Angela Bassett, Dee Rees, and Kenny Leon Among 2015 DGA Nominees For TelevisionPosted by Wilson Morales
January 13, 2016
Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay today announced the DGA’s nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary for 2015.
Among the nominees were Angela Bassett for Lifetime’s Whitney, Dee Rees for HBO’s Bessie, and Kenny Leon for NBC’s The Wiz Live.
“With more television and documentary choices than ever available to audiences, the level of directorial excellence across the nominees for these nine categories is unparalleled,” said Barclay. “We’re proud to recognize the critical role of director in these genres and honor the incredible range of talent and skill found in all of these projects. Congratulations to the nominees.”
The winners will be announced at the 68th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The DGA Awards will be hosted by actor Jane Lynch.
The list of nominees follows:
DRAMATIC SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
MICHAEL ENGLER
Downton Abbey, “Episode 8” (PBS)
This is Mr. Engler’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the Comedy Series category in 2007 for the 30 Rock episode “Rosemary’s Baby,” in 2003 for the Sex and the City episode “Hop, Skip & A Week,” and in 2001 for the Sex and the City episode “My Motherboard, Myself.”
LESLI LINKA GLATTER
Homeland, “The Tradition of Hospitality” (Showtime)
Ms. Glatter’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Michael Klick
•First Assistant Director: Sunday Stevens
•Second Assistant Director: Wendy Bledsoe
This is Ms. Glatter’s sixth DGA Award nomination. She previously won in this category in 2014 for Homeland, “From A to B and Back Again” and in 2009 for Mad Men, “Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency.” She was also nominated in 2013 and 2012 for Homeland episodes “The Star” and “Q & A,” as well as in 1990 for Twin Peaks, “Episode 32006.”
DAVID NUTTER
Game of Thrones, “Mother’s Mercy” (HBO)
This is Mr. Nutter’s sixth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2013 for the Game of Thrones episode “The Rains of Castamere” and in 2006 for The Sopranos episode “Join the Club.” He was also nominated in the Comedy Series category for Entourage episodes “The Resurrection” (2007) and “Lose Yourself” (2010); and in the Movies for Television and Mini-Series category for The Pacific “Basilone” in 2010.
STEVEN SODERBERGH
The Knick, “Williams and Walker” (Cinemax)
Mr. Soderbergh’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Managers: Michael Polaire, Gabrielle Mahon
•First Assistant Director: Gregory Jacobs
•Second Assistant Director: Jody Spilkoman
•Second Second Assistant Directors: Travis Rehwaldt, Jason F. Fesel
•Location Manager: Rob Striem
This is Mr. Soderbergh’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series for Behind the Candelabra in 2013. He was previously nominated in the Feature Film category in 2000 for both Erin Brockovich and Traffic. He was also the recipient of the Guild’s 2014 Robert B. Aldrich Service Award for extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership.
MATTHEW WEINER
Mad Men, “Person to Person” (AMC)
Mr. Weiner’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Dara Weintraub
•First Assistant Director: Lisa M. Rowe
•Second Assistant Director: Maria Mantia
•Second Second Assistant Director: M. Ryan Traylor
This is Mr. Weiner’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category for the Mad Men episodes “Meditations in an Emergency” in 2008 and “Shut The Door. Have A Seat” in 2009.
COMEDY SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
CHRIS ADDISON
Veep, “Election Night” (HBO)
Mr. Addison’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Bill Hill
•First Assistant Director: Dale Stern
•Second Assistant Director: Michelle Gritzer
•Second Second Assistant Director: Miles Perman
This is Mr. Addison’s first DGA Award nomination.
LOUIS C.K.
Louie, “Sleepover” (FX)
Mr. C.K.’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: M. Blair Breard
•First Assistant Director: Adam Escott
•Second Assistant Director: Nick Vanderpool
•Second Second Assistant Director: Daniel Lugo
•Location Manager: Jeff Caron
This is Mr. C.K.’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2012 for the Louie episode “New Year’s Eve” and in 2014 for the Louie episode “Elevator: Part 6.” He was also nominated in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials category in 2013 for Louis C.K.: Oh My God.
MIKE JUDGE
Silicon Valley, “Binding Arbitration” (HBO)
Mr. Judge’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Philipp A. Barnett
•First Assistant Director: Brett Dos Santos
•Second Assistant Director: Thomas Boucher
•Second Second Assistant Director: Bryan Snodgrass
This is Mr. Judge’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2014 for the Silicon Valley episode “Minimum Viable Product.”
GAIL MANCUSO
Modern Family, “White Christmas” (ABC)
Ms. Mancuso’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Sally Young
•First Assistant Director: Jim Hensz
•Second Assistant Director: Jason Z. Kemp
•Second Second Assistant Director: Matt Baker
This is Ms. Mancuso’s third DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated in this same category in 2014 for the Modern Family episode “Vegas” and in 2013 for the Modern Family episode “My Hero.”
JILL SOLOWAY
Transparent, “Kina Hora” (Amazon)
Ms. Soloway’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Victor Hsu
•First Assistant Director: Maria Battle Campbell
•Second Assistant Director: Allan Monteiro Fortes
•Second Second Assistant Director: Anna Vogt
This is Ms. Soloway’s second DGA Award nomination. She previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy in 2014 for her Transparent episode “Best New Girl.”
MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND MINI‑SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini‑Series for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
ANGELA BASSETT
Whitney (Lifetime)
Ms. Bassett’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Kyle Clark
•First Assistant Director: Van Hayden
•Second Assistant Director: Elaine Wood
•Second Second Assistant Director: Wayne Witherspoon
This is Ms. Bassett’s first DGA Award nomination.
LAURIE COLLYER
The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe (Lifetime)
Ms. Collyer’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Joseph Boccia
•First Assistant Directors: Myron Hoffert, J. Stephen Buck
•Second Assistant Directors: Gerrod Shully, Brent Clark
This is Ms. Collyer’s second DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated in the Documentary category in 2000 for Nuyorican Dream.
PAUL HAGGIS
Show Me a Hero (HBO)
Mr. Haggis’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Managers: April Taylor, Nina K. Noble
•First Assistant Director: Haze JF Bergerson, III
•Second Assistant Director: Matthew Mason
•Second Second Assistant Director: Scott Foster
•Additional Second Assistant Director: Mary G. Knauf
•Location Manager: Andrew D. Cooke
This is Mr. Haggis’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the Feature Film category in 2005 for Crash.
KENNY LEON (Directed By)
MATTHEW DIAMOND (Live Television Direction By)
The Wiz Live! (NBC)
Directorial Team:
•Associate Directors: Rae Kraus, Robin Mishkin Abrams, Adam Mishler
•Key Stage Managers: Andrew C. Gottlieb, Jeff Markowitz
•Stage Managers: Cyndi Owgang, Jeffrey L. Pearl, Annette Powlis, Elise Reaves, Cody Renard Richard, Sarah Testerman
This is Mr. Leon’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2008 for A Raisin in the Sun.
This is Mr. Diamond’s seventh DGA Award nomination. He won DGA Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety for Great Performances: Dance in America – Swan Lake with American Ballet Theater in 2005; for From Broadway: Fosse in 2002, and for Some Enchanted Evening, Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein in 1995. He was previously nominated in the Musical Variety category in 1998 for Savion Glover – Stomp, Slide & Swing: Performance in the White House; in the Documentary category in 1998 for Dance Maker; and in the Children’s Programs category in 2008 for Camp Rock.
DEE REES
Bessie (HBO)
Ms. Rees’s Directorial Team:
•Unit Production Manager: Ron Schmidt
•First Assistant Director: Michael J. Moore
•Second Assistant Director: Basti Van Der Woude
•Second Second Assistant Director: Joann Connolly
This is Ms. Rees’s first DGA Award nomination.
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
PAUL G. CASEY
Real Time With Bill Maher, “Show #1334” (HBO)
Mr. Casey’s Directorial Team:
•Associate Director: Stacy Talbot
•Stage Managers: Patrick Whitney, Brian Anderson
This is Mr. Casey’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2014 for Real Time With Bill Maher, “Show #1226.”
DAVE DIOMEDI
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, “Episode #325” (NBC)
Mr. Diomedi’s Directorial Team:
•Associate Directors: Mark Jankeloff, Maureen Smith
•Stage Managers: Niclana Tolmasoff, Mike Kilkenny
This is Mr. Diomedi’s third DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming in 2014 for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, “Episode #1.” He was previously nominated in this same category in 2013 for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, “#799.”
DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live, “Host: Tracy Morgan/Musical Guest: Demi Lovato” (NBC)
Mr. King’s Directorial Team:
•Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Bob Caminiti
•Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly
This is Mr. King’s tenth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming in 2013 for Saturday Night Live “Host: Justin Timberlake” and was previously nominated for Saturday Night Live episodes in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. He is also nominated in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials category this year for Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special.
RYAN MCFAUL & AMY SCHUMER
Inside Amy Schumer, “12 Angry Men” (Comedy Central)
Directorial Team:
•Associate Directors: Nicholas R. Bell, Kim Thompson, Luke Sherman
This is Mr. McFaul’s first DGA Award nomination.
This is Ms. Schumer’s first DGA Award nomination.
CHUCK O’NEIL
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, “Episode #20142” (Comedy Central)
Mr. O’Neil’s Directorial Team:
•Associate Director: Paul A.J. Pennolino
•Stage Managers: Craig Spinney, Tom Ucciferri, April Smith
This is Mr. O’Neil’s twelfth DGA Award nomination. He previously was nominated in 2010 for Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear and in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, all for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
SOFIA COPPOLA
A Very Murray Christmas (Netflix)
Ms. Coppola’s Directorial Team:
•Associate Director: Roman Coppola
•Head Stage Manager: Jason Ivey
•Stage Managers: Scott Bowers, Connie Pierce-Winters, Woodrow Travers
This is Ms. Coppola’s second DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated in the Feature Film category in 2003 for Lost in Translation.
HAMISH HAMILTON
The 87th Annual Academy Awards (ABC)
Mr. Hamilton’s Directorial Team:
•Associate Directors: Hayley Collett, Susan Kopensky, Tim Kettle, Lori Margules, Michael Polito
•Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Dave Cove, John Esposito, Valdez Flagg, Chris Hines, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Arthur Lewis, Roxanne Lozano, Ron Paul, Vince Poxon, Tammy Raab, Jason Seligman, Doug Smith, Jackie Stathis, Cheryl Teetzel-Moore, Debbie Williams, Ari Woog
This is Mr. Hamilton’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2014 for The 86th Annual Academy Awards.
DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special (NBC)
Mr. King’s Directorial Team:
•Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Bob Caminiti, Dan Dome
•Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Joey Despenzero, Lynn Finkel, Eddie Valk
This is Mr. King’s tenth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming in 2013 for Saturday Night Live “Host: Justin Timberlake” and was previously nominated for Saturday Night Live episodes in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. He is also nominated in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming category this year for Saturday Night Live, “Host: Tracy Morgan/Musical Guest: Demi Lovato.”
BETH MCCARTHY‑MILLER
Adele Live in New York City (NBC)
Ms. McCarthy-Miller’s Directorial Team:
•Associate Directors: Susan Locke-Shapiro, Michael Poole
•Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk
This is Ms. McCarthy-Miller’s eleventh DGA Award nomination. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series in 2013 for the 30 Rock episode “Hogcock!/Last Lunch.” She was also nominated that year, together with Rob Ashford, in the Movies for Television and Mini-Series category for The Sound of Music Live! She was previously nominated in the Comedy Series category for 30 Rock episodes “Live from Studio 6H” in 2012, “Live Show” in 2010, “The Reunion Episode #304” in 2008 and “Somebody to Love” in 2007. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety twice, in 2001 for America: A Tribute to Heroes (co-directed with Joel Gallen) and in 2000 for the “Val Kilmer and U2” episode of Saturday Night Live. She was also twice nominated in that category for Saturday Night Live episodes “Christopher Walken and The Foo Fighters” in 2003 and the 25th Anniversary episode in 1999.
