Hammond: Producers Guild Validates ‘The Artist’ As Its March To The Oscars Intensifies
| Sunday January 22, 2012 @ 3:23am PST
In the last two years the winner of the Producers Guild of America’s Best Picture award (or Darryl F. Zanuck
award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures) has
turned the Oscar race on its head. The choice in 2010 of low grossing
indie The Hurt Locker over the highest grossing movie ever, Avatar just one week after its Golden Globe win was a shocker. So was last year’s defeat of The Social Network by Harvey Weinstein’s upstart, The King’s Speech also just one week after the Sony Facebook film’s Globe triumph.Saturday night’s victory by front runner The Artist isn’t inspiring the same comparisons. If the PGA winner had been any thing other than The Artist the race would take on new meaning but instead it went the way most pundits expected and would appear, on the surface at least , to mean the little French black and white silent movie is well on its way to victory at the Oscars. After all the PGA is the first real industry test and it has a good track record matching its winner with the eventual Best Picture Oscar for the past four years (it has missed three others in the last decade though).
It is the first guild to reveal its choice and many members of the PGA are also Oscar voters so it carries a good deal of weight. The glum faces of competitors in the Beverly Hilton lobby afterwards would seem indicate a sense of the seemingly inevitable crowning of The Artist that is beginning to creep into this race. There was no Newt Gingrich surging from behind to overtake the front runner, but as I pointed out to producers of both The Descendants and The Help to name two , it ain’t over ’til its over — and in fact we don’t even get the nominations until Tuesday.
Next weekend with both the DGA and SAG awards is the awards season equivalent of Super Tuesday. This is where one of the rival films is going to have to stop the momentum of Harvey’s little-movie-that-could before its Best Picture fortunes turn into a foregone conclusion and Academy voters start sniffing a winner. It’s a strategy Lionsgate employed in 2005 when Brokeback Mountain seemed just as invincible. The company put everything it had including a DVD screener mailing to the entire membership of SAG in order to help their movie, Crash pull off an upset. And that’s exactly what it did in beating Brokeback for the coveted SAG ensemble prize (their equivalent of Best Picture) and going on to an Oscar victory. Both Descendants and Help are aggressively pursuing the same win and even Universal’s upstart Bridesmaids is hoping for a momentum-snapping win at SAG next Sunday. In fact all five SAG ensemble nominees have sent screeners to the 90,000-plus SAG membership, a pricey move that underlines its strategic and psychological importance. Stranger things have happened and coming as it does just as final Oscar ballots are in the mail could be something to try and slow down The Artist.
Still Thomas Langmann, producer of The Artist , played the
role of underdog in his classy acceptance speech when he said, “we were
just writing a love letter to American cinema. We never dreamed we would
get to taste the American dream”. It went over well in the room,
especially when he pointed out none of them could believe they were in
the same room as Steven Spielberg, much less the same category. Later
in the lobby Executive Producer Richard Middleton told me they really
didn’t dare to dream this big. “(the Director) Michel would
just tell me he hoped to get a nice DVD out of it. It never occurred to
anyone we would be sitting here today. It really didn’t”.While I was congratulating Langmann in the lobby , Harvey Weinstein came up and warned him there is still a long way to go and that nothing should be taken for granted. He recalled being on the opposite side last year when it seemed inevitable Social Network was going to win. In fact last year Harvey didn’t make the trek up to L.A. from Sundance for the night like he did this year. But then this year he knew he might be riding a winner. Harvey looked like the cat that just ate the canary.
As for the show itself this was one of the tightest and certainly best produced PGA awards I have seen. In
fact it was one of the best Guild shows period. The clip reels across
the board were exceptional starting with a hilarious opening montage of
movies featuring actors playing producers. It killed as did a reel
introducing Milestone Award recipient Leslie Moonves that even featured
clips of his (way) past career as a fledgling actor . He wisely gave
that up for the career path he is on now. The clips chosen for Norman
Lear Television Achievement winner (and Oscar show co-producer) Don
Mischer as well as those for David O. Selznick Career Achievement
winner Steven Spielberg were also great. In fact Spielberg was so blown
away by it he asked in his speech who put it together. “I think we
should have them working for us,” he said. His colleague and co-founder
of Dreamworks Jeffrey Katzenberg presented his award saying “no one has
given us so many intimate , unforgettable movie moments as Steven
Spielberg. As director and producer no one has given us more than any
person in movie history.” In accepting Spielberg gave credit to many of
his early mentors in television and later in film, particularly Dick
Zanuck and David Brown , producers of Jaws and his longtime
producing partner (and former PGA head) Kathleen Kennedy. “I love what
this Guild has become, recognizing producing as an indispensible
creative necessity,” he said.
That
definitely seems to be the case and current PGA presidents Mark Gordon
and Hawk Koch announced the Guild is thriving and just welcomed its
5000th member. “J.J. Abrams is number 4999 and Brad Pitt is number
5000,” they said. Pitt, a nominee for Moneyball didn’t win but
his significant other, Angelina Jolie won a standing ovation as she
accepted the socially conscious Stanley Kramer Award for her
Bosnian war-set film, In The Land of Blood and Honey. She said
she was “humbled” by it before singling out her cast who were on all
sides of the early 90′s conflict that became the bloodiest war in Europe
since World War 2. “This belongs to them. It is their story and their
film and by honoring them you remember them and we thank you,” she
said.One of the highlights of the show was a clip Mischer ran in his acceptance detailing the stress he was under while directing the 2002 Winter Olympic games opening ceremony as the skaters who were passing the torch were going so slow the fabled Olympic flame was in danger of burning out. George Clooney also got lots of laughs presenting his former E.R. boss Les Moonves’s award, particularly with a riotous impression of the CBS honcho. Moonves got him back saying, “I think everyone is aware of the last few weeks and what a low profile you have taken,” he quipped . ”Every production is a minor miracle, every TV show, every movie,” he said while giving credit to producers like Mark Burnett and Jerry Bruckheimer for overcoming the odds and turning out hits.
With the 2012 PGA awards now history the march towards Oscar night intensifies and nominees get announced at the crack of dawn Tuesday morning. Will there be surprises? Hope so. We have to keep this thing interesting.
Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt trade views on filmmaking
24 Frames
Producers Guild Awards: 'The Artist' takes home top honors
The Producers Guild of America gave its top prize to "The Artist" Saturday night, confirming the black-and-white film's status as an Oscar front-runner heading into the nominations for the 84th Academy Awards Tuesday morning. The PGA and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have agreed on best picture winners the last four years. Producer Thomas Langmann, the son of acclaimed French actor, writer and director Claude Barri, accepted the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures for "The Artist," which took home the Golden Globe for best motion picture, comedy or musical, earlier this month.
Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the film is a love letter to Hollywood's Golden Age, telling the story of the intersecting fates of silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and plucky song-and-dance gal Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) at the dawn of the talkies. Since making its debut at the Cannes Film Festival last year, the movie has been collecting accolades and acclaim.
"When Michel and I dreamed of making 'The Artist,' we dreamed of writing a love letter to American cinema," Langmann said. "We just didn't know that we would get a taste of the American dream."
But "The Artist" wasn't the only recurring presence on the awards season circuit to take home a prize Saturday at the 23rd annual PGA Awards gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Steven Spielberg's 3D performance capture film "The Adventures of Tintin," based on the work of Belgian artist Herge, won in the PGA's animated film category -- it, too, won a Golden Globe. The director accepted the statuette with his producing partner Kathleen Kennedy; "Tintin's" third nominated producer, Peter Jackson, did not attend the ceremony.
Spielberg, whose other 2011 feature, the stately World War I drama "War Horse," had been nominated alongside "The Artist," also was honored with the David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures. In presenting the award, DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg said of Spielberg, "He's a great storyteller. He's maintained a deep affinity with his audiences."
During his acceptance speech, Spielberg credited his career to the fact that he came across producers who believed in him, refueled his confidence when it ran low and took a chance on him. He explained that an important aspect in making films is "being able to take chances on men and women who deserve a break. No one can succeed alone."
He continued, "For every film and television show nominated tonight, someone reached out and gave a hand. I am grateful to feel all of yours holding mine right now."
Actor Michael Rapaport certainly seemed both grateful and terribly surprised when his documentary about the groundbreaking hip-hop collective A Tribe Called Quest, "Beats, Rhymes and Life," took home honors for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures -- Rapaport, Edward Parks, Frank Mele and Debra Koffler were the honored producers.
"I really can't believe we won," a visible shaken Rapaport said, before coming out with an off-the-cuff expletive.
On the television side, the Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic TV-drama went to HBO's Prohibition era drama "Boardwalk Empire," while ABC's popular sitcom "Modern Family" won the Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic TV, Comedy.
After collecting the first prize of the evening, "Modern Family" producer Danny Zuker appropriately made the audience roar with laughter. "I have to tell you, all through the streets today there was Producer's Guild fever and it's just such a relief for it to all be over."
Comedian Stephen Colbert and the team from Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" won for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television, though Colbert was not on hand to accept. PBS' Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning miniseries "Downtown Abbey" and its trio of producers, Julian Fellowes, Nigel Marchant and Gareth Neame, took home the PGA's long-form television award.
The prize for competition television went to CBS' globe-trotting contest "The Amazing Race" -- honored producers were Jerry Bruckheimer, Elise Doganieri, Jonathan Littman, Bertram van Munster and Mark Vertullo. PBS' "American Masters" duo Susan Lacy and Julie Sacks won for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction TV.
Among the evening's other honorary awards, "Spider-Man" star Tobey Maguire presented comics icon Stan Lee with his Vanguard Award, while television veteran Don Mischer accepted the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television. Both men received a standing ovation in the ballroom, as did actress Angelina Jolie, who was given the Stanley Kramer Award for her feature directorial debut, "In the Land of Blood and Honey," a love story set against the backdrop of the Bosnian war.
CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves won the Milestone Award, which was presented to him by George Clooney. After his own standing ovation, Moonves quipped that "there is no one in the world I would change places with, except this guy," and promptly pointed to Clooney.
The evening also saw Alicia Keys perform a rendition of her Jay-Z duet "Empire State of Mind" and her song "No One."
-- Susan King and Jasmine Elist
Inside the Producers Guild Awards with Spielberg and Jolie: 'The Artist' Wins Again
Awards byAngelina Jolie Accepts the Stanley Kramer Award:
After being introduced by Morgan Freeman as "producer, director, writer and woman of my dreams," a visibly moved Angelina Jolie took the stage to accept the Stanley Kramer award. Speaking to the audience and also pointedly to Spielberg she said, "In the early '90's, great filmmakers were standing on stages like this being recognized for "Schindler's List"... We meant it when we said 'Never again.' But at that same time in film history, the war in Bosnia was in full force - concentration camps, rape camps, and mass executions. And the world turned a blind eye. The cast of 'Blood and Honey' were all personally affected by that war... This [award] belongs to them, and in honoring [this film] you honor them."
“The Artist” Wins Producers Guild, Angelina Makes Impassioned Speech
Roger Friedman
Our own LEAH SYDNEY reports from Hollywood: Thomas Langmann, the son of late famed French film director Claude Berri, won the Producers Guild of America award last night for bringing “The Artist” to the screen. It was presented to him by Annette Bening.
“The Artist,” from the Weinstein Company, is now set to garner many
Oscar nominations on Tuesday. At a pre-panel for the PGA yesterday, even
Steven Spielberg praised Michel Hazanavicius‘s extraordinary silent black and while film for its genius. It was quite an evening for the PGA: Alicia Keys performed, and other awards went to the The Colbert Report, Moden Family, Boardwalk Empire, CBS chief Les Moonves (who’s kept CBS a consistent winner), and to Steven Spielberg‘s “The Adventures of Tin Tin.”
Some notes from Leah: Morgan Freeman gave the Stanley Kramer Award to Angelina Jolie for her debut film “In The Land of Blood and Honey.” Freeman said Jolie, the director made “a powerful visceral film made by brave and bold artist…Here is the writer, producer director and woman of my dreams.” Angelina then came on and gave a truly a beautiful , earnest speech that had the crowd mesmerized.
“To be in any way associated with Stanley Kramer is such an honor. It’s extraordinary and we are humbled.” She then went on and said “to my family bcause without them nothing is possible and I have nothing. ‘Schindler’s List’ was honored here,” she said, looking at Spielberg. “It was an extraordinary film and we meant it when we said never again. But at that exact time in Bosnia in 1994 the war was happening there, 40 minutes away from Italy the world turned a blind eye. It took great bravery and personal hardship for them to tell their story. But they did so so that in years to come someone will not be accepting an award for a war that is happening now. Sadly that will probably be the case. By honoring this film you are honoring them as well for that we are grateful.”
Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee also won an award, presented to him by Tobey Maguire, his last “Spider Man.” Awards were also won by Masterpiece Theater, and “The Amazing Race.”
Leah reports that right before the show Moonves –kidding that he had no acceptance speech– asked writer director Judd Apatow to help him. Apatow quipped, “Does that mean you’re going to hire me now?” Stan Lee told Leah his biggest problem these days is being mistaken for Brad Pitt. (Long hair, scruffy beards.)
On a personal note, I know how much winning the PGA means to Langmann for “The Artist.” As a child in occupied France, his father was given to a Christian family rather than be killed in the Holocaust. Years later, his mother, a beloved woman, killed herself. The Holocaust story has hung over his family like a dark shadow. His father, who directed “Jean de Florette,” died two years ago. The surprise success of “The Artist” has been a miracle. Many congratulations.
Ministry of Gossip Home
Some notes from Leah: Morgan Freeman gave the Stanley Kramer Award to Angelina Jolie for her debut film “In The Land of Blood and Honey.” Freeman said Jolie, the director made “a powerful visceral film made by brave and bold artist…Here is the writer, producer director and woman of my dreams.” Angelina then came on and gave a truly a beautiful , earnest speech that had the crowd mesmerized.
“To be in any way associated with Stanley Kramer is such an honor. It’s extraordinary and we are humbled.” She then went on and said “to my family bcause without them nothing is possible and I have nothing. ‘Schindler’s List’ was honored here,” she said, looking at Spielberg. “It was an extraordinary film and we meant it when we said never again. But at that exact time in Bosnia in 1994 the war was happening there, 40 minutes away from Italy the world turned a blind eye. It took great bravery and personal hardship for them to tell their story. But they did so so that in years to come someone will not be accepting an award for a war that is happening now. Sadly that will probably be the case. By honoring this film you are honoring them as well for that we are grateful.”
Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee also won an award, presented to him by Tobey Maguire, his last “Spider Man.” Awards were also won by Masterpiece Theater, and “The Amazing Race.”
Leah reports that right before the show Moonves –kidding that he had no acceptance speech– asked writer director Judd Apatow to help him. Apatow quipped, “Does that mean you’re going to hire me now?” Stan Lee told Leah his biggest problem these days is being mistaken for Brad Pitt. (Long hair, scruffy beards.)
On a personal note, I know how much winning the PGA means to Langmann for “The Artist.” As a child in occupied France, his father was given to a Christian family rather than be killed in the Holocaust. Years later, his mother, a beloved woman, killed herself. The Holocaust story has hung over his family like a dark shadow. His father, who directed “Jean de Florette,” died two years ago. The surprise success of “The Artist” has been a miracle. Many congratulations.
Ministry of Gossip Home
Angelina Jolie honored at Producers Guild Awards
Angelina Jolie was the woman of the night at the Producers Guild Awards, honored with the Stanley Kramer Award for her work on "In the Land of Blood and Honey.
It was recognition that caused A-lister Jolie to turn into a giddy
little girl when she heard the news, she told the Ministry on Saturday
night."What I hope is that our film helps people not forget the past," said Jolie, whose directorial effort is set against the backdrop of the Bosnian war and the violence in the Serbian-run detention camps. "I want people to see what these people have gone through and that they are able to tell their story through their bravery. Their story matters."
PHOTOS: The scene at the Producers Guild Awards
Karen Sharpe Kramer, widow of director Stanley Kramer, said that the award in his name was created to honor socially conscious filmmaking and when it came time to decide on this year's recipient, it was a "hands-down" vote for "Blood and Honey."
"I think women are better directors of violence for film," Kramer said boldly. "Genocide continues throughout the world, and if a film like this can keep being seen, we can help bring an end to the violence."
When asked if she would give up her career as an actor to continue directing, Jolie quickly and confidently said, "Definitely."
"I would love to not be in front of camera. It's nice to shine a spotlight on another actor," she said -- as rows of cameras snapped photos of her standing elegantly in a black Michael Kors gown with lace detail.
Producers Guild Awards red carpet: Angelina Jolie, Jessica Chastain go black to basics -- PHOTOS
An A-list crowd packed the seats at last night’s Producers Guild Awards, but its red carpet was anything but flashy. Celebrities chose to go demure for the event, with many deciding that black was best. (Just see perennial red carpet stunners Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who continue to prove this awards season that they’re better looking than we’ll ever be. Not that we’re bitter or anything.)
Injured Brad Pitt: No More Cane, But...
Just because Brad Pitt is no longer wobbling around on a cane, that doesn't mean he's in the clear.
The Moneyball actor says there's still work to be done on his busted knee...
"It's better," Pitt told me exclusively last night at the 23rd annual Producers Guild Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. "I have to wear a brace for a month."
The world's most famous father of six injured his knee earlier this month when he took a fall while carrying daughter Vivienne.
Angelina Jolie has said the pain never actually slowed Mr. Pitt down. "He's not that kind of guy," she told reporters at the Palm Springs International Film Festival shortly after the accident. "He still does everything."
A busted knee isn't the only thing I talked about with Pitt. Come back here later on for more scoop. Also, I'll tell you what Jolie told me about quitting acting.
