A.D.G. Hosts 14th Annual Awards
Avatar, Sherlock Holmes and The Hurt Locker were the winners for best production design on a feature film at the Art Directors Guild‘s 14th annual awards held on Feb. 13. Comedian Paula Poundstone hosted the event at the Beverly Hilton.
At the beginning of the event, a short film, The Case of the Bad Production Designer, was shown to illustrate the evening’s theme, “Production Design: The Good, the Bad and the Ideal.”
The award in the fantasy film category went to Avatar’s two production designers, Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg who worked together to create the real and virtual worlds in the 3D sci-fi blockbuster. This was the first time in recent memory that two production designers on a feature were honored.
Production designer Sarah Greenwood won for her work on Sherlock Holmes in the period feature film category. And The Hurt Locker production designer Karl Juliusson got the prize for best work on a contemporary film.
Mad Men, Weeds and Hell’s Kitchen were the television category winners. Excellence in production design for a commercial or video went to James Chinlund for an ad for Absolut vodka, “In an Absolut World.”
ADG honorary awards were given to English production designer Terence Marsh who received the Lifetime Achievement Award; Warren Beatty who received the ADG’s Outstanding Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award, and production designer Michael Baugh who received the Creative Leadership Award. In addition, Malcolm F. Brown, Bob Keene and Ferdinando Scarfiotti were inducted into the Production Designer’s Hall of Fame.
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Venue: International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton
Parking: Hotel self-parking, $12. Valet parking also available.
Attendance: 700
Food: Basic hotel catering, chicken main course. But pre-event bar and wine at tables was free.
Swag: None, a sign of the times.
Length: 4 hours plus.
Overall Score: 8/10
14th Annual Art Directors Guild Awards
Fantasy Film
Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg for Avatar
Period Film
Sarah Greenwood for Sherlock Holmes
Contemporary Film
Karl Juliusson for The Hurt Locker
Single-Camera Television Series:
Dan Bishop for Mad Men, “Souvenir”
Television Movie or Mini-Series
Kalina Ivanov for Grey Gardens
Episode of a Half Hour Single-Camera Television Series
Joseph P. Lucky for Weeds, “Ducks and Tigers”
Episode of a Multi-Camera, Variety or Unscripted Series
John Janavs for Hell’s Kitchen, episode 604
Awards, Music or Game Shows
Brian Stonestreet and Steve Bass for The 51st Annual Grammy Awards
Commercials and Music Videos
James Chinlund for Absolut Anthem, “In An Absolut World”
