Thirteen years after Academy Award®-winner James Cameron introduced viewers to a world unlike any they had ever seen with his breathtaking film Avatar, Disney+ Hotstar is now streaming the eagerly awaited sequel Avatar: The Way of Water. This groundbreaking cinematic odyssey unveils a new underwater adventure that promises to mesmerise viewers again.
Returning to reprise their iconic roles, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña portray Jake Sully and Neytiri, devoted parents doing everything possible to protect their family. Joining them are Academy Award® winner Kate Winslet and other esteemed actors Sigourney Weaver, Cliff Curtis and Stephen Lang.
Many were surprised to learn about Stephen Lang’s return to the sequel after the death of his character Colonel Miles Quaritch, in Avatar, who played the human antagonist. However, this time with the Resources Development Administration (Rda) returning to the moon with reinforcement, Lang returns as a recombinant, or recom, of his character.
Returning to reprise their iconic roles, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña portray Jake Sully and Neytiri, devoted parents doing everything possible to protect their family. Joining them are Academy Award® winner Kate Winslet and other esteemed actors Sigourney Weaver, Cliff Curtis and Stephen Lang.
Many were surprised to learn about Stephen Lang’s return to the sequel after the death of his character Colonel Miles Quaritch, in Avatar, who played the human antagonist. However, this time with the Resources Development Administration (Rda) returning to the moon with reinforcement, Lang returns as a recombinant, or recom, of his character.
- 6/19/2023
- by Editorial Desk
- GlamSham
Production designer Christian M. Goldbeck gave a shout-out to All Quiet on the Western Front‘s director Edward Berger and his team of APDs following the film’s Oscar win for Best Production Design.
“I am completely blown away,” Goldbeck said. “To our beautiful director Edward Berger, I could not have not have done this without you.” He continued, “This whole thing was a real team effort. My heart goes to all the other APDs, who worked on this project,” reiterating “I could not have done this without you.”
Set decorator Ernestine Hipper first thanked her parents, her sisters and “dear friends,” She continued: “When I started this, I was told Ernestine, don’t ever forget, you’re only as good as your team. So this is to all the hard-working people in Prague, and all the teams that helped me to get on this stage, the Academy, thank you so much.
“I am completely blown away,” Goldbeck said. “To our beautiful director Edward Berger, I could not have not have done this without you.” He continued, “This whole thing was a real team effort. My heart goes to all the other APDs, who worked on this project,” reiterating “I could not have done this without you.”
Set decorator Ernestine Hipper first thanked her parents, her sisters and “dear friends,” She continued: “When I started this, I was told Ernestine, don’t ever forget, you’re only as good as your team. So this is to all the hard-working people in Prague, and all the teams that helped me to get on this stage, the Academy, thank you so much.
- 3/13/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” capped off its run with the guilds by taking home a trophy at the Casting Society of America’s Artios Awards on Thursday. It had previously prevailed with eight of the other nine guilds at which it contended. It lost out only with the sound editors.
Two of its Academy Awards rivals for the top award — “Elvis” and “Top Gun: Maverick” — did win over the sound editors. Those victories are among their overall hauls of four apiece. “Elvis” also prevailed with the cinematographers, costume designers, and makeup artists/hairstylists while “Top Gun: Maverick” scored with the actors, film editors and sound mixers.
Below, a breakdown by picture of guild nominations and winners.
Ace = American Cinema Editors
Adg = Art Directors Guild
ASC = American Society of Cinematographers
Cas = Cinema Audio Society
CDG = Costume Designers Guild
CSA = Casting Society of America
DGA – Directors Guild of America
Mpse – Motion...
Two of its Academy Awards rivals for the top award — “Elvis” and “Top Gun: Maverick” — did win over the sound editors. Those victories are among their overall hauls of four apiece. “Elvis” also prevailed with the cinematographers, costume designers, and makeup artists/hairstylists while “Top Gun: Maverick” scored with the actors, film editors and sound mixers.
Below, a breakdown by picture of guild nominations and winners.
Ace = American Cinema Editors
Adg = Art Directors Guild
ASC = American Society of Cinematographers
Cas = Cinema Audio Society
CDG = Costume Designers Guild
CSA = Casting Society of America
DGA – Directors Guild of America
Mpse – Motion...
- 3/12/2023
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The films competing for the 2023 Best Production Design Oscar are “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Babylon,” “Elvis,” and “The Fabelmans.” Our odds currently indicate that “Babylon” (10/3) will be the winner, followed in order of likelihood by “Elvis” (19/5), “Avatar: The Way of Water” (4/1), “All Quiet on the Western Front” (9/2), and “The Fabelmans” (9/2).
There being 12 individual craftspeople in this lineup makes it the category’s largest since 2010. The last time there were more than this was 1988, when “The Last Emperor” designers Bruno Cesari, Osvaldo Desideri, and Ferdinando Scarfiotti defeated 11 challengers. The current group consists of four past winners and eight newcomers, with those who make up the latter bunch being Karen Murphy (“Elvis”), “All Quiet on the Western Front” duo Ernestine Hipper and Christian M. Goldbeck, “Babylon” pair Anthony Carlino and Florencia Martin, and “Avatar: The Way of Water” trio Dylan Cole, Vanessa Cole, and Ben Procter.
There being 12 individual craftspeople in this lineup makes it the category’s largest since 2010. The last time there were more than this was 1988, when “The Last Emperor” designers Bruno Cesari, Osvaldo Desideri, and Ferdinando Scarfiotti defeated 11 challengers. The current group consists of four past winners and eight newcomers, with those who make up the latter bunch being Karen Murphy (“Elvis”), “All Quiet on the Western Front” duo Ernestine Hipper and Christian M. Goldbeck, “Babylon” pair Anthony Carlino and Florencia Martin, and “Avatar: The Way of Water” trio Dylan Cole, Vanessa Cole, and Ben Procter.
- 3/12/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Production designers from the Oscar-nominated films “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Babylon,” “The Fabelmans” and “Elvis” are joining the Art Directors Guild (Adg) and Set Decorators Society of America (Sdsa) for an in-person panel on Saturday at 3 p.m. Pt, which will also be available to stream.
Sponsored by Variety, the upcoming panel will bring together the Oscar-nominated production designers and set decorators to discuss their craft and the production process ahead of Sunday night’s ceremony.
The panel will feature Christian M. Goldbeck and Ernestine Hippe from “All Quiet on the Western Front”; Dylan Cole, Ben Procter and Vanessa Cole from “Avatar: The Way of Water”; Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino from “Babylon”; Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy and Bev Dunn from “Elvis”; and Rick Carter and Karem O’Hara from “The Fabelmans.” Former Adg president Thomas A. Walsh and Sdsa member Jan Pascale...
Sponsored by Variety, the upcoming panel will bring together the Oscar-nominated production designers and set decorators to discuss their craft and the production process ahead of Sunday night’s ceremony.
The panel will feature Christian M. Goldbeck and Ernestine Hippe from “All Quiet on the Western Front”; Dylan Cole, Ben Procter and Vanessa Cole from “Avatar: The Way of Water”; Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino from “Babylon”; Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy and Bev Dunn from “Elvis”; and Rick Carter and Karem O’Hara from “The Fabelmans.” Former Adg president Thomas A. Walsh and Sdsa member Jan Pascale...
- 3/11/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
The 95th Academy Awards are going to be a nailbiter above and below the line. Nominated for Best Production Design are “Babylon,” “Elvis,” “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” and “The Fabelmans.” The Critics Choice, Art Directors Guild and BAFTA Awards have all picked “Babylon,” thereby positioning it as the frontrunner to win the Oscar.
However, the divisive Old Hollywood epic’s liabilities, as well as the strengths of its competitors, leave other possibilities open to consideration. For one, we could see the third instance of a corresponding Best Production Design/Best Cinematography win this decade, which excludes “Babylon” and permits only an “Elvis” or “All Quiet on the Western Front” victory. Even though the data doesn’t favor the remaining two nominees, “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “The Fabelmans,” their quality alone makes a compelling case. Here are my arguments for, and against,...
However, the divisive Old Hollywood epic’s liabilities, as well as the strengths of its competitors, leave other possibilities open to consideration. For one, we could see the third instance of a corresponding Best Production Design/Best Cinematography win this decade, which excludes “Babylon” and permits only an “Elvis” or “All Quiet on the Western Front” victory. Even though the data doesn’t favor the remaining two nominees, “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “The Fabelmans,” their quality alone makes a compelling case. Here are my arguments for, and against,...
- 3/9/2023
- by Ronald Meyer
- Gold Derby
"Avatar: The Way of Water" was the highest grossing film of 2022, and a big chunk of that cash came from the sequel's long box office legs heading into 2023, where the film remains on around 2,300 screens. Even though it seems like almost everyone caught James Cameron's sci-fi adventure on the big screen, there are plenty of people who have been waiting to watch the movie on their home theater system. In fact, there are probably a bunch of people who saw the movie in theaters and just don't feel like heading back to the multiplex to see it again. So when can you watch "Avatar: The Way of Water" at home? We've got all the details you need to know.
Avatar: The Way Of Water Will Hit Digital Retailers Before Streaming
If you're waiting for one of the streaming services to get "Avatar: The Way of Water," you'll be waiting a little bit longer.
Avatar: The Way Of Water Will Hit Digital Retailers Before Streaming
If you're waiting for one of the streaming services to get "Avatar: The Way of Water," you'll be waiting a little bit longer.
- 3/7/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” broke box office records when it was released this past Christmas, and after months at the theater, the sequel is finally hitting home video. The movie will be available from all major digital retailers beginning on March 28.
Unlike other blockbusters, the movie will premiere on digital retailers before streaming or physical media (my kingdom for a 4K Blu-ray). But don’t worry, this digital edition will be worth it, with more than three hours of bonus features included in the package that chart the evolution and production of the groundbreaking blockbuster. That’s right – you can spend even more time on Pandora, this time charting the intricacies of the planet’s habitats along with the blood, sweat and tears that went into its actualization.
“Avatar: The World of Water” charts the Sully family, which has been expanded considerably since the events of the 2009 original.
Unlike other blockbusters, the movie will premiere on digital retailers before streaming or physical media (my kingdom for a 4K Blu-ray). But don’t worry, this digital edition will be worth it, with more than three hours of bonus features included in the package that chart the evolution and production of the groundbreaking blockbuster. That’s right – you can spend even more time on Pandora, this time charting the intricacies of the planet’s habitats along with the blood, sweat and tears that went into its actualization.
“Avatar: The World of Water” charts the Sully family, which has been expanded considerably since the events of the 2009 original.
- 3/7/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Whether it was creating the Metkayina village or a sinking sea vessel on the Pandora moon, production designers Dylan Cole and Ben Procter say their approach to their work on James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water was, philosophically, not unlike that of any live-action movie. “We design sets,” Cole says, adding that the use of performance capture affected the execution of ideas, not the design work itself. “We have to build proxy sets for performance capture as well as full digital sets.”
New parts of Pandora are introduced in the sequel, including the reef-based Metkayina village. Cole says he referenced Indigenous cultures in the South Pacific for the design, but “the main thing was figuring out how this is engineered. And how are you reinforcing story? Something very important to the Na’vi is connectivity, and so it was very important to Jim and to us that this village is connected.
New parts of Pandora are introduced in the sequel, including the reef-based Metkayina village. Cole says he referenced Indigenous cultures in the South Pacific for the design, but “the main thing was figuring out how this is engineered. And how are you reinforcing story? Something very important to the Na’vi is connectivity, and so it was very important to Jim and to us that this village is connected.
- 2/24/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Avatar” took the world by storm in 2009, reaping an unprecedented box office haul and scoring three Oscar wins. But despite its strong performance with audiences and awards bodies, the SAG Awards snubbed it completely. Fourteen years later, the sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water” is not only lighting up the box office again, but it scored a SAG nomination for Best Film Stunt Ensemble when the original could not. Will SAG voters go a step further by rewarding the biggest film of the year with a win?
At this year’s ceremony, “The Way of Water” stunt team is nominated alongside the performers from “The Batman,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” and “The Woman King.” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “The Woman King” are the only films from this list to score additional SAG nominations, with acting bids for Angela Bassett and Viola Davis, respectively.
See Visual Effects...
At this year’s ceremony, “The Way of Water” stunt team is nominated alongside the performers from “The Batman,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” and “The Woman King.” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “The Woman King” are the only films from this list to score additional SAG nominations, with acting bids for Angela Bassett and Viola Davis, respectively.
See Visual Effects...
- 2/23/2023
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
We will update all our Oscar predictions throughout the season, so keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2023 Oscar race. The nomination round of voting will take place from January 12 to January 17, 2023, with the official Oscar nominations announced on January 24, 2023. The final voting is between March 2 and 7, 2023. Finally, the 95th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 12 and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. Et/ 5:00 p.m. Pt.
See our initial thoughts for what to expect at the 95th Academy Awards here.
The State of the Race
“Babylon” got a big Oscars boost by taking both the period production design prize at the Adg Awards and the production design BAFTA award in London on February 19. The 27th annual Adg Awards (held February 18 at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown Hotel) also honored Best Picture Oscar favorite “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery...
See our initial thoughts for what to expect at the 95th Academy Awards here.
The State of the Race
“Babylon” got a big Oscars boost by taking both the period production design prize at the Adg Awards and the production design BAFTA award in London on February 19. The 27th annual Adg Awards (held February 18 at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown Hotel) also honored Best Picture Oscar favorite “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery...
- 2/21/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
“Babylon” got a big boost in its Oscar bid for Best Production Design with a win on February 18 at the Art Directors Guild Awards. Over the first 26 years of these prizes, the eventual Oscar winner has always numbered among the Adg nominees in the various genre categories. “Babylon” prevailed in the period picture race over three of its Oscar rivals – “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Elvis” and “The Fabelmans” — plus “White Noise.”
The fifth Oscar nominee, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” lost the fantasy film prize to “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” The other nominees were “The Batman,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Nope.”
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” won the contemporary category over “Bardo,” “Bullet Train,” “Tar” and “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Period Film
All Quiet on the Western Front
Production Designer: Christian M. Goldbeck
X – Babylon
Production Designer: Florencia Martin
Elvis
Production Designers: Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy...
The fifth Oscar nominee, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” lost the fantasy film prize to “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” The other nominees were “The Batman,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Nope.”
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” won the contemporary category over “Bardo,” “Bullet Train,” “Tar” and “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Period Film
All Quiet on the Western Front
Production Designer: Christian M. Goldbeck
X – Babylon
Production Designer: Florencia Martin
Elvis
Production Designers: Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy...
- 2/19/2023
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The Art Directors Guild awarded winners in 14 categories at the 27th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards February 18 at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown Hotel. The awards honored theatrical motion pictures, television, commercials, music videos and animation features.
All five Academy Award nominees for Best Production Design — “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Babylon,” “Elvis,” and “The Fabelmans” — were also Adg Award nominees, with “Babylon” production designer Florencia Martin taking home the award for Period Feature Film.
Fantasy Feature Film went to “Everything Everywhere All at Once” production designer Jason Kisvarday and Contemporary Feature Film went to “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” production designer Rick Heinrichs, both of whom were not nominated by the Academy. The technical and artistic achievements of “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” continued its impressive guild run with production designers Guy Davis and Curt Enderle winning the Adg for Best Animated Feature film,...
All five Academy Award nominees for Best Production Design — “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Babylon,” “Elvis,” and “The Fabelmans” — were also Adg Award nominees, with “Babylon” production designer Florencia Martin taking home the award for Period Feature Film.
Fantasy Feature Film went to “Everything Everywhere All at Once” production designer Jason Kisvarday and Contemporary Feature Film went to “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” production designer Rick Heinrichs, both of whom were not nominated by the Academy. The technical and artistic achievements of “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” continued its impressive guild run with production designers Guy Davis and Curt Enderle winning the Adg for Best Animated Feature film,...
- 2/19/2023
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
Babylon, Everything Everywhere All at Once and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery won the live-action feature prizes at the 27th annual Art Directors Guild (Local 800) Excellence in Production Design Awards, which were handed out Saturday night at the InterContinental Hotel Los Angeles Downtown Hotel.
Live-action features are divided into three categories: period, fantasy and contemporary film. Babylon picked up the trophy in the competitive period film competition. Everything Everywhere All at Once won the prize for a fantasy film, while Glass Onion collected the award for a contemporary movie.
Babylon, along with Adg noms All Quiet on the Western Front, Avatar: The Way of Water, Elvis and The Fabelmans, are Oscar-nominated.
Over the past five years, the winner of the Adg’s period film prize has gone on to win the Oscar for production design three times: in 2018 for The Shape of Water, in 2020 for Once Upon a Time...
Live-action features are divided into three categories: period, fantasy and contemporary film. Babylon picked up the trophy in the competitive period film competition. Everything Everywhere All at Once won the prize for a fantasy film, while Glass Onion collected the award for a contemporary movie.
Babylon, along with Adg noms All Quiet on the Western Front, Avatar: The Way of Water, Elvis and The Fabelmans, are Oscar-nominated.
Over the past five years, the winner of the Adg’s period film prize has gone on to win the Oscar for production design three times: in 2018 for The Shape of Water, in 2020 for Once Upon a Time...
- 2/19/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There are many gorgeous-looking films in this year’s Oscar race, but even with 10 films nominated for Best Picture, only five films could be recognized for their production design, a role that plays a large part in the overall look of a film, along with cinematography.
Besides designing and drafting and deciding what needs to be built on soundstages, the production designer also is involved very early on in finding the best locations and hiring the rest of the art department, including the set decorator, who is responsible for dressing up said locations.
SEEAndrea Riseborough breaks silence on her contentious ‘To Leslie’ Best Actress Oscar nomination
Four of the five nominees this year are also nominated for Best Picture, while the nomination for Damien Chazelle‘s “Babylon” is one of only three nominations it received, and it didn’t make the cut for the top prize.
As of this writing,...
Besides designing and drafting and deciding what needs to be built on soundstages, the production designer also is involved very early on in finding the best locations and hiring the rest of the art department, including the set decorator, who is responsible for dressing up said locations.
SEEAndrea Riseborough breaks silence on her contentious ‘To Leslie’ Best Actress Oscar nomination
Four of the five nominees this year are also nominated for Best Picture, while the nomination for Damien Chazelle‘s “Babylon” is one of only three nominations it received, and it didn’t make the cut for the top prize.
As of this writing,...
- 2/16/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
"Avatar" fans spent 13 years hearing naysayers doubting the existence of "Avatar: The Way of Water," its chances of actually getting finished and released, and even the film's chances of making its money back — this last bit particularly from big doubter Mr. James Cameron, who called the film "the worst business case in movie history." But now, the film is finally out, and it is a monumental success, getting rather good reviews and making huge amounts of money — even if Cameron doesn't think it is all about the money.
What other movie has a giant blue alien wearing Oakleys? Or a whale literally ripping the arm off a whaler? This is a grand, epic blockbuster, one where James Cameron essentially remakes the end of "Titanic" and a movie where the hero and the villain take a little breather in the middle of their climactic fight to check on each other before carrying on.
What other movie has a giant blue alien wearing Oakleys? Or a whale literally ripping the arm off a whaler? This is a grand, epic blockbuster, one where James Cameron essentially remakes the end of "Titanic" and a movie where the hero and the villain take a little breather in the middle of their climactic fight to check on each other before carrying on.
- 2/16/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Recommended New Books on Filmmaking: Bong Joon Ho, Avatar: The Way of Water, Alfred Hitchcock & More
Spring is on the horizon (yay!) but we’re still deep into winter (grr). And that means time for reading. Our latest roundup of noteworthy new books connected to the world of cinema features a typically diverse lineup: Bong Joon Ho, the art of James Cameron’s latest, screwball comedies, Alfred Hitchcock, and––’tis the season––Oscar history.
Bong Joon Ho: Dissident Cinema by Karen Han (Abrams)
In recent years Little White Lies and Abrams have released wonderfully comprehensive, immaculately designed books about Joel and Ethan Coen, Paul Thomas Anderson, David Fincher, and most recently Sofia Coppola. The latest subject, Bong Joon Ho, could not be more deserving of this treatment. Dissident Cinema is written by the ever-astute Karen Han, who shares Bong’s life story while diving into each entry of his filmography. Yes, there is much to be said about Parasite, The Host, Mother, Snowpiercer, Okja, and Memories of Murder.
Bong Joon Ho: Dissident Cinema by Karen Han (Abrams)
In recent years Little White Lies and Abrams have released wonderfully comprehensive, immaculately designed books about Joel and Ethan Coen, Paul Thomas Anderson, David Fincher, and most recently Sofia Coppola. The latest subject, Bong Joon Ho, could not be more deserving of this treatment. Dissident Cinema is written by the ever-astute Karen Han, who shares Bong’s life story while diving into each entry of his filmography. Yes, there is much to be said about Parasite, The Host, Mother, Snowpiercer, Okja, and Memories of Murder.
- 2/15/2023
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
As is the case with most below-the-line Oscar categories, bigger equals better when it comes to Best Production Design. The more lavish the sets, the more accurate the period detail, the more extravagant the designs, the more likely your film will win an Academy Award. Formerly known as Best Art Direction/Set Decoration, this prize goes to the production designer and set decorator, leaving the poor art directors on the outside looking in; perhaps that accounts for the title change. (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2023 Oscars Best Production Design predictions.)
Like Best Costume Design, this award rarely corresponds with Best Picture. Before “The Shape of Water” prevailed in both categories in 2018, the last to line-up was “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” in 2004. Often, the winner of this race hasn’t even been nominated for the top prize, as was the case with “Memoirs of a Geisha...
Like Best Costume Design, this award rarely corresponds with Best Picture. Before “The Shape of Water” prevailed in both categories in 2018, the last to line-up was “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” in 2004. Often, the winner of this race hasn’t even been nominated for the top prize, as was the case with “Memoirs of a Geisha...
- 2/6/2023
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
On January 9, we heard from the first three guilds — art directors, cinematographers and sound editors — with their nominees for the best of the year in their respective fields. On Jan. 10, it was the turn of the casting directors and sound mixers to weigh in with their choices. The actors, directors, and makeup artists & hairstylists were heard from on Jan. 11. And the costume designers and producers piped in just as Oscar nominations voting kicks off on Jan. 12. The visual effects wizards added their say on the last day of Oscar voting on Jan. 18. The writers revealed their roster the day after Oscar nominations were announced. And the film editors announced who made the cut on Feb. 1
One film reaped bids from 12 of these 13 precursor prizes: “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Below, a breakdown by picture of guild nominations.
Ace = American Cinema Editors (report)
Adg = Art Directors Guild (report)
ASC = American Society of Cinematographers...
One film reaped bids from 12 of these 13 precursor prizes: “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Below, a breakdown by picture of guild nominations.
Ace = American Cinema Editors (report)
Adg = Art Directors Guild (report)
ASC = American Society of Cinematographers...
- 2/2/2023
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
“Avatar: The Way of Water” is continuing its unprecedented winning streak at the box office (it just finished its seventh week as the #1 movie and eclipsed “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” as the fourth most successful film of all time), but it has also just received four Oscar nominations, including one for Best Production Design, an aspect explored in this brand-new featurette, which you can watch below.
What the video really does is make you appreciate the enormity of “Avatar: The Way of Water’s” production design and how painstaking the process was for the artists, technicians and builders tasked with designing and fabricating the world of Pandora. The short video features interviews with production designers Dylan Cole and Ben Procter, alongside writer/producer/director James Cameron and his longtime producer Jon Landau.
“In making a movie set on Pandora, Pandora doesn’t exist. Which means we’re not only designing everything in the world,...
What the video really does is make you appreciate the enormity of “Avatar: The Way of Water’s” production design and how painstaking the process was for the artists, technicians and builders tasked with designing and fabricating the world of Pandora. The short video features interviews with production designers Dylan Cole and Ben Procter, alongside writer/producer/director James Cameron and his longtime producer Jon Landau.
“In making a movie set on Pandora, Pandora doesn’t exist. Which means we’re not only designing everything in the world,...
- 1/30/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
The Academy has released the list of nominations for the 2023 Oscars. Everything Everywhere All at Once led the pack this year with 11 nominations, followed closely by the war drama All Quiet On The Western Front and dark comedy The Banshees of Inisherin.
A few actors who made big comebacks this year received nominations for their roles, including Brendan Fraser for The Whale and former child actor Ke Huy Quan for Everything Everywhere All at Once. Also in the running for best actor are Austin Butler, Colin Farrell, Billy Nighy and Paul Mescal, all first-time nominees. In a surprising nod to indie film To Leslie, Andrea Riseborough scored a nomination for best actress. The race also includes Cate Blanchett, Ana de Armas, Michelle Williams and Michelle Yeoh.
Jimmy Kimmel will return to host the Oscars, making his third appearance as emcee after his previous hosting stints in 2017 and 2018.
Here is the...
A few actors who made big comebacks this year received nominations for their roles, including Brendan Fraser for The Whale and former child actor Ke Huy Quan for Everything Everywhere All at Once. Also in the running for best actor are Austin Butler, Colin Farrell, Billy Nighy and Paul Mescal, all first-time nominees. In a surprising nod to indie film To Leslie, Andrea Riseborough scored a nomination for best actress. The race also includes Cate Blanchett, Ana de Armas, Michelle Williams and Michelle Yeoh.
Jimmy Kimmel will return to host the Oscars, making his third appearance as emcee after his previous hosting stints in 2017 and 2018.
Here is the...
- 1/24/2023
- by Miranda Dipaolo
- Uinterview
Avatar: The Way of Water — which this week crossed the 2 billion mark at the worldwide box office and is now the sixth highest-grossing movie in history — earned a best picture Oscar nomination this morning, as well as noms for its production design, sound and visual effects.
But James Cameron, who has now directed three of the six highest-grossing movies ever — his 2009 Avatar sits at the top of that chart — was passed over in the directing competition for his groundbreaking film for the 2023 Oscar nominations. (The movie also missed an editing nomination; Cameron edited the movie, along with Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, and the late David Brenner, who died in early 2022).
In this year’s best picture race, Cameron and producer Jon Landau (who together won best picture for Titanic, for which Cameron also claimed the directing trophy) are nominated alongside the producers of All Quiet on the Western Front, The Banshees of Inisherin,...
But James Cameron, who has now directed three of the six highest-grossing movies ever — his 2009 Avatar sits at the top of that chart — was passed over in the directing competition for his groundbreaking film for the 2023 Oscar nominations. (The movie also missed an editing nomination; Cameron edited the movie, along with Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, and the late David Brenner, who died in early 2022).
In this year’s best picture race, Cameron and producer Jon Landau (who together won best picture for Titanic, for which Cameron also claimed the directing trophy) are nominated alongside the producers of All Quiet on the Western Front, The Banshees of Inisherin,...
- 1/24/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 2023 Oscar nominations were announced on Tuesday, January 24 live from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Riz Ahmed, who won the Oscar last year for Best Live Action Short Film for “The Long Goodbye” and was nominated for lead for “Sound of Metal” in 2021, and “M3gan” star and executive producer Allison Williams read off the names of the nominees in all 23 categories.
The announcement aired live on ABC during “Good Morning America” and was live-streamed online via the Oscars website, accessible at both Oscar.com and Oscars.org. In addition to the film academy’s main website, the nominations streamed live online via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube as well as over Disney+, Hulu Live TV, ABC News Live and YouTubeTV.
The 95th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 12, with the ceremony set to kick off from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood at 5 p.m. Pt /8 p.
The announcement aired live on ABC during “Good Morning America” and was live-streamed online via the Oscars website, accessible at both Oscar.com and Oscars.org. In addition to the film academy’s main website, the nominations streamed live online via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube as well as over Disney+, Hulu Live TV, ABC News Live and YouTubeTV.
The 95th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 12, with the ceremony set to kick off from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood at 5 p.m. Pt /8 p.
- 1/24/2023
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
"Avatar: The Way of Water" is one of the most imaginative and creature-packed movies audiences will see all year. The film takes us into brand new territories as we explore the vast Pandoran seas, meeting entities like the intelligent whale-like tulkun species, the sleek aquatic rides called ilus, or the life-giving gill mantles. It's one of the more imaginative journeys in recent film history, having provoked the designs of a host of novel and lovely new aquatic beasts.
One of the most dangerous entities in the Pandoran waters are the menacing, massive sharks known as "akula." With their large but sleek frames, unnerving tripartite mouth, and incredible speed, they're certainly a beast you wouldn't want to swim beside. In an illuminating thread of tweets, creature designer Zachary Berger details the path he took to develop the frightening beast, from getting asked to build off what came before to pantomiming a...
One of the most dangerous entities in the Pandoran waters are the menacing, massive sharks known as "akula." With their large but sleek frames, unnerving tripartite mouth, and incredible speed, they're certainly a beast you wouldn't want to swim beside. In an illuminating thread of tweets, creature designer Zachary Berger details the path he took to develop the frightening beast, from getting asked to build off what came before to pantomiming a...
- 1/19/2023
- by Jeff Ewing
- Slash Film
The 28th Critics’ Choice Awards took place in Los Angeles on Sunday night. Chelsea Handler hosted the ceremony, which honored the year’s best films and television. Everything Everywhere All At Once was the most nominated film at 14, and Abbott Elementary led television nominations with six total.
After the Golden Globes last week, the show offered another clue to how the upcoming Academy Awards will shape up.
Everything Everywhere All At Once won Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing.
Better Call Saul won most of the television awards, including Best Drama Series, Best Actor in a Drama Series (Bob Odenkirk) and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Giancarlo Esposito).
>Watch Janelle Monae’s uBIO – Her Story In Her Words!
Kate Hudson presented Janelle Monáe with the SeeHer award, noting their advocacy for the Lgbtqia+ community.
After the Golden Globes last week, the show offered another clue to how the upcoming Academy Awards will shape up.
Everything Everywhere All At Once won Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing.
Better Call Saul won most of the television awards, including Best Drama Series, Best Actor in a Drama Series (Bob Odenkirk) and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Giancarlo Esposito).
>Watch Janelle Monae’s uBIO – Her Story In Her Words!
Kate Hudson presented Janelle Monáe with the SeeHer award, noting their advocacy for the Lgbtqia+ community.
- 1/16/2023
- by Alex Nguyen
- Uinterview
The 28th Critics Choice Awards took place at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on Sunday night (15 January).
The star-studded event was hosted by Chelsea Handler, taking over from actor Taye Diggs who had hosted the past four years of the awards ceremony.
The night’s special awards were presented to Janelle Monáe, who received the #SeeHer award, while Jeff Bridges was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Some of the night’s biggest winners were Angela Bassett, Brendan Fraser, and Cate Blanchett, who won Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, and Best Actress awards respectively.
See the full list of the 2023 Critics Choice Awards below.
Best Picture
Everything Everywhere All at Once Winner
Avatar: The Way of Water
Babylon
The Banshees of Inisherin
Elvis
The Fabelmans
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Rrr
Tár
Top Gun: Maverick
Women Talking
Best Actor
Brendan Fraser – The Whale Winner
Austin Butler...
The star-studded event was hosted by Chelsea Handler, taking over from actor Taye Diggs who had hosted the past four years of the awards ceremony.
The night’s special awards were presented to Janelle Monáe, who received the #SeeHer award, while Jeff Bridges was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Some of the night’s biggest winners were Angela Bassett, Brendan Fraser, and Cate Blanchett, who won Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, and Best Actress awards respectively.
See the full list of the 2023 Critics Choice Awards below.
Best Picture
Everything Everywhere All at Once Winner
Avatar: The Way of Water
Babylon
The Banshees of Inisherin
Elvis
The Fabelmans
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Rrr
Tár
Top Gun: Maverick
Women Talking
Best Actor
Brendan Fraser – The Whale Winner
Austin Butler...
- 1/16/2023
- by Peony Hirwani
- The Independent - Film
Harry Shum Jr. and Michelle Yeoh in A24’s ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (Photo credit: Allyson Riggs)
Members of the Critics Choice Association honored the best in films and television of 2022 at the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Chelsea Handler. Everything Everywhere All At Once went into the night with the most film nominations (14) and Abbott Elementary topped the television nominees with six. And as it turns out, those leaders earned top honors.
Everything Everywhere All at Once picked up five awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Original Screenplay (Kwan & Scheinert), and Best Editing (Paul Rogers). Abbott Elementary was named Best Comedy Series, and Sheryl Lee Ralph earned the Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series award.
The final season of Better Call Saul went out with a bang, collecting Best Drama, Best Actor in a...
Members of the Critics Choice Association honored the best in films and television of 2022 at the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Chelsea Handler. Everything Everywhere All At Once went into the night with the most film nominations (14) and Abbott Elementary topped the television nominees with six. And as it turns out, those leaders earned top honors.
Everything Everywhere All at Once picked up five awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Original Screenplay (Kwan & Scheinert), and Best Editing (Paul Rogers). Abbott Elementary was named Best Comedy Series, and Sheryl Lee Ralph earned the Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series award.
The final season of Better Call Saul went out with a bang, collecting Best Drama, Best Actor in a...
- 1/16/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
The 28th annual Critics Choice Awards were handed out Sunday night.
Everything Everywhere All at Once was named best picture; best director and best original screenplay for Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert; best editing for Paul Rogers; and best supporting actor for Ke Huy Quan. Heading into the ceremony, the film led with 14 noms.
On the TV side, nominee-leading Abbott Elementary (with six noms) was named best comedy series. Better Call Saul won best drama series, while The Dropout was named best limited series.
Janelle Monáe was honored with the SeeHer Award, presented by Kate Hudson, while Jeff Bridges received the Critics Choice Lifetime Achievement Award from John Goodman at this year’s show, which took place at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
Chelsea Handler hosted the ceremony, which aired on The CW. (Read highlights from the show here and see the night’s best-dressed stars here.)
A full list of winners follows.
Everything Everywhere All at Once was named best picture; best director and best original screenplay for Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert; best editing for Paul Rogers; and best supporting actor for Ke Huy Quan. Heading into the ceremony, the film led with 14 noms.
On the TV side, nominee-leading Abbott Elementary (with six noms) was named best comedy series. Better Call Saul won best drama series, while The Dropout was named best limited series.
Janelle Monáe was honored with the SeeHer Award, presented by Kate Hudson, while Jeff Bridges received the Critics Choice Lifetime Achievement Award from John Goodman at this year’s show, which took place at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
Chelsea Handler hosted the ceremony, which aired on The CW. (Read highlights from the show here and see the night’s best-dressed stars here.)
A full list of winners follows.
- 1/16/2023
- by Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 2023 Critics Choice Awards are here.
Hosted by Chelsea Handler, the star-studded event will take place at the Fairmont Century Plaza.
“We are thrilled to have Chelsea Handler joining us at the 28th annual Critics Choice Awards,” Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin said in October, via Us Weekly. “We all know and love her work as a stand-up comedian, a best-selling author, a podcast host, and actress – and now as host of the Critics Choice Awards! I know this will be the best year yet and can’t wait for everyone to see what we have in store.”
Read More: Colin Farrell And Brendan Gleeson Will Miss Critics Choice Awards After Testing Positive For Covid
The show honours both film and television alike, with nominations for “Avatar: The Way of Water”, “Babylon”, “The Banshees of Inisherin”, “Elvis”, and “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, as well as nominations for series...
Hosted by Chelsea Handler, the star-studded event will take place at the Fairmont Century Plaza.
“We are thrilled to have Chelsea Handler joining us at the 28th annual Critics Choice Awards,” Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin said in October, via Us Weekly. “We all know and love her work as a stand-up comedian, a best-selling author, a podcast host, and actress – and now as host of the Critics Choice Awards! I know this will be the best year yet and can’t wait for everyone to see what we have in store.”
Read More: Colin Farrell And Brendan Gleeson Will Miss Critics Choice Awards After Testing Positive For Covid
The show honours both film and television alike, with nominations for “Avatar: The Way of Water”, “Babylon”, “The Banshees of Inisherin”, “Elvis”, and “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, as well as nominations for series...
- 1/16/2023
- by Anita Tai
- ET Canada
With 11 nominees for Best Picture, 10 for Best Director, and nine titles battling it out for Best Drama series, competition will be fierce at tonight’s Critics Choice Awards. Several ties in the voting process led the 600-member Critics Choice Association to nominate more films than a category typically allows, which simply means that even more of the year’s biggest films and shows have a shot at the prizes.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” leads all films with 14 nominations, while Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” is close behind with 11 nominations. “Babylon” and “The Banshees of Inisherin” each picked up nine nods, while “TÁR” and “Elvis” each scored seven.
On the television side, “Abbott Elementary” and “Better Call Saul” led the pack with six and five nominations, respectively.
The 2023 Critics Choice Awards will be broadcast live on the CW starting at 7 p.m. Et. Keep reading for the complete list of nominees,...
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” leads all films with 14 nominations, while Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” is close behind with 11 nominations. “Babylon” and “The Banshees of Inisherin” each picked up nine nods, while “TÁR” and “Elvis” each scored seven.
On the television side, “Abbott Elementary” and “Better Call Saul” led the pack with six and five nominations, respectively.
The 2023 Critics Choice Awards will be broadcast live on the CW starting at 7 p.m. Et. Keep reading for the complete list of nominees,...
- 1/16/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
"Avatar: The Way of Water" is close to hitting 2 billion at the box office, with no signs of slowing down. People are flocking to see the further adventures of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and their passel of children, both biological and adopted, on Pandora. This time around, humans have returned to Pandora with nefarious purposes, as Earth is dying they're driven to exploit more Pandoran resources. They also have it in for Jake Sully, so they're hunting him and his family down.
To escape and protect their tribe, the Sully/Neytiri clan head to the water to ask for asylum with the Metkayina, a group of beings who have evolved to be a part of oceanic life. This culture is bonded and deeply in touch with the aquatic creatures around them, like the sentient and poetic tulkun. Like the other tribe, they also ride beasts. While the...
To escape and protect their tribe, the Sully/Neytiri clan head to the water to ask for asylum with the Metkayina, a group of beings who have evolved to be a part of oceanic life. This culture is bonded and deeply in touch with the aquatic creatures around them, like the sentient and poetic tulkun. Like the other tribe, they also ride beasts. While the...
- 1/12/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
James Cameron's "Avatar" film series is an ongoing work of science fiction built upon more money and sheer human effort than any single Hollywood project has any right to be made with. And yet, somehow, it exists, so we're absolutely going to talk about it. Every frame of CGI (which is basically every frame of both films) denotes the combined skill of hundreds of VFX artists. Taking it a step further, every design that the VFX team brought to life denotes another tier of creators, whether it be Dylan Cole, who shaped the oceanic side of Pandora for "The Way of Water," or Deborah L. Scott, who clothed Cameron's Na'vi in both of the "Avatar" films.
You'd think that designing a few loincloths for fancy cartoon space aliens would be easy, especially for someone like Scott whose previous credits include everything from "Back to the Future" and "Titanic" to "The Amazing Spider-Man 2,...
You'd think that designing a few loincloths for fancy cartoon space aliens would be easy, especially for someone like Scott whose previous credits include everything from "Back to the Future" and "Titanic" to "The Amazing Spider-Man 2,...
- 1/9/2023
- by Cameron Roy Hall
- Slash Film
Avatar: The Way Of Water's Early Organic Scuba Creature Designs Were Too Close To Alien's Facehugger
"Avatar: The Way of Water" has officially conquered the box office with no sign of stopping any time soon. The second film in the franchise sees Jake Sully (now fully Na'vi), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and family on the run. A newly reborn Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) has had his consciousness implanted in an avatar body alongside his similarly reborn unit of spacebound colonizers, and they're hunting the family across Pandora. With Jake Sully and co. escaping to the ocean reef village of the Metkayina Na'vi clan, it's a whole new world for our protagonists and a brand new slice of the Pandora ecosystem for audiences to explore.
With a new ecosystem comes all manner of novel aquatic creatures for the Na'vi to ride and interact with. We meet the massive Pandoran whale called the tulkun, the sleek and rideable ilu, and the intimidating gliders called skimwings. One of the most unusual creatures,...
With a new ecosystem comes all manner of novel aquatic creatures for the Na'vi to ride and interact with. We meet the massive Pandoran whale called the tulkun, the sleek and rideable ilu, and the intimidating gliders called skimwings. One of the most unusual creatures,...
- 1/9/2023
- by Jeff Ewing
- Slash Film
On January 9, the Art Directors Guild announced the nominees for its 27th annual awards, which will be handed out on February 18. These kudos have a stellar record at previewing the Academy Awards. Over the first 26 years of these prizes, the eventual Oscar winner for Best Production Design has always numbered among the Adg nominees in the various categories.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the clear frontrunner to win the Oscar for Best Production Design. It reaped a bid in the fantasy film genre with the Adg as did its strongest Oscar rival, “Avatar: The Way of Water.” The other three likeliest Oscar nominees — “Babylon,” “Elvis” and “The Fabelmans”– contend in the period picture category. That race is rounded out by “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “White Noise.”
The other fantasy film nominees are: “The Batman,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Nope.”
The contemporary contenders are: “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths...
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the clear frontrunner to win the Oscar for Best Production Design. It reaped a bid in the fantasy film genre with the Adg as did its strongest Oscar rival, “Avatar: The Way of Water.” The other three likeliest Oscar nominees — “Babylon,” “Elvis” and “The Fabelmans”– contend in the period picture category. That race is rounded out by “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “White Noise.”
The other fantasy film nominees are: “The Batman,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Nope.”
The contemporary contenders are: “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths...
- 1/9/2023
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The 27th annual Excellence in Production Design Awards has announced its nominations in 14 categories, including theatrical motion pictures, television, commercials, music videos and animation features.
Winners will be unveiled at the Adg Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the InterContinental Hotel Los Angeles Downtown Hotel. The announcement was made today by Adg President Nelson Coates, Adg, and Awards Producer’s Michael Allen Glover, Adg and Megan Elizabeth Bell, Adg.
Returning as producer of this year’s Adg Awards is Art Director Michael Allen Glover, Adg. Joining the team as coproducer is Production Designer Megan Elizabeth Bell, Adg.
Adg Awards are open only to productions when made within the US by producers signatory to the IATSE agreement. Foreign entries are acceptable without restrictions.
Nominees For Feature Film:
1. Period Feature Film
All Quiet on the Western Front
Production Designer: Christian M. Goldbeck...
Winners will be unveiled at the Adg Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the InterContinental Hotel Los Angeles Downtown Hotel. The announcement was made today by Adg President Nelson Coates, Adg, and Awards Producer’s Michael Allen Glover, Adg and Megan Elizabeth Bell, Adg.
Returning as producer of this year’s Adg Awards is Art Director Michael Allen Glover, Adg. Joining the team as coproducer is Production Designer Megan Elizabeth Bell, Adg.
Adg Awards are open only to productions when made within the US by producers signatory to the IATSE agreement. Foreign entries are acceptable without restrictions.
Nominees For Feature Film:
1. Period Feature Film
All Quiet on the Western Front
Production Designer: Christian M. Goldbeck...
- 1/9/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
“Elvis,” “Babylon,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “Top Gun: Maverick” are among the films nominated by the Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800).
The guild announced the nominations for its 27th Excellence in Production Design Awards in motion pictures, television, commercial and music video categories.
Winners will be named at the Adg Awards ceremony on Feb. 18 at the InterContinental Hotel Los Angeles Downtown Hotel.
The Adg divides live-action features into three categories. “All Quiet on the Western Front, “Babylon,” “Elvis, “The Fabelmans” and “White Noise” were nominated in the period feature film category.
“The Batman,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Nope” earned recognition in the fantasy feature film category.
Rounding out the contemporary feature film nominations were “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, “Bullet Train,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, “Tár” and “Top Gun: Maverick.
The guild announced the nominations for its 27th Excellence in Production Design Awards in motion pictures, television, commercial and music video categories.
Winners will be named at the Adg Awards ceremony on Feb. 18 at the InterContinental Hotel Los Angeles Downtown Hotel.
The Adg divides live-action features into three categories. “All Quiet on the Western Front, “Babylon,” “Elvis, “The Fabelmans” and “White Noise” were nominated in the period feature film category.
“The Batman,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Nope” earned recognition in the fantasy feature film category.
Rounding out the contemporary feature film nominations were “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, “Bullet Train,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, “Tár” and “Top Gun: Maverick.
- 1/9/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) announced the nominations for the 27th annual Adg Excellence in Production Design Awards.
Live-action features are divided into three categories: period, fantasy and contemporary film. Nominees for a period film are All Quiet On The Western Front, Babylon, Elvis, The Fabelmans and White Noise. Fantasy film nominees are Avatar: The Way of Water, The Batman, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Everything Everywhere All At Once and Nope. The contemporary film category nominees are Bardo, Bullet Train, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Tár and Top Gun: Maverick.
Over the past five years, the winner of the Adg’s period film prize has gone on to win the Oscar for production design three times: in 2018 for The Shape of Water, in 2020 for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and in 2021 for Mank. The production design Oscar went to the winner of the fantasy category in 2019, for Black Panther; and 2022 for Dune.
Live-action features are divided into three categories: period, fantasy and contemporary film. Nominees for a period film are All Quiet On The Western Front, Babylon, Elvis, The Fabelmans and White Noise. Fantasy film nominees are Avatar: The Way of Water, The Batman, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Everything Everywhere All At Once and Nope. The contemporary film category nominees are Bardo, Bullet Train, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Tár and Top Gun: Maverick.
Over the past five years, the winner of the Adg’s period film prize has gone on to win the Oscar for production design three times: in 2018 for The Shape of Water, in 2020 for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and in 2021 for Mank. The production design Oscar went to the winner of the fantasy category in 2019, for Black Panther; and 2022 for Dune.
- 1/9/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Babylon,” “Elvis,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” are among the films that have been nominated by the Art Directors Guild for the 2023 Adg Excellence in Production Design Awards, the guild announced on Monday.
In the Period Feature Film category, “Babylon” and “Elvis” will be competing against “The Fabelmans,” “White Noise” and “All Quiet on the Western Front,” the German film that has been scoring extremely well in guild awards and on shortlists so far this awards season.
In the Fantasy Feature Film category, “Avatar” and “Everything Everywhere” are nominated alongside “The Batman,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Nope.”
And in Contemporary Feature Film, “Glass Onion” will go up against “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths,” “Bullet Train,” “Tár” and “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Also Read:
‘Tár’ Wins Best Picture Award From National Society of Film Critics
Of those three live-action feature categories,...
In the Period Feature Film category, “Babylon” and “Elvis” will be competing against “The Fabelmans,” “White Noise” and “All Quiet on the Western Front,” the German film that has been scoring extremely well in guild awards and on shortlists so far this awards season.
In the Fantasy Feature Film category, “Avatar” and “Everything Everywhere” are nominated alongside “The Batman,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Nope.”
And in Contemporary Feature Film, “Glass Onion” will go up against “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths,” “Bullet Train,” “Tár” and “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Also Read:
‘Tár’ Wins Best Picture Award From National Society of Film Critics
Of those three live-action feature categories,...
- 1/9/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
In James Cameron's new sci-fi film "Avatar: The Way of Water" -- already one of the 10 highest-grossing films of all time -- our Na'Vi heroes Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) have to move their family from the safety of Pandora's placid forests to a distant, tropical archipelago. There, they become the guests of the Metkayina, a tribe of Na'Vi that live in harmony with the oceans. The Metkayina can hold their breaths for an extended period of time, and their arms and tails have adapted for rapid swimming. Occasionally, they ride on the backs of flying ichthyosaurs, a sort of flying fish. The seas of the Metkayina are a beautiful biome of staggering alien diversity, and their villages are constructed of ropes, tents, and hammocks that hang tautly over crystal-clear lagoons from the branches of a strong, nearby tree. Like every visual aspect of the "Avatar" movies,...
- 1/6/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In the years since the release of James Cameron's "Avatar" in 2009, a popular narrative cropped up that suggested nobody watched the box office-breaking hit for the strength of its script -- only its visuals. There's probably a kernel of truth in there, admittedly, as the world of Pandora was essentially treated as the living and breathing protagonist of the picture while everything else was secondary. Until "The Way of Water" finally rolled around, many people would've been hard-pressed to remember character names like Jake Sully or Colonel Quaritch or even Neytiri. But Pandora? You'd have to be in deep, deep denial to come away unimpressed by the stunning backdrop of exotic fauna and alien creatures that Cameron, his design team, and an army of VFX artists cooked up for the big screen.
With that in mind, it stands to reason that the creative approach to the sequel ended up...
With that in mind, it stands to reason that the creative approach to the sequel ended up...
- 1/6/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
“Avatar: The Way of Water” not only expands the scope of Pandora’s ecological systems, it also depicts a renewed, vengeful human military with a bounty of deadly, new tools at its disposal. Between devising the culture of two warring civilizations, production designers Ben Procter and Dylan Cole had their work cut out for them on James Cameron’s science-fiction sequel. The pair worked as concept art directors on the first “Avatar” before moving into their new roles for the film’s follow-ups — all the way back in the fall of 2013.
“It’s good that the movie is out because now my family will actually believe I’ve been working on something instead of working for the CIA,” Procter laughs. “My son’s friends no longer think I’m a drug dealer.”
Procter and Cole’s sprawling craft makes quite an impression in “The Way of Water,” but the scope...
“It’s good that the movie is out because now my family will actually believe I’ve been working on something instead of working for the CIA,” Procter laughs. “My son’s friends no longer think I’m a drug dealer.”
Procter and Cole’s sprawling craft makes quite an impression in “The Way of Water,” but the scope...
- 12/28/2022
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
This interview with the “Avatar: The Way of Water” production designers first appeared in the Below-the-Line Issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
On paper, the production design of “Avatar: The Way of Water” seems as if it would be an enormous undertaking. But as soon as he starts talking about the particular challenges of the job, production designer Ben Procter upped the ante.
“It’s not a production-design job where you’re designing a film,” he said. “This is a bigger project. It’s designing an entire universe. It’s making a real world that is coherent and makes sense that is rooted in real science and real engineering.”
That world-building began on the first film, but it increased exponentially on “The Way of Water,” which explores huge new areas on the planet Pandora. “We had to create a guidebook for the ecosystem,” supervising art director Aashrita Kamath said. “The...
On paper, the production design of “Avatar: The Way of Water” seems as if it would be an enormous undertaking. But as soon as he starts talking about the particular challenges of the job, production designer Ben Procter upped the ante.
“It’s not a production-design job where you’re designing a film,” he said. “This is a bigger project. It’s designing an entire universe. It’s making a real world that is coherent and makes sense that is rooted in real science and real engineering.”
That world-building began on the first film, but it increased exponentially on “The Way of Water,” which explores huge new areas on the planet Pandora. “We had to create a guidebook for the ecosystem,” supervising art director Aashrita Kamath said. “The...
- 12/26/2022
- by By Steve Pond
- The Wrap
“We’ve used reality as a creative inspiration, in addition to a technical limit,” explains “Avatar: The Way of Water” production designer Ben Procter. “Fantasy within limits is a certain Jim Cameron school of design that we’ve really embraced.” He and fellow production designer Dylan Cole crafted a visually rich alien world which harkens back to our own planet. Watch the exclusive video interview above.
Cole admits that the team pulled “from everywhere” when searching for inspiration. But Earth was a constant, and often necessary, place to begin. “Pandora is ultimately a metaphor for Earth, so we often start there,” he says, “nature is the best designer ever.” The designer cites a coral reef setting which feels like “Bora Bora on steroids” and handwoven seaside structures as examples of this practice. Cole explains that the key to creating an immersive world for audiences to connect with is to utilize recognizable touchstones,...
Cole admits that the team pulled “from everywhere” when searching for inspiration. But Earth was a constant, and often necessary, place to begin. “Pandora is ultimately a metaphor for Earth, so we often start there,” he says, “nature is the best designer ever.” The designer cites a coral reef setting which feels like “Bora Bora on steroids” and handwoven seaside structures as examples of this practice. Cole explains that the key to creating an immersive world for audiences to connect with is to utilize recognizable touchstones,...
- 12/21/2022
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
One of the highlights of “Avatar: the Way of Water” is the whale-like tulkun, which bond with the Metkayina reef people. The tulkun are not only majestic and powerful, but also highly intelligent, emotional, and spiritual. They have forsaken violence and communicate verbally with the Metkayina and even sing together.
The film’s scene-stealer and unsung hero is the tulkun called Payakan. He’s a fierce killer, shunned by tulkun and Metkayina alike, and forced into lonely exile. Yet he bonds with the misunderstood Na’vi teen Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), the second son of Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña). Payakan makes quite a thrilling entrance during a fight with the great white shark-like predator, akula.
These and other creatures of the Pandoran seas were part of the world-building efforts of the “Way of Water” art department, led by Lafca production design winners Dylan Cole and Ben Procter.
The film’s scene-stealer and unsung hero is the tulkun called Payakan. He’s a fierce killer, shunned by tulkun and Metkayina alike, and forced into lonely exile. Yet he bonds with the misunderstood Na’vi teen Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), the second son of Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña). Payakan makes quite a thrilling entrance during a fight with the great white shark-like predator, akula.
These and other creatures of the Pandoran seas were part of the world-building efforts of the “Way of Water” art department, led by Lafca production design winners Dylan Cole and Ben Procter.
- 12/19/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King), Sarah Polley (Women Talking) among directing nominees.
Everything Everywhere All At Once leads the Critics Choice field on 14 nominations including best picture, while Charlotte Wells’ British indie Aftersun earned three for actor Paul Mescal, young actress Frankie Corio and screenplay.
The Fablemans is next on 11 nods followed by The Banshees Of Inisherin and Babylon on nine apiece. Each earned best picture nods from the Critics Choice Association as well as directing recognition for Steven Spielberg, Martin McDonagh and Damien Chazelle, respectively.
Everything Everywhere All At Once directors the Daniels are also in the running for best director,...
Everything Everywhere All At Once leads the Critics Choice field on 14 nominations including best picture, while Charlotte Wells’ British indie Aftersun earned three for actor Paul Mescal, young actress Frankie Corio and screenplay.
The Fablemans is next on 11 nods followed by The Banshees Of Inisherin and Babylon on nine apiece. Each earned best picture nods from the Critics Choice Association as well as directing recognition for Steven Spielberg, Martin McDonagh and Damien Chazelle, respectively.
Everything Everywhere All At Once directors the Daniels are also in the running for best director,...
- 12/14/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Underestimate James Cameron at your own peril — he feeds off it, as witnessed by “Aliens,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” “Titanic,” “Avatar,” and now “Avatar: The Way of Water.” True to his promise, the master showman has delivered the cinematic goods beyond expectation with the sequel, topping the original in epic storytelling and high-tech spectacle.
This time Cameron expands the universe of Pandora by going underwater for splendor and adventure with the introduction of the Metkayina reef clan. In this regard, Cameron has truly become the heir apparent to his idol, Jacques Cousteau, and has outdone himself with innovation, thanks to the VFX wizards of Wētā FX and his other crafts teams. Once again, Cameron has proven that 3D isn’t dead, and has given us a reason to return to theaters this holiday season.
As far as the Oscars, “The Way of Water” could potentially equal its predecessor in nominations.
This time Cameron expands the universe of Pandora by going underwater for splendor and adventure with the introduction of the Metkayina reef clan. In this regard, Cameron has truly become the heir apparent to his idol, Jacques Cousteau, and has outdone himself with innovation, thanks to the VFX wizards of Wētā FX and his other crafts teams. Once again, Cameron has proven that 3D isn’t dead, and has given us a reason to return to theaters this holiday season.
As far as the Oscars, “The Way of Water” could potentially equal its predecessor in nominations.
- 12/14/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (Lafca) announced the winners of their 48th annual awards on Sunday (Dec. 11). These California-based reviewers are the second major critics group to reveal their list of winners, as their New York counterparts went first last Friday (Dec. 2). The Gotham critics named the “Tar” as Best Picture. The Cali crew concurred but Todd Field’s film tied for the top prize with “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Field won both the directing and writing award while star Cate Blanchett shared the gender-neutral leading performance award with Bill Nighy (“Living”).
Last year, both groups went with the Japanese import “Drive My Car” as their pick for best pic. Directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car” tells the story of a stage actor and director who mysteriously disappears. His film reaped four Oscar bids, including Best Picture and Director and won Best International Feature.
Like the New York Film Critics Circle,...
Last year, both groups went with the Japanese import “Drive My Car” as their pick for best pic. Directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car” tells the story of a stage actor and director who mysteriously disappears. His film reaped four Oscar bids, including Best Picture and Director and won Best International Feature.
Like the New York Film Critics Circle,...
- 12/11/2022
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Click here to read the full article.
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named both Everything Everywhere All at Once and Tár as its best picture for 2022.
On Sunday, the critics association announced its winners for the best films of 2022. Living actor Bill Nighly and Tár star Cate Blanchett were both named best lead performance. This was the first year that Lafca introduced gender-neutral acting categories, including two awards for best lead performance and two for best supporting performance.
Tár took home several awards, including Todd Field being named best director and best screenplay.
The best supporting performance went to Dolly De Leon in Triangle of Sadness and Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Jerzy Skolimowski’s Eo won the best film not in the English language, and Laura Poitras’ All The Beauty And The Bloodshed won the best documentary/nonfiction film.
The best animated movie...
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named both Everything Everywhere All at Once and Tár as its best picture for 2022.
On Sunday, the critics association announced its winners for the best films of 2022. Living actor Bill Nighly and Tár star Cate Blanchett were both named best lead performance. This was the first year that Lafca introduced gender-neutral acting categories, including two awards for best lead performance and two for best supporting performance.
Tár took home several awards, including Todd Field being named best director and best screenplay.
The best supporting performance went to Dolly De Leon in Triangle of Sadness and Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Jerzy Skolimowski’s Eo won the best film not in the English language, and Laura Poitras’ All The Beauty And The Bloodshed won the best documentary/nonfiction film.
The best animated movie...
- 12/11/2022
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When approaching features like those in his Avatar franchise and the fantastical worlds they depict, filmmaker James Cameron looks for “true, universal human experience” to ground the narrative.
In the case of the original sci-fi epic released by 20th Century Fox in 2009, he was looking at “a relatively simpler story” about “boy meets girl,” in the vein of Romeo and Juliet. And with his long-awaited sequel Avatar: The Way of Water, coming up for release on December 16, he’s turned his attention to family.
Related: The Contenders Film: Los Angeles – Deadline’s Full Coverage
“We all either know the family experience or long for it. It’s just in our genes, our code,” the three-time Oscar winner observed during a virtual appearance Saturday at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles. “As a father of five, I’ve had plenty of experience with teen angst, the teen years. … [My kids] laughingly know they’re sorta,...
In the case of the original sci-fi epic released by 20th Century Fox in 2009, he was looking at “a relatively simpler story” about “boy meets girl,” in the vein of Romeo and Juliet. And with his long-awaited sequel Avatar: The Way of Water, coming up for release on December 16, he’s turned his attention to family.
Related: The Contenders Film: Los Angeles – Deadline’s Full Coverage
“We all either know the family experience or long for it. It’s just in our genes, our code,” the three-time Oscar winner observed during a virtual appearance Saturday at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles. “As a father of five, I’ve had plenty of experience with teen angst, the teen years. … [My kids] laughingly know they’re sorta,...
- 11/20/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages are Davis’ assessment of the current standings of the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any film or performance. Like any organization or body that votes, each individual category is fluid and subject to change. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Last Updated: Oct. 20, 2022
2023 Oscars Predictions: Best Production Design Thirteen Lives, from left: Thira Chutikul, Viggo Mortensen, 2022. ph: Vince Valitutti / © MGM / Courtesy Everett Collection
Category Commentary: More to come…
See the latest film predictions, in all 23 categories, in one place on Variety’s Oscars Collective.
To see the ranked predictions for each individual category, visit Variety’s Oscars Hub.
All Awards Contenders And Rankings:
And...
Last Updated: Oct. 20, 2022
2023 Oscars Predictions: Best Production Design Thirteen Lives, from left: Thira Chutikul, Viggo Mortensen, 2022. ph: Vince Valitutti / © MGM / Courtesy Everett Collection
Category Commentary: More to come…
See the latest film predictions, in all 23 categories, in one place on Variety’s Oscars Collective.
To see the ranked predictions for each individual category, visit Variety’s Oscars Hub.
All Awards Contenders And Rankings:
And...
- 10/21/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
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