The Directors Guild of America has named its nominees for best commercial director of 2010: Frank Budgen of Gorgeous Enterprises, London (who’s handled stateside by Anonymous Content); Craig Gillespie of MJZ; Tim Godsall of Biscuit Filmworks; Tom Kuntz of MJZ; and Stacy Wall of Imperial Woodpecker.
This is the fifth career nomination for Gillespie who won the DGA Award as outstanding commercial director of ’05 on the strength of Ameriquest’s “Surprise Dinner” and “Mini-Mart,” Altoid’s “People of Pain” and “Fable of the Fruit Bat.” He was also nominated for his work in ’01, ’02 and ’09.
Kuntz is a four-time DGA Award nominee, the last three coming in succession. He won the DGA Award last year as top spot helmer of ’09 for Cadbury’s “Eyebrows,” Old Spice’s “Scents for Gents,” Skittles’ “Tailor” and CareerBuilder’s “Tips.” Kuntz earned his first nomination for his entries from ’06.
Gillespie and Kuntz continue what has become a DGA Awards tradition for MJZ. This marks the eighth time in the last nine years that MJZ has had two or more nominees for the coveted DGA spot honor. MJZ has had at least one director nominated in 12 out of the last 13 years. And MJZ directors have won the DGA Award four of the past five years (a different MJZ helmer each time).
Meanwhile Budgen earns his second career DGA commercial nomination, the first garnered for his body of submitted work from 2007.
Rounding out the DGA spot field are first-time nominees Godsall and Wall.
Bodies of work
Godsall’s nomination came on the strength of DirecTV’s “Opulence” out of Grey New York, Hyundai’s “Bull” from Innocean Worldwide Americas, and HBO’s “Eastbound & Mom” for BBDO New York.
Wall’s first-time nomination was earned on the basis of Nike’s “Rise” and “Handshake” for Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Ore., Microsoft’s “Really?” from Crispin Porter & Bogusky, Boulder, Colo., and adidas’ “Slim Chin & D Rose” via 180LA.
Budgen’s second career nomination was for Sony Bravia’s “World Cup” and “Thunderstruck” from Anomaly, London, and Honda’s “RGB” out of Wieden+Kennedy, London.
Kuntz became a four-time nominee for the following Old Spice entries: “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like,” “Questions,” “Did You Know?” and “Boat,” all from Wieden+Kennedy, Portland.
And Gillespie took the fifth for Cars.com’s “Timothy Richman” for DDB Chicago, Snickers’ “Game” and “Road Trip” from BBDO New York; and CareerBuilder’s “Another Language” and “Casual Friday,” both based on user concepts submitted for a Super Bowl contest.
The DGA Awards are in their 63rd year. The DGA opened the annual competition to commercial directors in 1980. This year’s DGA Award winners–spanning theatrical features (see separate story), TV, documentaries and commercials–will be announced and honored during a gala evening ceremony on Saturday, January 29, at the Grand Ballroom of Hollywood and Highland.
On the TV program category front, Michael Spiller–who is repped for commercials and branded content by Lookout Entertainment–earned a DGA Award nomination for outstanding direction in comedy for Modern Family‘s “Halloween” episode. This is Spiller’s first career DGA nomination.
