The Art Directors Guild (ADG) tonight announced winners of its 14th Annual Excellence in 2009 Production Design Awards in nine categories of film, television, commercials and music videos during black-tie ceremonies at the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. The awards took place before an audience of over 700 persons, including guild members, industry executives, studio heads and press. ADG Chairman Thomas A. Walsh presided over the awards ceremony with Paula Poundstone serving as host. Honorary awards were presented to Production Designer Terence Marsh for Lifetime Achievement and to iconic filmmaker Warren Beatty for Outstanding Contribution to Cinematic Imagery. Production Designer Michael Baugh also received a Creative Leadership Award.
Presenters for this year’s awards included Kevin Alejandro (“Southland”); Director Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”); Jim Bissell (Governor, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences); Albert Brenner (Production Designer); Rick Carter (Production Designer); Richard Chamberlain (“Shogun” and “Doctor Kildare”); Jessalyn Gilsig (“Glee”); Angela Kinsey (“The Office”); CCH Pounder (“Avatar”); Kerr Smith (“Life Unexpected”); Rich Sommer (“Mad Men”); Paul Sylbert (Oscar® winning Production Designer); and Gene Wilder (“Young Frankenstein”). During its ceremony tonight ADG inducted three additional legendary Production Designers into its Hall of Fame, bringing the roster to 30. The new inductees were Malcolm F. Brown, Bob Keene and Ferdinando Scarfiotti. At the start of the awards ceremony, the ADG debuted a short film, by filmmaker Cindy Peters, titled “The Case of the Bad Production Designer,” the theme of which was Production Design: The Good, the Bad, and the Ideal.
ADG awards recognition always goes to the Production Designer, Art Director and Assistant Art Director of each nominated and winning project.
WINNERS FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A FEATURE FILM IN 2009
Period Film
“Sherlock Holmes”
Production Designer: Sarah Greenwood
Fantasy Film
“Avatar”
Production Designer: Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg
Contemporary Film
“The Hurt Locker”
Production Designer: Karl Juliusson
WINNERS FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN IN TELEVISION FOR 2009
Single-Camera Television Series
“Mad Men” Episode: Souvenir
Production Designer: Dan Bishop
Television Movie or Mini-Series
“Grey Gardens”
Production Designer: Kalina Ivanov
Episode of a Half Hour Single-Camera Television Series
“Weeds”
Episode: Ducks and Tigers
Production Designer: Joseph P. Lucky
Episode of a Multi-Camera, Variety or Unscripted Series
“Hell’s Kitchen” Episode: 604
Production Designer: John Janavs
Awards, Music or Game Shows
51st Annual Grammy Awards
Production Designer: Brian Stonestreet, Steve Bass
WINNER FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR COMMERCIALS AND MUSIC VIDEOS FOR 2009
Absolut Anthem
Commercial: “In An Absolut World”
Production Designer: James Chinlund
Co-Producers for this year’s ADG Awards were John Janavs and Dawn Snyder. Art Director John Sabato designed the ceremony using 500,000 Swarovski crystals, in a multitude of different applications and styles. Sponsors for the 14th Annual ADG awards were: Set and Décor Sponsor Swarovski; Marsh, Best & Associates; Twentieth Century Fox; United Talent Agency; Fox Studios Production Services; Mirisch Agency; Paramount Pictures; Astek Inc./On Air Designs; Montana Artists Agency; NBC Universal – Property, Drapery, Graphic and Sign Shop, Staff and Moulding Shop; and Warner Bros. Studio Facilities. Media sponsors were Below The Line, Hollywood Reporter and Variety. Tarin Wilson of plan A events was the event planner for this year’s ADG awards.
About the Art Directors Guild
The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) represents nearly 2,000 members who work throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world in film, television and theater as Production Designers, Art Directors, and Assistant Art Directors; Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists; Illustrators and Matte Artists; and Set Designers and Model Makers. Established in 1937, ADG’s ongoing activities include a Film Society; an annual Awards Banquet, a creative/technology community (5D: The Future of Immersive Design) and Membership Directory; a bimonthly craft magazine (Perspective); and extensive technology-training programs, creative workshops and craft and art exhibitions. The Guild’s Online Directory/Website Resource is at www.adg.org.