Though SHOOT has been identifying, new, up-and-coming directorial talent for many years–on a weekly basis in terms of our news coverage, in the context of our Directors Series/Special Reports which regularly contain a feature on new helmers, and in the scope of our weekly “The Best Work You May Never See” gallery–this is just the fourth year that SHOOT has held a formal event, its annual New Directors Showcase, to put the spotlight on deserving, emerging directors.
And strange as it sounds, there’s a sense of mini-tradition that’s developed over that relatively short span. I remember in year two we had Nelson Cabrera as a Showcase director. That was just a year after Cabrera, a veteran first a.d. on commercials, was in the audience, starting to do spec work which was just on the cusp of garnering recognition in industry circles–with the possibility that one of the ads was going to gain airtime. It did–and a year later he was in our New Directors Showcase. He’s now with HKM.
We’ve seen a fair percentage of directors in these four years go on to great success, including director Michael Downing of harvest having his Budweiser “Skydiver” spot appear on the Super Bowl last year and finish first in the USA Today poll.
And the career progression that has taken hold is evident in this year’s crop. A number of the directors chosen for this year couldn’t be with us at the New Directors Showcase event at the DGA Theater in New York last month because, happily, they had gotten spot assignments. An example being Shyam Madiraju of V3 at Anonymous Content who was working on a Fox Soccer Channel job.
Plus there have also been signings. On the strength of his spec work at Group101Spots, Brent Jones, who came to the SHOOT event, recently signed with Aero Film, Santa Monica. The team of Zack & J.C. was also on hand at the DGA Theater and I had the pleasure of announcing that they had just agreed to join @radical.media.
Furthermore, just a couple of weeks after our New Directors Showcase screening, panel discussion and reception, work directed by two of the Showcase helmers garnered three honors at the prestigious AICP Show.
Earning distinction in two AICP competition categories was the work of New Directors Showcase helmer Adam Goldstein of bicoastal/international RSA. The Goldstein-directed Freelance Union’s “Hospital” was honored in the spec spot category. Goldstein, who recently moved over from his creative director’s post at BBDO New York to pursue a full-time directorial career via RSA, also served as creative director on “Hospital.”
Additionally, Goldstein scored in the copywriting category for the New York Homeless Coalition’s “Scaffold” from BBDO New York. Goldstein directed and teamed with Lauren Cohen to write the commercial, which was screened as part of SHOOT’s New Directors Showcase reel.
Meanwhile honored in the AICP Show’s student commercial category was Mountain Dew’s “Foley” directed by the duo of Zack & J.C. (a.k.a. Zack Resnicoff and J.C. Khoury). “Foley” also was screened for the DGA Theater audience during the SHOOT proceedings.
For the SHOOT staff, the bottom line is simple. Indeed the most gratifying part of the Showcase for us is seeing careers born and then progress.
Nominees Unveiled For Cinema Audio Society’s 61st Annual Awards
The Cinema Audio Society has unveiled its nominees in seven categories for the 61st Annual CAS Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing 2024.
The 61st CAS Awards will be held on Saturday, February 22, at the Beverly Hilton.
Nominated in the live action motion picture category were the audio teams behind A Complete Unknown, Deadpool & Wolverine, Dune: Part Two, Gladiator II and Wicked.
Animated motion picture nominees were the sound ensembles behind Inside Out 2, Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King, The Wild Robot and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
As previously announced, multi-award-winning sound mixer Tod A. Maitland CAS (A Complete Unknown, West Side Story, Joker), will be honored with the CAS Career Achievement Award. In addition, visionary filmmaker Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two, Blade Runner 2049, Arrival) will receive the Cinema Audio Society’s Filmmaker Award.
The CAS Award nominees highlight the outstanding contributions of sound mixers, recognizing excellence in the specialized craft of sound mixing for both film and television. Each year, accomplished CAS members—who possess extensive expertise in the art and science of sound—carefully review hundreds of projects to ensure the nominees truly reflect excellence in sound mixing in Motion Picture and Television entertainment.
“2024 was a year of remarkable achievements in the sound community, with exceptional talent on display across every category,” said CAS president Peter Kurland. “The innovation and artistry of these sound mixers continue to elevate the craft, and the upcoming awards will be a celebration of the outstanding contributions made this year. Congratulations to... Read More