Hey folks, Harry here... I usually tend to stay out of the Award Show commentary, and Nordling already hit with this, but I have been known to discuss it a bit further. Today, the Director's Guild of America announced their nominees for Best Director. Usually, this pretty much translates verbatim to the Academy Awards' nomination list. Here's the list of 5:
Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan
David Fincher for The Social Network
Tom Hooper for The King’s Speech
Christopher Nolan for Inception
David O. Russell for The Fighter
Ok, I may not be a huge fan of INCEPTION, but I do believe Nolan absolutely deserves to be on the list, simply due to craftsmanship and the performances he captured in that film. I'm least enthused about Tom Hooper getting nominated for the exceedingly safe, quaint and rather ordinary KING'S SPEECH. I like the film, but one of the 5 best directing efforts of the year? Oh please. I know KING'S SPEECH has an aggressive Award Show campaign behind it, but it doesn't hold a candle to The Coen Brother's work on TRUE GRIT or Mark Romanek's work on NEVER LET ME GO or Derek Cianfrance's incredibly intimate directorial work on BLUE VALENTINE. I expect the Academy to nominate Hooper for KING'S SPEECH, and I expect we'll see THE KING'S SPEECH nominated for Best Picture... I suppose more folks should just go to Actor Workshops, where the 'big moments' in KING'S SPEECH are repeated often, as just an exercise in vocal training. Forgive me if seeing Colin Firth go through this failed to impress me, my Speech/Theater Teacher in HIGH SCHOOL put us all through the "fuckityfuckfuckfuckfricketyfuckityfuckfuck" bits. Sigh. End of rant.
I've got an odd feeling that this award is going to really come down between Darren Aronofsky and Christopher Nolan. My reasoning is that I think a lot of folks will be crediting Aaron Sorkin's screenplay with the heavy lifting, while I can't help but be amazed at how David Fincher is such an amazing Director, he has filmed the creation of a 'Database Website' and made it amazing to watch, filled with nuanced moments and captivating performances. For me personally, in this list of directors, it comes down between Fincher and Aronofsky... and out of this group, I choose Darren Aronofsky. BLACK SWAN is breathtaking. When you consider the worst performances of Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder - over their careers - and then you consider that they all have given career high water marks... when you consider Aronofsky's dazzling eye for capturing the dancing in an emotional and powerfully sweeping manner. I just must give it to him. Stunning work.
MEANWHILE also today - The Visual Effects Society released their nominations today as well. Which is far more Geek Friendly! I always love the way they break the awards down. From Character Animation to Environmental to Supporting Visual Effects - in particular, I'm quite happy to see them honoring RAY HARRYHAUSEN! Here they are:
VISUAL EFFECTS SOCIETY (VES) ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR 9th ANNUAL VES AWARDS
HBO series “Boardwalk Empire” leads overall nominations with 5 and “Inception” leads film nominations with 4
Los Angeles, January 10, 2011 - The Visual Effects Society (VES) today announced the nominees for the 9th Annual VES Awards ceremony recognizing outstanding visual effects artistry in 24 categories of film, animation, television, commercials and video games. Nominees were chosen Saturday, January 8 by numerous blue ribbon panels of VES members who viewed submissions at the FotoKem screening facilities in Burbank and San Francisco as well as at other facilities in London, Sydney and Vancouver.
“We are extremely proud to recognize these artists and their work with these nominations,“ said Jeffrey A. Okun, Chair of the Visual Effects Society. "The art of visual effects has become the art of storytelling in a new and compelling way and we congratulate these artists for the finest work in our field this year."
As previously announced, Christopher Nolan will be honored with the inaugural VES Visionary Award and Ray Harryhausen with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The 9th Annual VES Awards will take place on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and will air exclusively on REELZCHANNEL Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 10p ET/PT with encore presentations throughout February.
The nominees for the 9th Annual VES Awards are as follows:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual-Effects Driven Feature Motion Picture
Inception
Paul Franklin Visual Effects Supervisor
Chris Corbould Mike Chambers Matthew Plummer
Iron Man 2
Ben Snow Ged Wright Janek Sirrs Susan Pickett
TRON: Legacy
Eric Barba Lisa Beroud Steve Preeg Karl Denham
Alice In Wonderland Ken Ralston Tom Peitzman David Schaub Carey Villegas
Special Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Producer Visual Effects Producer
VFX Supervisor VFX Supervisor VFX Supervisor VFX Producer
Visual Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Producer Animation Director Sequence Supervisor
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Producer Animation Supervisor Visual Effects Supervisor
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Tim Burke Emma Norton John Richardson
Overall VFX Supervisor Visual Effects Producer Special Effects Supervisor
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture
Green Zone
Peter Chiang Charlie Noble Joss Williams Matthew Plummer
SALT
Robert Grasmere Camille Cellucci Mark Breakspear Ivan Moran
Hereafter
Michael Owens Joel Mendias Bryan Grill Danielle Plantec
Visual Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Supervisor Special Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Producer
Visual Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Producer Visual Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Supervisor
VFX Supervisor Executive Producer VFX Supervisor CG Supervisor
Black Swan
Dan Schrecker Colleen Bachman Michael Capton Brad Kalinoski
Robin Hood
Richard Stammers Allen Maris Jessica Norman Max Wood
Visual Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Producer 3D Supervisor Compositing Supervisor
Overall VFX Supervisor VFX Producer Digital Effects Supervisor CG Supervisor
Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Tangled
Clay Kaytis John Kahrs Glen Keane Roy Conli
How to Train Your Dragon
Simon Otto Craig Ring Bonnie Arnold
Toy Story 3
Lee Unkrich Darla K. Anderson Guido Quaroni Michael Fong
Shrek Forever After
Jason Reisig Doug Cooper Gina Shay Teresa Cheng
Supervising Animator Supervising Animator Supervising Animator Producer
Head of Character Animation Visual Effects Supervisor Produced By
Director Producer Supervising Technical Director Simulation & Effects Supervisor
Head of Character Animation VFX Supervisor Produced By Produced By
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
Zareh Naibandian Simon Whiteley Eric Leighton Alex Weight
Producer Production Designer Animation Director Animation Supervisor
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Last Day of the Dinosaurs
Arnaud Brisebois Louis Desrochers Alain Lachance Marc-Antoine Rousseau
Artistic Director VFX Artist Visual Effects Producer Visual Effects Supervisor
Inside The Perfect Predator
Philip Dobree Richard Costin Sam Meisels
The Pacific
John Sullivan David Taritero William Mesa Marco Requay
VFX Supervisor/VFX Producer Animation TD Compositor
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor VFX Producer Visual Effects Supervisor Digital Visual Effects Supervisor
Prep and Landing: Operation Secret Santa
Dorothy McKim Kyle Odermatt Andy Harkness Adolph Lusinsky
America - Story of US
Philip Dobree Emile Hardy Sam Howell
Producer VFX Supervisor Art Director Look and Lighting Director
VFX Supervisor/VFX Producer DMP Lead Animator
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series
Caprica
Michael Gibson Gary Hutzel Davey Morton Jesse Toves
No Ordinary Family
Andrew Orloff Curt Miller Paul Linden Scott Tinter
V
Andrew Orloff Nathan Overstrom Karen Czukerberg
VFX Producer VFX Supervisor VFX Artist CGI Artist
VFX Supervisor VFX Supervisor VFX Supervisor VFX Producer
VFX Supervisor 2D Supervisor VFX Producer
Roberto Biagi
The Event
Victor Scalise Jason Spratt Diego Galtieri Mike Enriquez
Stargate: Universe
Mark Savela James Rorick Craig Vanden Biggelaar Adam de Bosch Kemper
VFX Supervisor
Visual Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Producer Compositor Lead 3D Artist
VFX Supervisor VFX Producer Digital Effects Supervisor Lead Animator
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
The Walking Dead
Sam Nicholson Jason Sperling Kent Johnson Chris Martin
Human Target
Andrew Orloff Raoul Bolognini Nathan Overstrom Jason Monroe
Boardwalk Empire
Robert Stromberg Dave Taritero Richard Friedlander Paul Graff
Lost
Adam Avitabile Melinka Thompson- Godoy Michael Capton Brad Kalinoski
Visual Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Producer Compositing Supervisor
VFX Supervisor VFX Producer 2D Supervisor Lead Modeler
VFX Supervisor VFX Producer VFX Producer VFX Supervisor
Visual Effects Supervisor
Visual Effects Producer 3D Supervisor Compositing Supervisor
Undercovers
Jay Worth
VFX Producer / Supervisor
Andrew Waisler
VFX Supervisor
Ron Thornton
VFX Supervisor
Andrew Kramer
Digital Artist
Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Short
Looney Tunes - Coyote Falls
Bryan Engram Greg Lyons Josh Carey Harry Michalakeas
Day & Night
Teddy Newton Kevin Reher Michael Fu Tom Gately
Paths of Hate
Tomasz Baginski Jaroslaw Sawko Damian Nenow Marta Staniszewska
Tick Tock Tale
Dorothy McKim John Murrah Adolph Lusinsky Wayne Unten
Animation Supervisor Producer Rigging Supervisor Technical Supervisor
Director Producer Supervising Technical Director Supervising Animator
Animation Producer Animation Producer VFX Supervisor Production Manager
Producer VFX Supervisor Look and Lighting Director Animator
Cat Shit One - The Animated Series
Kazuya Sasahara Junya Okabe Tomohisa Ishikawa Yoshiyuki Okada
Director Producer Art Director Concept Artist
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Live Action Commercial
Wrigley's 5 Gum - React
Robert Sethi Chris Knight Arielle Davis Gawain Liddiard
DirecTV "Ice Cream"
Franck Lambertz Andrew Bell Mike Wynd Ross Denner
Barclaycard Rollercoaster
Angus Kneale
VFX Supervisor VFX Supervisor VFX Producer 3D Lead Artist
VFX Supervisor VFX Producer/Head of Production VFX Supervisor 3 D Animator
Executive Creative Director/Shoot Supervisor
Ben Smith Dan Williams Ruben Vanderbroek
Halo: Reach
Dan Glass Dan Seddon Matt Dessero Stephanie Gilgar
Verizon – Towers
Robert Sethi Arielle Davis Chris Knight Andre Desouza
Creative Director/Shoot Supervisor Lead Flame Artist CG Artist
Senior VFX Supervisor CG Supervisor DFX Supervisor VFX Producer
VFX Supervisor VFX Producer Shoot Supervisor/2D Lead Artist 3D Artist
Outstanding Animated Commercial
World of Warcraft
Marc Messenger Phillip Hillenbrand, Jr. Michael Kelleher Brian LaFrance
VFX Supervisor VFX Producer FX Supervisor Matte Painting Supervisor
Dante's Inferno: Hell Awaits
Tim Miller Kevin Margo Lindsey Zamplas Kirby Miller
Director CG Supervisor Producer VFX Supervisor
Target "A Better Bullseye"
Chris Riehl Javier Jimenez Daniel Zobrist Charles Paek
Andrex
Abby Orchard Antoine Moulineau Mike Mellor Russell Dodgson
Animation Director Executive Producer CG/Animation Supervisor CG/Lighting Supervisor
VFX Producer CGI Supervisor Animation Supervisor VFX Supervisor
Cadbury's Spots V Stripes
Jake Mengers Julie Evans Jorge Montiel Meurer Michael Gregory
Creative VFX Director VFX Producer Lead Animator 2D Supervisor
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
City of Ruins
Marcin Kobylecki Piotr Sliwowski Michal Gryn Damian Nenow
King Kong 360 3D
Matt Aitken Kevin Sherwood Eric Reynolds R. Christopher White
Flight of the Dragon
Brent Young Dina Benadon Charlotte Huggins Michael "Oz" Smith
VFX Producer VFX Producer VFX Supervisor VFX Supervisor
VFX Supervisor VFX Producer Animation Supervisor CG Supervisor
Overall VFX Supervisor Overall VFX Producer Overall Project Producer Technical Director
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Richard Mann Adam Howard Matt Hendershot James Strauss
VFX Producer Visual Effects Supervisor CG Supervisor Animation Supervisor
Outstanding Real-Time Visual Effects in a Video Game
StarCraft II
Scott Goffman Phillip Hillenbrand, Jr. Nick Carpenter James McCoy
Need for Speed
Henry LaBounta Fiona Sperry Johannes Soderqvist Alex Fry
Halo: Reach
Marcus Lehto Joseph Tung Stephen Scott CJ Cowan
VFX Supervisor VFX Producer Executive Art Director Animation Director
Senior Art Director VP, GM Art Director Software Engineer
Creative Director Executive Producer Senior FX Lead Cinematics Director
Kinectimals
Jorg Neumann Brian Moore John Laws Jonny Watts
Executive Producer Art Director Art Director Game Design Director
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Video Game Trailer
World of Warcraft Marc Messenger VFX Supervisor Phillip Hillenbrand, Jr. VFX Producer
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Dave Wilson Corey Butler Keith Luczywo Seung Jae Lee
Director CG Supervisor Producer VFX Supervisor
Star Wars: The Old Republic 2
Tim Miller Dave Wilson Lindsey Zamplas Brandon Riza
Director Director Producer VFX Supervisor
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Kazuyuki Ikumori Mitsuharu Fukai
Kody Sabourin Jonathan Jacques- Belletete
VFX Producer VFX Supervisor VFX Director
Art Director
Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader – Reepicheep
Gabriele Zucchelli Catherine Mullan Benoit Dubuc Peta Bayley
Animation Supervisor Lead Animator Lead Animator Lead Animator
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 – Dobby
Mathieu Vig Ben Lambert Laurie Brugger Marine Poirson
Animator Modeller Character Supervisor Look Development TD
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore - Kitty Galore
William Groebe Animation Supervisor Brian Mendenhall Animation Lead
Aharon Bourland Computer Graphics Supervisor Steve Reding Lighting Supervisor
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - Kreacher
Laurent Laban Will Brand Matthieu Goutte Jason Baker
Animator Modeller Rigger Look Development TD
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole - Digger
Josh Murtack James Cunliffe Jessica Groom Andrew Hunt
Rigging Supervisor Lead Animator Character Surfacer Lead Animator
How to Train Your Dragon – Toothless
Gabe Hordos Cassidy Curtis Mariette Marinus Brent Watkins
Tangled – Rapunzel
Tony Smeed Amy Smeed Becky Bresee Kira Lehtomaki
Megamind – Minion
David Cross Rani Naamani Dick Walsh Adrian Tsang
Supervising Animator Supervising Animator Character Technical Director Character Technical Director
Supervising Animator Animator Animator Animator
Minion Animator Character Technical Director Character Technical Director
Outstanding Animated Character in a Broadcast Program or Commercial
Citron C3 The Spacebox – Citro
Michael Nauzin Anne Chatelain Gregory Mougne Cedric Nicolas
Cadbury - Freida Steer
Raphael Pimentel Thana Siripopungul
CG Supervisor CG Animator CG Animator CG Animator
Animation Supervisor Rigging Supervisor
Prep and Landing: Operation Secret Santa – Lanny
Tony Smeed Chad Sellers Patrick Osborne John Wong
Logitech – Robot
Rob Ramsdell Darnell Isom James Springham Shelly Dutcher
Supervising Animator Animator Animator Animator
Lead Artist/Puppeteer Lead Art Designer/Puppeteer Lead Model Maker Lead Flame Artist
Outstanding Animated Character in a Video Game Halo:
Reach – Kat
Lee R. Wilson Jason Robertson David Hunt Joe Spataro
Kinectimals – Cub
Joel Mongeon Kenneth Lammers Felix Ilsley Andrew Matthews
Story and Cinematic Lead Senior Animator Senior Technical Artist Technical Designer in Animation
Senior Artist Technical Art Director Lead Animator Lead Character Artist
StarCraft II - Sarah Kerrigan
Jeffrey W. Chamberlain Angela Blake Nick Carpenter
VFX Supervisor VFX Producer Executive Art Director
Outstanding Effects Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Shrek Forever After
Jeff Budsberg Andrew Kim Yancy Lindquist Can Yuksel
How to Train Your Dragon
Andy Hayes Laurent Kermel Jason Mayer Brett Miller
Effects Lead Effects Lead Effects Animator Effects Animator
Effects Animator Effects Animator Effects Animator Effects Animator
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
Sebastien Quessy Kevin Blom Jerome Escobar
FX Lead FX Artist FX Artist
Toy Story 3
Jason Johnston Eric Froemling David Ryu JD Northrup
Effects Artist Effects Artist Effects Artist Effects Artist
Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Iron Man 2 - Stark Expo
Giles Hancock Richard Bluff Todd Vaziri Aaron McBride
Digimatte Supervisor Digimatte Artist Digital Artist VFX Art Director
TRON: Legacy – Disc Game
Jonathan Litt Juan S. Gomez Kevin Sears Sonja Burchard
Lighting Supervisor Lighting Lead Environment Lead Compositing Supervisor
Inception - Paris Dreamscape
Bruno Baron Dan Neal Graham Page Per Mork-Jensen
Lighting Supervisor CG Supervisor Compositing Sequence Supervisor Compositor
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - Sand Room
Alex Rothwell Chris Zeh Laurent Hugueniot Kevin Jenkins
Lead Effects Artist Compositing Supervisor CG Supervisor Visual Effects Art Director
Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Broadcast Program
Boardwalk Empire – Boardwalk
Robert Stromberg Brian Sales Paul Graff Brian Pace
CG Supervisor Lead Compositor VFX Supervisor Digital Modeler
The Event - To Keep Us Safe
Michael Cook Jon Rosenthal Ragui Hanna Ryan Wieber
Lead 3D Artist 3D Artist 2D Artist 2D Artist
The Pacific - The Battle of Iwo Jima
Marco Recuay Morgan McDermott NIck Lund-Ulrich
VFX Supervisor/Lead Artist CG Supervisor Compositing Supervisor
Boardwalk Empire - Family Limitation
J. John Corbett Matthew Conner Brendan Fitzgerald Jun Zhang
Compositing Supervisor Digital Artist & Compositor Senior 3D Artist Lead Compositor
Outstanding Models & Miniatures in a Feature Motion Picture
Shutter Island – Ward-C Int./Ext. Lighthouse Int./Ext.
Matthew Gratzner Scott Schneider Adam Gelbart Richard A.F. Ewan
VFX Supervisor Model Crew Chief Model Maker Model Painter
Iron Man 2 – Hammer Military Drones
Bruce Holcomb Ron Woodall John Goodson John Walker
Digital Model Supervisor View Paint Supervisor Modeler CG Supervisor
The Expendables - The Palace Explodes
Gene Warren Jr. Christopher Lee Warren Gene Warren III
Owner
Director of Photography Visual Effects Supervisor
Inception - Hospital Fortress Destruction
Ian Hunter Scott Beverly Forest Fischer Robert Spurlock
VFX Supervisor Mechanical FX Supervisor Model Crew Chief Special FX Supervisor
Outstanding Models & Miniatures in a Broadcast Program or Commercial
Family Guy - Brian Griffin's House of Payne
Andrew Karr Alec McClymont Daniel Osaki Paul Hegg
3D Artist CG Supervisor Lead 3D Modeler CG Artist
Boardwalk Empire - The Ivory Tower
J. John Corbett Compositing Supervisor Matthew Conner Digital Artist & Compositor
Brendan Fitzgerald Senior 3D Artist
Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture
TRON: Legacy
Kym Olsen Paul Lambert Sarahjane Javelo Chase Sonja Burchard
Look Development Compositing Lead Compositing Supervisor Rotoscope & Paint Lead Compositing Supervisor
Alice In Wonderland - Stolen Tarts
Lisa Deaner Orde Stevanoski Aaron Kupferman Ruben Flores
Inception
Astrid Busser-Casas Scott Pritchard Jan Maroske George Zwier
Precomp Compositor Lighting/comp Lighting/comp
Compositing Sequence Supervisor Compositing Sequence Supervisor Compositing Sequence Supervisor Compositing Sequence Supervisor
Hereafter - Tsunami Sequence
Joseph Farrell Nick Crew Jamie Hallett Christine Lo
Compositing Supervisor Lead Visual Effects Artist Compositor Compositor
Outstanding Compositing in a Broadcast Program or Commercial
Drench Cubehead
Matthew Unwin Lisa Ryan Michael Gregory
VFX Supervisor Compositor 2D Supervisor
Boardwalk Empire - Episode 1
Paul Graff VFX Supervisor Brian Sales Lead Compositor Jesse Siglow Compositor Merysa Nichols Compositor
Travelers "Watering Hole"
Franck Lambertz VFX Supervisor/Compositing Lead Ryan Knowles 2D Artist
The Pacific - Peleliu landing
Jeremy Nelson Lead Compositor
John Mesa Dan Novy Tyler Cote
Compositor/Supervisor Animator/Compositor Compositor
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project
LOOM
Regina Welker
Time For Change
Rupert Ashton Priyan Jayamaha Junying Xu Kirsten Dale Pretorious
Das Tub
Rupert Ashton Priyan Jayamaha Junying Xu Kirsten Dale Pretorious
Nuisible(s)
Erick Hupin Baptiste Ode Philippe Puech Pierre Nahoum
Student
3D Artist 3D Artist 3D Artist Key Nuke Compositor
3D Artist 3D Artist 3D Artist Key Nuke Compositor
Realisation Realisation Realisation Realisation
For more information on the VES Awards, sponsorship and tickets, please visit www.visualeffectssociety.com.
