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DGA Congratulates It's Emmy Nominees
From left: Emmy-nominated DGA directors Matthew Diamond, Will Mackenzie, Louis J. Horvitz, Rob Marshall, Thomas Schlamme, DGA President Jack Shea, ATAS Chair and CEO Meryl Marshall Daniels, Charles S. Dutton, Keith Truesdell, Michael Lembeck, Martin A. Pasetta, Jr.
and Jonathan Kaplan. (Photo: Robert Hale)
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On September 7 the Directors Guild honored its members nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards at a special reception held in the National Boardroom at DGA headquarters in Los Angeles.
"The wonderful thing about tonight's event is that every nominee is a winner," DGA President Jack Shea said as he opened the reception. "Those of us who have worked in television know that the daily struggles that we all go through trying to get a program or film finished make it worthwhile when we can get something like this wonderful nomination. We're pleased to honor all of you tonight.
"I want to express to each of the nominees and to all of the DGA television directors that the DGA is really proud of the work you are doing," he added.
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS) Chair and CEO Meryl Marshall Daniels presented nomination certificates with Shea to the nominees in attendance.
"We are so pleased to honor your work tonight," Marshall Daniels said. "As many of you know, directors often define the future of the TV medium. You certainly change the look, pace and drama and comedy of what we see."
The first category to be presented was for Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program. Louis J. Horvitz accepted his certificate for helming the
72nd Academy Awards Show. Horvitz, who is also directing the coverage of this year's Emmys received laughs when he said, "I have your seat cards up today. I was checking all the shots out. I gave directors preferential treatment with cards right up front.
"I'm very proud to be part of the DGA and to rush from rehearsal over to be part of this event," he added. "What a great group of men and women this year, as in every year, and I just feel fortunate to be part of it."
Director Michael Lembeck then warned Horvitz he was going long by announcing "Forty seconds." Horvitz good-naturedly replied, "Michael Lembeck's seat has just moved back behind the teleprompter."
The next nominee, Keith Truesdell for
Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker, accepted his certificate by thanking everyone and then asked Horvitz if he looked like his picture on the card.
Matthew Diamond, nominated for
The Gershwins' Crazy for You, said, "All I ever wanted to do was be a director, so just standing up in front of you is great."
Nominees Jerry Foley,
The Late Show With David Letterman; Beth McCarthy Miller, Saturday Night Live 25th Anniversary Special and Ellen Brown,
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, were unable to attend.
The next nominees were for the category Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. Will Mackenzie, nominated for
Everybody Loves Raymond's "The Christmas Picture," paid special tribute to his AD Randy Suhr.
Nominated for Friends' "The One That Could've Been, Parts 1 & 2," director Michael Lembeck accepted the certificate then asked director John Rich to join him in the photo. Rich joked saying, "This is the closest I've been to an Emmy since 1973."
For the Sports Night episode "Quo Vadimus," nominee
Thomas Schlamme accepted saying, "It's actually a real honor to be nominated for this award, especially for the last episode of this show because somebody just told me the show was canceled. I'm really flattered to be the company of directors that I'm in with."
Nominees Todd Holland (pilot episode of
Malcolm in the Middle) and James Burrows ("Homo for the Holidays" episode of
Will & Grace) were unable to attend. Bill D'Elia, nominated for "Ally McBeal: The Musical" episode of
Ally McBeal, arrived at the reception later in the evening and received his certificate.
In the category Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Special, Rob Marshall, nominated for Annie, said, "This is new to me because I'm a new member of the DGA. I'm so honored to be among these amazing people that I've known and respected for many years."
Charles S. Dutton, nominated for his direction of
The Corner, accepted the certificate saying, "This is really special because I'm still resisting being a director. You guys know how this industry is. You do something and it gets a little attention that they easily forget what it is you really do. So my acting career is slowly going down the tubes fast. I'm a virgin. I've only directed two projects and I'm still in awe of the process. The skilled directors who know the technical side of this stuff I marvel at and envy. I really appreciate the opportunity from HBO and I really truly appreciate this honor."
Fail Safe's Martin A. Pasetta, Jr., whose credit is "Live Broadcast Direction," accepted his certificate saying, "I had dinner with Stephen (Frears, whose 'Directed By' credit also earned him a nomination for
Fail Safe and was unable to attend the reception) two nights ago in London. We are both very proud to be included in this. Thank you very much."
DGA First President
Martha
Coolidge, nominated for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge was unable to attend the reception.
For Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series,
ER's "All in the Family" directing nominee Jonathan Kaplan accepted his certificate and drew laughs saying, "I want to say this now because I may not get a chance to say it later. I want to thank the Academy."
Thomas Schlamme
made a second trip for a nomination certificate for his direction of the pilot episode of
The West Wing. "It's a real honor to be up for comedy and drama, but I defy any of you to grow up in Houston, Texas, as a Jew named Tommy Schlamme and not understand the fine balance in that.
"I actually do this because I love great writing and great actors," he continued. "I was given this unbelievable gift basket of an amazing cast and amazing script and I thought, 'All I can do is screw this up.' I sort of long for the old days when you got a really bad script and bad actors and you could be a hero."
Fellow Dramatic nominees John Patterson
(The Sopranos' "Funhouse") and John Wells
(ER's "Such Sweet Sorrow") were unable to attend. Allen Coulter, nominated for
The Sopranos' "The Knight in White Satin Armor," arrived later in the evening and received his certificate.
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