On February 10, the DGA presented its membership with a unique opportunity to celebrate the craft of directing during the 33rd Annual Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film symposium. Following a welcome from President Lesli Linka Glatter, the 2023 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film Award nominees — Greta Gerwig (Barbie), Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things), Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Alexander Payne (The Holdovers) and Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon) — joined moderator Jeremy Kagan onstage in the Guild’s Los Angeles Theater for an in-depth discussion about their work.
About the Panelists:
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 Greta Gerwig
Barbie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Unit Production Manager: Michael Sharp
First Assistant Director: Josh Robertson
Second Assistant Directors: David Keadell, Matthew Milan (Los Angeles Unit)
Second Second Assistant Directors: Gina Triola (Los Angeles Unit), Steve Windle (Los Angeles Unit)
In addition to Barbie, Gerwig’s directorial credits include the feature Little Women. She was previously nominated for the DGA Theatrical Feature Film Award in 2017 for Lady Bird. Gerwig has been a DGA member since 2015.
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 Yorgos Lanthimos
Poor Things (Searchlight Pictures)
In addition to Poor Things, Lanthimos’s directorial credits include the feature films The Favourite, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Lobster, Venice 70: Future Reloaded, Alps, Dogtooth and Kinetta. This is Mr. Lanthimos’s first DGA Award nomination.
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 Christopher Nolan
Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)
Unit Production Managers: Thomas Hayslip, Nathan Kelly, Rafael Lima (New Jersey/New York Unit)
First Assistant Director: Nilo Otero
Second Assistant Director: Andrew Stahl
Second Second Assistant Director: Jesse Carmona
Additional Second Assistant Directors: Dixon McPhillips, Richard Molloy (New Jersey/New York Unit), AJ Jackson (New Jersey/New York Unit)
Location Manager: Patty Carey Perazzo (New Jersey/New York Unit)
In addition to Oppenheimer, Nolan’s directorial credits include the features Tenet, Interstellar, The Dark Knight Rises, The Prestige, Batman Begins, Insomnia and Following. He was previously nominated for the DGA Theatrical Feature Film Award in 2017 for Dunkirk, in 2010 for Inception, in 2008 for The Dark Knight and in 2001 for Memento. Nolan has been a DGA member since 2001 and currently serves on the DGA National Board, the Western Directors Council and the Theatrical Creative Rights Committee.
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 Alexander Payne
The Holdovers (Focus Features)
Unit Production Manager: Chris Stinson
First Assistant Director: Rod Smith
Second Assistant Director: John Nasraway
Second Second Assistant Director: Tim LaDue
In addition to The Holdovers, Mr. Payne’s directorial credits include the feature films Downsizing, Nebraska, The Passion of Martin, Citizen Ruth, Election and About Schmidt. He was previously nominated for the DGA Theatrical Feature Film Award in 2011 for The Descendants and in 2004 for Sideways. He has been a member of the DGA since 1997 and has served as an alternate on the Western Directors Council.
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 Martin Scorsese
Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures)
Unit Production Managers: Daniel Lupi, Shea Kammer
First Assistant Director: Adam Somner
Second Assistant Director: Jeremy Marks
Second Second Assistant Director: Dominic Pacitti
Additional Second Assistant Director: Nuekellar Hardy
Killers of the Flower Moon is Mr. Scorsese’s 13th DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film in 2006 for The Departed and was nominated in that category for Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990), The Age of Innocence (1993), Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), Hugo (2011), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and The Irishman (2019). Scorsese also won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Television in 2010 for Boardwalk Empire and was nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary in 2011 for George Harrison: Living in the Material World. He received the DGA Honor in 1999 and the DGA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. Scorsese has been a DGA member since 1971 and has served as an alternate on the DGA National Board.
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 Jeremy Kagan (moderator)
Kagan’s directorial credits include the features Shot, The Big Fix, The Chosen, The Journey of Natty Gann; the movies for television Roswell: The UFO Cover-Up and Katherine, The Making of an American Revolutionary; the television documentary Conspiracy: The Trial of The Chicago 8; and episodes of The Handler, Heroes and The West Wing. He was nominated for a DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for Crown Heights. He is also the author of three volumes of Directors Close Up and the eTextbook Keys to Directing. A DGA member since 1972, Kagan chairs the DGA Special Projects Committee and initiated the DGA’s Meet the Nominees Theatrical Feature Film symposia and has served on the Western Directors Council and the DGA National Board. In 2004, Kagan received the DGA Robert B. Aldrich Award for his service to the Guild. |
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Directed by: Tracey Smith Baumert
Director of Photography: Chad Wilson
Stage Manager: Redelia Shaw