Interview: Jonathan Robbins, star of Out With Dad

Out with Jonathan Robbins

by Allan Tong

Jonathan Robbins is dad in Out With Dad, the most successful Canadian web series today with over 24 million viewers across all platforms, averaging more than 300,000 views per month online, and attracting over 35,000 Subscribers on YouTube. The numbers are all the more impressive when you considered that the show is almost entirely audience-funded. The drama is about about teenager Rose coming of age and coming out of the closet with the support of her single father. At this Sunday's week's Canadian Screen Awards, Out With Dad is up for Best Original Program or Series produced for Digital Media – Fiction. Jonathan is also the creator of Clutch, a crime/thriller web series.

Chino Kino chatted with Jonathan at the start of CSA week in Toronto:

2015 Canadian Screen Awards – Winners in Drama, Children's or Youth, Comedy and Variety

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is pleased to announce that 48 Canadian Screen Awards were presented tonight in Drama, Children's or Youth, Comedy and Variety categories. This Canadian Screen Awards Gala was hosted tonight by comedian Darrin Rose at the Sheraton Centre Toronto.

"The Academy is honoured tonight to be able to recognize the creators and artists of Canada's favorite drama, comedy, and kids' television programming, that entertain and inspire us," says Academy Chair, Martin Katz.

"You - the producers, artists and craftspeople of the Canadian screen industry are critical to this country," says Helga Stephenson, Academy CEO. "The arts - and more specifically, our moving image arts- define us and connect us," she adds.

Hot Docs announces a selection of 17 Special Presentations for the 2015 festival

Hot Docs is pleased to announce 17 documentary features that will be a part of this year’s Special Presentations program, a high-profile collection of world and international premieres, award-winners from the recent international festival circuit and works by master filmmakers or featuring some star subjects. These films will screen as part of the 2015 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, running April 23 to May 3.

The complete Special Presentations program and the full selection of films to screen at Hot Docs 2015 will be announced on March 17, including the 2015 opening night film. Ticket packages and passes are now on sale online. Single tickets and package redemption will be available beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2015.

2015 Canadian Screen Awards – Winners in News & Sports, Documentary, Lifestyle, Reality and Digital Media

by Allan Tong

The first round of Canadian Screen Awards were handed out last night at a gala dinner, celebrating 46 categories in news, factual television and some digital media. The event was hosted by comedian Darrin Rose at the Sheraton Centre Toronto. Highlights include:

Our Man in Tehran which captured Best Direction in a Documentary Program by Drew Taylor and Larry Weinstein as well as best documentary program and Best Picture Editing in a Documentary Program or Series for Steve Weslak and Best Sound in that category. It won all five categories for which it was nominated.

HGTV's Income Property winning Best Lifestyle or Talk Program or Series and Best Direction in a Lifestyle/Practical Information Program or Series.

CBC News: Toronto capturing Best Local Newscast, including co-anchor Anne-Marie Mediwake (pictured here).

Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) announces 19th annual WGC Screenwriting Awards finalists

The Writers Guild of Canada is pleased to announce the finalists for the 19th annual WGC Screenwriting Awards. The WGC Screenwriting Awards celebrate the excellence of Canada’s screenwriters with a gala event on April 27, 2015, at Toronto’s Koerner Hall.

This year more than 150 scripts were nominated for awards in seven categories, with 29 scripts chosen as finalists. In total, 53 screenwriters are up for awards. Several special awards, including the WGC Showrunner Award, the Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize, and the Sondra Kelly Award, will also be presented.

87th annual Academy Awards – winners

The 87th annual Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2014 were presented tonight at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The host for the event was Neil Patrick Harris.

The surprising big winner of the night was Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. It won the top prizes of Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, each of which included Iñárritu as winner. It also picked up a second win in a row for cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki who won for last year's Gravity. However, the film's star Michael Keaton did not win in his narrow race with Eddie Redmayne for Best Actor.

Also picking up four awards was Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel. It won for Makeup and Hairstyling, Costume Design, Production Design and for Original Score – the first win in this category for the prolific Alexandre Desplat.

2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards – winners

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, Los Angeles Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA, handed out top honors to Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Boyhood, Whiplash and Nightcrawler at this afternoon’s 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards. Still Alice, Dear White People, Ida, Land Ho! and CITIZENFOUR also received awards at the ceremony, which was held in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. Inherent Vice received the Robert Altman Award and Foxcatcher received a Special Distinction Award. In addition to being the celebration that honors artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers whose films embody independence and originality, the Spirit Awards is the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs.

Over the past 30 years, the Film Independent Spirit Awards has made a name for itself as the premiere awards show for the independent film community. Artists who have received industry recognition first at the Spirit Awards include Joel and Ethan Coen, Spike Lee, Oliver Stone, Ashley Judd, Robert Rodriguez, David O. Russell, Edward Burns, Aaron Eckhart, Neil LaBute, Darren Aronofsky, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Hilary Swank, Marc Forster, Todd Field, Christopher Nolan, Zach Braff, Amy Adams, Lena Dunham and many more.

Film Review: The Wrecking Crew

Writer/Director: Denny Tedesco
Producer: Denny Tedesco, Suzie Tedesco, Jon Leonoudakis, Mitchell Linden, Claire Scanlon
Cast: Herb Alpert, Brian Wilson, Don Randi, Cher, Micky Dolenz, Nancy Sinatra, Jimmy Webb, Lou Adler, Carol Kaye, Hal Blaine, Roger McGuinn, Earl Palmer, Al Casey, Don Randi, Tommy Tedesco
Music Documentary
1 hour, 35 minutes

They were the unsungs heroes behind so many hits from L.A. in the sixties: “Be My Baby,” The Byrds' “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “You've Lost That Loving Feeling,” “California Dreaming,” “River Deep Mountain High,” the early Monkees, and all of The Beach Boys' legendary Pet Sounds.

This loose collection of studio session players were never credited on album sleeves, but were revered by other musicians for their sheer ability to play Latin, jazz, rock, blues and country effortlessly and reliably.

ACTRA Awards in Toronto 2015 – winners

ACTRA Toronto is proud to announce the winners of the 13th Annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto.

"The performers honoured tonight make us proud to be Canadian," said David Sparrow, President of ACTRA Toronto. "They show off Canada to Canada and to the rest of the world in all its marvelous diversity. And they do it with unique and outstanding talent."

The annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto were presented at The Carlu on February 20, 2015. The gala evening was hosted by Arisa Cox with live music by God Made Me Funky.

ACTRA Toronto is the largest organization within ACTRA, representing more than 15,000 of Canada's 22,000 professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. As an advocate for Canadian culture since 1943, ACTRA is a member-driven union that continues to secure rights and respect for the work of professional performers.

ICG 52nd Annual Publicists Awards – winners

More than 900 Hollywood publicity and marketing executives, producers, studio and network executives, celebrities and press gathered for the International Cinematographers Guild 52nd Annual Publicists Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel today, chaired by Henri Bollinger and co-chaired by Tim Menke.

In his opening remarks Steven Poster, ASC., president of the International Cinematographers Guild, in noting the theme of this year’s luncheon, said, “We live in the age of social media and there’s no turning back. That’s why we appreciate social media today and celebrate the talented publicists who are making it work for the dynamic entertainment industry we’re proud to be part of. We have a lot of very impressive people here today, all thanks to our talented publicists.”

Film Review: What We Do In The Shadows

Writer/Director: Taika Waititi & Jemaine Clement
Producer: Taika Waititi, Chelsea Winstanley, Emanuel Michael
Cast: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Rhys Darby, Jonathan Brugh, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Stu Rutherford
Mockumentary Comedy Horror film
1 hour, 25 minutes

What's it really like to be a vampire? This insanely funny mockumentary from New Zealand answers that question by hanging out with Viago, Vladislav, Deacon, and Petyr, four bloodsuckers who share a house in Wellington.

After sunset, they rise and three of them prowl the clubs for fresh blood. (The fourth one, Petyr, looks his age which is 8,000 years old so he stays locked inside his closet. The arrogant one, Deacon, has a human servant named Jackie to run errands for him, like wash his blood-soaked garments and invite unwitting old school classmates to the vampires' home for "dinner." The vampires accept another mortal as a friend, a quiet I.T. guy named Stu, who teaches them how to use modern technology. The vampires live in a sort of frat house and, apart from sucking blood out of people, are good lads.

Canadian Film Fest announces 2015 lineup

Tickets go on sale March 10 at canfilmfest.ca

Executive Director of the Canadian Film Fest (CFF), Bern Euler, has announced the lineup for 2015 CFF, which will open and close with the Toronto premieres of two Toronto-shot films – Murray Foster’s THE COCKSURE LADS MOVIE and Matt Sadowski’s PRETEND WE’RE KISSING. This year’s festival will present eight feature films and 16 short films over its four-day run.

“The CFF has expanded from three to four days, and this year’s lineup is a testament to the wealth of diversity present in the Canadian film industry,” said Bern Euler, Executive Director, Canadian Film Fest. “We’re very proud to celebrate the talent that is present and emerging in our own backyard.”

12th annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival in Toronto announces lineup

Lineup includes films from established and emerging directors including Joshua Oppenheimer, Wim Wenders, Patricio Henriquez and Hajooj Kuka

TIFF and Human Rights Watch co-present the 12th annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival in Toronto, with a powerful lineup of eight films that recount extraordinary stories of struggle, survival and hope. Showcasing cinema at the forefront of the human rights movement, the festival aims to draw attention to human rights violations worldwide through brave films from countries including Canada, Indonesia, Sudan, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Palestine, Guatemala, the United States and Hungary.

Running from March 24 to April 2 at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the festival kicks off with an opening night fundraising reception followed by the Canadian premiere of The One That Got Away, a documentary chronicling the strength and endurance of the human spirit, and closes with Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story, the inspiring story of an ex-Navy SEAL’s lifelong struggle to find her true identity. Additional highlights include the Toronto premiere of the Academy Award-nominated The Salt of the Earth, a stunning visual odyssey of the world as seen through the eyes of one of the greatest image-makers of the last century, and The Look of Silence, a morally complex, exquisitely crafted work that promises to provoke far-reaching ripples of dialogue. Complete film lineup listed below. All screenings are accompanied by introductions or discussions by filmmakers, Human Rights Watch researchers or film subject experts. Visit tiff.net/humanrightswatch for additional guest information leading up to the festival.

17th annual Costume Designers Guild Awards – winners

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Into The Woods and Birdman took home the top awards at the Costume Designers Guild Awards last night.

Milena Canonero's creations for the The Grand Budapest Hotel won the Excellence in Period Film prize while Colleen Atwood was presented with the Excellence in Fantasy Film award for her costumes in the fairytale adventure Into The Woods, starring Meryl Streep and James Corden.
Both films have also been nominated in the Academy Awards costume category.

Albert Wolsky took home the Excellence in Contemporary Film prize for his costumes in the Michael Keaton-fronted drama Birdman, which was presented by Beau Bridges, with True Detective and Game of Thrones taking home the Outstanding Contemporary Television Series and Outstanding Period/Fantasy Television Series respectively.

American Society of Cinematographers presents 29th ASC Awards – winners

Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC; Jonathan Freeman, ASC; John Lindley, ASC; and Peter Flinckenberg, FSC earned top honors in the four competitive categories at the 29th Annual American Society of Cinematographers Awards for Outstanding Achievement. The ceremony took place last night at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Lubezki won for the feature film Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Freeman won the episodic television category for Boardwalk Empire, and Lindley took the honours in the TV Movie/Miniseries/Pilot category for Manhattan. Winning the ASC Spotlight Award was Flinckenberg for Concrete Night.

Giovanni Ribisi presented the ASC Award for best feature to Lubezki, who also won the organization’s top prize last year for Gravity. This marks the first time that a cinematographer has won consecutive ASC Awards in the theatrical category. Lubezki previously won in 2012 for The Tree of Life and in 2007 for Children of Men, and earned a nomination in 2000 for Sleepy Hollow.

Motion Picture Sound Editors present the 2015 Golden Reel Awards – winners

The Motion Picture Sound Editors held their gala awards ceremony for the 62nd annual Golden Reel Awards last night. The event was held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites in downtown Los Angeles.

The MPSE spread their awards around in all of the categories, choosing a different winner for each. For the main film prizes, American Sniper and Unbroken won the Feature English Language slots for Effects/Foley and Dialogue/ADR respectively. Birdman won for Feature Music, while Get On Up won for Feature Musical.

Cinema Audio Society's 51st CAS Awards – winners

The Cinema Audio Society Awards held their 51st CAS Awards in the Crystal Ballroom of the Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore Hotel. The event was hosted by radio personality Doug McIntyre.

The top CAS Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing Motion Picture - Live Action was presented to the sound mixing team for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). The prize for Motion Picture - Animation went to sound mixing team for Big Hero 6.

Among other highlights, the Oscar nominated director of Boyhood Richard Linklater, received the CAS Filmmaker Award in a presentation that included remarks by Christopher Nolan, John Pritchett, CAS and Tricia Linklater. Linklater joins an impressive list of previous CAS Filmmakers Honorees including: Quentin Tarantino, Gil Cates, Bill Condon, Paul Mazursky, Henry Selick, Taylor Hackford, Rob Marshall, Jonathan Demme and Edward Zwick.

2015 Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards – winners

The Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild tonight announced winners of its Annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards in 19 categories of film, television, commercials and live theater during the black-tie ceremony at the Paramount Studios Theatre. The awards took place before an audience of more than 500, including guild members, industry executives and press. MUAHS President Sue Cabral-Ebert presided over the awards ceremony with Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs) serving as host.

Golden Globe®-winner Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy)presented the Distinguished Artisan Award to his longtime friend and collaborator Guillermo Del Toro (Crimson Peak). Acclaimed director John Landis presented the Make-Up Artist Lifetime Achievement Award to Oscar®-winning make-up legend Rick Baker. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) President Cheryl Boone Isaacs presented the Hair Stylist Lifetime Achievement Award to Emmy® Award-winning hair stylist Kathryn Blondell.

2015 Writers Guild Awards – winners

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) tonight announced the winners of the 2015 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for film, television, new media, videogames, news, radio, promotional, and graphic animation categories at simultaneous ceremonies at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles and the Edison Ballroom in New York City.

Emmy-winning Friends actress and The Comeback star/Co-Creator Lisa Kudrow hosted the West Coast WGA ceremony, which was executive produced by Hugh Fink. Presenters who appeared at the WGAW's L.A. awards ceremony included: Golden Globe-winning actor Steve Carell (The Office), an Oscar nominee this year for Best Actor in Foxcatcher, Golden Globe-winning and Oscar-nominated actress Patricia Arquette (Boyhood), Parks and Recreation co-star Adam Scott, Suburgatory co-star Cheryl Hines, actor Sir Patrick Stewart (X-Men: Days of Future Past), actor James Corden (Into the Woods), set to host CBS' The Late, Late Show in March, Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-stars Chelsea Peretti and Terry Crews, Playing House co-stars Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, actress Abigail Spencer (Rectify), actor Zachary Levi (Chuck), About a Boy co-star Benjamin Stockham, and comedian Bob Saget (Full House).

65th Berlin International Film Festival awards – winners

Tonight was the official closing night awards ceremony for the 65th Berlin International Film Festival.

The night's top prize, the Golden Bear for Best Film, went to Taxi by Jafar Panahi. Because Panahi has been unable to leave Iran after his 2010 conviction on charges of "making propaganda," the award was accepted on his behalf by his young niece Hanna Saeidi. The International Jury consisted of Darren Aronofsky (President), Daniel Brühl, Bong Joon-ho, Martha De Laurentiis, Claudia Llosa, Audrey Tautou and Matthew Weiner.

The Best Director Silver Bear was shared by Radu Jude for Aferim! and Małgorzata Szumowska for Body. Both acting Silver Bears went to Andrew Haigh's 45 Years stars Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. Patricio Guzmán won the Best Script prize for his film El botón de nácar (The Pearl Button)

TIFF's Food on Film fuses culinary experts and brilliant cinema

Guests include Wylie Dufresne, Chad Robertson and Vikram Vij
March 11 to June 24 at TIFF Bell Lightbox

Back for its fourth season, TIFF’s popular subscription series Food on Film brings together chefs, food experts and film lovers to enjoy the best of culinary cinema and conversation. Each month, series host Matt Galloway (CBC’s Metro Morning) welcomes celebrated guests from the culinary world to discuss topical and timely food themes, and to explore the intersections of cinema, culture and gastronomy. Launching March 11, the series presents six events that each feature a screening followed by a fascinating and lively discussion.

Food on Film screenings will take place Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. The first 150 subscribers receive a $50 gift card to Momofuku Toronto and a one year print subscription to Toronto Life magazine.

Prism Prize for Best Canadian Music Video of 2014 – finalists

Short-List Announcement For Best Canadian Music Video of 2014

The Prism Prize is thrilled to announce the Top Ten Best Canadian Music Videos of 2014, as voted by a jury of more than 120 industry professionals from the worlds of music, film, broadcast and web media. After viewing hundreds of music videos released in 2014, jurors selected the Prism Prize Top Ten based on originality, creativity, style, innovation and effective execution. The jury will vote once more to determine the Prism Prize winner, who will receive a $5,000 Grand Prize at the Awards Presentation on March 29, 2015 at TIFF Bell Lightbox. For the first time ever the Prism Prize Awards Presentation will be open to the public. Tickets are available at www.prismprize.com/tickets

Call for submissions: Toronto International Film Festival

Film submissions for the 40th annual Toronto International Film Festival, running from September 10-20, 2015, is now open. The deadline for submission is May 1. The late submission deadline is May 29.

The festival accepts films from Canada and anywhere around the world, both short films and features. This is their second year accepting international short films. To submit a film, you must register via Withoutabox.com.

TIFF prefers that all short and feature films presented are, at minimum, North American premieres. They will accept submissions that have already premiered in North America, but the film’s premiere status will be taken into consideration when final programming decisions are made.

57th annual Grammy Awards – winners

Last night, the Recording Academy held their 57th Annual Grammy Awards ceremonies, with a pre-telecast event at the Nokia Theater and the telecast show at the Staples Center. Generally, the telecast was a dull affair. Most of the performers did slow, sombre numbers. The notable exception was Sia's "Chandelier" which had Kristen Wiig dancing in costume and a wig.

Sam Smith was the night's biggest winner, taking three of the four big awards. He won for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist, as well as Best Pop Vocal Album.

The other major award Album of the Year went to the surprise winner Beck for Morning Phase. Kanye only half-jokingly went up on stage with him to pull a Kanye (as he did with Taylor Swift in 2009), however he turned around and returned to his seat. Beck also won for Best Rock Album and Best Engineered Album – Non-Classical.

2015 EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) – Winners Announced

The winners of the EE British Academy Film Awards have been announced at the ceremony hosted by Stephen Fry at the Royal Opera House, London, on Sunday 8 February 2015

At tonight’s EE British Academy Film Awards Boyhood was named Best Film with Richard Linklater winning Director and Patricia Arquette receiving the award for Supporting Actress. The Awards were hosted for a tenth year by Stephen Fry and held at London’s Royal Opera House.

The Grand Budapest Hotel won five awards: Costume Design, Production Design, Make Up & Hair and Original Music, with Wes Anderson winning his first BAFTA for Original Screenplay.

Directors Guild of America announces 67th annual DGA Awards – winners

The winners of the Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement Awards for 2014 were announced tonight during the 67th Annual DGA Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Alejandro G. Iñárritu won the DGA’s Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).

Actor Jane Lynch hosted the ceremony before an audience of more than 1,600 guests. Presenters included (in alphabetical order): DGA President Paris Barclay; Chadwick Boseman; Pierce Brosnan; Glen Charles; Les Charles; Bradley Cooper; Alfonso Cuarón; Julie Delpy; Jodie Foster; Taraji P. Henson; January Jones; Michael Mann; Lea Michele; Don Mischer; Bill Murray; Katey Sagal; Steven Spielberg; Barbra Streisand; and DGA First Vice President Betty Thomas.

Visual Effects Society announces winners of the 13th Annual VES Awards

Big Hero 6 is the Big Hero with 5 Awards
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Tops the Feature Film Category
Game of Thrones and SSE Lead in Broadcast and Commercial Wins
Zoe Saldana, Jason Clarke, Djimon Hounsou, Clark Gregg and Patton Oswalt Join Overflow Crowd of VFX Artists, Innovators and Industry VIPs

Today, the Visual Effects Society (VES), the industry’s global professional honorary society, held the 13th Annual VES Awards, the prestigious yearly celebration that recognizes outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in film, animation, television, commercials, video games and special venues. Comedian Patton Oswalt served as host to the more than 1000 guests gathered at the Beverly Hilton to celebrate VFX talent in 23 awards categories. Big Hero 6 was the big winner of the evening garnering five awards. The teams from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (feature film), Game of Thrones (broadcast) and SSE (commercial) led the wins in their respective categories, taking home three awards each.

Toronto International Film Festival chooses London, England for 2015 City to City spotlight

The Toronto International Film Festival® today announced that the 2015 City to City programme will focus on London, England. The City to City selection will be curated by Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF, and Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival.

“From Alfred Hitchcock to Steve McQueen, England has a remarkable tradition of filmmaking and the city of London is one of the premiere film centres in the world,” said Handling. “We’re looking forward to shining the Festival spotlight on this city and to bringing the cinema of London to Toronto audiences.”

“Our annual screening trip to London is always both breathtaking and heartbreaking. We’ve been awed by the talent in this global city and disappointed that we can’t invite all the films we’d like to,” said Bailey. “This year’s spotlight on London filmmaking will be a rare opportunity to revel in the riches London has to offer. It’s also a chance to celebrate the city where I was born.”

19th annual Art Directors Guild Excellence In Production Design Awards – winners

The Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800) tonight announced winners of its 19th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards, in eleven categories of film, television, commercials and music videos during a black-tie ceremony at the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. The awards took place before an audience of more than 850, including guild members, industry executives and press. ADG President Mimi Gramatky and Council Chair Marcia Hinds presided over the awards ceremony with comedian Owen Benjamin serving as host.

Christopher Nolan received the Guild’s prestigious Cinematic Imagery Award presented by Anne Hathaway, star of Interstellar, currently nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Production Design. George Clooney presented Production Designer Jim Bissell with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Senior Illustrator Camille Abbott, Senior Set Designer John P. Bruce and Scenic Artist Will Ferrell also were recipients of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Awards, the first year that the Guild has presented this award to all four crafts that comprise Local 800. Hall of Fame inductees were awarded to legendary Production Designers John Gabriel Beckman, Charles Lisanby and Walter H. Tyler. Production Designer Co-Chairs Dave Blass and James Pearse Connelly produced the 19th Annual ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards.

27th USC Libraries Scripter Award goes to The Imitation Game

Screenwriter Graham Moore and author Andrew Hodges received the 27th-annual USC Libraries Scripter Award for The Imitation Game. Selection committee chair Howard Rodman announced the winners at the black-tie event on Saturday, Jan. 31, at USC’s historic Doheny Memorial Library.

Moore based his adaptation on “Alan Turing: The Enigma,” a 1983 biography by Hodges of the brilliant British World War II code-breaker and computer pioneer who was later persecuted for his homosexuality. Rodman accepted the award on behalf of Hodges, who teaches mathematics at Oxford University’s Wadham College.

“Alan Turing never got to stand on a stage and hear people applaud his name,” Moore said in his acceptance speech. “And I do right now, and that is a profound injustice. All that I can do is spend the rest of my life endeavoring to repair it.”

42nd Annual Annie Awards – winners

DreamWorks Animations How to Train Your Dragon 2 took Best Animated Feature top honors at the 42nd Annual Annie Awards held Saturday, January 31 at UCLAs Royce Hall. The Best Animated Special Production was awarded to Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (Voyager Pictures LLC); Best Animated Short Subject Feast (Walt Disney Animation Studios); Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial Flight of the Stories (Aardman Animations); Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children Tumble Leaf (Amazon Studios); Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production for Childrens Audience Gravity Falls (Disney Television Animation); Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production The Simpsons (Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox Television); Best Animated Video Game Valiant Hearts: The Great War (Ubisoft); and Best Student Film My Big Brother (Savannah College of Art and Design, Jason Rayner).