By PETE HAMMOND | 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.
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
Awards
by
Beth Hanna
Angelina 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."
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
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.
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.)
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."
"Then I'll have rehab," he said. "I'll be alright as long as the kids don't hit me from the side."
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.
Bad fish, big pond
Celebs gather at Producers Guild Awards
Hollywood showed its love for last year's movies and its disappointment
in Saturday night's dinner at the Producers Guild of America Awards.
While presenting the Milestone Award to Leslie Moonves, George Clooney
sounded off about "that fucking fish. "I'm not sure what it was, but it
came from the L.A. River," Clooney said from the Beverly Hilton stage.
Graham King and Brad Pitt attend the Variety's 2012 PGA Nominees Breakfast at Landmark Nuart Theatre.
Other A-list presenters included Kathy Bates, Viola Davis, Jessica
Chastain and Morgan Freeman, who described honoree Angelina Jolie as
"producer, director, writer ... the woman of my dreams."
Morgan Freeman presents the Stanley Kramer Award to Angelina Jolie.
Accepting the David O. Selznick Achievement Award, Steven
Spielberg took time to thank his wife, Kate Capshaw, "who so innocently
asked me last night if David O. Selznick was Irish. He's the other -
ish."
Kathleen Kennedy offers congrats to Steven Spielberg, who receives David O. Selznick Award.
Earlier in the day, Spielberg also provoked big laughs at the PGA
Awards 2012 Nominees Breakfast, presented by Variety, when he answered a
question about where he had gotten his inspiration to produce "War
Horse."
"My wife saw the play and said, 'You've got to do this,'" he revealed at the Landmark Theaters confab.
"Bridesmaids" producer Barry Mendel said that pic's director,
Paul Feig, shot a massive amount of footage -- 1.2 million feet --
in order to be assured that the comedy was captured.
George Clooney segues from fish to pics at PGA Awards.
"Ides of March" producer Grant Heslov recalled that he and
Clooney had originally set up their adaptation of the stage play when
Barack Obama was running for president. "We didn't think that a very
cynical look at politics would play well at the point when Obama had
been elected," he noted. "About a year went by and we said, 'Maybe we
can do this.'"
Michael Manheim and Judd Apatow flank PGA prexy Mark Gordon at the Beverly Hilton.
First Published: January 23, 2012 5:15 PM EST Credit: Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption With
award season in full swing, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been
stepping out night after night in support of their numerous films. On
Saturday, Access Hollywood caught up with the power couple at the
Producer’s Guild Awards, where the actress-turned-writer/director was
honored.
Brad told Access that
he’s overjoyed with his ladylove’s success with her directorial feature
debut, “In the Land of Blood and Honey.”
“I
am very proud of her,” Brad said of Angelina, who was awarded the
Producer’s Guild Stanley Kramer Award. “I remember the morning she woke
up and said, ‘I’m going to write something,’ and six months later, she’s
shooting.
“I know what it means
to her and the people of the country and uniting people on both sides,”
he said of the film, which is set during the Bosnian War. “It’s no small
feat.”
And though the couple both
have films with Oscar nomination buzz, they both told Access they might
be preoccupied with other things come Tuesday morning.
“I’m sure we’ll be busy with the kids,” Angelina explained.
A modest Brad, who could be nominated for his film, “Moneyball,” added, “I haven’t thought it.”
.
