The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has named its nominees for Best Commercial Director of 2013: Fredrik Bond of MJZ/Sonny, John X. Carey who’s now with Tool but was nominated on the strength of work he done while at Paranoid US, Noam Murro of Biscuit Filmworks, Martin de Thurah of Epoch Films, and Matthijs van Heijningen of MJZ.
Murro is a two-time DGA Award winner and has been nominated seven times in his career. He won the DGA Award in 2004 (for adidas’ “Carry,” Starbucks’ “Glen” and eBay’s “Toy Boat”) and again in 2011 (for DirecTV’s “Hot House,” Heineken Premium Light’s “Handlebar Moustache), Volkswagen Tiguan’s “Pinata” and EA Battlefield 3’s “Is It Real?”).
Bond has now been nominated for the DGA commercial honor six times, the first coming for his work in 2004 followed by 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012.
Carey, de Thurah and van Heijningen are all first-time DGA nominees.
Bond and van Heijningen continue what has become a DGA Awards tradition for MJZ. This marks the 11th time in the last 12 years that MJZ has had two or more nominees for the coveted Guild spot honor. MJZ has had at least one director nominated in 15 of the last 16 years. And MJZ directors have won the DGA Award for four of the past eight years (a different MJZ helmer each time).
Bodies of work
Bond’s latest nomination came on the basis of two spots: Heinenken’s “Voyage” from Wieden+Kennedy, Amsterdam, and Johnny Walker’s “From The future” for BBH London.
Carey became a nominee on the strength of Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” out of Ogilvy & Mather, Sao Paulo.
Murro’s most recent nomination was earned for Guinness’ “Basketball” from BBDO New York, DirecTV’s “Kids” out of Grey New York, and Volkswagen’s “Mask” via Deutsch LA.
De Thurah’s nomination came for Hennessy’s “The Man Who Couldn’t Slow Down” out of Droga5, New York, and Acura MDX 2014’s “Human Race” for Mullen L.A.
Van Heijningen attained nominee status for Sony Playstation’s “Perfect Day” from BBH New York, and Verizon’s “#Forty Eight” for mcgarrybowen, New York.
Spot teams
As for the commercial category nominees’ support teams, here’s a rundown for all except Bond whose credit info wasn’t available at press time.
Michael Jordan was first assistant director and Jason Halley second assistant director on Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” directed by Carey.
Craig A. Pinckes was first assistant director and Patrick Cunningham second assistant director on the Murro-directed “Basketball” for Guinness and “Mask” for VW. James Powell Veal was unit production manager on “Mask” and on DirecTV’s “Kids.” Michael David Salven was first assistant director while Robert E. Kay served as second assistant director and Erv E. Gentry and Matt Wilson Ross as second second assistant directors on “Kids.”
Shawn Thomas was first assistant director on Hennessy’s “The Man Who Couldn’t Slow Down” directed by de Thurah. And for Acura’s “Human Race,” also helmed by de Thurah, Jey Wada was first assistant director, Dillon Neaman second assistant director and Erin Stern second second assistant director.
William Booker was first assistant director on Sony PlayStation’s “Perfect Day” directed by van Heijningen. David Dean was first assistant director, Carl Jackson second assistant director and Yvonne Wang second second assistant director on Verizon’s “#Forty Eight.”
The DGA Awards are in their 66th year. The DGA opened up the annual competition to commercial directors in 1980. This year’s DGA Award winners across all categories–including features, TV, documentaries and commercials–will be announced and honored during a gala dinner and ceremony on Saturday evening, January 25, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.
