"The Hurt Locker" and "Avatar" dominate with nine Oscar nominations each

This year's Academy Award nominations held few surprises for anyone who has been keeping tabs during Awards Season. Blockbuster "Avatar" and independent breakout "The Hurt Locker" racked up the most nominations with nine each. Both films are in the race for two of the big night's most coveted trophies - Best Picture and Best Director. Other acclaimed films that scored a handful of nominations include "Crazy Heart," "Precious: A Novel by Sapphire," "The Blind Side," "Up in the Air," and "An Education." MakingOf has covered all of the contenders extensively over the past few months and I would personally like to thank the nominees for taking time to share their insight with MakingOf. We are delighted to share highlights from our coverage of the most nominated films.

Avatar
"Avatar" Performance Capture Featurette - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1163/-avatar-performance-capture-featurette

The Blind Side
"The Blind Side" Featurette - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/719/-the-blind-side-featurette

Crazy Heart
Jeff Bridges Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/891/jeff-bridges-discusses-crazy-heart
Maggie Gyllenhal Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/890/maggie-gyllenhal-discusses-crazy-heart
Director Scott Cooper Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/897/scott-cooper-discusses-crazy-heart
Robert Duvall Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/933/robert-duvall-discusses-crazy-heart
Trailer - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/732/-crazy-heart-trailer

District 9
"District 9" Featurette - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/689/-district-9-featurette
Director Neill Blomkamp Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/296/neill-blomkamp-on-his-first-feature

An Education
Carey Mulligan Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/881/carey-mulligan-discusses-an-education
Alfred Molina & Dominic Cooper Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/452/alfred-molina-and-dominic-cooper-on-acting
Director Lone Scherfig Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/364/director-lone-scherfig-on-an-education
"Goodnight" film clip - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/386/goodnight

The Hurt Locker
Kathryn Bigelow Interview - http://makingof.com/insiders/artist/247/kathryn-bigelow
Behind-the-Scenes Featurette - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/676/behind-the-scenes-of-the-hurt-locker

Inglourious Basterds
On-set Footage - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/997/on-set-of-inglourious-basterds

Invictus
Director Clint Eastwood Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/821/director-producer-clint-eastood
Morgan Freeman Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/826/morgan-freeman-discusses-nelson-mandela
"Invictus" Trailer - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/620/-invictus-trailer
"The People are Wrong" - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/808/-the-people-are-wrong

Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Director Lee Daniels on-set - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/639/lee-daniels-directing-on-the-set-of-precious

A Serious Man
The Cast of "A Serious Man" In Conversation - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/367/in-conversation-a-serious-man-cast
The Coen Bros. directing "A Serious Man" - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/449/the-coen-brothers-directing

The Last Station
Director Michael Hoffman Interview -http://makingof.com/film/155/the-last-station
Paul Giamatti and Kerry Condon Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1121/paul-giamatti-and-kerry-condon
"The Last Station" film clip - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1104/-the-last-station-movie-clip-4

Up
UPisode 1: Animal Calling - http://makingof.com/film/40/up
"Up" Trailer - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/130/up-trailer

Up in the Air
Exclusive: Opening Title Sequence to "Up in the Air" - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/854/exclusive-opening-credits-sequence
Jason Reitman Profile Feturette - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/807/director-jason-reitman-profile-featurette
Vera Farmiga Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/861/vera-farmiga-discusses-up-in-the-air
Anna Kendrick Interview - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/852/anna-kendrick-discusses-up-in-the-air
Exclusive Crew Production Featurette - http://makingof.com/posts/watch/934/exclusive-production-featurette

Sundance 2010 ends on a high note at the MakingOf House

The MakingOf team is back from Park City and filmed our last interview over the weekend at our house. The director and cast behind the production of the much-buzzed about film "Twelve" stopped by and answered our questions about how the movie came together, what they did on-set during their 23 day shoot and why New York City was the perfect backdrop for the story. Legendary director Joel Schumacher arrived first and was quickly joined by his young and talented cast - Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts and rapper turned actor Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson.

Their camaraderie was evident and they were in good spirits as they had recently learned that their project secured distribution before the festival's Closing Night screening. Hannover House reportedly picked up the film for $2 million and is scheduled to release the film this year.

After a whirlwind 10 days of filming, we are thrilled with the interviews we conducted and appreciative to all of the filmmakers who sat down with us and provided an inside look into their process. Throughout this week we will be debuting new segments from the festival. The first "Twelve" segment will launch on Wednesday and other interview premieres include: directors Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington ("Restrepo"), director Amir Bar-Lev ("The Tillman Story"), Josh Radnor and Malin Ackerman ("happythankyoumoreplease") and The Duplass Brothers ("Cyrus").

Make sure and continue to check back as we add more behind-the-scenes content from the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. To follow MakingOf, become a fan on Facebook, add us on Twitter and leave a comment on our Tumblr.

The Latest From Sundance

The MakingOf team is gearing up for the final weekend of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. The festival started a week ago and during that time MakingOf has captured more than 75 exclusive interviews with established artists and rising talent from the Sundance film community.

In the past few days, we had the privilege of interviewing actors Samuel L. Jackson and Naomi Watts (“Mother & Child”), documentary filmmaker Davis Guggenheim (“Waiting for Superman”), actors Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams (“Blue Valentine”, which was just picked up in a seven figure deal by the Weinstein Company), actress/executive producer America Ferrera (“The Dry Land”), director Jake Scott (“Welcome to the Rileys”), short film directors Jeremy Konner and Derek Waters (“Drunk Histories”), director/actor Adrien Grenier (“Teenage Paparazzo”), director Amir Bar-Lev ("The Tillman Story"), directors Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington ("Restrepo") and many more. In these interviews we've gone behind-the-scenes and gathered unique insight and personal perspectives. In the coming days we will continue to post these interviews as well as conduct additional conversations. This weekend we'll talk with director Ryan Piers William ("The Dry Land") and writer/director Joel Schumacher ("Twelve"), actress Emma Roberts ("Twelve"), actor Chase Crawford ("Twelve") and musician turned actor 50 Cent ("Twelve").

We hope you've enjoyed the MakingOf Sundance coverage -- keep visiting MakingOf as we continue to add behind-the-scenes perspective from the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. To follow MakingOf, become a fan on Facebook, add us on Twitter and leave a comment on our Tumblr.

An Update from Sundance

It’s Day Five of the Sundance Film Festival, and the MakingOf team is continuing to see great independent films ranging from documentaries such as “The Tillman Story” and “Catfish” to feature films that include: Philip Seymour Hoffman’s directorial debut “Jack Goes Boating,” The Duplass Brother’s “Cyrus,” and the Ryan Gosling/Michelle Williams starrer “Blue Valentine.”

We have also already captured more than 25 exclusive filmmaker interviews - which will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the festival. They are premiering daily on the site and will be featured on our homepage.

Listed below are some early festival highlights:

- MakingOf hosted a party promoting the much buzzed-about documentary “Catfish,” and interviewed filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Andrew Jarecki, as well as star Nev Schulman. “Catfish” follows Nev, a New York photographer, as he forms an online friendship with a young artist and her family, searching for human connection in a digital world. http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1182/catfish-interview

- We were thrilled when Philip Seymour Hoffman, stopped by the MakingOf House to talk with us about his directorial debut, “Jack Goes Boating.” Hoffman, along with playwright/screenwriter Robert Glaudini, adapted this play about love, betrayal, friendship, and grace centered around two working-class New York City couples. Hoffman reprises his stage role onscreen while simultaneously directing, adding to an already illustrious career that includes films from “Doubt” to “Almost Famous.” http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1192/phillip-seymour-hoffman-on-character-development

We also jumped at the chance to interview Catherine Keener, the renowned independent film actress and Sundance veteran, who is in town supporting her latest projects, “Please Give” and “Cyrus”. Some of her past films include: “Where the Wild Things Are,” “Into the Wild,” and “Capote.”

- We sat down for an in-depth conversation with John Wells, the Writer/Director of one of the festival’s most talked-about films – “The Company Men.” Wells, a prolific producer of acclaimed films like “I’m Not There” and popular TV series like “ER” and “The West Wing,” talked with us about the real-life inspirations and economic conditions that shaped his film. “The Company Men” stars Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner, and Tommy Lee Jones. http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1189/john-wells-on-the-company-men

- “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” writer/director Eli Craig and actors Tyler Labine (TV series “Reaper”) and Alan Tudyk (“A Knight’s Tale”) talked with us about defying conventions in their hilarious horror-comedy, and their excitement about the film’s Slamdance debut.

- “Happythankyoumoreplease” director Josh Radnor (TV’s “How I Met Your Mother”) and actress Malin Akerman (“Watchmen”) took us through the conception of their film and character development. http://makingof.com/posts/watch/1129/-happythankyoumoreplease-movie-clip-1

Check back for these exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes photos and more as we debut our Sundance Film Festival coverage over the course of this week. We’ll be updating all of our platforms daily with specific news on our interviews, screenings and events. And, we want you to participate! Leave comments on MakingOf videos, post on our Facebook wall, reply us on Twitter or leave a comment on our Tumblr.

New Year, New Look on MakingOf.com

MakingOf recently celebrated our seventh month live. With that milestone, we launched a redesign of the site with the goal of making our more than 200 exclusive filmmaker interviews and 800 pieces of content easier for you to find and enjoy.

The site re-design enhanced the homepage with the addition of the following four featured placements:

- Our new In Theaters section highlights interviews and behind-the-scenes clips from the newest movies.

- The Most Viewed section offers easy access to content that our users find the most popular and exciting.

- The Awards Season section features exclusive filmmaker interviews that promote filmmakers and films that are award contenders

- Leading up to and during the Sundance Film Festival we’ll be regularly updating the Festival section of the site with features, sneak peaks, and interviews from Sundance. Beyond Sundance we'll focus on festival updates from Cannes, Venice, Tribeca, Toronto and many more. Visit this section now, as we have started featuring Sundance films.

The team at MakingOf launched the site with the intent of providing you with an inside look into the unseen creation of entertainment. Since launch we have showcased premier content that uncovers the multi-faceted decisions that filmmakers face throughout all stages of production. Our goal is to bring you closer to the heart and soul of filmmaking.

As 2010 kicks off we look forward to continuing to providing you with exclusive, behind-the-scenes features. As always, we value your feedback, which can be provided at info@makingof.com. We also invite you to revisit some of MakingOf's 2009 highlights.

2009 Interview Highlights:

Director Kathryn Bigelow – http://makingof.com/vault/media/director-kathryn-bigelow-discusses-the-hurt-locker/879

Director Ron Howard – http://makingof.com/insiders/media/ron/howard/the-importance-of-personal-aesthetics/3/196

Director Jason Reitman – http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/jason-reitman-discusses-his-path-to-filmmaking/99/858

Director Terry Gilliam – http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus/the-miracles-of-filmmaking/109/638

Director Shawn Levy – http://makingof.com/vault/media/building-a-theme/161

Actor Ben Stiller – http://makingof.com/posts/watch/978/the-importance-of-the-director-s-vision

Director Harold Ramis – http://makingof.com/insiders/media/harold/ramis/directing-comedy/90/254

Director Darren Aronofsky – http://makingof.com/insiders/media/darren/aronofsky/directing-strategies/81/448

Producer Wyck Godfrey – http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/the-twilight-saga-new-moon/producer-discusses-the-casting-of-twilight/49/698

Actor Jeff Bridges – http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/crazy-heart/jeff-bridges-discusses-crazy-heart/212/891

Actor Anna Kendrick – http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/anna-kendrick-discusses-up-in-the-air/99/852

Actor Carey Mulligan – http://makingof.com/vault/media/carey-mulligan-discusses-an-education/881

Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg – http://makingof.com/insiders/media/melissa/rosenberg/the-day-after-the-new-moon-premiere/91/695

Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin – http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/the-social-network/aaron-sorkin-on-the-facebook-movie/86/290

Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber - http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/-500-days-of-summer/script-analysis-scott-neustadter-and-michael-weber/196/661
 

Directors Guild of America announces it's nominations for best director

The Directors Guild of America announced their nominations for best director on Thursday. The five nominees include "The Hurt Locker" director Kathryn Bigelow, "Avatar" director James Cameron, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" director Lee Daniels, "Up in the Air" director Jason Reitman and "Inglourious Basterds" director Quentin Tarantino. The winner will be announced at the DGA awards ceremony on January 30th.

This year marks the first nomination for Bigelow, Daniels and Reitman. Cameron was nominated and won once before for "Titantic" in 1998. Tarantino was nominated in 1994 for "Pulp Fiction" but Robert Zemeckis took home the award that year for "Forest Gump."

View MakingOf's exclusive interview with nominee Kathryn Bigelow - http://makingof.com/insiders/media/kathryn/bigelow/director-kathryn-bigelow-discusses-the-hurt-locker/247/879

View MakingOf's exclusive interview with nominee Jason Reitman - http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/up-in-the-air/jason-reitman-describes-his-intentions-on-set/99/858

The complete list of nominated directing teams is listed below:

Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment)
Unit Production Manager: Tony Mark
First Assistant Director: David Ticotin
First Assistant Director (Canadian Unit): Lee Cleary

James Cameron, "Avatar" (20th Century Fox)
Unit Production Manager: Colin Wilson
First Assistant Director: Josh McLaglen
Second Assistant Director/Additional Unit First Assistant Director: Maria Battle Campbell

Lee Daniels, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate)
Unit Production Manager: Tony Hernandez
First Assistant Director: Chip Signore
Second Assistant Director: Tracey Hinds
Second Second Assistant Director: Michael "Boogie" Pinckney
Additional Unit Production Manager: Patrick D. Gibbons
Additional First Assistant Director: Tom Fatone
Additional Second Assistant Directors: Kim Thompson, Mirashyam Blakeslee
Location Manager: Gregory Routt

Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air" (Paramount)
Unit Production Manager: Michael Beugg
First Assistant Director: Jason Blumenfeld
Second Assistant Director: Sonia Bhalla
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Samson Mucke
Second Second Assistant Director: Joseph Payton
Additional Second Assistant Director: Heather L. Hogan

Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Co./Universal Pictures)
Unit Production Manager: Gregor Wilson
Unit Production Manager (Germany): Michael Scheel
First Assistant Director: Carlos Fidel
Second Assistant Director: Miguel Angelo Pate
Second Second Assistant Directors: Jill Moriarty, Tanja Daberitz

“Summer Mix: Vol. 3” (Super Angry Break-Up Stage)

Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber discuss the influence of music (link): http://makingof.com/vault/media/-scott-neustadter-and-michael-h-weber/939

Today MakingOf.com revealed the final mix tape created by Tom for Summer in "(500) Days of Summer," which is out on Blu-Ray and DVD now. Take a look below at the mix tape that was created at the end of Tom and Summer's relationship, where Tom was in a very depressed place and heartbroken over the loss of Summer. Also click here to watch an exclusive interview with screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber on the influence of music in the film, the the script and in everyday relationships. See the previous mix tapes (and links to download the songs, below).

“Summer Mix: Vol. 3” (Super Angry Break-Up Stage)

Toxic Girl - Kings of Convenience

You’ve Lost Your Appeal - Ant

Ill Love - Pete and the Pirates

Take Your Carriage Clock and Shove It - Belle and Sebastian

Ever Fallen in Love - Buzzcocks

Look Back in Anger - Television Personalities

Unhappy Birthday - Smiths

It Only Takes a Flashlight to Create a Monster - Bear Quartet

For What It’s Worth - Cardigans

Regret - New Order
 

"Summer Mix Vol. 2" and an Exclusive Interview with the Screenwriters

Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber discuss the influence of music (link): http://makingof.com/vault/media/-scott-neustadter-and-michael-h-weber/939

Today MakingOf.com revealed the second mix tape created by Tom for Summer in "(500) Days of Summer," which is out on Blu-Ray and DVD today. Take a look below at the mix tape that was created in the mist of Tom and Summer's best times together. Also click here to watch a new exclusive interview with screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber on the influence of music in the film, the the script and in everyday relationships.

“Summer Mix Vol. 2” (Relationship Phase)

The Beautiful Things - Spearmint

I’ll Be Your Mirror - VU

Waiting in Vain - Bob Marley

I Want You to Stay - Maximo Park

Wouldn’t it be Nice - The Beach Boys

This Mess We’re In - PJ Harvey

Chosen One - Concretes

Made-up Lovesong #43 - Guillemots

Strange Powers - Magnetic Fields

I’m in Love with a Girl - Big Star

Exclusive: "(500) Days of Summer" Screenwriters share Tom's three mix tapes with MakingOf.com

 If you've seen "(500) Days of Summer," then you might know it's screenplay is highly unusual. There's a non-linear structure, an omniscient narrator, a dance number, a sequence entirely unfolding in split-screen, and huge block letters in 20 point font. But at one point it was even more unusual.

Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber actually included an "appendix" at the end of the script, a series of disconnected pages designed to make the relationship at the story's core feel like something that really took place. Appendix A, for example, was a page of ticket stubs from concerts Tom allegedly took Summer to. Appendix B was a hand-written letter she once wrote him from a plane. And Appendix C was the tracklistings for three very different mix tapes Tom made Summer during their brief but memorable relationship.

The appendix idea was eventually scrapped but some of those pages survived. Thanks to Scott Neustadter, over the next three days MakingOf.com will share each of those three mix tapes in anticipation of the Blue-Ray/DVD release on December 22nd and in celebration of the film's Golden Globe nominations. Today we present Tom's first mix -- the "Courting Phase," which will be followed by the "Relationship Phase" on Tuesday and the "Super Angry Break-up Stage” on Wednesday. Enjoy!

“Summer Mix: Vol. 1” (Courting Phase)*

Heartbeat - Annie

Watch the Sunrise - Big Star

Ask the DJ - Mr. Hudson and the Library

Oh My - Arnold

She Bangs the Drums - Stone Roses

Oh Yeah! - Housse de Racket

She Fell Into My Arms - Ed Harcourt

This Must Be the Place - Talking Heads

Don’t Falter - Mint Royale

This Will be Our Year - Zombies

Also be sure to watch MakingOf interviews with Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber by clicking here and here. Stay tuned for a brand new interview with the writing team as they discuss their collaboration process tomorrow.

*click on a song to be taken to the Apple iTunes Music Store where you can preview and/or purchase each song.

Director Kathyrn Bigelow discusses "The Hurt Locker"

link: http://makingof.com/vault/media/director-kathryn-bigelow-discusses-the-hurt-locker/879

At this year's Gotham Awards, I had a chance to sit down with award season frontrunner and visionary director Kathryn Bigelow to discuss her acclaimed Iraq-war drama "The Hurt Locker." The independent production and Bigelow have elicited rave reviews from both critics and audiences since the film's theatrical run this summer. The movie, an Awards Season favorite, recently won top honors from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle and the night this interview took place it picked up the Gotham Independent Film Award for best film. Today the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced it's Golden Globe nominees and "The Hurt Locker" was nominated for Best Feature Drama and Bigelow for Best Director.

During this backstage interview, I spoke with Bigelow at length about the preparation she put into the production, why she made the film and the strategy behind scripting the three main characters in a very distinct and unique way. Bigelow also revealed that the most rewarding part of this process was "fully realizing the talent of these actors and seeing all the promise the script held on screen."Click here to watch the entire interview and to hear what excites director Kathryn Bigelow most.

Click here to go behind-the-scenes on location with director Kathryn Bigelow and the cast and crew.

The Independent Spirit Awards

The Independent Spirit Awards announced their nominees earlier today. Listed below is the complete list of this year's nominated films, cast and crew members. MakingOf would like to congratulate the nominees and applaud the diverse roster of talented filmmakers. Please scroll down for links to exclusive interviews we've conducted with some of the nominated directors and writers.
The Independent Spirit Awards eligibility requirements for consideration are that the feature film must be 70 minutes in length and the total cost must be below $20 million. A film also must have screened at a major film festival or had a one-week engagement at a commercial theater.
The awards' ceremony has taken place the past 24 years the Saturday afternoon before the Academy Awards in Santa Monica. The ceremony is moving this year to downtown L.A. and will be held in the evening on Friday, March 5th.
This year's Independent Spirit Awards Nominees:

BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer)

“(500) Days Of Summer,” Producers: Mason Novick, Jessica Tuchinsky, Mark Waters, Steven J. Wolfe
“Amreeka,” Producers: Paul Barkin, Christina Piovesan
“Precious,” Producers: Lee Daniels, Gary Magness, Sarah Siegel-Magness
“Sin Nombre,” Producer: Amy Kaufman
“The Last Station,” Producers: Bonnie Arnold, Chris Curling, Jens Meuer

BEST DIRECTOR
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, “A Serious Man”
Lee Daniels, “Precious”
Cary Joji Fukunaga, “Sin Nombre”
James Gray, “Two Lovers”
Michael Hoffman, “The Last Station”

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
“A Single Man,” Director: Tom Ford, Producers: Tom Ford, Andrew Miano, Robert Salerno, Chris Weitz
“Crazy Heart,” Director: Scott Cooper, Producers: T Bone Burnett, Judy Cairo, Rob Carliner, Scott Cooper, Robert Duvall
“Easier With Practice,” Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez, Producer: Cookie Carosella
“Paranormal Activity,” Director: Oren Peli, Producer: Jason Blum, Oren Peli
“The Messenger,” Director: Oren Moverman, Producers: Mark Gordon, Lawrence Inglee, Zach Miller

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)
“Big Fan” Writer/Director: Robert Siegel; Producers: Elan Bogarin, Jean Kouremetis
“Humpday” Writer/Director/Producer: Lynn Sheldon
“The New Year Parade” Writer/Director: Tom Quinn; Producers: Steve Beal, Tom Quinn
“Treeless Mountain” Writer/Director: So Yong Kim; Producers: Bradley Rust Gray, Ben Howe, So Yong Kim, Lars Knudsen, Jay Van Hoy
“Zero Bridge” Writer/Director: Tariq Tapa; Producers: Josee Lajoie, Hilal Ahmed Langoo, Tariq Tapa

BEST SCREENPLAY
Alessandro Camon, Oren Moverman, “The Messenger”
Michael Hoffman, “The Last Station
Lee Toland Krieger, “The Vicious Kind”
Greg Mottola, “Adventureland”
Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, “(500) Days Of Summer”

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Sophie Barthes, “Cold Souls”
Scott Cooper, “Crazy Heart”
Cherien Dabis, “Amreeka”
Geoffrey Fletcher, “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire”
Tom Ford, David Scearce, “A Single Man”

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Maria Bello, “Downloading Nancy”
Helen Mirren, “The Last Station”
Gwyneth Paltrow, “Two Lovers”
Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire”
Nisreen Faour, “Amreeka”

BEST MALE LEAD
Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”
Colin Firth, “A Single Man”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, “(500) Days Of Summer”
Souléymane Sy Savané, “Goodbye Solo”

Adam Scott, “The Vicious Kind”
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Dina Korzun, “Cold Souls”
Mo’Nique, “Precious”
Samantha Morton, “The Messenger”
Natalie Press, “Fifty Dead Men Walking”
Mia Wasikowska, “That Evening Sun”

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Jemaine Clement, “Gentleman Broncos”
Woody Harrelson, “The Messenger”
Christian McKay, “Me and Orson Welles”
Raymond McKinnon, “That Evening Sun”
Christopher Plummer, “The Last Station”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Roger Deakins, “A Serious Man”
Adriano Goldman, “Sin Nombre”
Anne Misawa, “Treeless Mountain”
Andrij Parekh, “Cold Souls”
Peter Zeitlinger, “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans”

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director)
“Anvil! The Story of Anvil” Director: Sacha Gervasi
“Food, Inc.” Director: Robert Kenner
“More Than a Game” Director: Kristopher Belman
“October Country” Directors: Donal Mosher, Michael Palmieri
“Which Way Home” Director: Rebecca Cammisa

BEST FOREIGN FILM (Award given to the director)
“A Prophet” (France), Director: Jacques Audiard
“An Education” (UK/France), Director: Lone Scherfig
“Everlasting Moments” (Sweden), Director: Jan Troell
“Mother” (South Korea), Director: Bong Joon-Ho
“The Maid” (Chile), Director: Sebastian Silva

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
(Given to one film’s director, casting director, and its ensemble cast)
Robert Altman Award
“A Serious Man”
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Casting Directors: Ellen Chenoweth, Rachel Tenner
Cast: Richard Kind, Sari Lennick, Jessica McManus, Michael Stuhlbarg, Aaron Wolff

PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD
Karin Chien, “The Exploding Girl,” “Santa Mesa”
Larry Fessenden, “I Sell the Dead,” “The House of the Devil”
Dia Sokol, “Beeswax,” “Nights & Weekends”

SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
Kyle Patrick Alvarez, “Easier With Practice”
Asiel Norton, “Redland”
Tariq Tapa, “Zero Bridge”

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
Natalia Almada, “El General”
Jessica Oreck, “Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo”
Bill Ross, Turner Ross, “45365”

Below are links to interviews we have featured with this year's nominees.

500 Days of Summer
Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/-500-days-of-summer/screenwriters-scott-neustadter-michael-h-weber/196/773
http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/-500-days-of-summer/script-analysis-scott-neustadter-and-michael-weber/196/661

The Messenger
Director Oren Moverman
http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/the-messenger/director-oren-moverman-discusses-the-messenger/138/674
Trailer
http://makingof.com/happening_now/film/the-messenger/138

Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Director Sacha Gervasi
http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/anvil-the-story-of-anvil/rock-band-anvil-s-appearance-in-the-green-hornet/198/681

MakingOf Honors the Members of our Armed Forces by Highlighting Movies that Pay Tribute to our Military - Taking Chance, The Hurt Locker and The Messenger

Today is Veteran's Day, a day set aside to remember and honor those who served our country.  I am personally deeply grateful to our troops and delighted to share highlights from three of this year's films that are moving tributes to our military.

"Taking Chance" is a riveting, unforgettable film directed by Ross Katz that stars Kevin Bacon and pays tribute to the sacrifice of a 19 year old Marine killed in Iraq. The movie is one of the most powerful and moving films I've ever seen.  Based on the real-life experience of Lt. Col. Michael Strobl and the essay he wrote to remember his journey, "Taking Chance" follows Bacon (Lt. Col Strobl) who volunteers to escort the remains of a young Marine killed in Iraq across the country to his family. It is a simple story, yet an amazingly powerful film that showcases the dedication, professionalism and commitment of our military and honors our deceased troops.  The movie not only shows the respect that is paid by the military but also by each person who crosses the path on Bacon's journey. I saw this movie at Sundance, where there was not a dry eye in the audience. "Taking Chance" premiered on HBO this year and is now available on DVD at Amazon.com. Click here to watch an interview with the director Ross Katz.

"The Hurt Locker," directed by Kathryn Bigelow and winner of the 2008 Venice Film Festival SIGNIS Grand Prize, is a riveting, suspenseful portrait of the courage of our military’s unrecognized heroes: the technicians of a bomb squad who volunteer to challenge the odds and save lives in one of the world’s most dangerous places. In 2004, journalist and screenwriter Mark Boal spent several weeks embedded with a US Army bomb squad operating in one of the most dangerous sections of Baghdad. Boal followed the squad's movements to get inside the heads of the men whose skills rival those of surgeons—except in their case one false move means they lose their own life rather than the life of a patient. His first-hand observations of their days and nights disarming bombs became the inspiration for "The Hurt Locker" and, eventually, a script that simultaneously strips down the classic American war epic and broadens its concerns to encompass themes as universal as the price of heroism and the limits of bravery in 21st century combat. "The Hurt Locker" is in movie theaters now. Click here to go behind the scenes on location with director Kathryn Bigelow and the cast and crew.

"The Messenger," directed by Oren Moverman stars Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson and Samantha Morton and tells the story of two Causality Notification Officers who are responsible for the serious task of informing the relatives of soldiers killed in action. In his MakingOf interview, Moverman explains how most films that deal with this subject focus on the family receiving the information of a fallen solider and that he wanted to change this and focus on the people who have to share the news with multiple mothers, fathers, and daughters across the nation. "The Messenger" will hit theaters this weekend and recently won the Silver Bear Award for best screenplay and the Peace Award at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival.  The movie brings audiences into the inner lives of our military heroes to reveal their fragility with compassion and dignity. Click here to watch MakingOf's interview with Oren Moverman. 

The Screenwriters of "500 Days of Summer" Share What's Behind Your Favorite Scenes

Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber have received great recognition and praise for their first movie, "500 Days of Summer." The movie was one of my personal favorites at Sundance and I was delighted to sit down with the pair this past weekend, the same weekend they won the Hamilton Behind the Camera Award for writing “500 Days of Summer.” I was curious to learn the genesis of the movie's unforgettable scenes. Today, MakingOf releases part one of our interview.

Click here to watch the Neustadter and Weber provide behind the scenes details on “the best day of Tom’s life.” “500 Days of Summer” and is directed by Marc Webb and stares Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zoe Deschanel. The film will be released on DVD December 22, 2009.

“The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus," premiers in LA as AFI’s centerpiece gala

This week MakingOf sat down with Terry Gilliam, the director of “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus," a fantastical mortality tale that features Heath Ledger’s final performance. The movie tells the story of Dr. Parnassus and his extraordinary ‘Imaginarium’, a travelling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. The movie’s ensemble cast includes Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Verne Troyer and Lily Cole.

The tragic loss of Heath Ledger during the production threatened closedown, but Gilliam fought to re-configure the story without losing Leger’s amazing performance. Gilliam, his cast and crew worked tirelessly together to complete the journey which had begun in the fervid, boundless imagination of Gilliam and his co-writer Charles McKeown less than eighteen months before.

This week MakingOf will feature a conversation with Terry Gilliam, who sheds light on the making of “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus". The producers have assured the public that “the story allows for the preservation of Heath’s entire performance, at no point will his work be modified or altered through the use of digital technology. Each of the parts played by Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law is representative of the many aspects of the character that Heath was playing.”

I’m sure all those who saw the movie last night will agree that the result of the entire team’s work is captivating and wonderful. Click here to see the trailer, watch the opening sequence of the film by clicking here and visit our extensive photo gallery of the film here. Check back this week as we add exclusive interviews with Terry Gilliam, the producer Amy Gilliam and members of the cast.

Also visit the film's Web site http://www.imaginariumofdrparnassus.com/

MakingOf Offers a Sneak Peek at James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game

Academy Award-winning director James Cameron (The Abyss, Terminator, True Lies, Titanic) will take viewers to the world of Pandora on December 18th with his first live-action 3-D film, Avatar. Originally envisioned more than 14 years ago, Cameron has shown patience in waiting for the technology to become available to fully execute his concept as an interactive experience.

As with many popular films today, plans to release a companion video game also have been in development. In Avatar: The Game, however, James Cameron stays true to his reputation as an innovator, taking a fresh approach to standard movie based game making. Most notably, Avatar: The Game will be released before the release of the film, something unheard of when videogames and films converge. Also, movie studios typically initiate discussions with a game studio during the post-production stage of a film with release set to either coincide with the film premier or to take place in the weeks that follow. In the case of Avatar: The Game, James Cameron approached Ubisoft very early during pre-production, providing assets, production stills, and even a translation booklet of "Navi," the native language spoken by the indigenous people of Pandora, which gave the team the freedom to do their best work. With these resources and the extended development cycle, Ubisoft has created the game as another story on Pandora that takes place 2 years before the events of the 3-D film. The multi-platform title provides exceptional character and story progression, and allows players to fully immerse themselves in the world of Pandora, as well as choose between two main narratives.

In September 2009, MakingOf’s Co-Founder and CEO Christine Aylward moderated an in-depth discussion on James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game with Kevin Shortt, Lead Scriptwriter and Story Designer from Ubisoft Montreal, and Nathon Gunn, CEO/COO of Social Game Universe.

In an exclusive interview with MakingOf, Kevin Shortt shares for the first time new information regarding the title’s gameplay, the actors who participated in the project, and the intensive writing process. Additionally, Shortt discusses Sigourney Weaver’s role in the development of the game and her excitement to translate her character from film to the interactive world. Shortt also touches on the elusive 900 page game script, explaining the challenges of creating a game script which must include multiple paths and expanded characters while still fitting seamlessly into the canon of James Cameron’s vision.

See the full discussion by clicking here.

The First Films of Fall are on MakingOf

Today marks the first weekend of autumn and movie theaters across the nation are filled with a number of new films. MakingOf is excited to share exclusive interviews and behind the scenes content from films that release this weekend. Following is a summary of fresh MakingOf content for some of the new releases for this weekend.

For the indie lover, IFC has released in select theaters John Krasinski’s Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, for the historical drama, fan Audrey Tautou unveils the personal history of an iconic fashion designer in Coco Before Chanel, Bruce Willis is back in the science fiction thriller Surrogates, and all you music and dance lovers will definitely enjoy Fame, based on the 1980’s Oscar winning film of the same name.

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men

John Krasinski’s directorial debut Brief Interviews with Hideous Men opens in select theaters across the nation and is available on Comcast On-Demand today. John Krasinski had the drive to obtain the rights and adapt the late David Foster Wallace’s collections of stories when he was only 24 years old and waiting tables in New York. Click here to hear John's advice about optioning properties you love and "just picking up the phone to call". Also click here for a great behind-the-scenes look at John’s directorial debut.

Coco Before Chanel

Audrey Tautou sat down with MakingOf to clarify that even through all the research and preparation to play the iconic Gabriel ‘Coco’ Chanel, she focused primarily on what goes on inside the character. Tautou loved the “balance between vulnerability and determination, charm and rudeness, and the funny and stubborn” nature of Coco.

Director Anne Fontaine explained that Coco was such an important figure at the time because she actively invented a new way to be a woman. “She was a feminist before feminism.” Fountaine continued her discussion on the script writing process, working closely with two screenwriters to shape the film.

Click here to see Audrey Tatou’s interview and click here to see Director Anne Fontain’s.

Fame

A reinvention of the classic Oscar-winning 1980’s film is back for a new generation. Folllow the students of New York City High School of Performing Arts through the hallways and classrooms to the center stage and see clips from directorial debut of former dancer and choreographer Kevin Tancharoen. You can find all of MakingOf’s Fame content by clicking here.

Surrogates

For the science-fiction fan, Bruce Willis is back in the action seat with this fall’s Surrogates. MakingOf has two extended clips that you can find by clicking here and three featurettes on the film that explore the creation of the robots in the film, the historical relevance of the subject, and the mind bending special effects. Check out the newest featurette “Losing your Surrogate” by clicking here.

Please check back next week as we add an exclusive sneak peak at James Cameron's Avatar video game, and content from Drew Barrymore's much-anticipated directorial debut, Whip It!

Toronto International Film Festival Update

The first week of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has been filled with amazing interviews from this year’s films. In addition to non-stop interviews, MakingOf was delighted to partner with The Creative Coalition to host a dinner honoring profound filmmakers who make a difference and feature films during TIFF.

Honorees included Rebecca Miller, the Writer/Director of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Lee Daniels, the Director of Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire, John Hillcoat, Director of The Road, and Alejandro Amenabar, Director of Agora. Each of these filmmakers have created powerful films and MakingOf, along with our partner The Creative Coalition, gathered more than 100 filmmakers and industry executives to celebrate and honor their contribution and success.

To see some footage of the event and the acceptance speeches, click here.

MakingOf has also been busy talking with filmmakers we’ve long admired including Neil Jordan, Ellen Page, Aidan Quinn, Brendan Gleeson, Geoffrey Rush, Rodrigo Garcia and many more. Please check back as we add exclusive interviews from Toronto, including a sneak peek at the development of the video game version of James Cameron's Avatar.

TIFF: Day 4 - Get Ready for the Whip It World Premiere

Today MakingOf participated in the world premier press conference for Drew Barrymore's directorial debut film Whip It. The star-studded film is a 'coming-of-age-on-wheels' comedy set in the world of all-girl roller derby. In addition to the press conference, MakingOf sat down with Juliette Lewis, Eve, Landon Pigg, Andrew Wilson, Alia Shawkat, and the screenwriter Shauna Cross. Stay tuned as we upload those interviews and other great Whip It content, and visit the official Whip It Web site http://www.foxsearchlight.com/whipit/.  Tomorrow we will be interviewing Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page. Let us know if you have questions you'd like us to incorporate - email questions@makingof.com

Today we also interviewed actress Emily Mortimer "In Conversation" with Harry Brown director Daniel Barber, which stars legendary actor Michael Caine.

In the Filming Now section, we just posted an exclusive interview with Lone Scherfig, director of An Education, a Sundance and TIFF smash hit starring Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, and Emma Thompson (click here to watch). Check back soon for our interviews with the cast.

MakingOf's coverage of Toronto International Film Festival continues with an exclusive in-conversation interview with the stars of the new Coen Brothers film, A Serious Man. In this conversation, which will be posted tonight, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sari Lennick, and Richard Kind discuss their experiences working with Ethan and Joel Coen.

To follow our coverage at TIFF, click here

The Toronto International Film Festival Kick Off

The 2009 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) http://www.tiff.net. kicks off today and MakingOf is very excited to be in Toronto for our first TIFF. Over the past few years, Toronto has become a launch pad for independent films that ultimately go on to win Academy Award winners. This year we expect the same and MakingOf will be on hand capturing interviews, taking behind-the-scenes photos of the festival and sharing interviews with leading filmmakers. Here is a sneak peek at some of the films we will be covering. Juno director Jason Reitman returns to Toronto to premiere his film Up in the Air starring George Clooney (click here to see an all new clip!). Drew Barrymore unveils her directorial debut with Whip It! (click here to go behind-the-scenes), which stars Ellen Page and has the chance to revive roller derby. Lee Daniels’ surprise Sundance hit Push has been retitled Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and makes its international debut just before its theatrical release in November (click here to watch the trailer!). On the international front, White Ribbon, the Cannes 2009 Palme d’Or winner, will make its first appearance in North America. Directed by Michael Haneke, White Ribbon revolves around the rise of fascism in pre-war Germany. We'll also be interviewing filmmakers from around the world, including Neil Jordan, Terry Gilliam, Catherine Corsini, Rodrigo Garcia, and many more! We’ll be updating all of our platforms daily with specific news on our interviews, the screenings and events. And, we want you to participate! If you have a question for a director, actor, camera operator, producer or festival coordinator, please let us know and we will do our best to incorporate your questions into our interviews. Post on our Facebook wall, @ reply us on Twitter, leave a comment on our Tumblr or email questions@makingof.com.

MakingOf Partners with National Film Festival for Talented Youth

Recently I received an email from Jesse Harris the Executive Director and Co-founder of the National Film Festival of Talented Youth (NFFTY). I hadn't heard of NFFTY at that point. However, once I learned about Jesse's story and NFFTY's mission and programs, I knew there would be an amazing fit for a partnership. Let's start with Jesse's story. Jesse wrote and directed the feature film Living Life when he was 17, obtaining distribution for the film shortly after his graduation from high school. His success resulted in young filmmakers around the globe seeking his advice, including Jocelyn R.C., who expressed interest in helping to form a socially responsible youth arts organization. They teamed up with Kyle Seago, established the non-profit and held a one-night "Kick Off" festival. Founded in 2007 as an idea of three teenagers, the NFFTY is now the largest and most influential film festival for filmmakers age 22 and under.

NFFTY's goal to provide year-round networking to increase exposure for young filmmakers is in line with MakingOf's mission to champion the art and craft of filmmaking by providing film students and film loves a behind-the-scenes exposure to the creation process. MakingOf's partnership with NFFTY provides NFFTY filmmakers the opportunity to participate in the MakingOf internship program where they will interview and film established filmmakers. NFFTY filmmakers will have an unparalleled opportunity to meet established members of the entertainment industry while refining their filmmaking skills. We look forward to a long partnership with NFFTY.

To learn more about NFFTY, please visit www.NFFTY.org. NFFTY occurs each spring in Seattle, Washington and includes more than 100 film screenings, filmmaking panels, concerts by youth bands, and opportunities for young filmmakers to network with industry professionals and each other. NFFTY is also a carbon neutral film festival as certified by carbonfund.org and special recognition is given to films that promote environmental sustainability, social justice, or international peace.

- Christine Aylward

Why MakingOf

When I started my film development company, I became immersed in trying to translate books to screen, develop compelling characters and great stories and find the right directors. It was then that I realized the magnitude of what really goes into making movies -- and wished there were more people to give me insight and direction. Several treatments, screenplays and pitches later I met Natalie on a film set. We became dear friends and soon the idea for MakingOf was born. MakingOf's mission is to champion the art and craft of entertainment creation. Natalie and I know that so much of what goes into entertainment creation is unavailable to the people who love and consume it most. We wanted to give fans a way to experience how it’s done and learn from the insiders. At MakingOf we feel very lucky to sit and talk with the most amazing filmmakers - hear their insight, their path, and their advice. And the MakingOf team and I get to share all that wisdom and experience with you! We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. As William Goldman writes in his book Adventures in the Screen Trade "Movies help mark out our lives." We agree with Mr. Goldman and believe that in some way each of us has a deep relationship to movies. We hope that MakingOf brings you closer to your favorite movies and sheds some insight on how the world's greatest filmmakers create movies that touch our lives.