Oscars Watch: 75th Annual Directors Guild of America Award Nominees

January 11, 2023 / Leave a Comment

A day removed from Steven Spielberg winning the Golden Globe award for Best Direction – Motion Picture for his work on “The Fabelmans,” his name is atop the nominees for the Directors Guild of America’s top honors as well. Fellow Golden Globe nominees Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) and the Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) (“Everything Everywhere All At Once”) are along for the ride. Missing are Baz Luhrmann (“Elvis”) and James Cameron (“Avatar: The Way of Water”), who see their Oscar odds cut with the omission. Taking their places are Todd Field (“TÁR”) and Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”). Also missing were any female directors in the Narrative Feature category, with the likes of Sarah Polley (“Women Talking”) and Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Woman King”) omitted.

The First-Time Director category made up for that by including women directors has four of the five nominees, three of which were from international releases: Alice Diop (“Saint Omer”), Audrey Diwan (“Happening”), and Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic (“Murina”). The front-runner in the category, however, is Charlotte Wells (“Aftersun”), who has been receiving immense love from the critic groups.

As far as the Oscars go, I see Spielberg, the Daniels, and McDonagh as locks. The last two spots up unquestionably still up for grabs. You can give the spots to any of the pool of nominees like Field, Kosinski, Cameron, or Luhrmann, or you even add in forgotten names like Polley, Rajamouli (“RRR”), or del Toro (“Pinocchio”).

MOTION PICTURE

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in NARRATIVE Feature Film

Todd Field
“TÁR”
Focus Features
—
Mr. Field’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Nigel Wooll
First Assistant Director: Sebastian Fahr‑Brix

Joseph Kosinski
“Top Gun: Maverick”
Paramount Pictures
—
Mr. Kosinski’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: LeeAnn Stonebreaker, Tommy Harper
First Assistant Director: Scott Robertson
Second Assistant Directors: Andrew Stahl, Robert E. Kay
Second Second Assistant Director: Spencer Taylor

Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
“Everything Everywhere All at Once”
A24
—
Daniels’ Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Allison Rose Carter
First Assistant Director: Rodney Smith
Second Assistant Director: John Nasraway
Second Second Assistant Director: Ken C. Wu

Martin McDonagh
“The Banshees of Inisherin”
Searchlight Pictures
—
Mr. McDonagh’s Directorial Team:
First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn

Steven Spielberg
“The Fabelmans”
Universal Pictures
—
Mr. Spielberg’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Carla Raij
First Assistant Director: Josh McLaglen
Second Assistant Director: Heather Wagner‑Wang
Second Second Assistant Director: David Stickler

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time NARRATIVE Feature Film

Alice Diop
“Saint Omer”
SUPER

Audrey Diwan
“Happening”
IFC Films

John Patton Ford
“Emily the Criminal”
Roadside Attractions

Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic
“Murina”
Kino Lorber

Charlotte Wells
“Aftersun”
A24

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in DOCUMENTARY

Sara Dosa
“Fire of Love”
Neon/National Geographic Documentary Films

Matthew Heineman
“Retrograde”
National Geographic Documentary Films

Laura Poitras
“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”
Neon

Daniel Roher
“Navalny”
CNN+/HBO Max

Shaunak Sen
“All That Breathes“
Sideshow / Submarine Deluxe

TELEVISION

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series

Jason Bateman
“Ozark”
Episode: “A Hard Way To Go”
Netflix
—
Mr. Bateman’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Dana Scott, Patrick Markey
First Assistant Director: Townson Wells
Second Assistant Director: Jill Somers
Second Second Assistant Director: Sarah Gorczyk
Additional Second Assistant Director: Evan Marsh

Vince Gilligan
“Better Call Saul”
Episode: “Waterworks”
AMC
—
Mr. Gilligan’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Richard E. “Slab” Chapla Jr.
First Assistant Director: Angie Meyer
Second Assistant Director: Louis A. Lanni
Second Second Assistant Director: Magin Gomez
Additional Second Assistant Director: Nathan E. Davis

Sam Levinson
“Euphoria”
Episode: “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird”
HBO
—
Mr. Levinson’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Will Greenfield
First Assistant Directors: Valerie Johnson, Sally Brunski
Second Assistant Directors: Cindy King, Colin Duffy
Second Second Assistant Director: James Chestnut
Additional Second Assistant Director: Aaron Rose Leone

Aoife McArdle
“Severance”
Episode: “Hide and Seek”
Apple TV+
—
Ms. McArdle’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Kristyn Macready
First Assistant Directors: Ellen Parnett, Kit Bland
Second Assistant Directors: Sahar Shmolevitz, Melinda Ziyadat
Second Second Assistant Directors: Kelsi Russell, Jack A. Birdsall
Additional Second Assistant Directors: Skylar Loraquette, Alexander Hirschl
Location Manager: Ryan Smith

Ben Stiller
“Severance”
Episode: “The We We Are”
Apple TV+
—
Mr. Stiller’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Kristyn Macready
First Assistant Director: Marco Londoner
Second Assistant Director: Matt Lake
Second Second Assistant Directors: Kelsi Russell, Justin Bischoff, Jack A. Birdsall
Location Manager: Ryan Smith

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series

Tim Burton
“Wednesday”
Episode: “Wednesday’s Child is Full of Woe”
Netflix

Bill Hader
“Barry”
Episode: “710N”
HBO
—
Mr. Hader’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Aida Rodgers
First Assistant Director: Gavin Kleintop
Second Assistant Director: Erin Stern Linares
Second Second Assistant Directors: Yarden Levo, Chalis Romero

Amy Sherman-Palladino
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Episode: “How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?”
Prime Video
—
Ms. Sherman‑Palladino’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Dhana Rivera Gilbert, Meghan K. Wicker
First Assistant Director: Julie A. Bloom
Second Assistant Director: Lisa McPherson
Second Second Assistant Directors: Lincoln Major, Peter Nix
Additional Second Assistant Directors: Cameron Boone, Conor Griff
Assistant Unit Production Managers: Nick Thomason, Luca Waldman
Location Managers: Amanda Burbank, Jose Guerrero

Christopher Storer
“The Bear”
Episode: “Review”
FX
—
Mr. Storer’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Carrie Holt de Lama
First Assistant Director: Duccio Fabbri
Second Assistant Director: Dan Gutierrez
Second Second Assistant Director: Nicole McGovern
Location Manager: Maria C. Roxas

Mike White
“The White Lotus”
Episode: “Arrivederci”
HBO
—
Mr. White’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Mark Kamine
First Assistant Director: Justin Ritson
Second Assistant Director: Joe Landry
Second Second Assistant Director: Bobby Teten

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series

Eric Appel
“Weird: The Al Yankovic Story“
Roku Channel
—
Mr. Appel’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Jason C. Brown
First Assistant Director: Emily Neumann
Second Assistant Director: Julie Cummings
Second Second Assistant Director: Oscar Flores

Deborah Chow
“Obi‑Wan Kenobi”
Disney+
—
Ms. Chow’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Thomas Hayslip, Susan McNamara
First Assistant Director: Katterli Frauenfelder
Second Assistant Director: Jeff Hubbard
Second Second Assistant Directors: Isaac Mejia, Franny Stafford
Additional Second Assistant Director: Alaina Neumann

Jeremy Podeswa
“Station Eleven”
Episode: “Unbroken Circle”
HBO Max
—
Mr. Podeswa’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: David Nicksay
First Assistant Directors: Andrew Shea, Derek Peterson, Jennifer Wilkinson

Helen Shaver
“Station Eleven”
Episode: “Who’s There?”
HBO Max
—
Ms. Shaver’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: David Nicksay
First Assistant Director: Jennifer Wilkinson
Second Assistant Director: Anna Vogt

Tom Verica
“Inventing Anna”
Episode: “The Devil Wore Anna”
Netflix
—
Mr. Verica’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Brette Billow, Mary Kane (LA Unit)
First Assistant Directors: Dylan Hopkins, Marisia Moreno, Carol Vitkay (LA Unit)
Second Assistant Directors: Adam Bernard, Maggie Callis, Cara McCastlain Fisher (LA Unit)
Second Second Assistant Directors: Pam Giangreco, Ellen Parnett, Heidi Hinzman (LA Unit)
Location Manager: Kristin Dromboski

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming

Paul G. Casey
“Real Time with Bill Maher”
Episode: “Episode #2010”
HBO
—
Mr. Casey’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Stacy Talbot
Stage Managers: Brian Anderson, Patrick Whitney

Jim Hoskinson
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
Episode: “Episode #1333”
CBS
—
Mr. Hoskinson’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Yvonne De Mare, Karen Yaeger
Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib, Craig Spinney

David Paul Meyer
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”
Episode: “Brandi Carlile Discusses Her New Deluxe Album and Performs ‘You and Me on the Rock’”
Comedy Central
—
Mr. Meyer’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Adrienne Ford
Stage Managers: Bennymar Almonte, Nick Bailey

Liz Patrick
“Saturday Night Live”
Episode: “Host and Musical Guest Jack Harlow”
NBC
—
Ms. Patrick’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel‑Mack
Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk

Paul Pennolino
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
Episode: “Afghanistan”
HBO
—
Mr. Pennolino’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Elliot Mendelson
Stage Managers: Jeff Leib, Mark McKenna, Craig Spinney

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials

Ian Berger
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Globe ‑ Hungary for Democracy”
Comedy Central

Hamish Hamilton
“Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show 2022“
NBC
—
Mr. Hamilton’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Hayley Collett, Sara Niimi
Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Jeffry Gitter, Karen Tasch Weiss, Donna Parker, Tammy Raab, Zachary Figures, Jackie Stathis, Johnny Pruitt, Jennifer Marquet

James Merryman
“Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter”
ABC
—
Mr. Merryman’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Lizz Zanin, Leslie Vincent
Stage Managers: Ron Paul, Jackie Paul, Jackie Stathis, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Jason Drew

Marcus Raboy
“Mark Twain Prize 2022: Celebrating Jon Stewart”
PBS
—
Mr. Raboy’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Robin Mishkin Abrams, Kelly Hernacki
Stage Managers: Rhoda Gilmore, Doug Fogel, Annette Powlis

Glenn Weiss
“The 75th Annual Tony Awards”
CBS
—
Mr. Weiss’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Robin Abrams, Susan Kopensky, Ricky Kirshner
Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Bennymar Almonte, Phyllis Digilio, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Tyler Goldman, Arthur Lewis, Kevin Lishawa, Julie LoRusso, Seth Mellman, Jason Pacella, Jeffrey Pearl, Annette Powlis, Lauren Class Schneider, Eddie Valk

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs

Joseph H. Guidry
“The Big Brunch”
Episode: “Carb Loading Brunch”
HBO Max
—
Mr. Guidry’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Sean P. Galvin
Stage Managers: Rachel Shimko, J.C. Babas, Winston Churchill, Patty Sosa

Carrie Havel
“The Go-Big Show”
Episode: “Only One Can Win”
TBS
—
Ms. Havel’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Dara DiGerolamo
Stage Managers: Rafael Orozco, Linda Carizzo, Patricia Sosa, Greg Rosa, Ike Fuchs, Theresa Moio

Rich Kim
“Lego Masters“
Episode: “Jurass-brick World”
FOX
—
Mr. Kim’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Ryan Bunnell
Stage Managers: Will Baker, Kevin Fletcher

Michael Shea
“FBoy Island”
Episode: “Do You Like Cats?”
HBO Max
—
Mr. Shea’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Tori Himes
Stage Managers: J.C. Babas, Sarah Pietras

Ben Simms
“Running Wild with Bear Grylls”
Episode: “Florence Pugh in the Volcanic Rainforests of Costa Rica”
National Geographic Channel
—
Mr. Simms’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Sara Brown

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs

Tim Federle
“Better Nate Than Ever“
Disney+
—
Mr. Federle’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Guy Efrat, Pamela Thur
First Assistant Director: Danielle Rigby
Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson
Second Second Assistant Director: Billy Brennan
Additional Second Assistant Directors: Annie Tompkins, Jes Norris
Location Manager: Michael Buonanno

Bonnie Hunt
“Amber Brown”
Episode: “I, Amber Brown”
Apple TV+
—
Ms. Hunt’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Jeff T. Miller
First Assistant Director: Troy Rohovit
Second Assistant Director: Cody Harbaugh
Second Second Assistant Director: Rachel Moceri

Dean Israelite
“Are You Afraid of the Dark?”
Episode: “The Tale of Room 13”
Nickelodeon
—
Mr. Israelite’s Directorial Team:
First Assistant Director: Sinan Saber
Second Assistant Director: Ashley Bell

Michael Lembeck
“Snow Day The Musical”
Paramount+
—
Mr. Lembeck’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Julie Kovisars

Anne Renton
“Best Foot Forward”
Episode: “Halloween”
Apple TV+
—
Ms. Renton’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Lance W. Lanfear
First Assistant Director: Nandi Bowe
Second Assistant Director: Susie Balaban
Second Second Assistant Director: Tim Neven

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in COMMERCIALS

Juan Cabral
For All Life’s Moments, John Lewis
First Assistant Director: Ben Glickman
Share the Joy, Apple AirPods
MJZ

Kim Gehrig
Accessibility, Apple
First Assistant Director: Michael Estrella
Second Assistant Director: Brian Steffen
Second Second Assistant Director: Shauna Frontera
Run Baby Run, iPhone
First Assistant Director: Matias Nilsson
Second Assistant Director: Carl Jackson
Second Second Assistant Director: Michael Paulson
Somesuch, Inc.

Craig Gillespie
Hard Knocks, Apple Watch Series 7
First Assistant Director: Christian Van Fleet
Problem, Jimmy John’s
First Assistant Director: Christian Van Fleet
Second Assistant Director: Greg Moutran
Second Second Assistant Director: Christopher Maltauro
Thrill Driver, Nissan
First Assistant Director: Francois Caillaud
Second Assistant Director: Rob Topp
Second Second Assistant Director: Michael Dudley
MJZ

David Shane
Detectives, iPhone 13 Pro
First Assistant Director: Greg McCollum
Second Assistant Director: Heidi Vanderjagt
Smile, ITVX
Traffic Stop, Native
O Positive, LLC