January 15, 2004
LOS ANGELES, CA - Directors Guild of America President Michael Apted and Awards Committee Chairperson Howard Storm today announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2003. The winner will be announced at the 56th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 7, 2004 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
"It takes a masterful filmmaker to tell a compelling story in under sixty seconds," said DGA President Michael Apted. "These five directors are masters indeed, using their experience, talent and imagination to provide us with some of the most innovative storytelling out there today. I extend my congratulations to them all."
The nominees are (in alphabetical order):
"Wake Up Call," Adidas - 180 Communications
- Unit Production Manager: Deannie O'Neil
- First Assistant Director: Michael Dignum
"Cross Country Spirit," Nike - Wieden & Kennedy
- Unit Production Managers: Deannie O'Neil, Jacqueline Kelman
- First Assistant Director: Patton Howell Caldwell
- Second Assistant Director: Brandon Lambdin
"Part Car, Part Religion," Mitsubishi - Deutsch LA
- Unit Production Manager: Deannie O'Neil
- First Assistant Director: Michael Dignum
- Second Assistant Director: Mike Saffie
This is Mr. Acord's first DGA Award nomination.
"Gamebreakers," nikegridiron.com - Wieden & Kennedy
- First Assistant Director: Bob Wagner
- Second Assistant Director: Maria Mantia
"Speed Chain," Nike - Wieden & Kennedy
- First Assistant Director: Bob Wagner
- Second Assistant Director: Michael A. McCue
"Beauty for Sale," Xelibri Phones - Motner
- First Assistant Director: Bob Wagner
- Second Assistant Director: Michael A. McCue
- Second Second Assistant Director: Maria Mantia
This is Mr. Fincher's first DGA Award nomination.
"Pager," Miller - Wieden & Kennedy
"Alternative Fuel," Miller - Wieden & Kennedy
- First Assistant Director: Jon Knoop
- Second Assistant Director: Lawrence James Salamone
"Bernard," Nike - Wieden & Kennedy
"Kathryn," Nike - Wieden & Kennedy
- First Assistant Director: Julian Wall
- Second Assistant Director: Douglas Plasse
"Meanwhile," Cisco - Ogilvy & Mather
- First Assistant Director: Lennie Appelquist
- Second Assistant Director: Bob Kay
This is Mr. Morris' first DGA Award nomination in the category of Commercials. He was nominated in the category of Documentary in 1999 for his direction of Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred Leuchter, Jr..
"Birthday," Got Milk? - Goodby, Silverstein & Partners
- First Assistant Director: Gary Feil
"Beautiful," Saturn - Goodby, Silverstein & Partners
- First Assistant Director: Gary Feil
- Second Assistant Director: Robert Kay
"Mr. Way Too Much Cologne Wearer," Bud Light - DDB Chicago
This is Mr. Murro's second DGA Award nomination. He was nominated last year for the following four spots: "Pitch," E-Trade; "Pick," E-Trade; "Do it ebay," ebay; "Sheet Metal," Saturn.
"23 vs. 39," Gatorade - Rob Jaeger
- First Assistant Director: Austin McCann
- Second Assistant Director: Monoleto Wilborn
"Prodigy," IBM - Ogilvy & Mather
- First Assistant Director: Austin McCann
- Second Assistant Director: Jody Rosenthal
"Shakespeare," Nextel - TBWA/Chiat Day
- First Assistant Director: Austin McCann
- Second Assistant Director: Jody Rosenthal
- Second Second Assistant Director: Michael G. Maguire
This is Mr. Pytka's 14th DGA Award nomination for commercial directing. He has won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials three times, in 1982, 1986 and 1991.