The DGA’s Award for outstanding directorial achievement in feature film has traditionally served as a good barometer for the Academy Award for best director. Only six times since the DGA Award’s inception in 1948 has the winner not gone on to receive best director.
Following the welcome by DGA president Taylor Hackford to an audience of more than 1,600 guests, director/producer/actor Kelsey Grammer hosted the ceremony.
The winners of the 2011 DGA Awards for outstanding directorial achievement are:
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film
Michel Hazanavicius
The Artist
(The Weinstein Company)
Hazanavicius’ Directorial Team:
· Unit Production Manager: Antoine De Cazotte
· Production Manager (FR): Ségoléne Fleury
· First Assistant Director (FR): James Canal
· First Assistant Director (US): David Cluck
· Second Assistant Director (US): David Paige
· Second Second Assistant Directors: Karla Strum, Ricky Robinson
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series
Jon Cassar
The Kennedys
(Reelz Channel)
This was Cassar’s third DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for outstanding directorial achievement in dramatic series in 2006 for 24 – “7:00 AM-8:00 AM” and was nominated in this category in 2003 for the episode of 24 also titled “7:00 AM-8:00 AM.”
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
Patty Jenkins
The Killing, “Pilot”
(AMC)
Jenkins was also nominated this year in the Movies for Television and Mini-Series category for her segment of Five – “Pearl.”
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
Robert B. Weide
Curb Your Enthusiasm, “Palestinian Chicken”
(HBO)
Weide’s Directorial Team:
· Associate Directors: Dale Stern, Tim Gibbons
· Stage Managers: Jonathan Harris, Jerri Churchill, Dana Jackson
This was Weide’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category for Curb Your Enthusiasm – “The Carpool Lane” in 2004.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety
Glenn Weiss
65th Annual Tony Awards
(CBS)
Weiss’ Directorial Team:
· Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Robin Abrams, Debra Gelman, Ricky Kirshner
· Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Lynn Finkel, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Arthur Lewis, Jeff Markowitz, Joey Meade, Tony Mirante, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Elise Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider, Annette Powlis
This was Weiss’ eighth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for outstanding directorial achievement in musical variety in 2007 and 2010 for the 61st and 64th Annual Tony Awards. He was previously nominated in this category in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008, all for the 55th, 56th, 59th, 60th, and 62nd Annual Tony Awards.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs
Neil P. Degroot
Biggest Loser, “Episode #1115”
(NBC)
DeGroot’s Directorial Team:
· Associate Director: Andy Nelson
This is DeGroot’s first DGA Award nomination.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials
William Ludel
General Hospital, “Intervention”
(ABC)
Ludel’s Directorial Team:
· Associate Directors: Christine Magarian Ucar, Denise Van Cleave, Penny Pengra, Peter Fillmore, RC Cates, David MacLeod
· Stage Managers: Craig McManus, Crystal Craft
· Production Associates: Christine Cooper, Andrea Compton
This was Ludel’s seventh DGA Award nomination and all for his direction of General Hospital. He won the DGA Award for outstanding directorial achievement in daytime serials for General Hospital “Episode #9801” in 2001 and “Episode #8248” in 1995; and was previously nominated for General Hospital ‘Macho Men” in 2009, “Luke in Purgatory” in 2008, “Episode #11177” in 2006 and for “Episode #7922” in 1994.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs
Amy Schatz
A Child’s Garden of Poetry
(HBO)
This was Schatz’s sixth DGA Award nomination. She won the DGA Award for outstanding directorial achievement in children’s programs in 2008 for Classical Baby (I’m Grown Up Now) “The Poetry Show,” in 2001 for ‘Twas the Night and in 1999 for Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepy Time Tales. She was previously nominated in this category for Hard Times for an American Girl: The Great Depression in 2009 and Through a Child’s Eyes: September 11, 2001 in 2002.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement In Commercials
Noam Murro
(Biscuit Filmworks)
“Handlebar Moustache,” Heineken Premium Light- Wieden & Kennedy/NY
· Unit Production Manager: James Powell Veal
· First Assistant Director: Tommy Gormley
· Second Assistant Director: Ian Robert Calip
· Second Second Assistant Director: Michael King
“Hot House,” DirecTV – Grey/NY
· Unit Production Manager: James Powell Veal
· First Assistant Director: Scott C. Harris
· Second Assistant Directors: Mark R. Robinson, Brady Sloan
“Pinata,” Volkswagen Tiguan – Deutsch/LA
· Unit Production Manager: James Powell Veal
· First Assistant Director: Scott M. Metcalfe
· Second Assistant Director: Ty Arnold
“Is It Real?” EA Battlefield 3 – Wieden & Kennedy/Portland
· First Assistant Director: Michael David Salven
· Second Assistant Director: Erv E. Gentry
· Second Second Assistant Director: Eric Schneider
This was Murro’s sixth DGA Award nomination in this category. He won the DGA Award for outstanding directorial achievement in commercials for “Carry” (Adidas), “Glen” (Starbucks), and “Toy Boat” (eBay) in 2004. He was also nominated in this category in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary
James Marsh
Project Nim
Red Box Films
Passion Pictures
HBO Documentary Films
Roadside Attractions
BBC Films
UK Film Council
This was Marsh’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category for Man on Wire in 2008.
Ed Sherin – Honorary Life Member Award
· In recognition of outstanding creative achievement, leadership in the industry, contribution to the guild or to the profession of directing.
Katy E. Garretson – Frank Capra Achievement Award
· Given to an assistant director or unit production manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America.
Dennis W. Mazzocco – Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award
· Given to an associate director or stage manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America.
