Last night was a huge night in Hollywood with three award events: The Directors Guild of America, American Society of Cinematographers, and the Annie Awards (which we'll get to later today). Which would you have attended if you had to choose? La La Land continued its seasonal dominance but Lion unexpectedly roared, too.
Some of the winners last night are names you'll recognize from different contexts. The list and comments are after the jump...
DGA AWARDS
Feature Film Director: Damien Chazelle, La La Land
First Time Director: Garth Davis, Lion
If you had any doubt left about Chazelle winning the Oscar, this should clear it up. There won't be a split this year between Picture and Director (which has become increasingly more common) which I know is hard for Barry Jenkins devotees. Garth Davis, who was nominated in both movie categories at the DGAs was unfortunately booted from the Oscar Directing lineup (which matched otherwise) by Mel Gibson.
TV Comedy: Becky Martin, Veep "Inauguration"
TV Drama: Miguel Sapochnik, Game of Thrones "Battle of the Bastards"
Even against the formidable competition of very popular new series like The People vs OJ Simpson and Stranger Things, Game of Thrones is still wracking up prizes. We are officially delighted that it has to sit one year out at the Emmys due to scheduling.
TV Miniseries of Movie: Steven Zaillian, The Night Of "The Beach"
Those who've been following the Oscar race since the 1990s will recognize this name. Steven Zaillian is an Oscar winning screenwriter (Schindler's List). He's only directed three features. His first was the critical darling Searching For Bobby Fischer (excellent - 1 Oscar nomination) and though I can't speak to the quality of the other two they were met with less critical enthusiasm (A Civil Action - 2 Oscar nominations) or entirely rebuffed (the remake of All the King's Men)
Documentary: Ezra Edelman, OJ Made in America
Variety/Talk/News Regular: Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live "Host: Dave Chappelle"
Reality: Rupert Thompson, American Grit "The Finale - Over the Falls"
Children's Program: Tina Mabry, An American Girl Story "Melody 1963: Love Has to Win"
Variety/Talk/News Special: Glenn Weiss, The 70th Annual Tony Awards
This is a new category and Glenn Weiss has won it three out of its four years, all for the Tony Awards.
squarespace / manifesto from jordan kramer on Vimeo.
Commercials: Derek Cianfrance, Chase Nike Golf / Doubts, Powerade / Expectactions, Powerade, Manifesto, Squarespace
Yes, that's that Derek Cianfrance of Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines and The Light Between Oceans fame. He may specialize in tragic indie romantic or crime drama with great performances but he also directs commercials. This is his first major showbiz award. His next film is an experimental movie he shot on the side featuring a musician couple playing fictional versions of themselves as the husband, a heavy metal drummer, goes deaf. It's called Metalhead. Notice that his Squarespace commercial also features intense drumming.
Lifetime Achievement: Sir Ridley Scott
ASC AWARDS
Feature Film: Greig Fraser, Lion
TV Movie, Miniseries or Pilot: Igor Martinovic, The Night Of "Subtle Beast"
Regular Series Non-Commercial TV: Fabian Wagner, Game of Thrones "Battle of the Bastards"
The feature prize for Fraser has to be considered a surprise given La La Land's seasonal dominance. On the other hand Fraser is a more established more overdue DP than Linus Sandgren so that could have played into it.
Regular Series Commercial TV: Tod Campbell, Mr Robot "eps2.0_unma4sk-pt1.tc"
Spotlight: Gorka Gomez Andreu, House of Others
The "Spotlight" prize is a new award highlighting up and coming DPs from little seen films. House of Others was Georgia's submission to the Oscars this season
Lifetime Achievement: Edward Lachmann
Board of Governors Award: Denzel Washington
Obviously Lachmann is a favorite (Far From Heaven and Carol, anyone?)... but this random prize for Denzel, hot off a recent Santa Barbara Film Festival tribute as well as the SAG win could mean that Denzel overtakes Casey Affleck for the Best Actor Oscar. Honestly it feels like an increasingly 50/50 situation.
Career in TV Award: Ron Garcia
Garcia's most famous job might be the original Twin Peaks pilot -- he also shot Fire Walk With Me for David Lynch. But he's had a long career. Other highlights include One From the Heart for Francis Ford Coppola and TV series like EZ Streets, Gilmore Girls, Providence, Hawaii Five-0 (the new version) and Rizzoli & Isles.
Philippe Rousselot, one of the greats
International Award: Philippe Rousselot
Rousselot shot The Nice Guys and Fantasic Beasts this year but he was most popular in the early 90s when he won the Oscar for A River Runs Through It (1992). He was also Oscar nominated for Hope and Glory (1987) and his erotic divine lensing of Henry & June (1990)
Presidents Award: Nancy Schreiber
ASC Vilmos Zsigmond Heritage Award Undegraduate: Emmett Sutherland, Closer
ASC Vilmos Zsigmond Heritage Award Graduate: Andrew Jeric, Prisoner
ASC Haskell Wexler Student Documentary Award: Colin F Shepherd, Into the Microscope