The winners of the Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement Awards for 2011, and the recipients of the Guild’s 2012 Career Achievement Awards were announced tonight during the 64th Annual DGA Awards Dinner at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles. Michel Hazanavicius won the DGA’s Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for THE ARTIST. Being his first DGA Feature Film Award nomination, Hazanavicius bested veteran directors Martin Scorsese – HUGO, David Fincher – THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, Alexander Payne – THE DESCENDANTS, and Woody Allen – MIDNIGHT IN PARIS.

James Marsh won the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Documentary for PROJECT NIM. This was Mr. Marsh’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category for MAN ON WIRE in 2008.

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.

Presenters included (in alphabetical order): DGA Secretary-Treasurer Michael Apted; Berenice Bejo (The Artist); George Clooney (The Descendants); Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad); Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men); Laura Dern (Enlightened); Jean Dujardin (The Artist); DGA President Taylor Hackford; 2010 DGA Feature Film Award winner Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech); Stana Katic (Castle); Ben Kingsley (Hugo); Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy); Kathleen Robertson (Boss); Octavia Spencer (The Help); DGA Third Vice President Betty Thomas; Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn); and Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood).

The DGA’s Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally served as a near-perfect 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 the Academy Award for Best Director.

The six exceptions are as follows:

• 1968: Anthony Harvey won the DGA Award for The Lion in Winter while Carol Reed took home the Oscar® for Oliver!
• 1972: Francis Ford Coppola received the DGA’s nod for The Godfather while the Academy selected Bob Fosse for Cabaret.
• 1985: Steven Spielberg received his first DGA Award for The Color Purple while the Oscar® went to Sydney Pollack for Out of Africa.
• 1995: Ron Howard was chosen by the DGA for his direction of Apollo 13 while Academy voters selected Mel Gibson for Braveheart.
• 2000: Ang Lee won the DGA Award for his direction of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon while Steven Soderbergh won the Academy Award for Traffic.2002: Rob Marshall won the DGA Award for Chicago while Roman Polanski received the Academy Award for The Pianist.

LOS ANGELES (March 17, 2011) – The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today that the 23rd Annual Producers Guild Awards, honoring excellence in motion picture and television production, will take place on Saturday, January 21st, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

In 1990, the PGA held the first-ever Golden Laurel Awards, which were renamed the Producers Guild Awards in 2002. Richard Zanuck and Lili Fini Zanuck took home the award for Best Produced Motion Picture for DRIVING MISS DAISY, establishing the Guild’s awards as a bellwether for the Oscars. This year, the PGA awarded THE KING’S SPEECH with its Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures. The film was also awarded Best Picture at the 2011 Academy Awards.

Source: PGA

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 30, 2011) – Screen Actors Guild presented its coveted Actor® statuette for the outstanding motion picture and primetime television performances of 2010 at the “17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®” in ceremonies attended by film and television’s leading actors, held Sunday, Jan. 30, at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. The “17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®” was simulcast live coast-to-coast by TNT and TBS at 8 p.m. (ET), 7 p.m. (CT), 6 p.m. (MT) and 5 p.m. (PT). An encore presentation was telecast on TNT at 10 p.m. (ET), 9 p.m. (CT), 8 p.m. (MT) and 7 p.m. (PT).

Voting procedures to choose the recipients were sent to the nearly 100,000 active members of Screen Actors Guild nationwide. Morgan Freeman presented Ernest Borgnine with Screen Actors Guild’s highest honor, the 47th Annual Life Achievement Award, following a filmed tribute introduced by Tim Conway.

Honored with individual awards were Christian Bale, Colin Firth, Melissa Leo and Natalie Portman for performances in motion pictures and Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Claire Danes, Julianna Margulies, Al Pacino, and Betty White for performances in television. Screen Actors Guild originated awards for the outstanding performances by a motion picture cast and by television drama and comedy ensembles. The Actor® for a motion picture cast performance went this year to “The King’s Speech”, while the Actors® for television drama and comedy ensemble performances went this year to “Boardwalk Empire” and “Modern Family.” Screen Actors Guild’s honors for outstanding performances by a stunt ensemble in film and television were awarded to “Inception” and “True Blood.”

Dennis Haysbert introduced a lively film montage that saluted actors who perform in commercials. Hillary Swank introduced a filmed “In Memoriam” tribute to the actors who have passed away in the past year.

PEOPLE magazine and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) hosted the Screen Actors Guild Post-Awards Gala for the 15th year. This exclusive event, immediately following the SAG Awards on the back lot of the Shrine Exposition Center, honors the philanthropic causes and good works of the members of the Screen Actors Guild. The gala benefits the SAG Foundation, which just celebrated its 25th year of service to the public and the acting community.

The “17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®” is a presentation of Jeff Margolis Productions in association with Screen Actors Guild Awards®, LLC. Jeff Margolis is the executive producer and director.  Kathy Connell is the producer. JoBeth Williams, Daryl Anderson, Scott Bakula, Shelley Fabares and Paul Napier are producers for SAG. Gloria Fujita O’Brien and Mick McCullough are supervising producers. Stephen Pouliot is the writer.  Benn Fleishman is executive in charge of production. For more information about the SAG Awards, SAG, TNT and TBS visit sagawards.org/about.

The complete list of recipients of the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® follows.

17th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® RECIPIENTS

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
COLIN FIRTH / King George VI – “THE KING’S SPEECH” (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
NATALIE PORTMAN / Nina Sayers – “BLACK SWAN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
CHRISTIAN BALE / Dicky Eklund – “THE FIGHTER” (Paramount Pictures and Relativity Media)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
MELISSA LEO / Alice Ward – “THE FIGHTER” (Paramount Pictures and Relativity Media)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

THE KING’S SPEECH (The Weinstein Company)

ANTHONY ANDREWS / Stanley Baldwin
HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Queen Elizabeth
JENNIFER EHLE / Myrtle Logue
COLIN FIRTH / King George VI
MICHAEL GAMBON / King George V
DEREK JACOBI / Archbishop Cosmo Lang
GUY PEARCE / King Edward VIII
GEOFFREY RUSH / Lionel Logue
TIMOTHY SPALL / Winston Churchill

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
AL PACINO / Jack Kevorkian – “YOU DON’T KNOW JACK” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
CLAIRE DANES / Temple Grandin – “TEMPLE GRANDIN” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
STEVE BUSCEMI / Nucky Thompson – “BOARDWALK EMPIRE” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick – “THE GOOD WIFE” (CBS)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – “30 ROCK” (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
BETTY WHITE / Elka Ostrovsky – “HOT IN CLEVELAND” (TV Land)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)

GREG ANTONACCI / Johnny Torrio
STEVE BUSCEMI / Nucky Thompson
DABNEY COLEMAN / Commodore Louis Kaestner
PAZ DE LA HUERTA / Lucy Danzinger
STEPHEN GRAHAM / Al Capone
ANTHONY LACIURA / Eddie Kessler
KELLY MACDONALD / Margaret Schroeder
GRETCHEN MOL / Gillian Darmody
ALEKSA PALLADINO / Angela Darmody
VINCENT PIAZZA / Lucky Luciano
MICHAEL PITT / Jimmy Darmody
MICHAEL SHANNON / Agent Nelson Van Alden
PAUL SPARKS / Mickey Doyle
MICHAEL STUHLBARG / Arnold Rothstein ERIK WEINER / Agent Sebso
SHEA WHIGHAM / Sheriff Elias Thompson

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

MODERN FAMILY (ABC)

JULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON / Mitchell Pritchett
NOLAN GOULD / Luke Dunphy
SARAH HYLAND / Haley Dunphy
ED O’NEILL / Jay Pritchett
RICO RODRIGUEZ / Manny Delgado
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker
SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
ARIEL WINTER / Alex Dunphy

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
INCEPTION (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
TRUE BLOOD (HBO)

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Screen Actors Guild Awards 47th Annual Life Achievement Award
Ernest Borgnine

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FEATURE FILM

TOM HOOPER
The King’s Speech
(The Weinstein Co.)

Mr. Hooper’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Erica Bensly
• First Assistant Director: Martin Harrison
• Second Assistant Director: Chris Stoaling

This is Mr. Hooper’s first DGA Award and second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated for the DGA Award for Movies for Television/Miniseries for John Adams in 2008.

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MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND MINI-SERIES

MICK JACKSON
Temple Grandin
(HBO)

Mr. Jackson’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Scott Ferguson
• First Assistant Director: Philip Hardage
• Second Assistant Director: Shawn Pipkin
• Second Second Assistant Directors: Kayse Goodell, Richard E. Chapla Jr., Robbie Friedmann
• Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Glen Moorman

This is Mr. Jackson’s fourth DGA Award, making him a four-time winner of the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series with previous wins for Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995), Tuesdays With Morrie (1999), and Live From Baghdad (2002).

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DOCUMENTARY

CHARLES FERGUSON
Inside Job
Representational Pictures
Sony Pictures Classics

This is Mr. Ferguson’s first DGA Award.

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COMEDY SERIES

MICHAEL SPILLER
Modern Family, “Halloween”
(ABC)

Mr Spiller’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Sally Young
• First Assistant Director: Alisa Statman
• Second Assistant Director: Helena Lamb
• Second Second Assistant Director: Matthew Heffernan

This is Mr. Spiller’s first DGA Award.

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MUSICAL VARIETY

GLENN WEISS
64th Annual Tony Awards
(CBS)

Mr. Weiss’ Directorial Team:

• Associate Directors: Gregg Gelfand, Robin Abrams, Ricky Kirshner
• Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Lynn Finkel, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Dean Gordon, Phyllis Digilio Kent, Arthur Lewis, Joey Meade, Tony Mirante, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Elise Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider

This is Mr. Weiss’ second DGA Award and seventh DGA Award nomination. He won the Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 2007 for The 61st Annual Tony Awards; and was previously nominated in this category in 2008, 2006, 2005, 2002 and 2001 all for the 62nd, 60th, 59th, 56th and 55th Annual Tony Awards.

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REALITY PROGRAMS

EYTAN KELLER
The Next Iron Chef, “Episode #301″
(Food Network)

Mr. Keller’s Directorial Team:

• Segment Director: Stephen Kroopnick
• Stage Managers: Tom Borgnine, Seth Mellman

This is Mr. Keller’s first DGA Award and second DGA Award Nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2009 for episode “201″ of The Next Iron Chef.

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DAYTIME SERIALS

LARRY CARPENTER
One Life to Live, “Starr X’d Lovers, The Musical, Part Two”
(ABC)

Mr. Carpenter’s Directorial Team:

• Associate Directors: Teresa Anne Cicala, Tracy Casper Lang, Paul S. Glass, Mary Ryan, Jen Pepperman, Barry Gingold
• Stage Managers: Alan Needleman, Keith Greer, Brendan Higgins
• Production Associates: Kevin Brush, Nathalie Rodriguez

This is Mr. Carpenter’s third DGA Award and seventh DGA Award nomination and all for his direction of One Life to Live. He won the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials Award for One Life to Live – “Episode #9947″ in 2007, for “Episode #8849″ in 2003, and for “So You Think You Can Be Shane Morasco’s Father” in 2008. He was previously nominated for that series for “Episode #9686″ in 2006, “Episode #9385″ in 2005 and “Episode #8655″ in 2002.

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COMMERCIALS

STACY WALL
(Imperial Woodpecker)

Rise, Nike - Wieden & Kennedy/Portland

• First Assistant Director: Bac DeLorme
• Second Assistant Director: Steve Del Prete
• Second Second Assistant Director: Kenny Hanson

Really?, Microsoft - Crispin Porter & Bogusky/Boulder

• First Assistant Director: Miles Johnstone, Doug Halbert
• Second Assistant Director: Michael Brawer

Slim Chin & D Rose, Adidas - 180LA

• First Assistant Director: Dave Dean
• Second Assistant Director: Carl Jackson

Handshake, Nike - Wieden & Kennedy/Portland

• First Assistant Director: Miles Johnstone, Scott Metcalfe
• Second Assistant Director: Michael Brawer

This is Mr. Wall’s first DGA Award.

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CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

ERIC BROSS
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
(Nickelodeon)

This is Mr. Bross’ first DGA Award.

The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally been one of the industry’s most accurate barometers for who will win the Best Director Academy Award.

Only six times since the DGA Awards began in 1948 has the Feature Film winner not gone on to win the corresponding Academy Award.

The six exceptions are as follows:

• 1968: Anthony Harvey won the DGA Award for The Lion in Winter while Carol Reed took home the Oscar® for Oliver!
• 1972: Francis Ford Coppola received the DGA’s nod for The Godfather while the Academy selected Bob Fosse for Cabaret.
• 1985: Steven Spielberg received his first DGA Award for The Color Purple while the Oscar® went to Sydney Pollack for Out of Africa.
• 1995: Ron Howard was chosen by the DGA for his direction of Apollo 13 while Academy voters selected Mel Gibson for Braveheart.
• 2000: Ang Lee won the DGA Award for his direction of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon while Steven Soderbergh won the Academy Award for Traffic.
• 2002: Rob Marshall won the DGA Award for Chicago at the 55th Annual DGA Awards while Roman Polanski received the Academy Award for The Pianist.

Source: DGA

LOS ANGELES (January 28, 2011) –  Actor® nominees Amy Adams, Annette Bening, Helena Bonham Carter, Jesse Eisenberg, Colin Firth, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, Geoffrey Rush, Justin Timberlake and Mark Wahlberg will introduce their nominated films at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, Executive Producer Jeff Margolis announced today. 

They join a growing roster of actors who will honor their colleagues at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards that already includes Alec Baldwin, Jason Bateman, Jeff Bridges, Tim Conway, Rosario Dawson, Josh Duhamel, Jon Hamm, Angie Harmon, Nicole Kidman, Eva Longoria, Cory Monteith, Amy Poehler, Jeremy Renner, Hilary Swank, Sofia Vergara, Betty White, Robin Wright and SAG President Ken Howard.

The 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® ceremony will be simulcast live coast-to-coast on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 at 8 p.m. (ET), 7 p.m. (CT), 6 p.m. (MT) and 5 p.m. (PT) from the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles. An encore presentation will air on TNT at 10 p.m. (ET) 9 p.m. (CT), 8 p.m. (MT) and 7 p.m. (PT). Prior to the televised ceremony, the SAG Honors for television and film stunt ensembles will be announced during the live tnt.tv and tbs.com webcasts from the red carpet which begin at 6 p.m. (ET)/3 p.m. (PT).

Five-time Actor® nominee Amy Adams is nominated this year for her supporting role in “The Fighter,” as well as her performance as part of the film’s cast. Adams can be seen in the upcoming films “On the Road” and “The Muppets.”
 
Two-time Actor recipient Annette Bening is nominated for her leading role in “The Kids Are All Right,” and her performance as a member of the film’s cast. Her previous SAG Awards were for Female Lead and Ensemble Performance for “American Beauty.”

Three-time Actor nominee Helena Bonham Carter is currently nominated for her supporting role in “The King’s Speech,” and her performance as a member of the film cast. Bonham Carter is currently starring in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.”

First-time Actor nominee Jesse Eisenberg is celebrating two Actor nods this year for his lead role and ensemble performance in the feature film “The Social Network.” Eisenberg will next be seen starring in “Free Samples.”

Actor recipient Colin Firth is currently nominated for his leading role in “The King’s Speech,” as well as for his performance as a member of the film’s cast. Firth’s previous SAG Award was for his ensemble performance in “Shakespeare in Love.”

First-time Actor nominee Andrew Garfield is nominated this year for his ensemble performance in “The Social Network.”
 
First-time Actor nominee Armie Hammer is currently nominated for his performance as a member of “The Social Network” cast.  Hammer is next starring in the upcoming feature film directed by Clint Eastwood, “J. Edgar” with Leonardo DiCaprio.

First-time Actor nominee Mila Kunis is nominated this year for her supporting role in “Black Swan,” as well as her performance as part of the film’s cast. Kunis currently does the voice for Meg Griffin on Fox’s comedy “Family Guy” and can be seen starring in the upcoming film “Friends with Benefits” with Actor nominee Justin Timberlake.

First-time Actor nominee Natalie Portman is nominated this year for her leading role in “Black Swan,” as well as her performance as part of the film’s cast. Portman is currently starring in “No Strings Attached” with Ashton Kutcher.
 
Mark Ruffalo is nominated this year for his supporting role in the feature film “The Kids Are All Right,” and his performance in the film’s ensemble. Ruffalo is currently working on feature films “Sympathy for Delicious” and “The Avengers.”
 
Three-time Actor recipient Geoffrey Rush is nominated this year for his supporting role in “The King’s Speech,” and his performance as a member of the film’s cast. Rush’s previous SAG Awards were for his leading roles in the film “Shine,” the TV / Miniseries role in “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers,” and his ensemble performance in “Shakespeare in Love.”

First-time Actor nominee Justin Timberlake is nominated for his ensemble performance in “The Social Network.”  He is currently shooting the feature “Now” and will next be seen starring in the upcoming films ‘Bad Teacher” and “Friends With Benefits.”
 
Three-time Actor nominee Mark Wahlberg is nominated this year for his performance as part of the cast for the film “The Fighter.” In addition, Wahlberg is an executive producer of the HBO drama, “Boardwalk Empire,” which is nominated this year for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

The 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards is produced by Jeff Margolis Productions in association with Screen Actors Guild Awards®, LLC. For more information about the SAG Awards, SAG, TNT and TBS visit http://sagawards.org/about.

LOS ANGELES (January 27, 2011) – Jason Bateman, Jon Hamm, Nicole Kidman, Jeremy Renner, Sofia Vergara and Robin Wright will be presenters at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, Executive Producer Jeff Margolis announced today. 

They join a growing roster of actors who will honor their colleagues at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards that already includes Scott Bakula, Alec Baldwin, Jeff Bridges, Tim Conway, Rosario Dawson, Josh Duhamel, Angie Harmon, Eva Longoria, Cory Monteith, Amy Poehler, Hilary Swank, Betty White and SAG President Ken Howard.

Three-time Actor® nominee Jason Bateman will next star in the upcoming feature films “Paul,” “Horrible Bosses,” and “Change Up.”

Two-time Actor® recipient Jon Hamm is nominated this year for his leading role in the AMC drama “Mad Men,” and his performance as a member of the show’s ensemble. His previous SAG Awards were for his ensemble performance in “Mad Men.” Hamm most recently starred in the feature film “The Town” and will next appear in Zach Snyder’s “Sucker Punch.”

Five-time Actor® nominee Nicole Kidman is nominated this year for her leading role in “Rabbit Hole.” Kidman can be seen next month starring in the upcoming feature film “Just Go With It” with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston.

Three-time Actor® nominee Jeremy Renner is currently nominated for his supporting role in “The Town.” Renner will next star in “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” and “The Avengers.”

Three-time Actor® nominee Sofîa Vergara is nominated this year for her leading role in the ABC comedy “Modern Family,” as well as her performance as a member of the show’s ensemble.

Three-time Actor® nominee Robin Wright is next starring in the upcoming Robert Redford feature film, “The Conspirator” with James McAvoy, Alexis Bledel, and Justin Long.

The 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® ceremony will be simulcast live coast-to-coast on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 at 8 p.m. (ET), 7 p.m. (CT), 6 p.m. (MT) and 5 p.m. (PT) from the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles. An encore presentation will air on TNT at 10 p.m. (ET) 9 p.m. (CT), 8 p.m. (MT) and 7 p.m. (PT). Prior to the televised ceremony, the SAG Honors for television and film stunt ensembles will be announced during the live tnt.tv and tbs.com webcasts from the red carpet which begin at 6 p.m. (ET)/3 p.m. (PT).

The 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards is produced by Jeff Margolis Productions in association with Screen Actors Guild Awards®, LLC. For more information about the SAG Awards, SAG, TNT and TBS visit http://sagawards.org/about

Art Photo Credit: Copyright 2009 Screen Actors Guild & Mark Hill

THE KING’S SPEECH became the reigning monarch at the 22nd Annual Producers Guild Awards and usurped the Oscar-frontrunner’s crown from critics’ favorite THE SOCIAL NETWORK. Is it an upset? You betcha! Do we now have a real Oscar race this year after all? Definitely. This bodes well for THE KING’S SPEECH enthusiasts, like yours truly, as the PGA and Oscars have matched for the past three years. Director Tom Hooper’s historical drama, starring Colin Firth as George VI, won out over 127 HOURS, BLACK SWAN, INCEPTION, THE FIGHTER, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, THE SOCIAL NETWORK, THE TOWN, TOY STORY 3 and TRUE GRIT.

Harvey Weinstein emailed his reaction to the PGA win to Deadline.com:

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized by your peers. The PGA is made up of all the people I admire and respect. I congratulate Tom Hooper, our three amazing producers, and our incredible ensemble cast.”

Next weekend’s awards: The Directors Guild of America winners will be announced on Saturday, January 29th and the Screen Actors Guild announces LIVE on TNT/TBS Sunday, January 30th.

The list of winners -

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures:

THE KING’S SPEECH

Producers: Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

TOY STORY 3

Producer: Darla K. Anderson

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:

WAITING FOR ‘SUPERMAN’

Producer: Lesley Chilcott

The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Drama:

“Mad Men”� (AMC)

Producers: Lisa Albert, Scott Hornbacher, Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton, Blake McCormick, Dwayne Shattuck, Matthew Weiner

The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Comedy:

“Modern Family” (ABC)

Producers: Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd, Jeff Morton, Dan O’Shannon, Jason Winer, Bill Wrubel, Danny Zuker

The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television:

“The Pacific” (HBO)

Producers: Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, Eugene Kelly, Todd London, Cherylanne Martin, Bruce C. McKenna, Steven Shareshian, Steven Spielberg, Tony To, Tim Van Patten, Graham Yost

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment and Competition Television:

“The Colbert Report” (Comedy Central)

Producers: Meredith Bennett, Stephen T. Colbert, Richard Dahm, Tom Purcell, Allison Silverman, Jon Stewart

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television:

“Deadliest Catch” (Discovery Channel)

Producers: Thom Beers, Jeff Conroy, Sheila McCormack, Ethan Prochnik, Matt Renner

Rosario Dawson, Angie Harmon, Eva Longoria, Hilary Swank, Betty White and Screen Actors Guild President Ken Howard will be presenters at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, Executive Producer Jeff Margolis announced today. 

Producers are also saying SAG Award nominees Jeff Bridges and Alec Baldwin will help present prizes at the 17th annual ceremony, along with LL Cool J, Josh Duhamel, Amy Poehler and “Glee” star Cory Monteith.

Currently starring in the feature film “Unstoppable,” Rosario Dawson announced the nominations for this year’s SAG Awards along with Angie Harmon.

Four-time Actor® nominee Angie Harmon currently stars in TNT’s “Rizzoli & Isles.” Harmon also announced the nominations for this year’s SAG Awards along with Rosario Dawson.

Eva Longoria is a two-time Actor recipient and five-time SAG Awards nominee for her performances on ABC’s long-running hit “Desperate Housewives.”

Actor® recipient and five-time SAG Award nominee Hilary Swank is currently nominated for her lead role as Betty Anne Waters in “Conviction.” Swank will next appear in “The Resident,” co-starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Christopher Lee.

2009 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement-honoree Betty White is celebrating two Actor® nods this year for her lead role and ensemble performance in the TV Land comedy series “Hot In Cleveland.” She will next be seen starring with Jennifer Love Hewitt in “The Lost Valentine” for Hallmark Hall of Fame.

The 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® ceremony will be simulcast live coast-to-coast on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 at 8 p.m. (ET), 7 p.m. (CT), 6 p.m. (MT) and 5 p.m. (PT) from the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles. An encore presentation will air on TNT at 10 p.m. (ET) 9 p.m. (CT), 8 p.m. (MT) and 7 p.m. (PT). Prior to the televised ceremony, the SAG Honors for television and film stunt ensembles will be announced during the live tnt.tv and tbs.com webcasts from the red carpet which begin at 6 p.m. (ET)/3 p.m. (PT).

The 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards is produced by Jeff Margolis Productions in association with Screen Actors Guild Awards®, LLC. For more information about the SAG Awards, SAG, TNT and TBS visit http://sagawards.org/about.

The nominations for the 13th annual Costumers Designers Guild were announced in Los Angeles. The non-televised event will be held on Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. It will be hosted by Kristin Davis.

Special awards will be handed out to Halle Barry, designer Julie Weiss, director Joel Schumacher and late designer Michael Dennison.

EXCELLENCE IN CONTEMPORARY FILM

Black Swan – Amy Westcott
Burlesque – Michael Kaplan
Inception - Jeffrey Kurland
The Social Network – Jacqueline West
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps – Ellen Mirojnick

 
EXCELLENCE IN PERIOD FILM

The Fighter – Mark Bridges
The King’s Speech – Jenny Beavan
True Grit – Mary Zophres
 

EXCELLENCE IN FANTASY FILM

Alice in Wonderland – Colleen Atwood
The Tempest – Sandy Powell
TRON: Legacy – Michael Wilkinson & Christine Bieselin Clark
 
OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY TELEVISION SERIES

Big Love – Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko
Dancing with the Stars – Randall Christensen, Daniella Gschwendtner & Steven Norman Lee
Glee – Lou Eyrich
Modern Family – Alix Friedberg
Treme – Alonzo Wilson
 
OUTSTANDING PERIOD/FANTASY TELEVISION SERIES

Boardwalk Empire – John A. Dunn
Mad Men – Janie Bryant
The Tudors – Joan Bergin
 
OUTSTANDING MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINI SERIES

The Pacific – Penny Rose & Joe Hobbs
Temple Grandin – Cindy Evans
You Don’t Know Jack – Rita Ryack
 
EXCELLENCE IN COMMERCIAL COSTUME DESIGN

Chanel – Bleu de Chanel – Aude Bronson-Howard
Dior – Charlize Theron – J’Adore – Lisa Michelle Boyd
Dos Equis – The Most Interesting Man in the World – Julie Vogel
Netflix – Western – Lydia Paddon
Target  – Preparing for Race/Black Friday – Costume Designer TBA*

Thanks to Deadline.com for the release.

Directors Guild of America President Taylor Hackford today announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2010.

“2011 marks the 75th anniversary of the DGA, making the celebration of this year’s five nominees especially meaningful,” said Hackford. “Their inspired films radiate the passion and unique vision of each of these filmmakers, who are about to become part of our Guild’s rich history. My sincerest congratulations to all five nominees.”

The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally been one of the industry’s most accurate barometers for who will win the Best Director Academy Award; only six times since the DGA Awards began in 1948 has the Feature Film winner not gone on to win the corresponding Academy Award.

The winner will be named at the 63rd Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 29, 2011, at the Grand Ballroom of Hollywood & Highland. The nominees are (in alphabetical order):

DARREN ARONOFSKY
BLACK SWAN
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Mr. Aronofsky’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Jennifer Roth
• First Assistant Director: Joseph Reidy
• Second Assistant Director: Amy Lauritsen
• Second Second Assistant Director: Travis Rehwaldt
• Location Manager: Ronnie Kupferwasser

This is Mr. Aronofsky’s first DGA Feature Film Award Nomination.

DAVID FINCHER
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
(Columbia Pictures)

Mr. Fincher’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: JoAnn Perritano
• First Assistant Director: Bob Wagner
• Second Assistant Director: Allen Kupetsky
• Second Second Assistant Director: Maileen Williams

This is Mr. Fincher’s second DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in 2008. He previously won the DGA Commercial Award for Speed Chain (Nike), Gamebreakers (Nikegridiron.com), and Beauty for Sale (Xelibri Phones) in 2003 and was nominated in that category again in 2008.

TOM HOOPER
THE KING’S SPEECH
(The Weinstein Co.)

Mr. Hooper’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Erica Bensly
• First Assistant Director: Martin Harrison
• Second Assistant Director: Chris Stoaling

This is Mr. Hooper’s first DGA Feature Film Award Nomination. He was previously nominated for the DGA Award for Movies for Television/Miniseries for John Adams in 2008.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
INCEPTION
(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Nolan’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Jan Foster
• First Assistant Director: Nilo Otero
• Second Assistant Director: Brandon Lambdin
• Second Second Assistant Director: Greg Pawlik
• Additional Second Assistant Director: Lauren Pasternack

This is Mr. Nolan’s third DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated for The Dark Knight in 2008 and for Memento in 2001.

DAVID O. RUSSELL
THE FIGHTER
(Paramount Pictures and The Weinstein Co.)

Mr. Russell’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Mark Kamine
• First Assistant Director: Michele Ziegler
• Second Assistant Director: Xanthus Valan
• Second Second Assistant Director: Timothy Blockburger

This is Mr. Russell’s first DGA Feature Film Award nomination.

I’d say it’s a safe bet for the WGA, and AMPAS for that matter, to just go ahead and award Adapted Screenplay to Aaron Sorkin for THE SOCIAL NETWORK today. That one is on the bag. Due to WGA strict rules, award friendly films such as TOY STORY 3, BLUE VALENTINE, THE KING’S SPEECH, ANOTHER YEAR and WINTER’S BONE were not eligible. I was delighted by the surprise appearance of I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS in the Adapted Screenplay category.

WGA press release:

LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK — The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in writing for the screen during 2010. Winners will be honored at the 2011 Writers Guild Awards held on Saturday, February 5, 2011, at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Black Swan, Screenplay by Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin; Story by Andres Heinz; Fox Searchlight

The Fighter, Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Paramount Pictures

Inception, Written by Christopher Nolan; Warner Bros.

The Kids Are All Right, Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg; Focus Features

Please Give, Written by Nicole Holofcener; Sony Pictures Classics

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

127 Hours, Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy; Based on the book Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston; Fox Searchlight

I Love You Phillip Morris, Written by John Requa & Glenn Ficarra; Based on the book by Steven McVicker; Roadside Attractions

The Social Network, Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin; Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich; Sony Pictures

The Town, Screenplay by Peter Craig and Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard; Based on the novel Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan; Warner Bros.

True Grit, Screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen; Based on the novel by Charles Portis; Paramount Pictures

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY

Enemies of the People, Written, Directed, Filmed and Produced by Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath; International Film Circuit

Freedom Riders, Written, Produced and Directed by Stanley Nelson; International Film Circuit

Gasland, Written and Directed by Josh Fox; HBO Documentary Films and International WOW Company

Inside Job, Produced, Written and Directed by Charles Ferguson; Co-written by Chad Beck, Adam Bolt; Sony Pictures Classics

The Two Escobars, Written by Michael Zimbalist, Jeff Zimbalist; ESPN Films

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?, Written and Directed by John Scheinfeld; Lorber Films

Feature films eligible for a Writers Guild Award were exhibited theatrically for at least one week in Los Angeles in 2010 and were written under the WGA’s Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) or under a bona fide collective bargaining agreement of the Australian Writers Guild, Writers Guild of Canada, Writers Guild of Great Britain, Irish Playwrights & Screenwriters Guild or the New Zealand Writers Guild. Theatrical screenplays produced under the jurisdiction of the WGA or an affiliate Guild must have been submitted for WGA awards consideration.

Documentaries eligible for a Writers Guild Award featured an onscreen writing credit and were exhibited theatrically in Los Angeles or New York for one week in 2010. While credited documentary writers were required to join the WGAW’s Nonfiction Writers Caucus or WGAE Nonfiction Writers Caucus to be considered, scripts need not have been written under WGA jurisdiction to be considered.

The 2011 Writers Guild Awards will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2011, simultaneously at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel-Grand Ballroom in Los Angeles and the AXA Equitable Center in New York City.

Source: WGA

On Tuesday, the PGA announced the television and motion picture nominations for the 2011 Producers Guild Awards. In what hints to be a preview of the 10 Best Picture Oscar nominations coming up at the end of this month, Warner Bros. Pictures big-budget THE TOWN being included as one of the PGA’s ten over the indie WINTER”S BONE was not a total surprise. We’ll see if the same can be said of the 3 films nominated in the animated category on January 25th. The PGA went with DESPICABLE ME over Disney’s TANGLED and Sony Pictures Classics THE ILLUSIONIST.

Here are the nominees:

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures:

• 127 HOURS, Producers: Danny Boyle, Christian Colson
• BLACK SWAN, Producers: Scott Franklin, Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver
• INCEPTION, Producers: Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas
• THE FIGHTER, Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Mark Wahlberg
• THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, Producers: Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Celine Rattray
• THE KING’S SPEECH, Producers: Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin
• THE SOCIAL NETWORK, Producers: Dana Brunetti, Ceán Chaffin, Michael De Luca, Scott Rudin
• THE TOWN, Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Graham King
• TOY STORY 3, Producer: Darla K. Anderson
• TRUE GRIT, Producers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

• DESPICABLE ME, Producers: John Cohen, Janet Healy, Christopher Meledandri
• HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, Producer: Bonnie Arnold
• TOY STORY 3, Producer: Darla K. Anderson

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:
(Previously announced December 2010.)

• CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER, Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination
• EARTH MADE OF GLASS, Producers: Reid Carolin, Deborah Scranton
• INSIDE JOB, Producers: Charles Ferguson, Audrey Marrs
• SMASH HIS CAMERA, Producers: Linda Saffire, Adam Schlesinger
• THE TILLMAN STORY, Producer: John Battsek
• ‘WAITING FOR ‘SUPERMAN’, Producer: Lesley Chilcott

Previously announced awards:

• Global 3D technology provider RealD will receive the Producers Guild’s 2011 Vanguard Award.
• Producer Scott Rudin will receive the 2011 David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Motion Pictures.
• Producer Laura Ziskin will receive the Producers Guild’s 2011 Visionary Award.
• Oscar award-winning producer, director, writer James Cameron will be honored with the 2011 Milestone Award.

Hosted by director/writer/producer Judd Apatow, the 2011 Producers Guild Awards will be held in the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton on January 22, 2011.

Film and Television Fans Can Bid For Bleacher Seats on the SAG Awards® Red Carpet at www.sagawards.org/auction Now Through Jan. 10

Auction Will Benefit the SAG Foundation’s Public Children’s Literacy Programs

LOS ANGELES (January 3, 2011) – The Screen Actors Guild Awards® online auction to benefit the SAG Foundation is offering Red Carpet Fan Bleacher Seats at www.sagawards.org/auction now through Jan. 10. This second auction in this year’s SAG Awards® three-part auction series features 90 seats from which fans can see their favorite stars walk the SAG Awards red carpet, take pictures and request autographs. Up for bid during the Red Carpet Bleacher Auction are 15 sets of two seats and 15 sets of four seats.

The SAG Awards Auctions benefit the SAG Foundation to help make possible the Foundation’s public children’s literacy programs: BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) and Storyline Online. The auction also supports Foundation programs providing emergency relief to SAG members in economic distress, video and audio preservation of the creative legacy of SAG members, scholarships for performers and their children, emergency funds for members with catastrophic illnesses and The Actor’s Center. Details are available at www.sagfoundation.org and www.bookpals.net.

The Ceremony Auction, the third and final auction that will revolve around the nominated actors and ensembles, will start Jan. 27 and close on Jan. 31. In previous years the auction has included autographed scripts and posters, wardrobe and props and set visits to studios. This auction will also offer great items and experiences from the hot, up-to-the minute entertainment news outlets, including “E! News,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “Extra” and TV Guide Network. Also up for bid will be SAG Awards memorabilia including tote bags, hats and this year’s production team gift. Additional auction items will be announced throughout January.

17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® honoring the outstanding film and television performances of 2010 will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. (ET), 7 p.m. (CT), 6 p.m. (MT) and 5 p.m. (PT).

The Screen Actors Guild Awards auction to benefit the SAG Foundation is managed by Clothes Off Our Back at www.clothesoffourback.com/sagawards and Screen Actors Guild Awards

LOS ANGELES  (Dec. 16, 2010)—Nominees for the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® for outstanding performances in 2010 in five film and eight primetime television categories and for the SAG honors for film and television stunt ensembles were announced this morning in Los Angeles at the Pacific Design Center’s SilverScreen Theater in West Hollywood.

SAG Awards® Committee Chair JoBeth Williams introduced Rosario Dawson (“Unstoppable”) and Angie Harmon (TNT’s “Rizzoli & Isles” and 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Social Media (Host), who announced the nominees for this year’s Actors®. Jo Beth Williams and Vice Chair Daryl Anderson also announced the stunt ensemble nominees.

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES WITH MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS

THE FIGHTER – 4
THE KING’S SPEECH – 4
BLACK SWAN – 3
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT – 3
THE SOCIAL NETWORK – 2
TRUE GRIT – 2
WINTER’S BONE – 2

17th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® NOMINATIONS
 
THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
JEFF BRIDGES / Rooster Cogburn – “TRUE GRIT” (Paramount Pictures)
ROBERT DUVALL / Felix Bush – “GET LOW” (Sony Pictures Classics)
JESSE EISENBERG / Mark Zuckerberg – “THE SOCIAL NETWORK” (Columbia Pictures)
COLIN FIRTH / King George VI – “THE KING’S SPEECH” (The Weinstein Company)
JAMES FRANCO / Aron Ralston – “127 HOURS” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
ANNETTE BENING / Nic – “THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT” (Focus Features)
NICOLE KIDMAN / Becca – “RABBIT HOLE” (Lionsgate)
JENNIFER LAWRENCE / Ree Dolly – “WINTER’S BONE” (Roadside Attractions)
NATALIE PORTMAN / Nina Sayers – “BLACK SWAN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
HILARY SWANK / Betty Anne Waters – “CONVICTION” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
CHRISTIAN BALE / Dicky Eklund – “THE FIGHTER” (Paramount Pictures)
JOHN HAWKES / Teardrop – “WINTER’S BONE” (Roadside Attractions)
JEREMY RENNER / James Coughlin – “THE TOWN” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
MARK RUFFALO / Paul – “THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT” (Focus Features)
GEOFFREY RUSH / Lionel Logue – “THE KING’S SPEECH” (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
AMY ADAMS / Charlene Fleming – “THE FIGHTER” (Paramount Pictures)
HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Queen Elizabeth – “THE KING’S SPEECH” (The Weinstein Company)
MILA KUNIS / Lily – “BLACK SWAN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
MELISSA LEO / Alice Ward – “THE FIGHTER” (Paramount Pictures)
HAILEE STEINFELD / Mattie Ross – “TRUE GRIT” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

BLACK SWAN (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
VINCENT CASSEL / Thomas Leroy
BARBARA HERSHEY / Erica Sayers
MILA KUNIS / Lily
NATALIE PORTMAN / Nina Sayers
WINONA RYDER / Beth Macintyre

THE FIGHTER (Paramount Pictures)
AMY ADAMS / Charlene Fleming
CHRISTIAN BALE / Dicky Eklund
MELISSA LEO / Alice Ward
JACK MCGEE / George Ward
MARK WAHLBERG / Micky Ward

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (Focus Features)
ANNETTE BENING / Nic
JOSH HUTCHERSON / Laser
JULIANNE MOORE / Jules
MARK RUFFALO / Paul
MIA WASIKOWSKA / Joni

THE KING’S SPEECH (The Weinstein Company)
ANTHONY ANDREWS / Stanley Baldwin
HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Queen Elizabeth
JENNIFER EHLE / Myrtle Logue
COLIN FIRTH / King George VI
MICHAEL GAMBON / King George V
DEREK JACOBI / Archbishop Cosmo Lang
GUY PEARCE / King Edward VIII
GEOFFREY RUSH / Lionel Logue
TIMOTHY SPALL / Winston Churchill

THE SOCIAL NETWORK (Columbia Pictures)
JESSE EISENBERG / Mark Zuckerberg
ANDREW GARFIELD / Eduardo Saverin
ARMIE HAMMER / Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss
MAX MINGHELLA / Divya Narendra
JOSH PENCE / Tyler Winklevoss
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE / Sean Parker

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

GREEN ZONE (Universal Pictures)
INCEPTION (Warner Bros. Pictures)
ROBIN HOOD (Universal Pictures)

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Screen Actors Guild Awards 47th Annual Life Achievement Award
Ernest Borgnine

The 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be simulcast live nationally on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 at 8 p.m. (ET), 7 p.m. (CT), 6 p.m. (MT) and 5 p.m. (PT) from the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. Recipients of the stunt ensemble honors will be announced from the SAG Awards red carpet during the TNT.TV and TBS.COM live pre-show webcasts, which begin at 6:30 p.m. (ET), 5:30 p.m. (CT), 4:30 p.m. (MT), and 3:30 p.m.  (PT).

 Of the top industry accolades presented to performers, only the Screen Actors Guild Awards are selected solely by actors’ peers.  Two randomly selected panels–one for television and one for film–each composed of 2,100 randomly selected Guild members from across the United States, chose this year’s Actor® and stunt ensemble honors nominees. Integrity Voting Systems, the Awards’ official teller, mailed the nominations secret ballots on Wednesday, Nov. 24. Voting was completed at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010.

Final voting information will be mailed via postcard on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010. The entire active membership of the Guild across the country, numbering approximately 100,000 actors, will vote on all categories. Online voting is encouraged. Paper ballots will be made available only upon request, which must be made by Friday, Jan. 14, 2011. All votes must be received at Integrity Voting Systems by noon on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. Results will be tallied and sealed until the envelopes are opened by the presenters at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony on Jan. 30.

The Screen Actors Guild Post-Awards Gala benefiting the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, will be hosted for the 15th consecutive year by People Magazine and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF).

Source: SAG

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 3, 2010) – The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today the Documentary Theatrical Motion Picture nominees that will advance in the voting process for the 22nd Annual Producers Guild Awards.

The nominated films, listed below in alphabetical order, are:

• CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER
• EARTH MADE OF GLASS
• INSIDE JOB
• SMASH HIS CAMERA
• THE TILLMAN STORY
• WAITING FOR ‘SUPERMAN’

Nominations for the other Producers Guild Award categories will be announced January 4, 2011, along with the individual producers. The 2011 Producers Guild Awards ceremony will take place on January 22, 2011 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Source: Producers Guild of America

Ballots for the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Nominations will be mailed to the SAG Awards® Nominating Committees on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010

17th Annual SAG Awards will be Simulcast on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 23, 2010)  – Ballots for the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® nominations will be mailed to this year’s SAG Awards film and television nominating committees on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010.

Votes for nominees may be cast online or via mailed paper ballot. Votes must be received by the Guild’s official teller, Integrity Voting Systems, by Monday, Dec. 13, 2010 at 5 p.m (PT). Nominations for the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be announced at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010 at 6 a.m. (PT)/9 a.m. (ET), telecast live on TNT and webcast live on tnt.tv and tbs.com.

The Screen Actors Guild Award—The Actor®—is presented for outstanding performances in motion pictures and primetime television. The nominees for performances in 2010, including the distinctive ensemble awards and the stunt ensemble honors, will be chosen by two separate film and television nominating panels, each comprised of 2,100 SAG members from across the United States that were randomly selected in April 2010. Submissions closed on October 28. Requests for nomination consideration in a category of the actor’s choosing were submitted by actors or, with the actor’s permission, by producers, studios/networks, agents, managers or publicists.

Of the top industry honors presented to performers, only the SAG Awards are selected entirely by actors’ peers in the Screen Actors Guild. Recipients of the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be announced at ceremonies on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, simulcast live from the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center on TNT and TBS at 8 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (PT).

Final voting information will be mailed via postcard to all eligible voting members of the Screen Actors Guild on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010. Online voting is encouraged. Paper ballots will be made available only upon request, which must be made by Friday, Jan. 14, 2011. All votes must be received at Integrity Voting Systems by noon on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. Results will be sealed until they are opened onstage at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony.

Categories for 17th Annual SAG Awards nominations are:

Theatrical Motion Pictures
                                                                                                
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Motion Picture

Primetime Broadcast and Cable Television Programs

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Stunt Ensemble Honors (recipients to be announced from the SAG Awards® red carpet on Sunday, Jan. 30)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

Upcoming key deadlines and events leading to the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards:

Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010
Nominations Ballots Mailed

Monday, Dec. 13, 2010
Nomination Ballots Due at the Elections Firm by 5 p.m. (PT)

Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010
Nominations Announced

The 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be produced by Jeff Margolis Productions in association with Screen Actors Guild Awards®, LLC. For more information about the SAG Awards, SAG, TNT and TBS visit sagawards.org/about.

For more on SAG, check them out on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Source: Screen Actors Guild Awards

Brother, if there’s one cinematographer who really should have an Oscar sitting on his mantle by now, its this guy -Roger Deakins. To an awards obsessiva like myself, its a crime that this artist has been nominated 8 times and yet no wins. Deakins has just had the rotten luck of going up against films like TITANIC and LORD OF THE RINGS…there was no way, no how he’d win up against those juggernauts. In 1997, it was his FARGO going head to head with John Seale’s THE ENGLISH PATIENT. Even as good as SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION was, Deakins didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell to beat John Toll’s LEGEND OF THE FALL.

Of all the years he was nominated, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD is the one he should have won the Academy Award for. He had 2 spots ( THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD & NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) in the category in 2008 and he still couldn’t pull it off. The nomination for THE READER in 2009 was pretty much a throwaway – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE was a runaway train.

So after watching the trailer for TRUE GRIT, you tell me, is this Roger Deakins’ year?

From The ASC:

LOS ANGELES, October 11, 2010- Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC will receive the 2011 American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Lifetime Achievement Award. The presentation will be made during the 25th Annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards celebration here at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on February 13, 2011.

“The Lifetime Achievement Award is a reflection of the impact that a cinematographer has made on the art of filmmaking rather than the capping of a career,” says ASC President Michael Goi. “It is our way of acknowledging a true artist in his prime. Roger Deakins raises the artistic profile of our profession with every movie and he will continue to do so for many years.”

Deakins has earned Oscar® nominations for The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Fargo (1996), Kundun (1997), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001), The Assassination of Jesse James and the Coward Robert Ford (2007), No Country for Old Men (2007) and The Reader (shared with Chris Menges, ASC, BSC, 2008).

His peers nominated all eight of those films and Revolutionary Road (2008) for ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards for feature film cinematography. Deakins claimed top ASC honors for The Shawshank Redemption and The Man Who Wasn’t There.

“I had mixed emotions when I was told about this recognition,” Deakins says. “To be honest, I am flattered, but I also feel like I am only just getting started. I’m enjoying what I do more than I ever have and there seems to be so much more I want to do. I feel like I’m getting this award about halfway through my career. It is great to realize that my colleagues watch my work and get something out of it.”

ASC Awards Committee Chairman Richard Crudo observes, “Roger Deakins overcame formidable obstacles during the dawn of his career and went on to help create some of the most memorable films of our times. Roger has inspired young and older filmmakers to pursue what sometimes seems like impossible dreams.”

Deakins blazed a non-traditional career path. He was born and raised in the seaside town of Torquay in Devon, England. As a boy, Deakin’s passion was for painting but when he enrolled in the Bath Academy of Art his interest shifted to photography. When Deakins wasn’t taking pictures, he was in the darkroom processing film and making prints.

After a brief stint as a professional photographer Deakins continued his education at the National Film School in London. Deakins estimates that over three years he shot more than 15 films for student directors, both dramatic films and documentaries ranging from 30 to 90 minutes each.

After graduation, he primarily spent the first seven years of his career shooting documentaries, the first of which required him to play the role of crew member as well as director/cameraman during a nine-month yacht race around the world.

Deakins went on to work on many documentaries for British television, which included films on the liberation wars in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Eritrea, a study of mental patients within the UK National Health Service, and the life of the Nuba people of Southern Sudan. His first of some 50 narrative film credits was in 1983 for Another Time, Another Place, which aired on Channel 4 in England.

“I’ve always chosen to work on films that are more than entertainment,” he says. “I believe film can also be provocative and send audiences home thinking.”

Deakins has collaborated with an impressive array of directors, including Sam Mendes, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Norman Jewison, Ed Zwick, Andrew Dominik and Michael Apted. True Grit, which is slated for release in December, is his 11th co-venture with brothers Ethan and Joel Coen at the helm.

Director Peter Jackson has come back with a lengthy retort to the Screen Actors Guild’s member alert (here) made on Friday about THE HOBBIT. No way was Jackson going to take the allegations made on Friday lying down. Here we go:

Peter Jackson statement regarding The Hobbit and claims by the Australian Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA):

The Australian Labour Union, the MEAA is using our production The Hobbit in an attempt to widen it’s membership, and power within the New Zealand film industry. As a New Zealand filmmaker, who has nothing to hide or be ashamed about, I’m not going to see this threatening behaviour continue without some form of sensible discussion about the “facts” and “truth” behind their various allegations.

It’s incredibly easy to wave the flag on behalf of workers and target the rich studios. It’s not hard to generate an emotive response, nor is it hard to sway public opinion, since nobody seems to like the facts to get in the way of a good story in these situations.

Behind the claims of exploiting actors who are cast in the “non-Union” Hobbit production, and claims that various high-profile stars will refuse to take part in the films, there are clear agendas at work. As usual with these agendas, they are based on money and power.

I am not a lawyer, nor am I an expert in unions and how they operate – but I like to think I have a degree of common sense, and that’s what I’m basing my observations on. Let me run over a few facts:

– Personally speaking, I’m not anti-Union in the slightest. I’m a very proud and loyal member of three Hollywood Unions – the Directors Guild, the Producers Guild and the Writers Guild. I support the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). All these organisations (I must confess I’m not entirely sure what the difference is between a “Guild” and a “Union”) do terrific work on behalf of their members.

– Many Actors are members of SAG, but many are not — especially younger actors and many Australian and New Zealand performers. MEAA claims we are “non-Union”, but whenever we hire an actor who belongs to SAG, we always honour their working conditions, their minimum salary agreements and their residuals.

– The SAG residuals is a small pot of money that comes from the movie’s profits. The DGA and WGA have similar schemes. An agreed upon percentage of movie profits is placed in a pot, which is shared amongst the members of the guild who worked on the film in question. Despite MEAA claims that The Hobbit is “non-Union”, our studio, Warner Brothers, is honouring these residuals, and making the profit sharing available to all the various Guild members – just as it did on The Lord of the Rings, and Universal did on King Kong.

– These residuals can be worth tens of thousands of dollars to an individual if the film is successful – however the normal situation is that if an actor is not a member of SAG, they do not share in the profit pot.

– This has always struck us as unfair, since most Kiwi actors are not lucky enough to be SAG members. For the Hobbit, Warner Brothers have agreed to create a separate pot of profit participation, which will be divided up amongst non-SAG actors who are cast in the film. This was not done because of any pressure from Guilds or Unions – it was actually Warners doing the decent thing, and New Zealand and Australian actors will be the principle beneficiaries. SAG members have their pot, and non-SAG members now have theirs. We have introduced the scheme to Kiwi agents and it’s now part of all our Hobbit cast deals.

– Whatever damage MEAA is attempting to do — and it will do damage, since that’s their principal objective in targeting The Hobbit – we will continue to treat our actors and crew with respect, as we always have.

– As I said earlier, money and power lies behind this threatening behaviour from our Australian cousins, and to fully understand that, you simply have to step back and look at the greater picture in context.

– It starts with “NZ Actors Equity”. This is a tiny organisation that represents a small minority of New Zealand Actors. They are not a Union, and have none of the legal status of a Union. They are a … well, a smallish group who have some New Zealand actors as members. How many actors are members of NZ Equity? They guard that information very closely, but various reports I’ve seen put their membership at 200, although somebody in the know swears it’s nearer 100.

– How many professional actors are there in New Zealand? Somewhere between 2000 and 4000, depending on just how you describe a “professional actor”. Obviously most Kiwi actors have other employment too, but there’s certainly over 2000 actors available to cast in a film production.

– So taking the most generous numbers, NZ Actors Equity represents 200 out of 2000 Kiwi actors, or 10%. Perhaps I’m wrong, and if so, NZ Equity will no doubt reveal their real membership numbers.

– Now there’s nothing wrong with NZ Actors Equity representing 10% of the actors in this country. It’s great that they offer that service, and if an actor chooses, there’s a supportive group they can join. Obviously the more actors that join NZ Equity, the better, since these organisations usually survive by taking a small percentage of their members acting fees. I’m guessing that Equity do something like that. Recently they have been part-funded by MEAA.

– Over the last 10 years our relationship with NZ Equity has been rocky — whenever we cast an “overseas actor”, we get a letter telling us why such and such Kiwi actor would be so much better in the role. In most cases we have already auditioned the actor in question, and formed our own opinions — but what strikes me as unfair, is how this “helpful” service of suggesting better choices only includes the “Equity 200″. If you happen to be a good actor who doesn’t belong to NZ Equity (and many don’t), you’re automatically not good enough to be put forward.

– What really does strike me as wrong, and this is my personal opinion, is the why that the MEAA is using NZ Actors Equity as a vehicle to represent the voices and opinions of New Zealand actors. A couple of years ago, the members of NZ Actors Equity voted to join some kind of alliance with the Australian MEAA group. At the time, there were voices of alarm at how this relationship could damage the interest of Kiwi Actors, but the merger went ahead – and now we’re about to find out just how damaging it’s going to be.

– As far as I know, the membership of NZ Actors Equity was allowed into the MEAA, meaning that the Australian MEAA organisation represents 200 out of 2000 Kiwi actors. I don’t believe it represents non-Equity NZ actors. It speaks on behalf of a tiny minority of our actors.

– The management of NZ Equity are clearly happy to be used as a political football by the Australians — but my sympathy goes to the 1800 New Zealand Actors who are not part of the “Equity 200″, but who are going to suffer the fallout if this Hobbit thing goes nuclear.

– I also feel a growing anger at the way this tiny minority is endangering a project that hundreds of people have worked on over the last two years, and the thousands about to be employed for the next 4 years. The hundreds of millions of Warner Brothers dollars that is about to be spent in our economy.

– Why is this endangered? Because the “demands” of MEAA cannot be agreed to, or even considered – by law – and therefore the only options that remain involve closing the Hobbit down, or more likely shifting the production to Europe. It could so easily happen. I’ve been told that Disney are no longer bring movies to Australia because of their frustration with the MEAA.

– The MEAA is demanding that the Hobbit production company (Warners owned, 3foot7 Ltd) enter into negotiations for a Union negotiated agreement covering all performers on the film.

– I personally have a problem with any organisation who represent a small minority, but attempt to take control of everyone – but that’s not the real issue. The complex web of NZ labour laws are the reason why this demand will never be agreed to.

– NZ law prohibits engaging in collective bargaining with any labour organisation representing performers who are independent contractors, as film actors clearly are. The NZ Commerce Act claims it would be unlawful to engage with an Australian Union on these matters.

In closing:

My personal opinion is that this is a grab for power. It does not represent a problem that needs a solution. There will always be differing opinions when it comes down to work and conditions, but I have always attempted to treat my actors and crew with fairness and respect. We have created a very favourable profit sharing pool for the non-Union actors on The Hobbit — and now the Union is targeting us, despite the fact that we have always respected SAG conditions and residuals.

I can’t see beyond the ugly spectre of an Australian bully-boy, using what he perceives as his weak Kiwi cousins to gain a foothold in this country’s film industry. They want greater membership, since they get to increase their bank balance.

The conspiracy theories are numerous, so take your pick: We have done better in recent years, with attracting overseas movies — and the Australians would like a greater slice of the pie, which begins with them using The Hobbit to gain control of our film industry. There is a twisted logic to seeing NZ humiliated on the world stage, by losing the Hobbit to Eastern Europe. Warners would take a financial hit that would cause other studios to steer clear of New Zealand.

– Seriously, if the Hobbit goes east (Eastern Europe in fact) — look forward to a long dry big budget movie drought in this country.

– Others gain from that too. SAG would much rather have it’s members hired on movies — as opposed to non-SAG actors. The easiest way to control that, is to stem what are called “runaway productions”, which are American funded films made outside of America. The Hobbit is one of them, as was King Kong and LOTR. SAG, which is naturally supporting MEAA, would see it’s own benefit in studios having a miserable experience in Australia/New Zealand. That may well be pushing the conspiracy theories one step too far, and it’s perfectly natural that one Union would support another – but the point is that in the complex web of Hollywood intrigue, you never really know who’s doing what to whom and why.

But it sure feels like we are being attacked simply because we are a big fat juicy target – not for any wrong doing. We haven’t even been greenlit yet! It feels as if we have a large Aussie cousin kicking sand in our eyes … or to put it another way, opportunists exploiting our film for their own political gain.

Peter Jackson

(NB: This represents Peter Jackson’s opinion as a Kiwi filmmaker, and not that of Warner Bros or New Line Cinema, who were not consulted about this statement.)

To quote Ricky Ricardo, “Aye Yai Yai Yai Yai!” The movie-going, paying public couldn’t give a rat’s ass about this back-and-forth. They just want to see, or maybe not by this point, the two HOBBIT films. All this talk of equal, fair shares reminds me of this clip from ITS A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD.

Source: Deadline Hollywood

More bad news for THE HOBBIT. Last we heard in June of this year, Peter Jackson was considering directing the two HOBBIT films himself after Guillermo del Toro left the project due to MGM’s financial problems and consequent delays. The Screen Actors Guild has released this news on their website.

The makers of feature film The Hobbit – to be shot in New Zealand next year – have refused to engage performers on union-negotiated agreements.

Members of Canadian Actors Equity, US Actors Equity, the Screen Actors Guild, UK Actors Equity, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (Australia) and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists are advised not to accept work on this non-union production.

If you are contacted to be engaged on The Hobbit please notify your union immediately.

It continued by saying:

For some years performers in New Zealand have struggled on non-union contracts. These contracts provide no minimum guarantees of wages or working conditions, no residual payments and no cancellation payments in the event the performer’s contract is cancelled. In 2006, at the request of New Zealand performers, the Australian union, the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance (Alliance) opened an office in New Zealand.

Since that time the New Zealand branch of the Alliance has sought to negotiate with both individual producers and with the producers’ association but to no avail.

The International Federation of Actors (FIA), of which the vast majority of performer unions around the world are members, resolved that the time had come for performers around the world to support their colleagues in New Zealand and seek a union contract for all performers on The Hobbit.

At a recent meeting FIA decided that the situation had persisted long enough and that it was time for action to be taken.

Consequently, FIA resolved as follows:

“Resolved, that the International Federation of Actors urges each of its affiliates to adopt instructions to their members that no member of any FIA affiliate will agree to act in the theatrical film The Hobbit until such time as the producer has entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance for production in New Zealand providing for satisfactory terms and conditions for all performers employed on the productions.”

All this comes on the heels of Friday mornings press release that Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA AND AMPTP will commence negotiations, under a press blackout, on successor agreements to the AFTRA Exhibit A (Primetime TV) and SAG TV/Theatrical contracts on Monday, September 27, 2010.

 Man, will these two movie ever be made?

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 22, 2010) – The Producers Guild of America (PGA), a national non-profit trade group committed to protecting the rights and credits of producers in film, television and new media, announced today that the legendary Oscar award-winning producer, director, writer James Cameron will be honored with the 2011 Milestone Award. The award will be presented to Cameron at the 22nd Annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony on Saturday, January 22nd at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

The Milestone Award is the Guild’s highest honor that recognizes an individual (or team) who has made historic contributions to the entertainment industry. The Producers Guild has paid tribute to such luminaries as Clint Eastwood, Alfred Hitchcock, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Ron Howard & Brian Grazer, and Walt Disney, among others.

“James Cameron is an exceptionally talented producer—a true innovator with the rare combination of technical ingenuity and creative vision,” said Paula Wagner, Chair of the 2011 Producers Guild Awards. “Jim has continued to change the film landscape with his ability to deliver groundbreaking masterpieces that present audiences and the industry with unrivaled beauty, originality and impact.”

“As one of the most respected and admired storytellers of our time, James Cameron has inspired audiences with his creativity time and time again. We are proud to recognize his many talented contributions to the film and entertainment industry with the Guild’s highest honor,” said PGA Co-Presidents Presidents Hawk Koch and Mark Gordon.

Born in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada, Cameron grew up in the historic village of Chippawa, near Niagara Falls. In 1971, he moved to Brea, California where he studied physics at Fullerton Junior College while working as a machinist and, later, a truck driver. Cameron quit his trucking job in 1978 and raised money from local dentists to produce a 35mm short film. The visual effects in this film led to work on Roger Corman’s BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS (1980). In 1983 Cameron wrote three scripts: RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART 2, ALIENS, and THE TERMINATOR. He directed THE TERMINATOR, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, in 1984.Cameron subsequently directed ALIENS (1986) and then wrote and directed THE ABYSS (1989). Following that he wrote, produced and directed TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991), TRUE LIES (1994), TITANIC (1997) and AVATAR (2009). He also co-wrote and produced POINT BREAK (1991) and STRANGE DAYS (1994), as well as produced SOLARIS (2003).

His films have blazed new trails in visual effects and set numerous performance records both domestically and abroad. AVATAR currently holds both the domestic and worldwide box office records having grossed over $2.7 billion at the global box office, beating the previous record holder, TITANIC, which held that record for 12 years. Cameron’s films have also earned numerous nominations and awards from a variety of organizations, including TITANIC’s 14 Academy Award nominations (a record) and 11 Oscars (the most any movie has received), including Cameron’s 3 Oscars for Best Picture, Best Direction and Best Editing. AVATAR won the Golden Globes for Best Director and Best Picture. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won three.

Cameron has also been an avid scuba diver since 1969. In 1995, Cameron made 12 manned-submersible dives to the Titanic in preparation for his feature film. The technical success of that expedition fueled his desire to bring the experience of deep ocean exploration to audiences around the world. He turned to documentary filmmaking and formed Earthship Productions to develop films about ocean exploration and conservation.

His team’s historic exploration of the inside of Titanic was the subject of Cameron’s 3-D IMAX film, GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS, which utilized the 3-D camera system that he developed with Vince Pace. In May of 2002, Cameron guided his robotic cameras inside the wreck of Bismarck for the Discovery Channel documentary, JAMES CAMERON’S EXPEDITION: BISMARCK.

Cameron’s team then made four expeditions to deep hydrothermal vent sites in the Atlantic, Pacific and Sea of Cortez over a two-year period, which became the subject of ALIENS OF THE DEEP, also released in 3-D IMAX. Most recently, Cameron has ultimately led 7 deep ocean expeditions with over 70 deep submersible dives, including 51 Mir dives to depths up to 16,000’.

As an explorer, Cameron has been equally fascinated by outer as well as inner space. He is currently a co-investigator on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mastcam, which will be the first 3-D motion imaging camera to operate on another planet, when it begins its exploration there in 2011. Cameron served on the NASA Advisory Council for three years. Cameron is also continuing to develop a number of ocean projects, and other environmentally themed documentaries.

About the Producers Guild of America

The Producers Guild of America is the non-profit trade group that represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and new media. The PGA has over 4,500 members who work together to protect and improve their careers, the industry and community by providing members with health benefits, employment opportunities, the creation of fair and impartial standards for the awarding of producing credits, as well as other education and advocacy efforts such as promoting sustainable production practices. Visit www.producersguild.org and www.pgagreen.org for more information.