Art Directors Guild Sheds Little Light on Oscars, with Three Film Categories; Nominate 'Anonymous,' Omit 'War Horse,' 'Tree of Life'

The Art Directors Guild (ADG) nominations in three categories for films (period, contemporary, fantasy) help to reveal the direction the technical branches of the Academy are heading. Of course there are so many categories that more films will be recognized by the ADG at the Beverly Hilton on February 4 than the Oscars ever could.

Oscar voters tend to favor period over contemporary, and big-budget fantasy over low-budget reality. I am delighted to see "Anonymous" recognized, as this film was savaged by critics and should not be overlooked for its visual accomplishments. Surprisingly left off the list is Steven Spielberg's World War I drama "War Horse" and Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life," along with "Moneyball" and "Midnight in Paris." Should this be read for signs of weakness in the Academy? The five likeliest Oscar nominees on this list are "The Artist," "Hugo," the "Harry Potter" finale, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and another Spielberg film, "The Adventures of Tintin."

Will the Academy art directors really go for the modest accomplishments of "The Help," "The Descendants" or "Bridesmaids"? Their inclusion is a sign, however, of their popularity.

The ADG will also give a Lifetime Achievement Award to production designer Tony Walton, induct three production designers into its Hall of Fame--Robert Boyle, William Darling and Alfred Junge--and present their Cinematic Imagery Award to the team behind the "Harry Potter" films, including producers David Heyman and David Barron; director David Yates; author J.K. Rowling; screenwriter Steve Kloves; production designer Stuart Craig; art director Neil Lamont; and set decorator Stephenie McMillan. And Filmmaker Cindy Peters' will screen a 75th Anniversary film in eight chapters that celebrates achievements in design.

Deadline for final online voting is February 2.

NOMINEES FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A FEATURE FILM IN 2011:

Period Film

THE ARTIST                        Production Designer:  Laurence Bennett    
    
HUGO                        Production Designer:  Dante Ferretti

THE HELP                        Production Designer:  Mark Ricker

ANONYMOUS                    Production Designer:  Sebastian Krawinkel
    
TINKER TAYLOR SOLDIER SPY        Production Designer:  Maria Djurkovic
    
Fantasy Film

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY
HALLOWS PART 2                    Production Designer:  Stuart Craig
    
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE
FIRST AVENGER                    Production Designer:  Rick Heinrichs
    
THE ADVENTURES OF TIN TIN:
THE SECRET UNICORN                Production Designer:  TBD
    

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN:
ON STRANGER TIDES                Production Designer:  John Myhre
    
COWBOYS & ALIENS                Production Designer:  Scott Chambliss
    

Contemporary Film

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO    Production Designer:  Donald Graham Burt

THE DESCENDANTS                Production Designer:  Jane Anne Stewart

EXTREMELY LOUD &                
INCREDIBLY CLOSE                 Production Designer:  K.K. Barrett

DRIVE                        Production Designer:  Beth Mickle

BRIDESMAIDS                    Production Designer:  Jefferson Sage


NOMINEES FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN IN TELEVISION FOR 2010:

One-Hour Single Camera Television Series

 BOARDWALK EMPIRE
Episode:     21                Production Designer:  Bill Groom

GAME OF THRONES
Episode:  A Golden Crown            Production Designer:  Gemma Jackson

AMERICAN HORROR STORY
Episode:  Murder House            Production Designer:  Mark Worthington    

THE PLAYBOY CLUB
Episode: The Scarlet Bunny        Production Designer:  Scott P. Murphy

PAN AM
Episode:  Pilot                Production Designer:   Bob Shaw


Television Movie or Mini-Series

MILDRED PIERCE                    Production Designer:  Mark Friedberg

CINEMA VERITE                     Production Designer:   Patti Podesta    

TOO BIG TO FAIL                     Production Designer:  Bob Shaw

THE HOUR                        Production Designer:  Eve Stewart

BLING RING                        Production Designer:  Robb Wilson King

Episode of a Half Hour Single-Camera Television Series

MODERN FAMILY
Episode:  Express Christmas        Production Designer:  Richard Berg

30 ROCK
Episode:  Double-Edged Sword        Production Designer:  Keith Ian Raywood
                                        Teresa Mastropierro    
WEEDS
Episode:  Game-Played            Production Designer:  Joseph P. Lucky

CALIFORNICATION
Episode:  Monkey Business        Production Designer:  Michael Wylie

NEW GIRL
Episode:  Pilot                Production Designer:  Jefferson D. Sage


Episode of a Multi-Camera, Variety, or Unscripted Series

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
Episode:  Host Justin Timberlake,        Production Designer:  Keith Ian Raywood, Eugene                
      And Musical Guest – Lady Gaga               Lee, Leo Yoshimura,
   N. Joseph De Tullio
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
Episode:  Ducky Tie                Production Designer:  Stephan Olson

2 BROKE GIRLS
Episode:  And The Rich Peoples        Production Designer:  Glenda Rovello
                Problems

AMERICAN IDOL
Episode:   Top 12 Boys Perform        Production Designer:   James Yarnell

DANCING WITH THE STARS
Episode:  Round One            Production Designer:  James Yarnell


Awards, Music, or Game Shows

83rd ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS        Production Designer:  Steve Bass

68th ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBES        Production Designer:  Brian Stonestreet

2011 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS        Production Designer:  Florian Wieder

63rd ANNUAL EMMY AWARDS            Production Designer:  Steve Bass

IT’S WORTH WHAT?  
      Best Buds                    Production Designer:  John Ivo Gilles

NOMINEES FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR
COMMERCIALS AND MUSIC VIDEOS FOR 2011:
   
ACTIVISION: CALL OF DUTY
Episode: Modern Warfare 3        Production Designer: Neil Spisak

VICTORIA’S SECRET
    Episode:  Red                Production Designer:  Jeffrey Beecroft

AUDI A8
Episode:  The Art of Progress        Production Designer:  Marcos Lutyens

CHEVY VOLT
Episode:  Discovery                Production Designer:  Jeremy Reed

JIM BEAM
Episode:     Parallels            Production Designer:  Christopher Glassawards