The world of casting is so large that the 35th annual Artios Awards were held in three cities on the same night in each of their respective time zones, London, New York and Los Angeles.
At the LA edition of the ceremonies January 30, held at just about everybody’s award season-favorite hotel, the Beverly Hilton, host Ron Funches got things off to a rousing start.“The Artios Awards are 35 years old. In LA, that means you still have two roommates,” the comedian, actor and writer began, before turning to the heart of the casting profession.
“Casting directors are Hollywood’s most unsung heroes. Yet look at the casting director. It’s a person who doesn’t want to act but to judge the people who do. They have the ability to see talent and find a diamond in the rough and sometimes it changes people’s lives. Most of us are here because a casting director believed in us.”
Casting Society of America president Russell Boast also talked about recognition for the art and craft of casting and specifically, a huge milestone. For the first time ever, BAFTA announced an award for casting, the first new film honor added in 21 years (which was awarded to Joker‘s Shayna Markowitz a few days later in ceremonies at London’s Royal Albert Hall.) The move puts even more energy behind the push to get the Motion Picture Academy to follow suit with an Oscar for casting, an effort that seems even more likely with new AMPAS president David Rubin, a casting director, at the helm of the organization.
Several of this season’s awards-magnet film titles, Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood and Jojo Rabbit took the top prizes at the ceremony. On the television side, the casting directors for Game of Thrones, Russian Doll, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Pose scored the awards.There was a rare tie in the animated feature category. Both Toy Story 4 and The Lion King took trophies.
The energy, enthusiasm, applause and laughter was at a high pitch throughout the evening, rivaling other awards shows we’ve attended in the Hilton’s International Ballroom.
Geena Davis got a hero’s welcome as she was awarded the Lynn Stalmaster Career Achievement Award, presented by her best friend and longtime CBS executive Nina Tassler, who now runs a production company.“Going first and being a pioneer is not easy, and to be an agent of change and work towards having an impact,” said Tassler.
“We have all been impacted by Lynn’s bold achievements. The Geena Davis Institute has been working hard to gender balance on- screen representation. She’s been prescient in identifying the iniquities. She’s ahead of her time – and there still time for her to get into the 2020 race.” Tassler then introduced a clip reel of some of Davis’ best on-screen work including her roles in Thelma and Louise, A League of Their Own and The Long Kiss Good Night.
After receiving a standing ovation, Davis said in her acceptance speech that Stalmaster was the one who gave her her first part, in Tootsie.“Everything sprang from that and I’m grateful to casting directors for all the fabulous roles I’ve been privileged to have,” Davis said. “For those I haven’t worked with yet, what parts do you have? Time’s a wasting. Let’s get busy,” she said, before turning more serious.
“In kids’ TV, we have reached gender parity. It sends a message of hope of what we can accomplish. Go through the script and change the names. Suddenly you have gender parity. There are lots of parts that could be played by anyone so expand on our vision. Kudos to BAFTA, and now with David Rubin, let’s get an Oscar category.”
Actor Ed Norton presented another prestigious honorary kudo, the Hoyt Bowers Award to Deborah Aquila, who gave him his first break – and look where he is now.“She’s had a career of excellence over the decades and it’s very special to acknowledge a lifetime of great work,” he said about Aquila, who cast him in 1996’s Primal Fear.
“Any actor knows that there are many others who didn’t get the part but the lucky ones get grabbed by the hand and given their shot, sometimes a career-defining shot. Deborah yanked me out of obscurity and gave me a career, along with some of the greatest actors of my generation that she found. She’s been such a gift to so many.”
At the other Artios Awards ceremonies January 30, Michelle Buteau hosted in New York at Stage 48 and Jason Isaacs hosted in London at the Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square.
At the other Artios Awards ceremonies January 30, Michelle Buteau hosted in New York at Stage 48 and Jason Isaacs hosted in London at the Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square.
Here’s a complete list of the winners:
Feature Film Recipients
Animation
THE LION KING – Sarah Halley Finn, Jason B. Stamey (Associate)
and
TOY STORY 4 – Kevin Reher, Natalie Lyon
Big Budget – Comedy
KNIVES OUT – Mary Vernieu, Angela Peri (Location Casting), Bret Howe (Associate)
Big Budget – Drama
ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD – Victoria Thomas
Studio or Independent – Comedy
JOJO RABBIT – Des Hamilton
Studio or Independent – Drama
MARRIAGE STORY – Francine Maisler, Douglas Aibel, Kathy Driscoll-Mohler (Associate)
Low Budget – Comedy or Drama
THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO – Julia Kim, Nina Henninger (Location Casting), Sarah Kliban (Associate)
Micro Budget – Comedy or Drama
SKIN IN THE GAME – Matthew Lessall
The Zeitgeist Award
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER – Nina Gold, April Webster, Alyssa Weisberg, Angela Young (Associate)
Television Recipients
Television Pilot and First Season – Comedy
RUSSIAN DOLL – Christine Kromer, Andrew Femenella (Associate)
Television Pilot and First Season – Drama
POSE – Alexa L. Fogel, Kathryn Zamora-Benson (Associate), Caitlin D. Jones (Associate)
Television Series Comedy
THE MARVELOUS MRS MAISEL – Cindy Tolan, Juliette Ménager (Location Casting), Anne Davison (Associate)
Television Series – Drama
GAME OF THRONES – Nina Gold, Robert Sterne, Carla Stronge (Location Casting)
Limited Series
WHEN THEY SEE US – Aisha Coley, Billy Hopkins (Location Casting), Ashley Ingram (Location Casting)
Film – Non-Theatrical Release
TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE – Tamara-Lee Notcutt, Tiffany Mak (Location Casting), Alexis Allen (Associate)
Live Television Performance, Variety or Sketch Comedy
LIVE IN FRONT OF A STUDIO AUDIENCE: ALL IN THE FAMILY AND THE JEFFERSONS – Marc Hirschfeld, Geralyn Flood, Katrina Wandel George (Associate)
Children’s Pilot and Series (Live Action)
ANDI MACK – Amber Horn, Danielle Aufiero, Steven Tylor O’Connor (Associate)
Television Animation
BIG MOUTH – Julie Ashton-Barson
Reality Series
QUEER EYE – Gretchen Palek, Danielle Gervais, Ally Capriotti Grant, Quinn Fegan, Pamela Vallarelli
Short Film
SKIN – Jessica Sherman
Short Form Series
IT’S BRUNO! – Bess Fifer
Theatre Recipients
New York Broadway Theatre – Comedy or Drama
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – Daniel Swee
New York Broadway Theatre – Musical
HADESTOWN – Duncan Stewart, Benton Whitley
New York Broadway Theatre – Revival, Comedy or Drama
THE WAVERLY GALLERY – David Caparelliotis, Lauren Port
New York Broadway Theatre – Revival, Musical
OKLAHOMA! – Adam Caldwell, Will Cantler
New York Theatre – Comedy or Musical
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF IN YIDDISH (FIDLER AFN DAKH) – Jamibeth Margolis
New York Theatre – Drama
DADDY – Judy Henderson, Nick Peciaro (Associate)
Regional Theatre
IN THE HEIGHTS – Tara Rubin, Claire Burke
Los Angeles Theatre
SWEAT – Heidi Levitt, Billy Hopkins (NY Casting), Ashley Ingram (NY Casting), Marin Hope (Associate)
Special Theatrical Performance
ANNIE– Margery Simkin, Michael Donovan, Beth Lipari, Richie Ferris (Associate)
Theatre Tours
HAMILTON – Bethany Knox, Lauren Harris (Associate)
