of the building and suddenly objects of all kinds, from small to large appliances and the like, come flying out of a high-rise window. Clearly the argument, presumably between a couple, has gotten heated and everything but the kitchen sink is being thrown out the window, causing pedestrians below to scurry away from falling debris and pigeons to fly off.
Yet not a single object touches the Prius, which is in gravity’s direct path of the falling items. A hand power drill comes close to making impact but the tool is caught by a bending tree branch.
Then a huge TV set is hurled out the window and seems destined to hit the Prius–except the tree “re-routes” the TV’s path and it ends up crashing down on a large SUV that’s parked one slot ahead of the Prius.
A voiceover and supered message relate, “Nature protects her own.”
The Prius then pulls away from the space and out of the picture, at which point all the objects caught in the tree fall down upon the now vacant streetside parking space.
This spec spot, titled “Karma,” was directed and conceived by Paul Santana of bicoastal production house Order.
Charles Salice was exec producer for Order with Valerie Thomas serving as producer. The DP was Greg Daniels.
VFX artist was Joe Laffey of Disorder.
Editor was Stewart Shevin of the since-closed Mad River Post. (Shevin has since joined Filmcore Editorial, which maintains shops in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Santa Monica and San Francisco.)
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