State of the Race: Guilds! Guilds!! Guilds!!!

by Cláudio Alves

With so many guild mentions, BUGONIA may be strutting toward some surprise Oscar nods.

The Oscar nominations are ever closer, and it’s time to start making final predictions. So far, these awards round-ups have focused on critics groups, but the guilds have spoken, and pundits must listen. After all, AMPAS voters are industry people. Not that these honors matter only as data points for accurate predictions. They represent celebration among artistic peers and, sometimes, there are even surprises that have nothing to do with the Oscar race and are all the sweeter because of it. So, without further ado, let’s run the gamut from the American Society of Cinematographers to the Visual Effects Society, going through such major plaudits as the DGA and PGA awards…

Because we’re all focused on the film awards race, I’ve only included the honors related to cinema, not those for TV, theater, music videos, other short-form content and commercials.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CINEMATOGRAPHERS

Theatrical Feature Film

• Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
• Michael Bauman, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• Darius Khondji, MARTY SUPREME
• Dan Laustsen, FRANKENSTEIN
• Adolpho Veloso, TRAIN DREAMS

Spotlight Award

• Steven Breckon, THE PLAGUE
• Mátyás Erdély, ORPHAN
• Karl Walter Lindenlaub, AMRUM

 
As far as snubs are concerned, Hamnet is a glaring omission, though one wonders which of these films took its presumed spot. Perchance, Marty Supreme, which is surging at the right time. Then again, Khondji is close to living legend status, so his celebration shouldn’t be surprising. I’ve long made peace with the fact Laustsen’s Frankenstein lensing is bound for major recognition, but you’ll never convince me it’s anything less than a crime against cinema – sorry, not sorry. In any case, this is a better crop of nominees than last year’s selection, which included A Complete Unknown’s Phedon Papamichael and Wicked’s Alice Brooks. 

Speaking of Brooks, it should be noted that the Sinners DP is only the fifth woman to be nominated for the ASC’s main prize. She follows in the steps of the Wicked cinematographer, Mandy Walker, Ari Wegner and Rachel Morrison. She might even become the second woman to take the trophy after Walker in 2022, for Elvis. 

As ever, the Spotlight Award nominees are a much more interesting bunch, even though they’re not necessarily to my taste. Hopefully, more people seek out The Plague, Orphan and Amrum based on these ASC citations.

ANNIE AWARDS

Best Feature 

• ELIO
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN
• THE BAD GUYS 2
• ZOOTOPIA 2

 
Best Feature – Independent

• A MAGNIFICENT LIFE
• ARCO
• I’M FRANKELDA
• LOST IN STARLIGHT
• SCARLET

 
Best Short Subject

• CARDBOARD
• OVARY-ACTING
• PILLOWZZZ
• SNOW BEAR
• THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS

Best FX – Feature

• ELIO
• IN YOUR DREAMS
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• THE BAD GUYS 2
• ZOOTOPIA 2
  

 
Best Character Animation – Feature

• ELIO, Jonah Sidhom
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, Ryusuke Furuya
• LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN, Juliette Laurent
• THE BAD GUYS 2, Ludovic Bouancheau
• ZOOTOPIA 2, Tony Smeed

Best Character Animation – Live Action

• A MINECRAFT MOVIE
• CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD
• HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
• PREHISTORIC PLANET: ICE AGE
• SUPERMAN

Best Character Design – Feature 

• ELIO
• FIXED
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS
• THE TWITS

 
Best Direction – Feature

• Chris Appelhans & Maggie Kang, KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• Ugo Bienbenu, Anaëlla Saba & Adam Sillard, ARCO
• Liane-Cho Han & Maïlys Vallade, LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN
• Mamoru Hosoda, SCARLET
• Tatsuya Yoshihara, CHAINSAW MAN – THE MOVIE: REZE ARC

 
Best Music – Feature

• ARCO
• ELIO
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN
• ZOOTOPIA 2

 
Best Production Design – Feature

• ELIO
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• THE BAD GUYS 2
• THE TWITS
• ZOOTOPIA 2

 
Best Storyboarding – Feature 

• ARCO
• ELIO
• LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN
• THE BAD GUYS 2
• ZOOTOPIA 2

 
Best Voice Acting – Feature

• Arden Cho, KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• Remy Edgerly, ELIO
• Lil Rey Howery, DOG MAN
• Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, THE TWITS
• Craig Robinson, IN YOUR DREAMS

Best Writing – Feature

• Chris Appelhans, Danya Jimenez, Maggie Kang & Hannah McMehan, KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• Jared Bush, ZOOTOPIA 2
• Julia Cho, Mark Hammer & Mike Jones, ELIO
• Liane-Cho Han, Eddine Noël, Aude Py & Maïlys Vallade, LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN
• Mamoru Hosoda, SCARLET

Best Editorial – Feature

• ARCO
• ELIO
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN
• OLIVIA & LAS NUBES

It’s always notable to see non-Hollywood productions take up space beyond the specific category they’re usually assigned to, the Independent Feature. Arco and Little Amélie are the two major vote getters, with Scarlet and Chainsaw Man representing anime. Though, it’s sort of surprising that the new Demon Slayer movie, recently Globe-nominated and a major box office hit worldwide, was blanked altogether. In other news, KPop Demon Hunters is the only Hollywood nominee for Best Directing, a curious state of affairs that’s also a first in the Annies’ history.

ART DIRECTORS GUILD

Contemporary Feature Film 

• Gary Freeman, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
• Rick Heinrichs, WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
• Florencia Martin, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• Ben Minro & Mark Tildesley, F1
• James Price, BUGONIA 

Period Feature Film

• Hannah Beachler, SINNERS
• Fiona Crombie, HAMNET
• Tamara Deverell, FRANKENSTEIN
• Jack Fisk, MARTY SUPREME
• Adam Stockhausen, THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME

Fantasy Film

• Dylan Cole & Ben Procter, AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
• Fiona Crombie, MICKEY 17
• Nathan Crowley, WICKED: FOR GOOD
• Kasra Farhani, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
• Beth Mickle, SUPERMAN

Glad to see that, at least, the Art Directors remembered The Phoenician Scheme. On the other hand, the American guilds' reluctance to recognize international film leads to indefensible results, as one can attest by the lack of Sentimental Value in Contemporary design, or No Other Choice for that matter. I’ve given up on seeing Resurrection get its deserved recognition, but it’s sad that The Testament of Ann Lee is also getting ignored despite superb period design on a budget and enough Hollywood pedigree to actually break into these conversations.

I’ve already praised their inclusion of Wes Anderson’s latest, and the same praise should be given to whoever voted for Wake Up Dead Man and Bugonia, two major production design efforts. Jack Fisk continues to be a king, and Fiona Crombie got a much-deserved double mention for the supremely distinct design aesthetics of Hamnet and Mickey 17. Now, that’s range.

BRITISH SOCIETY OF CINEMATOGRAPHERS

Cinematography in a Feature Film

• Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
• Michael Bauman, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• Darius Khondji, MARTY SUPREME
• Dan Laustsen, FRANKENSTEIN
• Seamus McGarvey, DIE MY LOVE 

I’m so happy for Seamus McGarvey that I’m almost willing to overlook the Danish man and his Netflix movie. Indeed, Die My Love is the only difference between the Brits and their American counterparts, taking the spot Train Dreams secured with the ASC. Again, Hamnet misses, which might mean nothing… or everything.

For those interested, the BSC has a much older history than the ASC, and yet, their track record in recognizing women cinematographers is even. Since 1953, they've only ever nominated three – Ari Wegner, who won for The Power of the Dog, Mandy Walker and this year’s Autumn Durald Arkapaw. What have the likes of Maryse Alberti, Natasha Braier, Anne Goddard, Maria von Hausswolff, Ellen Kuras, Hélène Louvart and Claire Mathon ever done to these voters?

CASTING SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Feature: Big Budget – Drama 

• BUGONIA, Jennifer Venditti & Alan Scott Neal
• F1, Lucy Bevan, Emily Brockmann, Katie Brydon, Tara Feldstein Bennett, Chase Paris & Tara Mazzuca
• FRANKENSTEIN, Robin D. Cook & Jonathan Oliveira
• HAMNET, Nina Gold & Lucy Amos
• MARTY SUPREME, Jennifer Venditti, Alan Scott Neal & Ko Iwagami
• SINNERS, Francine Maisler, Molly Rose, Amber Wakefield & Meagan Lewis 

Feature: Big Budget – Comedy

• JAY KELLY, Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold, Matthew Glasner, Francesco Vedovati & Barbara Giordani
• MATERIALISTS, Douglas Aibel & Matthew Glasner
• THE NAKED GUN, Carmen Cuba, Judith Sunga, Tara Feldstein Bennett & Chase Paris
• THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, Douglas Aibel, Jina Jay, Alexandra Montag & Matthew Glasner
• WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY, Mary Vernieu, Bret Howe, Martin Ware & Olivia Brittain
• WICKED: FOR GOOD, Bernard Telsey, Tiffany Little Canfield, Ryan Bernard Tymensky & Tamsyn Manson

Feature: Studio or Independent – Drama

• BLUE MOON, Olivia Scott-Webb & Simon Higgins
• ELEANOR THE GREAT, Ellen Lewis, Kate Sprance & Leah Shapiro
• NUREMBERG, John Papsidera, Anna Kennedy, Emily Bohbrink & Francesco Vedovati
• PILLION, Kathleen Crawford
• SENTIMENTAL VALUE, Avy Kaufman
• TRAIN DREAMS, Avy Kaufman & Nike Imoru 

Feature: Studio or Independent – Comedy 

• ETERNITY, Tiffany Mak, Chelsea Ellis Bloch & Marisol Roncali
• FRIENDSHIP, Melissa DeLizia
• OH, HI!, Kate Geller & Ross Shenker
• RENTAL FAMILY, Kei Kawamura
• THE WEDDING BANQUET, Jenny Jue & Candice Elzinga
• TWINLESS, Jessica Munks & Simon Max Hill

Feature: Low Budget – Comedy or Drama 

• ALL THAT WE LOVE, Charlene Lee & Danny Gordon
• BOB TREVINO LIKES IT, Kate Geller & Ross Shenker
• GRIFFIN IN SUMMER, Betsy Ware Fippinger & Erica Arvold
• PLAINCLOTHES, Bernard Telsey, Adam Caldwell & Amelia Rasche McCarthy
• SORRY, BABY, Jessica Kelly, Lisa Lobel, Angela Peri & Melissa Morris
• WE STRANGERS, Erica A. Hart & Lauren Port 

Feature: International

• KOKUHO, Masunobu Motokawa
• SOUND OF FALLING, Karimah El-Giamal
• THE FISHERMAN, Mawuko Kuadzi

Feature: Animated

• ELIO, Natalie Lyon, Kevin Reher, Kate Hansen-Birdnbaym & Lexi Diamond
• THE BAD GUYS 2, Christi Soper Hilt & lara Boushehri
• ZOOTOPIA 2, Grace C. Kim

This is a shocking snub for One Battle After Another, which many pundits are predicting as the winner of the inaugural Best Casting Oscar. Then again, there’s a clear chasm between that AMPAS branch and the guild, since even the international category bears no correlation with the few non-English-language titles that made the Oscar shortlist. Instead of Sentimental Value (which was recognized elsewhere by this guild), Sirat and The Secret Agent, the Casting Society went with Kokuho, Sound of Falling and The Fisherman. It’s a surprising turn of events, though not an unwelcome one. Heaven knows those three films are incredibly dependent on their casting, with the Japanese flick having the added challenge of portraying a very specialized type of performance art through its focus on kabuki theater.

COSTUME DESIGNERS GUILD

Excellence in Contemporary Film 

• Colleen Atwood, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• Julian Day, F1
• Jenny Eagan, WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
• Jennifer Johnson, BUGONIA
• Trish Summerville, WEAPONS

Excellence in Period Film 

• Ruth E. Carter, SINNERS
• Kate Hawley, FRANKENSTEIN
• Lindsay Pugh, HEDDA
• Anna Mary Scott Robbins, DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE
• Malgosia Turzanska, HAMNET 

Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film

• Christine Bieselin Clark & Alix Friedberg, TRON: ARES
• Sanja Milkovic Hays, THUNDERBOLTS*
• Lindsay Pugh, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
• Deborah L. Scott, AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
• Paul Tazewell, WICKED: FOR GOOD

Excellence in Costume Illustration

• Eduardo Lucero, ON SWIFT HORSES
• Oksana Nedavniaya, PALM ROYALE
• Oksana Nedvaniaya, WEAPONS
• Felipe Sanchez, SINNERS 

It’s rather frustrating when these guilds parrot the same few titles that have been discussed all season rather than choose something specific and unexpected. In other news, I’m a bit miffed at the Contemporary Film selection. While not a bad lot by any means, there were so many more interesting choices they could have made. All that said, Atwood is probably going to win, and she deserves it. Very happy to see Summerville pop up. 

We do get some passion votes in Period Film, with Hedda and Downton Abbey showing up after being seemingly forgotten by most other voters so far in the season. And though I won’t complain about Turzanska finally getting recognition, I’m a bit bummed that it’s for Hamnet. She has done so much more interesting work over the years in films like The Green Knight and Pearl. Hell, she’s much more award-worthy this very season for her Train Dreams designs. Overall, I assume this category boils down to Carter versus Hawley.

Lindsay Pugh secures herself double nominations and could conceivably win two trophies, though I’m not sure How to Train Your Dragon is worth celebrating. Her work is mostly based on direct adaptation of pre-existing designs, as this is one of the most faithful shot-for-shot live-action remakes of animated features Hollywood has yet produced. Anyway, congratulations on another CDG trophy, Paul Tazewell. Wicked remains the one to beat.

DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA

Feature Film 

• Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
• Guillermo del Toro, FRANKENSTEIN
• Josh Safdie, MARTY SUPREME
• Chloé Zhao, HAMNET 

First-Time Theatrical Feature Film 

• Hasan Hadi, THE PRESIDENT’S CAKE
• Harry Lighton, PILLION
• Alex Russell, LURKER
• Charlie Polinger, THE PLAGUE
• Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY 

Documentary Film

• Mstyslav Chernov, 2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA
• Mohammad Reza Eyni & Sara Khaki, CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS
• Geeta Gandbhir, THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
• Elizabeth Lo, MISTRESS DISPELLER
• Mark Obenhaus & Laura Poitras, COVER-UP

Before everyone starts freaking out, it should be noted that the Academy’s directors branch has a much greater liking for international cinema than the DGA. In other words, I fully expect that, at least, one of these nominees will drop in favor of some NEON-backed auteur. But who will it be? Anderson and Coogler feel like locks, but everyone after them seems both likely and a viable snub

Going beyond Oscar punditry, the first-time director lineup is lovely, to the point it includes a non-English-language film in the form of The President’s Cake, one most assured debut. My vote would go to Lighton or Hadi, but I’m guessing Victor has this in the bag.

 

MAKE-UP ARTISTS & HAIR STYLISTS GUILD

Best Contemporary Make-Up 

• Nicole Sortillon Amos, Alexei Dmitriew, Amanda Sprunger & LuAndra Whitehurst, SUPERMAN
• Mandy Artusato & Heba Thorisdottir, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• Lauren Baldwin, Nik Buck, Jana Carboni, Charlie Hounslow & Aisling Nairn, JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH
• Lisa Hansell & Colin Penman, EDDINGTON
• Torsten Witte, BUGONIA 

Best Period and/or Character Make-Up 

• Brie Bastianson, Jason Collins, Kaylee Kehne-Swisher, Mark Ross & Leo Satkovich, WEAPONS
• Ken Diaz, Allison laCour, Lana Mora, Ned Neidhardt & Siân Richards, SINNERS
• Felix Fox, Maiko Gomyo, Amanda Imeson, Harlow MacFarlane & Darah Wyant, THE SMASHING MACHINE
• Frances Hannon, Alice Jones, Nuria Mbomio & Sarah Nuth, WICKED: FOR GOOD
• Patricia Keighran, Oriana Rossi, Jordan Samuel, Kristin Wayne & Lizzi Lawson Zeiss, FRANKENSTEIN 

Best Special Make-Up Prosthetics 

• Kelsey Berk, Bailey Domke, Mike Fontaine, Cristina Patterson & Kevin Wasner, SINNERS
• Jason Collins, Kaylee Kehne-Swisher, Mike McCarthy, Mark Ross & Leo Satkovich, WEAPONS
• Mark Coulier, Frances Hannon, Stephen Murphy & Susie Redfern, WICKED: FOR GOOD
• Mike Hill & Megan Many, FRANKENSTEIN
• Jessica Nelson & Arjen Tuiten, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER 

Best Contemporary Hair Styling

• Gina Maria DeAngelis, Sacha Quarles & Ahou Mofid, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• Joyce M. Gilliard, Tomica Sarver & Nadia Sobh, THE NAKED GUN
• Peter Swords King, Magnolia Lowe & Lindsay McAllister, SUPERMAN
• Alex Kwan & Heike Merker, BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER
• Torsten Witte, BUGONIA

Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling

• Mitchell Beck, Michael Buonincontro, Kay Georgiou & Jimmy Goode, MARTY SUPREME
• Tori Binns, Katarina Chovanec, Cliona Furey, Tim Nolan & Laura Solari, FRANKENSTEIN
• Laura Blount, Sim Camps, Frances Hannon & Gabor Kerekes, WICKED: FOR GOOD
• Jove Edmond, Sherri B. Hamilton, Elizabeth Robinson, Shunika Terry-Jennings & Tene Wilder, SINNERS
• Monty Schuth, Nashi Tumlinson & Meliza Wheat, WEAPONS

No The Alto Knights, Kokuho, Nuremberg, or The Ugly Stepsister, though they all made it to the Academy’s top ten. I guess, by this point, reiterating the matter of how local all these guilds feel is as redundant and repetitive as the flood of same-same winners we get from regional critics groups. Still, the Japanese and Norwegian films are such makeup showcases that it’s hard not to feel a tad bitter about their absence here. The same could be said about horror, in general, since that’s one genre where makeup is often front and center. And yet, behind the frontrunner Sinners, the Gothic romance of Frankenstein and Weapons, scary movies are unrepresented. Where’s Bring Her Back or 28 Years Later? Perhaps including all those movies would lead to an overabundance of horror, but that would feel like justice after decades ignoring it.

On the bright side, it’s fun to see Superman recognized for both the fun effects-driven cosmetics and those movie star good looks, that perfect raven curl over Corenswet’s brow and the slight distortion of the hero’s imperfect clone. The same goes for the comedic stylings of The Naked Gun, those whacky Tilda Swinton dos in The Ballad of a Small Player, the epilogue mortifications in Eddington.

MOTION PICTURE SOUND EDITORS

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Dialogue/ADR

• BUGONIA
• F1
• FRANKENSTEIN
• ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• SINNERS 

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Effects/Foley 

• ANEMONE
• F1
• FRANKENSTEIN
• ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• SINNERS

Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Feature Motion Picture

• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
• ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• SINNERS
• WICKED: FOR GOOD 

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Animation 

• ELIO
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• THE BAD GUYS 2
• ZOOTOPIA 2 

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Documentary

• BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN
• DEAF PRESIDENT NOW!
• I WAS BORN THIS WAY
• IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY
• VIKTOR

Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Documentary

• BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN
• BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES, “Part 1”
• IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY
• STANS
• THE BEATTLES ANTHOLOGY, “Episode 9”

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature International

• BELÉN
• DONG JI RESCUE
• SIRAT
• SOUND OF FALLING

A very good showing for Oscar frontrunners Sinners and One Battle After Another. A very surprising shut-out of Warfare, though I guess it makes sense since the film also failed to make it into the Academy’s shortlist. However, Avatar and Superman made it into AMPAS’ good graces, yet are similarly absent. Same goes for the Springsteen movie, though that’s less glaring.

Historically, the effects category has the strongest Oscar correlation for those interested in predictions. With that in mind, it might be safe to lock down F1, Frankenstein, One Battle After Another and Sinners as future Best Sound nominees. That leaves one spot open, since Anemone is presently ineligible as it’s out of the category’s top ten. Mission: Impossible might be the logical one to sub in, though the passion behind Sirat might do it instead. That film is represented in this guild’s international category, which also includes the brilliance of Sound of Falling, whose mix made for some of the year’s most haunting aural landscapes.

PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA

Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures

• BUGONIA, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone & Lars Knudsen
• F1, nominees to be determined
• FRANKENSTEIN, Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale & Scott Stuber
• HAMNET, Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Sam Mendes, Steven Spielberg & Nicolas Gonda
• MARTY SUPREME, nominees to be determined
• ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, Adam Smoner, Sara Murphy & Paul Thomas Anderson
• SENTIMENTAL VALUE, Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berensten Ottmar
• SINNERS, Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler & Sev Ohanian
• TRAIN DREAMS, Marissa McMahon, Teddy Schwarzman, William Janowitz, Ashley Schlaifer & Michael Heimler
• WEAPONS, Zach Cregger & Miri Yoon 

Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures 

• DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA INFINITY CASTLE, nominees to be determined
• ELIO, Mary Alice Drumm
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, Michelle L.M. Wong
• THE BAD GUYS 2, Damon Ross
• ZOOTOPIA 2, Yvett Merino

Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures

• COVER-UP
• MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN
• MY MOM JAYNE
• OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
• THE ALABAMA SOLUTION
• THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
• THE TALE OF SILYAN 

Like the DGA, the Producers Guild usually has a similar taste to Academy voters, though they tend to play it safer and more Hollywood-centric than AMPAS. So, that’s horrible news for Avatar and Wicked. If they can’t make it here, then it’s unlikely they’ll make it into the Best Picture top ten. That being said, the difference in sensibility between guild and Oscar voters means their lineups rarely match 100%. Expect one or more of Neon’s international crop to make the cut. It is, however, hard to predict who’ll fall behind from this decad. F1 and Weapons feel like the more populist choices and, consequently, the most vulnerable. Bugonia and Train Dreams may also be on the chopping block come Oscar nomination morning, though the industry seems to be behind them so far.

It’s very notable that, from the season’s hottest animated contenders, Demon Slayer was the international production to which the PGA offered an olive branch. I guess those box office numbers were too good for this producers’ association to resist. But then, shouldn’t Ne Zha 2 also get some flowers?

SET DECORATORS SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Contemporary Feature Film 

• Anthony Carlino & Florencia Martin, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• Meg Everist, Véronique Melery & Mark Tildesley, JAY KELLY
• Prue Howard & James Price, BUGONIA
• Andrew McCarthy, Véronique Melery, Brn Munro & Mark Tildesley, F1
• Kathryn Pyle & Rich Heinrichs, WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY 

Best Achievement in Décor/Design for a Period Feature Film

• Monique Champagne & Hannah Beachler, SINNERS
• Alice Felton & Fiona Crombie, HAMNET
• Kris Moran & Stefania Cella, SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE
• Adam Willis & Jack Fisk, MARTY SUPREME
• Linda Wilson & Donal Woods, DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE 

Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Fantasy or Science Fiction Feature Film

• Jille Azis & Kasra Farahani, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
• Dabiel Birt & Dominic Watkins, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
• Rosemary Brandenburg & Beth Mickle, SUPERMAN
• Vanessa Cole, Dylan Cole & Ben Procter, AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
• Shane Vieau & Tamara Deverell, FRANKENSTEIN

Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Comedy or Musical Feature Film

• Kendall Anderson & Inbal Weinberg, ROOFMAN
• Andrew Baseman & Scott Chambliss, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN
• Brandi Kalish & Kay Ann Lee, FREAKIER FRIDAY
• Anna Pinnock & Adam Stockhausen, THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME
• Lee Sandales & Nathan Crowley, WICKED: FOR GOOD

Got to be honest and admit that it feels a tad unfair for the Set Decorators Society to include the production designer among the nominees, when the Art Directors Guild does the set decorators no such courtesy. Anyway, many of the same films already mentioned by the other, design-focused guilds appear on this list. Jay Kelly is probably the biggest surprise among these picks, all things considered. Since those two Globe nominations, it’s all been downhill for the Baumbach comedy.

In terms of great choices, one should celebrate Roofman’s recent period precision, the toy store mess as essential as the domestic details. And then, there’s the Kiss of the Spider Woman mention. Glad one guild remembered this musical existed. Was hoping Atwood was a big enough name for the CDG to have it on their radar, but this will do.

SOCIETY OF COMPOSERS & LYRICISTS

Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film

• Alexandre Desplat, FRANKENSTEIN
• Jerskin Fendrix, BUGONIA
• Ludwig Göransson, SINNERS
• Johnny Greenwood, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
• John Powell & Stephen Schwartz, WICKED: FOR GOOD
• Max Richter, HAMNET 

Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film 

• Sara Barone & Robert Christenson, TO KILL A WOLF
• Bryce Dessner, TRAIN DREAMS
• David Fleming, ETERNITY
• Fabrizio Mancinelli, OUT OF THE NEST
• Jonsi & Alex Sommers, RENTAL FAMILY
• Dara Taylor, STRAW 

Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production

• Sara Bareilles, “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” from COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT
• Miles Caton, Ludwig Göransson, Alice Smith, “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” from SINNERS
• Ludwig Göransson & Raphael Saadiq, “I Lied to You” from SINNERS
• Nikhil Koparkar & Rammy Park, “The Hills of Tanchico” from THE WHEEL OF TIME
• John Mayer, Ed Sheeran & Blake Slatkin, “Drive” from F1
• Diane Warren, “Dear Me” from DIANE WARREN: RELENTLESS 

Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production 

• Jack Black & Jared Hess, “Steve’s Lava Chicken” from A MINECRAFT MOVIE
• Jack Black, Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt, “I Feel Alive” from A MINECRAFT MOVIE
• EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick, “Golden” from KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• Shakira, Ed Sheeran & Blake Slatkin, “Zoo” from ZOOTOPIA 2
• Stephen Schwartz, “No Place Like Home” from WICKED: FOR GOOD
• Stephen Schwartz, “The Girl in the Bubble” from WICKED: FOR GOOD

Hollywood composers and songwriters remain faithful to Diane Warren, and that’s why we’ll never stop seeing her up for Oscars she does not deserve. In other news, Wicked being eligible for Original Score honors remains an inexplicable aberration. And I can’t articulate how sad it is to see The Testament of Ann Lee ignored by this particular guild.

Still, enough with complaining. Bugonia making it in here is a fantastic choice, with Fendrix’s score being one of the picture’s best elements. Lower-profile movies like To Kill a Wolf and Out of the Nest should benefit from this shout-out, and perhaps the song categories could help Oscar pundits see what’s to come. Presuming “Golden” and “I Lied to You” are locks, along with the obligatory Warren tune, what’s next in the Academy’s priorities? It may be Sara Bareilles’s moving song for the even more moving Come See in the Good Light or Ed Sheeran’s contribution to the vast F1 soundtrack. It may be the Wicked duo, though that seems less likely by the day.

VISUAL EFFECTS SOCIETY

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature 

• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
• F1
• HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
• JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH
• THE LOST BUS

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature

• AFTER THE HUNT
• A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
• DONGJI RESCUE
• SINNERS
• WARFARE

Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature

• ELIO
• IN YOUR DREAMS
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• THE BAD GUYS 2
• ZOOTOPIA 2 

Outstanding Character in a Photoreal Feature 

• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, Varang
• A MINECRAFT MOVIE, Queen Malgosha
• LILO & STITCH, Stitch
• SUPERMAN, Krypto the Superdog 

Outstanding Character in an Animated Feature

• ELIO, Glordon
• ELIO, Ooooo the Liquid Supercomputer
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, Rumi
• ZOOTOPIA 2, Gary De’Snake

Outstanding Environment in a Photoreal Feature 

• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, Bridgegead Industrial City
• THE GORGE, The Bodyweb
• THE LOST BUS, Feather River Canyon by the Pulga Bridge
• THE LOST BUS, The Wildfires of Roe Road
• TRON: ARES, Dilinger’s Grid City 

Outstanding Environment in an Animated Feature

• ELIO, The Communiverse
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, Seoul
• THE BAD GUYS 2, Cairo City
• ZOOTOPIA 2, Marsh Market 

Outstanding CG Cinematography

• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• TRON: ARES
• ZOOTOPIA 2

Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project

• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, The Windtrader’s Gondola
• MICKEY 17, The Niflheim Spaceship
• SUPERMAN, The Fortress of Solitude
• WICKED: FOR GOOD, Bison 

Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature

• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, Simulating Pandora
• SUPERMAN, Metropolis City Destruction
• THE LOST BUS, Escape from Hell
• TOGETHER

Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature 

• IN YOUR DREAMS
• KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
• THE BAD GUYS 2
• ZOOTOPIA 2 

Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Feature 

• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, Bridgehead Industrial City
• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, The Wind Traders, Rivers and Oceans
• F1, Modern Race and POV Footage
• SUPERMAN, Fights and Metropolis City Destruction

Emerging Technology Award 

• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, BodyOpt
• AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, Kora Fire Toolset
• ELIO, Real-Time High-Fidelity Animation System Using Signed Distance Functions
• MICKEY 17, REVIZE
• WIN OR LOSE, Detached Facial Features 

Let’s get the Oscar chatter out of the way. From the ten shortlisted titles AMPAS picked, two received zero nominations – The Electric State and Frankenstein. Avatar is the nomination leader here, and presumed frontrunner, while The Lost Bus appears remarkably loved for a picture many had already dismissed.

 In some ways, this is rather pleasing to see, as this guild actually seems invested in the craft at hand rather than simply co-signing the same titles that everyone’s been discussing already. How else does one explain surprising additions like Together or Dongji Rescue? Personally, I’m very happy for all the love Elio received from this group. Its effects are a highlight, often more impressive than those seen in most of this year’s effects-driven live-action blockbusters.

Next, on State of the Race, there are BAFTA longlists to discuss, along with even more regional critics groups. Someone save me from regional critics groups!

Comments

[Mr Ripley79]

Us Brits sometimes have no taste,Frankenstein over Train dreams by the Brit Cinematographers,travesty.