The Directors Guild of America Awards were handed out this weekend, not only further clarifying the Oscar race in two main categories—Best Director and Best Picture—but also simply recognizing some of the best directing in film and TV from all of last year.Alfonso Cuarontook home the Feature Film DGA award forRoma, an expected yet no less deserved honor. Some wondered if maybeBradley CooperorSpike Leemight pull an upset here, but it very much looks as though Cuaron is on his way to his second Best Director Oscar. In the past 10 years, the DGA winner has not won the corresponding Best Director Oscar only once, and in that case it wasBen AffleckforArgo, who wasn’t even nominated for the Best Director Oscar. So the statistics tell us Cuaron is the heavy favorite to win the Oscar now, and the DGA win shows further guild support forRoma.
As for how this relates to Best Picture, if you’ve been paying attention you’ll notice the guilds have spread the love this year. The Producers Guild Award went toGreen Book, and the Screen Actors Guild Award went toBlack Panther. With the DGA going toRomawe don’t have a tried and true frontrunner at this juncture, but then againLa La Landwon the PGA and DGA and lost Best Picture toMoonlight, which won only one major guild award: Best Original Screenplay. So anything could happen, really.
But back to the actual Directors Guild of America awards. Bradley Cooper was bested in the Best First Feature category byBo BurnhamforEighth Grade, and Best Documentary Directing honors went toTim WardleforThree Identical Strangers, both of which were a bit of a surprise.
On the TV side of things,Bill Haderdeservedly took the Comedy trophy forBarry, Drama went toAdam McKay(a double-nominee this year) for the pilot for HBO’sSuccession, and Limited Series went toBen StillerforEscape at Dannemora. Those are some fine picks, and it really is nice to see Hader recognized for some stunning work made all the more impressive thatBarrymarked his directorial debut. Who’s ready for Season 2?
Check out the full list of DGA winners below.
WINNERS OF THE 71stDGA Awards:
FEATURE FILM
ALFONSO CUARÓN
Unit Production Manager: Ana Hernandez
First Assistant Director: Frederic Henocque Albino
Second Assistant Director: Patrick Heyerdahl
Second Second Assistant Directors: Luis Fernando Vásquez, Julián ‘Chico’ Valdés, Arturo Garcia
FIRST-TIME FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR
BO BURNHAM
Eighth Grade
First Assistant Director: Dan Taggatz
Second Assistant Director: Vic Coram
Second Second Assistant Director: Evelyn Fogleman
DOCUMENTARY
TIM WARDLE
Three Identical Strangers
(Neon and CNN Films)
DRAMA SERIES
ADAM MCKAY
Succession, “Celebration”
Mr. McKay’s Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Regina Heyman
• First Assistant Director: Amy Lauritsen
• Second Assistant Director: Scott Bowers
• Second Second Assistant Director: Nicholas Notte
• Location Managers: Michael Kriaris, Patty Carey
COMEDY SERIES
BILL HADER
Barry, “Chapter One: Make Your Mark”
Mr. Hader’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Mark Tobey, Aida Rodgers
First Assistant Director: Dale Stern
Second Assistant Director: Michelle Gritzer
Second Second Assistant Director: Chris Riddle
Additional Second Assistant Director: Gary Cotti
MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND LIMITED SERIES
BEN STILLER
Escape at Dannemora
(Showtime)
Mr. Stiller’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Adam Brightman, Bill Carraro
First Assistant Directors: Lisa M. Rowe, Lyda Blank, Phillip A. Patterson
Second Assistant Director: Kevin R. Shields
Second Second Assistant Director: Luke A. Crawford
Location Manager: Hyo Park
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING
DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live, “Adam Driver; Kanye West”
Mr. King’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Bob Caminiti
Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS
LOUIS J. HORVITZ
The 60th Grammy Awards
Mr. Horvitz’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Richard A. Preuss, Ron Andreassen, Kate Hollanda, Sabrina Rufo Mishler, Booey Kober
Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Doug Smith, Benny Almont, Joey Despenzero, Peter Epstein, John Esposito, Andy Feigin, Doug Fogel, Tyler Goldman, Jeffry Gitter, Phyllis Digilio Kent, Arthur Lewis, Julie Lorusso, Jeff Markowitz, Seth Mellman, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Alfonso Pena, Annette Powlis, Kyle Ramdeen, Lauren Schneider, Eddie Valk, Karen Tasch Weiss
REALITY PROGRAMS
RUSSELL NORMAN
The Final Table, “Japan”
Mr. Norman’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Carrie Havel
Lead Stage Manager: Jonathan Marks
Stage Managers: Daniel Curran, Mickel Picco
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
JACK JAMESON
Sesame Street, “When You Wish Upon a Pickle: A Sesame Street Special”
Mr. Jameson’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Ken Diego
Stage Managers: Shawn Havens, Mike Walker, Theresa Anderson
COMMERCIALS
SPIKE JONZE
Welcome Home, Apple Homepod – TBWA Media Arts Lab
• Unit Production Managers: Vincent Landay, Natalie Hill
• First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith
• Second Assistant Directors: Robert Kay, Nadeem Ashayer, Dave Marnell
• Second Second Assistant Director: Jeff Tavani
