January 10, 2008
LOS ANGELES, CA - Directors Guild of America President Michael Apted today announced the DGA's nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Documentaries and Commercials for the year 2007.
"We always have so much to celebrate when we announce the DGA nominees for directorial achievement in television (movies for television, dramatic series, comedy series, musical variety, reality programs, daytime serials and children's programs), documentaries and commercials," said Apted. "Each genre requires unique talent and vision, and our 45 nominees in these nine categories this year have more than met the challenge with incredibly creative and compelling projects that run the gamut from seconds to hours, from live events to years in the making. I congratulate all of them on their fine work."
The winners will be named at the 60th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 26, 2008, at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
The Nominees of the 2007 Directors Guild of America Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement are:
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television for 2007
JON AVNET
The Starter Wife
(USA)
Mr. Avnet's Directorial Team:
- First Assistant Director: Linda Montanti
This is Mr. Avnet's second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2001 for Uprising.
JEREMIAH CHECHIK
The Bronx Is Burning
(ESPN)
Mr. Chechik's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Michael Bederman
- First Assistant Directors: Philip Patterson, Harvey Waldman
- Second Assistant Directors: Richard E. White, Amy Lynn
This is Mr. Chechik's second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the 1986 Commercials category for Wave (AT&T), Clock Tower (Connecticut Bank), and Tonight, Tonight (Michelob).
LLOYD KRAMER
Oprah Winfrey Presents Mitch Albom's For One More Day
(ABC)
Mr. Kramer's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: M. Blair Breard
- First Assistant Director: Christo Morse
- Second Assistant Director: Annie Tan
- Second Second Assistant Director: Nick Vanderpool
This is Mr. Kramer's third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category for Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven in 2004, and in the Televison Documentary/Actuality category for No One Dies Alone in 1988.
MIKAEL SALOMON
The Company
(TNT)
Mr. Salomon's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: John M. Eckert
- First Assistant Director: Michael Zimbrich
This is Mr. Salomon's first DGA Award nomination.
YVES SIMONEAU
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
(HBO)
Mr. Simoneau's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager – US: Chrisann Verges
- First Assistant Director – US: Cas Donovan
- Second Assistant Director – US: Adam Martin
This is Mr. Simoneau's first DGA Award nomination.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Night for 2007
JACK BENDER
Lost - "Through the Looking Glass"
(ABC)
Mr. Bender's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Pat Churchill
- First Assistant Director: Richard Peter Schroer
- Second Assistant Director: Meta Valentic
- Second Second Assistant Director: Wainani Young Tomich
This is Mr. Bender's first DGA Award nomination.
DAVID CHASE
The Sopranos - "Made in America"
(HBO)
Mr. Chase's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Henry J. Bronchtein, Ilene S. Landress
- First Assistant Director: Jeff Bernstein
- Second Assistant Director: Nancy Herrmann
- Second Second Assistant Director: Charlie Foster
- Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Selena Beal
- Second Assistant Director/Location Manager: Regina Heymann
- DGA Trainee: Marcos Gonzalez Palma
This is Mr. Chase's second DGA Award nomination. He won the Dramatic Series Night award for The Sopranos pilot episode in 1999. Additionally, he was a recipient of the DGA Honor in 2006 in New York.
ERIC LANEUVILLE
Lost - "The Brig"
(ABC)
Mr. Laneuville's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Pat Churchill
- First Assistant Director: Richard Peter Schroer
- Second Assistant Director: Meta Valentic
- Second Second Assistant Director: Michael J. Musteric
- Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Steven E. Simon
This is Mr. Laneuville's fourth DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated for the NYPD Blue episode "From Hare to Eternity" in 1993. He won the Dramatic Series Night Award for the I'll Fly Away episode "All God's Children" in 1991 and also won for his L.A. Law episode "I'm in the Nude" in 1989.
ALAN TAYLOR
Mad Men - "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" (Pilot)
(AMC)
Mr. Taylor's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Scott Hornbacher
- First Assistant Director: Mark McGann
- Second Assistant Director: Maggie Murphy
- Second Second Assistant Director: John Silvestri
- Second Assistant Director/Location Manager: April Taylor
This is Mr. Taylor's first DGA Award nomination.
TIM VAN PATTEN
The Sopranos - "Sopranos Home Movies"
(HBO)
Mr. Van Patten's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Henry J. Bronchtein, Ilene S. Landress
- First Assistant Director: John E. Gallagher
- Second Assistant Director: Peter Soldo
- Second Second Assistant Director: Charlie Foster
- Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Henri Sann
- Second Assistant Director/Location Manager: April Taylor
- DGA Trainee: Kathleen Mulligan
This is Mr. Van Patten's sixth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series in 2004 for the Sex and the City episode "An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux," and in 2003 for the Sex and The City episode "Boy Interrupted." He was nominated for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Night in 2006 for The Sopranos episode "Members Only," in 2004 for The Sopranos episode "Long Term Parking," and in 2002 for The Sopranos episode "Whoever Did This."
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2007
MICHAEL ENGLER
30 Rock - "Rosemary's Baby"
(NBC)
Mr. Engler's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Diana Schmidt
- First Assistant Director: Chris Swartout
- Second Assistant Director: Jane Ferguson
- Second Assistant Director/Location Manager: Chris George
This is Mr. Engler's third DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated in 2003 for the Sex and the City episode "Hop, Skip & A Week," and in 2001 for the Sex and the City episode "My Motherboard, Myself."
DAVID GROSSMAN
Desperate Housewives - "Something's Coming"
(ABC)
Mr. Grossman's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Charles Skouras III
- First Assistant Director: Tom Irvine
- Second Assistant Director: John LaBrucherie
- Second Second Assistant Director: Efrain Cortes
- Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Richard E. White
This is Mr. Grossman's second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the Musical/Variety category for The Smothers Brothers 20th Year Reunion in 1988.
BETH McCARTHY-MILLER
30 Rock - "Somebody to Love"
(NBC)
Ms. McCarthy-Miller's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Diana Schmidt
- First Assistant Director: Stephen Lee Davis
- Second Assistant Director: Bellamy Forrest
- Second Second Assistant Director: Brendan Walsh
- Second Assistant Director/Location Manager: Chris George
This is Ms. McCarthy-Miller's fifth DGA Award nomination. In 2002, she won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Musical Variety for America: A Tribute to Heroes (co-directed with Joe Gallen). She was twice nominated in that same category in 2003 for the Christopher Walken & The Foo Fighters episode of Saturday Night Live, and in 1999 for the 25th Anniversary episode of Saturday Night Live. McCarthy-Miller won her second DGA Award in 2000 for her direction of the Val Kilmer/U2 episode of Saturday Night Live.
DAVID NUTTER
Entourage - "The Resurrection"
(HBO)
Mr. Nutter's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Wayne Carmona
- First Assistant Director: Gary Goldman
- Second Assistant Director: Vernon Davidson
- Second Second Assistant Director: John LaBrucherie
This is Mr. Nutter's second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the Dramatic Series Night category for his The Sopranos episode "Join the Club" in 2006.
BARRY SONNENFELD
Pushing Daisies - "Pie-lette"
(ABC)
Mr. Sonnenfeld's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Gabriela Vazquez
- First Assistant Director: Chris Soldo
- Second Assistant Director: Greg Hale
- Second Second Assistant Director: Renee Hill-Sweet
This is Mr. Sonnenfeld's first DGA Award nomination.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety for 2007
JERRY FOLEY
Late Show with David Letterman - Show #2773
(CBS)
Mr. Foley's Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Randi Grossack, Jessica Santini, Louise A. Galante, Charles Dyer
- Stage Managers: James Henderson, Frank Comito, Mark Dicso, Edward Valk
This is Mr. Foley's eighth DGA Award nomination, all for the Late Show with David Letterman. He was nominated in 2005 for episode #2452; in 2004 for episode #2187; in 2002 for episode #1876; in 2001 for episode #1634; in 2000 for episode #1527; in 1999 for episode #1294; and in 1998 for episode #958.
LOUIS J. HORVITZ
The 79th Annual Academy Awards
(ABC)
Mr. Horvitz's Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Jim Tanker, Rita Blye, Tim Kettle, Mike Polito, Richard Preuss, Deborah Read, Robb Wagner, Ronni Fisher, Anne M. Rickey
- Stage Managers: Garry W. Hood, Denny Barry, Rita Cossette, John Esposito, Valdez Flagg, Arthur Lewis, Dency Nelson, Ron Paul, Vince Poxon, Jason Seligman, Rob Sellers Jr., Doug Smith, David Wader, David H. Kelmachter, Erik R. Kunzelman
This is Mr. Horvitz's thirteenth DGA Award nomination and all in this category. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 1997 for The Kennedy Center Honors. He received his first nomination in 1985 for Live Aid Concert. He was also nominated for The Kennedy Center Honors in 1993, and 2001. He was nominated in 1995 for Sinatra: 80 Years My Way; and received DGA nominations for The 70th, 71st, 72nd, 74th, 75th, 76th, and 77th Annual Academy Awards.
JIM HOSKINSON
The Colbert Report - #3052
(Comedy Central)
Mr. Hoskinson's Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Yvonne DeMare
- Stage Manager: Mark McKenna
This is Mr. Hoskinson's first DGA Award nomination.
CHUCK O'NEIL
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
(Comedy Central)
Mr. O'Neil's Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Paul A.J. Pennolino
- Stage Manager: Craig L. Spinney
This is Mr. O'Neil's fifth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, all for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
GLENN WEISS
The 61st Annual Tony Awards
(CBS)
Mr. Weiss' Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Gregg M. Gelfand, Robin Mishkin Abrams, Ken Diego, Ricky Kirshner
- Stage Managers: Garry W. Hood, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Lynn Finkel, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Dean Gordon, Arthur Lewis, Tony Mirante, Jeff Pearl, Rose Riggins, Lauren Class Schneider
This is Mr. Weiss' fifth DGA Award nomination. He was nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 2006 for The 60th Annual Tony Awards, in 2005 for The 59th Annual Tony Awards, in 2002 for The 56th Annual Tony Awards, and in 2001 for The 55th Annual Tony Awards.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2007
CRAIG BORDERS
Who Wants To Be A Superhero - "Episode 208"
(Sci-Fi)
Mr. Borders' Directorial Team:
- Stage Manager: Thomas Goodrich
This is Mr. Borders' first DGA Award nomination.
TONY CROLL
Shooting Sizemore - "Episode 101"
(VH-1)
This is Mr. Croll's second DGA Award nomination. He won the Outstanding Directorial Achievement Reality Programs Award for Three Wishes "Episode #1 (Pilot)" in 2005. (The award was a tie with J. Rupert Thompson who won for Fear Factor "Heist Fear Factor, Season 6 Premiere."
SCOTT MESSICK
Pros vs. Joes - "Episode 201"
(Spike)
Mr. Messick's Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Neil DeGroot
- Stage Manager: Pete Dress
This is Mr. Messick's first DGA Award nomination.
TONY SACCO
Project Runway - "Fashion Giant, #403"
(Bravo)
Mr. Sacco's Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Paul Hogan
This is Mr. Sacco's second DGA Award nomination. He won the Outstanding Directorial Achievement Reality Programs Award for Treasure Hunters "Episode #101" in 2006.
BERTRAM VAN MUNSTER
The Amazing Race - "Episode #1110"
(CBS)
Mr. Van Munster's Directorial Team:
- Segment Director: Evan Weinstein
This is Mr. Van Munster's third DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated for The Amazing Race Episode #102" in 2006 and for "Episode #805" in 2005.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials for 2007
LARRY CARPENTER
One Life To Live - "Episode #9947"
(ABC)
Mr. Carpenter's Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Teresa Anne Cicala
- Stage Managers: Alan P. Needleman, Keith Greer
- Production Associate: Anthony Wilkinson
This is Mr. Carpenter's fifth DGA Award nomination. He won the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials for One Life to Live "Episode #8849" in 2003 and was nominated for that series for "Episode #9686" in 2006, "Episode #9385" in 2005 and "Episode #8655" in 2002.
CASEY CHILDS
All My Children - "Episode #9669"
(ABC)
Mr. Childs' Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Shirley Simmons, Barbara M. Simmons, Anthony Pascarelli
- Stage Managers: Rusty Swope, Penny Bergman, Martin Fritz Brekeller, Brendan Higgins
- Production Associates: Jennifer Minda, Marika Brancato
This is Mr. Childs' third DGA Award nomination. He was nominated for All My Children "Episode #9297" in 2006 and "Episode #7919" in 2000.
CHRISTOPHER GOUTMAN
As The World Turns - "Episode #12971"
(CBS)
Mr. Goutman's Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Michael Kerner, Carol Sedwick, Janet Andrews
- Stage Managers: Nancy Barron, Jennifer Blood
- Production Associates: Brett Hellman, Alexandra Verner Roalsvig
This is Mr. Goutman's third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category for As the World Turns "Episode #12,166" in 2004, and "Episode #10,446" in 1997.
SCOTT McKINSEY
General Hospital - "Episode #11228"
(ABC)
Mr. McKinsey's Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Penny Pengra, Christine Magarian, Ron Cates, Pete Fillmore, RC Cates, David MacLeod
- Stage Managers: Craig McManus, Crystal Craft, Michele Azenzer
- Production Associates: Lisa Kaseff, Denise Van Cleave, Christine Cooper
This is Mr. McKinsey's sixth DGA Award nomination in this category. He won for Port Charles "Episode #1433" in 2002, and for General Hospital "Episode #8883" in 1997. He was nominated for General Hospital "Episode #11178" in 2006, "Episode #8492" in 1996, and "Episode #8233" in 1995.
ELLEN WHEELER
Guiding Light
"Episode #15221"
(CBS)
Ms. Wheeler's Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors/Stage Managers: Chris Cullen, David Brandon
- Production Associates: David Brandon, Kelly Jobmann
This is Ms. Wheeler's third DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated for Guiding Light "Episode #14832" in 2006 and "Episode #14696" in 2005.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2007
KEN BURNS & LYNN NOVICK
The War
Florentine Films
This is the first DGA Award nomination for both Mr. Burns and Ms Novick.
ALEX GIBNEY
Taxi to the Dark Side
Jigsaw Productions
This is Mr. Gibney's first DGA Award nomination.
ASGER LETH
Ghosts of Cite Soleil
Sony BMG Feature Films
This is Mr. Leth's first DGA Award nomination.
RICHARD E. ROBBINS
Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience
The Documentary Group
This is Mr. Robbins' first DGA Award nomination.
BARBET SCHROEDER
Terror's Advocate
Magnolia Pictures
This is Mr. Schroeder's first DGA Award nomination.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2007
DANTE ARIOLA
Production Company: MJZ
Grenade, Playstation 3 - TBWA/Chiat Day
- Unit Production Manager: Brady Vant Hull
- First Assistant Director: Dave Dean
Flare, Wrigley's - Energy BBDO
- Unit Production Manager: Natalie Gillian Hill
- First Assistant Director: Dave Dean
- Second Assistant Director: Carl Jackson
Addicted, Nike - Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam
- Unit Production Manager: Natalie Gillian Hill
- First Assistant Directors: Dave Dean, John Mattern
- Second Assistant Director: Zaida Fakih
- Second Second Assistant Director: Darren Maynard
This is Mr. Ariola's fifth DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated in 2004, 2002 and 2000, and won the award in 2006.
FREDRIK BOND
Production Company: MJZ
Straw, Milk - Goodby
- First Assistant Director: Craig H. Owens
- Second Assistant Director: Eric Topp
Aviator, JC Penney - Saachi & Saachi NY
This is Mr. Bond's second DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated in 2004.
FRANK BUDGEN
Production Company: Gorgeous Enterprises
Playdoh, Sony Bravia - Fallon
- First Assistant Director: Michael C. Bigwood
- Second Assistant Director: Darren Maynard
- Second Second Assistant Director: Mark Kaufmann
Production Company: Gorgeous Enterprises/Anonymous Content
S.O.S., Save Our Selves/Live Earth - Young & Rubicam
- First Assistant Director: Jack W. Fitch
- Second Assistant Director: Marc Vance
- Second Second Assistant Director: Mike Carlson
This is Mr. Budgen's first DGA Award nomination.
NICOLAI FUGLSIG
Production Company: MJZ UK
Tipping Point, Guinness - BBDO
It's Magic, JC Penney - Saachi & Saachi NY
- First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith
- Second Assistant Director: Kate Greenberg
Journey, Motorola - AMV BBDO
This is Mr. Fuglsig's first DGA Award nomination.
NOAM MURRO
Production Company: Biscuit Filmworks
Night Drive, VW Golf - DDB London
- Unit Production Manager: Jay Veal
- First Assistant Director: Michael Dignum
- Second Assistant Director: Michael Saffie
- Second Second Assistant Director: Eric Schneider
Affair, Orbit Gum - BBDO Chicago
- Unit Production Manager: Jay Veal
- First Assistant Director: Gary Feil
- Second Assistant Director: Wendy Oakes
Remember, NBA - Goodby, Silverstein & Partners
- Unit Production Manager: Jay Veal
- First Assistant Director: Michael Salven
- Second Assistant Director: Robert E. Kay
This is Mr. Murro's fifth DGA Award nomination in this category. He was previously nominated in 2002, 2003 and 2005, and won the award in 2004.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs for 2007
PAUL HOEN
Jump In
(Disney Channel)
This is Mr. Hoen's third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category for Searching for David's Heart in 2004 and the Even Stevens episode "Take My Sister... Please" in 2000.
KENNY ORTEGA
High School Musical 2
(Disney Channel)
Mr. Ortega's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Donald R. Schain
- First Assistant Directors: Martin Jedlicka
- Second Assistant Director: Robert Reeves
- Second Second Assistant Director: Brent Geisler
This is Mr. Ortega's second DGA Award nomination. He won the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs Award for High School Musical in 2006.
FRED SAVAGE
Wizards of Waverly Place - "The Crazy 10 Minute Sale"
(Disney Channel)
Mr. Savage's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Greg Hampson
- First Assistant Director: Guy Distad
- Second Assistant Director: Ron Moseley
- Associate Director: Victor Gonzalez
This is Mr. Savage's second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category for Phil of the Future "Not So Great Great Great Grandpa" in 2006.
JUDITH VOGELSANG
GoingGreen - Every Home An Eco-Home
(PBS)
Ms. Volgelsang's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Dessa Kaye
This is Ms Vogelsang's first DGA Award nomination.
ANDY WOLK
Lincoln Heights - "That Feeling That We Have"
(ABC Family)
Mr. Wolk's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: John Scherer
- First Assistant Director: Mark Lyon
- Second Assistant Director: Carla Bowen
- Second Second Assistant Director: Jessica Lowrey
This is Mr. Wolk's first DGA Award nomination.