On February 8, DGA members heralded the best in commercials during the 2024 Meet the Nominees: Commercials event. Following welcome from DGA Director of Commercial Contracts Winona Wacker, National Vice President Laura Belsey introduced a screening of the nominated commercials. Then nominees Martin de Thurah (Fair Exchange and Legends Never Die [Levi’s 501 Jeans]); Seb Edwards (Rumble [Battle of the Baddest]), Kim Gehrig (Run This Town [Apple Music], The Travelers [Expedia]) and Craig Gillespie (Waiting Room [Apple iPhone]) spoke about the making of their ads in a conversation moderated by Director Kim O. Nguyen. The event was followed by a reception where the nominees mingled with DGA members and guests.
Nominee Andreas Nilsson (R.I.P. Leon [Apple iPhone], Action Mode [Apple iPhone14], Choose Happy [Les Mills Fitness], Wait’ll You See This [Snapchat]) was unable to attend.
About the Panelists:
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 Martin de Thurah
Fair Exchange and Legends Never Die (Levi’s 501 Jeans)
In addition to his nominated spots for Levi’s 501 Jeans, de Thurah was previously nominated in this category in 2018 for Final Breath (Audi RS 5 Coupe), Mama Said Knock You Out (Chase) and Space Station (Macy’s). He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials in 2013 for The Man Who Couldn’t Slow Down (Hennessy VS) and Human Race (Acura MDX 2014); and again in 2017 for Festival and Machines (StubHub) and Mad World (WealthSimple). He has been a DGA member since 2013.
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 Seb Edwards
Rumble (Battle of the Baddest)
First Assistant Director: George Walker
In addition to his nominated spot for Battle of the Baddest, Edwards’s directorial credits include the documentary Real Strength, ads for Volkswagen, Nike, Barclays, Adidas and the Red Cross, and music videos. Edwards has been a DGA member since 2010.
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 Kim Gehrig
Run This Town (Apple Music)
First Assistant Director: Zaida Fakih
The Travelers (Expedia)
First Assistant Director: David Webb
In addition to her nominated spots for Apple Music and Expedia, Gehrig’s directorial credits include a celebrated spot for Libresse, music videos and an episode of Roar. She previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials in 2022 for Run Baby Run (iPhone) and Accessibility (Apple). Gehrig has been a DGA member since 2018.
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 Craig Gillespie
Waiting Room (Apple iPhone)
Unit Production Manager: Martha Davis
First Assistant Director: Christian Van Fleet
Second Assistant Director: Gregory Moutran
In addition to his nominated spot for Apple iPhone, Gillespie’s directorial credits include the feature films Dumb Money, The Finest Hours, Million Dollar Arm, Fright Night, Lars and the Real Girl, Mr. Woodcock, Cruella and I, Tonya; the movie for television Trooper; and the pilot episodes of the series My Generation and United States of Tara. He has been nominated five times for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials and took home the award for his 2006 commercials Surprise Dinner and Mini-Mart (Ameriquest) and “People of Pain” and “Fable of the Fruit Bat” (Altoids). Gillespie has been a DGA member since 1996.
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 Kim O. Nguyen (moderator)
Nguyen’s directorial credits include episodes of The Other Two, Never Have I Ever, Superstore, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fresh Off the Boat, Survival of the Fittest and Mr. Mayor as well as sketches for Comedy Central and commercial campaigns She has been a DGA member since 2012.
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