Director Jordan Brady—best known for his comedy work—is coming aboard Santa Monica-based Area 51 Films for commercials, effective Dec. 1. His spot roost for the past year has been Bravo Zulu, Santa Monica….Combining their talent management resources, bicoastal Anonymous Content and Strong/Morrone Entertainment have agreed to merge effective January 1. Anonymous gains access to Strong/Morrone’s roster of actors (i.e., Rachael Leigh Cook, Boris Kodjoe, Gabrielle Union, Gregory Smith) while Strong/Morrone can tap into Anonymous’ diversfied business, which includes a talent and literary department. Under the aegis of Beverly Strong and Jeff Morrone, Strong/Morrone will relocate to Anonymous’ headquarters in Culver City, Calif. "Our long-held desire to grow our talent management division, and the full-service, hands-on philosophy of Beverly and Jeff, made this a natural move," stated Anonymous founder/CEO Steve Golin. We look forward to working with them and their roster of rising young actors." Anonymous also maintains extensive production operations spanning features, TV, commercials and music videos….Carol Stevens has joined Hyena, a New York-based production company, as executive producer. Stevens was previously a producer at DDB New York…Tera Petersen has been hired as a designer at New York facility Northern Lights Post, and will head up the launch of the company’s new visual effects/design division. Petersen comes over from SMA Realtime, New York, where she spent two years as an Inferno artist…Composer Rob Mounsey has signed with Crushing Music, New York. Additionally, Kenny White has returned to Crushing after a stint in the record biz….
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