British Production Designer Sir Ken Adam was best known for his set designs for the James Bond films of the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for Dr. Strangelove (1964). He was hired for the first James Bond film, Dr. No in 1962. Recognized for his innovative, semi-futuristic sets, Adam returned as the Production Designer for numerous additional James Bond films including Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965),You Only Live Twice (1967), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), and his last Bond film Moonraker (1979).
Adam returned to work with Stanley Kubrick on Barry Lyndon (1975), for which he won an Oscar. His many award-winning Production Designer credits include The Ipcress File (1965) and its sequel Funeral in Berlin (1966), Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), Sleuth (1972) and The Madness of King George (1994), for which he won his second Oscar for Best Art Direction. In 2003, Adam was knighted for services to the film industry and Anglo-German relations. He died on March 10, 2016 at his home in London at the age of 95.
One of the most celebrated Chinese-American artists of the 20th century, Tyrus Wong’s art covered more than film. He was a renowned illustrator, painter, muralist, ceramicist, lithographer and kite maker. Best known for his significant contributions to Disney’s classic motion picture Bambi, Wong created the film’s soft water-colored backgrounds and beautiful palettes during his work at Disney Studios from 1938 to 1941. Bambi received praise for its ‘haunting visual style’ and Wong was named a Disney Legend. In addition to Disney, he worked as a production illustrator for Warner Bros. for 26 years, and was a Hallmark greeting card designer, where some of his cards sold more than a million copies.
Tyrus Wong is the subject of Pamela Tom’s award-winning documentary TYRUS. Through interviews, archival footage and never-before-seen artwork, the film traces Wong’s life and career from his birth in China, overcoming racism and an internment camp upon arrival to the United States, to the studios of the Golden Age of Hollywood to the beaches of Santa Monica, where the centenarian loved to fly his colorful, handmade kites. He recently died at age 106 on December 30, 2016.
Last year’s ADG Hall of Fame inductee, which are only given posthumously, was Production Designer Gene Allen. The complete list of inductees can be found at www.adg.org.
Producers of this year's ADG Awards (#ADGawards) are Production Designers Thomas Walsh and Thomas Wilkins. Online nomination voting will be held December 6, 2017– January 3, 2018 and nominees announced on January 4, 2018. Final online balloting will be held January 8 –25 and winners will be announced at the dinner ceremony on Saturday, January 27, 2018. ADG Awards are open only to productions, when made within the U.S., by producers signatory to the IATSE agreement. Foreign entries are acceptable without restrictions.
About the Art Directors Guild
The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) represents 2,500 members who work throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world in film, television and theater as Production Designers, Art Directors, Assistant Art Directors; Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists; Illustrators and Matte Artists; Set Designers and Model Makers; and Previs Artists. Established in 1937, the ADG’s ongoing activities include a Film Society, an annual Awards Banquet, a creative/technology community (5D: The Future of Immersive Design), a bimonthly craft magazine (Perspective); and extensive technology-training programs, figure drawing and other creative workshops and year-round Gallery 800 art exhibitions. The Guild’s Online Directory/Website Resource is at www.adg.org. Connect with the Art Directors Guild and #ADGawards on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
