Vickie_M
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2001
- Messages
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I know that Edwin has a thread called "2002 Critics And Other Organizations Top 10 Lists" and this could certainly go there, but, begging his pardon, I think it deserves its own thread. These will not be televised.
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AFI AWARDS 2002
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED
Third Annual AFI Almanac Documents Excellence
Distinguished AFI Juries Select:
Ten Most Outstanding Motion Pictures
and Television Programs of the Year
(plus AFI MOMENTS OF SIGNIFICANCE)
LOS ANGELES, December 16, 2002–The American Film Institute (AFI) today announced the official selections of AFI AWARDS 2002, AFI’s almanac which records the year’s most outstanding achievements in film and television as well as significant moments in the world of the moving image.
The selections were made through AFI’s unique jury process in which one chair, three scholars, three artists, three critics and three AFI Trustees discuss, debate and determine the most outstanding achievements of the year and provide a rationale for each selection.
Two AFI Juries–one for motion pictures and one for television–convened at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Los Angeles, California for two days of deliberation. The jurors have remained confidential until today. (Complete list attached.)
AFI AWARDS 2002 is the only form of national recognition that honors the film and television creative ensemble as a whole–those people in front of and behind the camera–acknowledging the collaborative nature of film and television.
"We salute the collaborative team of artists that created these American landmarks and their place in our rich, cultural legacy," commented Jean Picker Firstenberg, AFI Director and CEO.
AFI will honor the creative ensembles for each of the honorees at a luncheon on January 16, 2003 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
The honorees are listed below in alphabetical order:
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AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR–OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
ABOUT A BOY
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult
DIRECTOR Paul Weitz & Chris Weitz
PRODUCER Jane Rosenthal, Robert DeNiro, Tim Bevan, Brad Epstein, Eric Fellner
SCREENWRITER Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz
COMPOSER Badly Drawn Boy
CINEMATOGRAPHER Remi Adefarasin
EDITOR Nick Moore
PRODUCTION DESIGN Jim Clay
RATIONALE: ABOUT A BOY is a pure comic pleasure. This mature look at immaturity is witty, smart and heartwarming without being sentimental. In a world where laughs are precious, yet film comedy is undervalued, ABOUT A BOY is a tonic for what ails us. Hugh Grant proves once again that his charm is boundless.
ABOUT SCHMIDT
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Jack Nicholson, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney, Len Cariou, Howard Hessman, Kathy Bates
DIRECTOR Alexander Payne
PRODUCER Harry Gittes & Michael Besman
SCREENWRITER Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor
COMPOSER Rolfe Kent
CINEMATOGRAPHER James Glennon
EDITOR Kevin Tent
PRODUCTION DESIGN Jane Ann Stewart
RATIONALE: ABOUT SCHMIDT puts a new face on film satire, embodied in a towering performance by Jack Nicholson. The movie presents America’s heartland with a richness of detail that brings a unique light to this funny, sad and always captivating tale.
ADAPTATION
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper,
DIRECTOR Spike Jonze
PRODUCER Jonathan Demme, Vincent Landay, Edward Saxon
SCREENWRITER Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman
COMPOSER Carter Burwell
CINEMATOGRAPHER Lance Accord
EDITOR Eric Zumbrunnen
PRODUCTION DESIGN KK Barrett
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Gray Marshall
RATIONALE: ADAPTATION is a film that makes the word "original" seem ordinary. Both entertaining and intelligent, the film mercilessly destroys an audience’s expectations and demands that it keep up…keep laughing…or be cut out of the final draft.
ANTWONE FISHER
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Derek Luke, Denzel Washington, Joy Bryant, Salli Richardson, Viola Davis
DIRECTOR Denzel Washington
PRODUCER Todd Black, Randa Haines, Denzel Washington
SCREENWRITER Antwone Fisher
COMPOSER Mychael Danna
CINEMATOGRAPHER Philippe Rousselot
EDITOR Conrad Buff
PRODUCTION DESIGN Nelson Coates
RATIONALE: ANTWONE FISHER provides a clarion call for all films that strive to bring unspoken topics into the national conversation. For a modern world drowning in cynicism, this is an honest and sincere film that helps us understand that sometimes we have to go home again before we can go forward. Derek Luke’s performance in the title role heralds the arrival of a fresh, new talent.
CHICAGO
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly
DIRECTOR Rob Marshall
PRODUCER Martin Richards
SCREENWRITER Bill Condon
COMPOSER Danny Elfman
CINEMATOGRAPHER Dion Beebe
EDITOR Martin Walsh
PRODUCTION DESIGN John Myhre
RATIONALE: CHICAGO gives contemporary audiences the "old razzle dazzle" with an explosion of talent and energy that dares them not to applaud after each musical number. The film pioneers new ground in this uniquely American art form and reminds us once again of the brilliance of Bob Fosse.
FRIDA
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Rush, Valerio Golina, Mia Maestro, Roger Rees
DIRECTOR Julie Taymor
PRODUCER Sarah Green, Salma Hayek, Jay Polstein
SCREENWRITER Clancy Sigal, Diane Lake, Gregory Nava & Anna Thomas
COMPOSER Elliot Goldenthal
CINEMATOGRAPHER Rodrigo Prieto
EDITOR Francoise Bonnot
PRODUCTION DESIGN Felipe Fernandez
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Amoeba Proteus
RATIONALE: FRIDA is a movie about art that is a work of art in itself. The film’s unique visual language takes us into an artist’s head and reminds us that art is best enjoyed when it moves, breathes and is painted on a giant canvas, as only the movies can provide.
GANGS OF NEW YORK
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis, Liam Neeson, Henry Thomas
DIRECTOR Martin Scorsese
PRODUCER Alberto Grimaldo
SCREENWRITER Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, Kenneth Lonergan
COMPOSER Howard Shore
CINEMATOGRAPHER Michael Ballhaus
EDITOR Thelma Schoonmaker
PRODUCTION DESIGN Dante Ferretti
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Michael Owens
RATIONALE: GANGS OF NEW YORK is bravura filmmaking by an American master. Martin Scorsese’s epic tale moves with cinematic elegance from New York City’s Five Points to Ground Zero, and the story it tells will be a revelation to today’s audiences. Daniel Day Lewis’ mesmerizing performance as Bill the Butcher creates one of the great screen villains of all time.
THE HOURS
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore , Nicole Kidman,
Allison Janney, Ed Harris, Claire Danes, Jeff Daniels,
Stephen Dillane, John C. Reilly,
Miranda Richardson, Toni Collette
DIRECTOR Stephen Daldry
PRODUCER Scott Rudin and Robert Fox
SCREENWRITER David Hare
COMPOSER Philip Glass
CINEMATOGRAPHER Seamus McGarvey
EDITOR Peter Boyle
PRODUCTION DESIGN Maria Djurkovic
RATIONALE: THE HOURS provides further proof that film is the language of the 21st Century. A strong adaptation of a difficult literary project, THE HOURS blossoms on-screen in a brilliant, ever-unfolding exploration of madness. Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore create an acting ensemble across time…and for the ages.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, Sean Bean, Andy Serkis
DIRECTOR Peter Jackson
PRODUCER Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh
SCREENWRITER Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Stephen Sinclair, Fran Walsh
COMPOSER Howard Shore
CINEMATOGRAPHER Andrew Lesnie
EDITOR Michael Horton
PRODUCTION DESIGN Grant Major
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri, Randall William Cook, Alex Funke
RATIONALE: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS is an epic screen experience that will inspire awe in generations of movie lovers for years to come. Though presented on a massive scale, the film’s attention to detail and its emotional depth are the heart of its extraordinary achievement. Whether marching in the shadow of 10,000 warriors or showing two people talking, Peter Jackson’s personal vision for the trilogy fully realizes J. R. R. Tolkien’s boundless literary imagination.
THE QUIET AMERICAN
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Do Thi Hai Yen, Rade Sherbedgia, Tzi Ma
DIRECTOR Phillip Noyce
PRODUCER Staffan Ahrenberg, William Horberg
SCREENWRITER Christopher Hampton and Robert Schenkkan
COMPOSER Craig Armstrong
CINEMATOGRAPHER Christopher Doyle
EDITOR John Scott
PRODUCTION DESIGN Roger Ford
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Murray Pope
RATIONALE: THE QUIET AMERICAN gives us an inside look at America’s early involvement in Vietnam at a time when audiences are evaluating how the world perceives the United States’ role in global politics. The film brilliantly captures 1950s Saigon as well as the subtleties of Graham Greene’s novel. Michael Caine continues to prove that he is the most consistently reliable actor in American film.
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AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR–OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
THE BELIEVER
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRODUCER Susan Hoffman, Christopher Roberts, Jay Firestone, Adam Haight, Daniel Diamond, Eric Sandys
PRINCIPAL CAST Ryan Gosling, Summer Phoenix
DIRECTOR Henry Bean
WRITER Henry Bean
EDITOR Mayin Lo, Lee Percy
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jim Denault
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Susan Block
COMPOSER Joel Diamond
RATIONALE: THE BELIEVER is proof that television can take the most difficult and disturbing of subject matters and bring them to a national audience with style and grace. Ryan Gosling’s performance stands out among the year’s most extraordinary acting achievements.
BOOMTOWN
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Graham Yost
SHOWRUNNER Graham Yost, Jon Avnet
PRODUCER Graham Yost, Jon Avnet
PRINCIPAL CAST Donnie Wahlberg, Neal McDonough, Mykelti Williamson, Gary Basaraba, Nina Garbiras, Lana Parrilla, Jason Gedrick
DIRECTOR Jon Avnet
WRITER Graham Yost
EDITOR Debbie Neil Fischer
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Denis Lenoir
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Michael Hanan
DIGITAL EFFECTS ARTIST Ric Zorro
COMPOSER Philip Giffen
RATIONALE: In a television world populated with crime dramas, BOOMTOWN explodes with originality. By presenting multiple points-of-view in a non-linear narrative style, BOOMTOWN dares to be gray in a colorful medium that often presents its heroes and villains in black and white. Every week its considerable action unfolds with a sense of moral ambiguity that enriches the storytelling.
DOOR TO DOOR
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRODUCER David Rosemont, Dan Angel, Billy Brown, Forest Whitaker, Robert J. King
PRINCIPAL CAST William H. Macy, Helen Mirren, Kyra Sedgwick, Kathy Baker
DIRECTOR Steven Schachter
WRITER William H. Macy, Steven Schachter
EDITOR Paul Dixon
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jan Kiesser
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Brent Thomas
COMPOSER Jeff Beal
RATIONALE: DOOR TO DOOR is a small film with a giant impact. This intimate story knocks on your door, makes itself comfortable in your living room and offers you its life-affirming tale at no cost. William Macy’s performance is a work of love, on par with the landmark achievements of Dustin Hoffman in RAINMAN and Cliff Robertson in CHARLY.
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Philip Rosenthal
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Stu Smiley, Rory Rosegarten, Lew Schneider, Tucker Cawley, Steve Skrovan, Jeremy Stevens, Ray Romano, Philip Rosenthal
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Tom Caltabiano, Aaron Shure, Lisa Helfrich Jackson
PRODUCER Mike Royce, Ken Ornstein
CO-PRODUCER Holly Gailen
PRINCIPAL CAST Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, Brad Garrett, Madylin Sweetin
DIRECTOR Jerry Zacks
WRITER Ray Romano
EDITOR Pat Barnett
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Pat Barnett
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Sharon Busse
COMPOSER Rick Marotta
RATIONALE: EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND…and AFI does too. This modern classic consistently makes big comedy out of small things, and its laughs are often enriched with insights into family togetherness that many dramas struggle to characterize.
THE GATHERING STORM
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Julie Payne
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Lisa Ellzey, Tracey Scoffield
PRODUCER Frank Doelger, David M. Thompson
CO-PRODUCER Sue Berger
PRINCIPAL CAST Albert Finney, Tom Hiddleston, Timothy Bentinck, Ronnie Barker, Diana Hoddinott, Dolly Wells, Vanessa Redgrave
DIRECTOR Richard Loncraine
WRITER Hugh Whitemore, Larry Ramin
EDITOR Jim Clark
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Peter Hannan
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Luciana Arrighi
DIGITAL EFFECTS ARTIST Angus Bickerton
COMPOSER Howard Goodall
RATIONALE: THE GATHERING STORM utilizes the medium to present epic subject matter on a very intimate scale. This unexplored chapter in the Churchill saga is masterfully brought to life by the performances of Albert Finney and Vanessa Redgrave.
GILMORE GIRLS
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Amy Sherman-Palladino
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Amy Sherman-Palladino, Gavin Polone, Daniel Palladino
SUPERVISING PRODUCER Sheila R. Lawrence
CONSULTING PRODUCER Allan Heinberg
PRODUCER Patricia Fass Palmer
CO-PRODUCER Helen Pai
PRINCIPAL CAST Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Melissa McCarthy, Keiko Agena, Yanic Truesdale, Scott Patterson, Liza Weil, Jared Padalecki, Milo Ventimiglia, Sean Gunn, Kelly Bishop
DIRECTOR Robert Berlinger
WRITER Amy Sherman-Palladino
EDITOR Jill Savitt
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Michael A. Price
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Lauren Crasco
COMPOSER Sam Phillips
RATIONALE: GILMORE GIRLS fulfills television’s promise to elevate its audience through entertainment. The program creates a beautifully self-contained universe, where the traditional rules of television seem not to apply. The unique mother/daughter relationship drives the drama with heart, virtue and laughter.
THE SIMPSONS
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Matt Groening
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Al Jean, James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Sam Simon
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Ian Maxtone-Graham, Matt Selman, Dan Greaney, Josh Lieb, Al Jean, James L. Brooks, Matt Groening
SUPERVISING PRODUCER Larina Jean Adamson, Carolyn Omine, Tim Long, John Frink, Don Payne, Dana Gould, Kevin Curran, Brian Kelley,
PRODUCER George Meyer, Ron Hauge, Tom Gammill, Max Pross, David Mirkin, Mike Reiss, Jon Vitti, Richard Raynis, Bonita Pietila, David Silverman, Denise Sirkot, Richard Sakai
CO-PRODUCER Marc Wilmore
ANIMATION PRODUCER Mike Wolf, Laurie Biernacki
ANIMATION EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS John Hyde, John Bush
PRINCIPAL CAST Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer
DIRECTOR Lauren MacMullan, Robert Pinsky
SUPERVISING DIRECTOR Jim Reardon
WRITER Jon Vitti
EDITOR Michael Bridge, Don Barrozo
COMPOSER Alf Clausen, Danny Elfman
RATIONALE: Even as it enters its 14th season, THE SIMPSONS continues to bring television audiences social and cultural satire in the finest of America’s comedic tradition. Irreverent and literate, timeless and timely, this show may be the most comically dense series in the history of television, and one where adults and children alike can enjoy a laugh.
SIX FEET UNDER
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Alan Ball
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Alan Ball, Alan Poul, Robert Greenblatt, David Janollari
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Bruce Eric Kaplan
SUPERVISING PRODUCER Rick Cleveland, Scott Buck, Laurence Andries
PRODUCER Christian Taylor, Jill Soloway
CO-PRODUCER Robert Del Valle, Lori Jo Nemhauser
PRINCIPAL CAST Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose, Freddy Rodriguez, Mathew St. Patrick, Rachel Griffiths, Richard Jenkins
DIRECTOR Daniel Attias
WRITER Jill Soloway
EDITOR Michael Ruscio
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Alan Caso
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Daniel Ross
COMPOSER Thomas Newman, Richard Marvin
RATIONALE: SIX FEET UNDER breaks new ground every week…literally. This show drags the uncomfortable topic of mortality into the living room and watches television’s most unusual family struggle with matters of life and death in equally unusual ways.
THE SOPRANOS
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR David Chase
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER David Chase, Brad Grey, Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess, Ilene S. Landress
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Terence Winter
PRODUCER Henry J. Bronchtein, Martin Bruestle
CO-PRODUCER Ann Holm, Gianni Maria Smart
PRINCIPAL CAST James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Tony Sirico, Drea De Matteo, Joe Pantoliano, John Ventimiglia, Federico Castelluccio, Aida Turturro, Ateven R. Shirripa, Vincent Curatola, Michael Imperioli, Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Dominic Chianese, Steven Van Zandt
DIRECTOR Tim Van Patten
WRITER Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess
EDITOR William B. Stich
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Phil Abraham
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Bob Shaw
COMPOSER Kathryn Dayak
RATIONALE: THE SOPRANOS embraces America in a big family hug…and doesn’t let go. The show has shattered the expectation of what television can be and reminds us this year that compelling drama — like the death of a marriage — is as powerful and painful as murder. James Gandolfini and Edie Falco consistently transcend the art of acting — particularly in the final episode of the season.
THE WEST WING
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Aaron Sorkin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, John Wells
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Alex Graves, Kevin Falls, Christopher Misiano
PRODUCER Paul Redford, Kristin Harms, Neal Ahern, Jr., Llewellyn Wells
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Mindy Kanaskie, Patrick Ward
PRINCIPAL CAST Rob Lowe, Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, Martin Sheen
DIRECTOR Christopher Misiano
WRITER Aaron Sorkin
EDITOR Russell Denove
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Thomas Del Ruth
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Kenneth Hardy
COMPOSER W.G. Snuffy Walden
RATIONALE: Week after week, THE WEST WING projects a heroism that America yearns for in its political system. Heightened by its extraordinary use of language, THE WEST WING puts American civic life in a dramatic context, placing the White House in the national conversation and often bringing pertinent global issues to the watercooler on mornings after a broadcast.
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AFI MOMENTS OF SIGNIFICANCE
DVD IN/VHS OUT
The sale of DVDs surpassed VHS sales for the first time in 2002. In addition to signaling the desire by consumers for quality picture and sound, the enormous success of DVD inspires filmmakers and studios to invest time, effort and money in presenting additional materials for films old and new. The access to these materials represents a significant step in film education for both the general public and scholars.
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING
Originally developed by Nia Vardalos as a one-woman stage show, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING became a word-of-mouth phenomena and went on to become both the highest-grossing independent film of all time and, more significantly, the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time. Miss Vardalos adapted the screenplay from her play and starred in the film. Without the benefit of a major marketing and advertising campaign, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING provides a reminder that the public is the ultimate arbiter of what makes good entertainment.
CRISIS IN TV JOURNALISM
As television news has become a larger profit center for network and cable channels, an intensely competitive environment has increased the tendency to blur the line between news/commentary, news/entertainment and news/advocacy on all channels. AFI hopes that television will find a solution that will better serve the public interest, but in the interim, reminds audiences that the responsibility to seek an objective opinion is more difficult to find on a single channel.
AMERICAN IDOL
Fox’s AMERICAN IDOL brought an old-fashioned concept into the new century when young amateurs from around the nation competed for the title of "American Idol." Founded in a television concept that can be traced back to Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, which ran on CBS from 1948 to 1958, the slickly packaged summer series swept the nation with the notion that the American dream is still alive for young, talented performers.
WOMEN LEAD ALL FOUR GUILDS
When Martha Coolidge became the first female president of the Directors Guild of America on March 10, 2002, all of the major guilds were led by women for the first time. Victoria Riskin has served as president of the Writers Guild since September 21, 2001. Kathleen Kennedy served as co-president of the Producers Guild in 2001 and was elected president on May 20, 2002. Melissa Gilbert was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild on March 9, 2002.
THE OSBOURNES
THE OSBOURNES is the happy accident of 2002, garnering a legion of fans by presenting the day-to-day tribulations of their strange, but loving family in a hybrid of reality television, situation comedy and melodrama. Where 1973’s television experiment THE AMERICAN FAMILY shattered the image of a "normal" family, THE OSBOURNES have shattered the image of an "abnormal" family by reminding America that each family is unique in its own, often bizarre, way.
MOVIELINK.COM LAUNCHES MODEL FOR FUTURE DISTRIBUTION
Five of Hollywood’s biggest studios (Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal, Warner Bros.) launched a video-on-demand service that will allow consumers to access the studios’ libraries of films via a broadband Internet connection. The joint venture is one of the biggest distribution advances since Hollywood’s earliest days, when studios distributed their films to a network of studio-owned theaters.
STEVEN SPIELBERG PRESENTS TAKEN
The Sci Fi Channel’s ambitious presentation of the 20-hour epic mini-series TAKEN has resurrected the potential for long-form storytelling on commercial television. Scheduled over ten consecutive weeknights, this landmark achievement and the vast creative ensemble who collaborated to bring it to television — including 10 different directors and a single writer — will hopefully spawn others who take risks at this level.
TIVO BECOMES A VERB
As further evidence of the digital revolution continuum, TIVO and other "personal recording devices" have penetrated the national consciousness to a degree that they have begun to affect how television is not only watched, but produced and presented.
BILLY WILDER, 1906 - 2002
On March 27, legendary writer/director/producer Billy Wilder died at the age of 95. Recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1986 and winner of five Academy Awards, Wilder gave the world several of America’s greatest film achievements, including SUNSET BLVD., DOUBLE INDEMNITY, THE APARTMENT, THE LOST WEEKEND and SOME LIKE IT HOT.
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ABOUT AFI
AFI is the preeminent organization dedicated to advancing and preserving the art of film, television and other forms of the moving image. AFI trains the next generation of moving image artists, provides leadership in the nationwide film and television preservation effort and explores new technologies in the digital media arts. AFI also presents the best of film through the AFI International Film Festival (AFI Fest), the AFI National Theater at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and the annual AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor given for a career in film. Opening in 2003, the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center will offer a year-round program of the best in American and international cinema, featuring an eclectic mix of festivals, premieres, retrospectives, special events, tributes, guest appearances and education programs. More information about AFI can be found by visiting its Web site, located at www.AFI.com.
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AFI AWARDS 2002
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED
Third Annual AFI Almanac Documents Excellence
Distinguished AFI Juries Select:
Ten Most Outstanding Motion Pictures
and Television Programs of the Year
(plus AFI MOMENTS OF SIGNIFICANCE)
LOS ANGELES, December 16, 2002–The American Film Institute (AFI) today announced the official selections of AFI AWARDS 2002, AFI’s almanac which records the year’s most outstanding achievements in film and television as well as significant moments in the world of the moving image.
The selections were made through AFI’s unique jury process in which one chair, three scholars, three artists, three critics and three AFI Trustees discuss, debate and determine the most outstanding achievements of the year and provide a rationale for each selection.
Two AFI Juries–one for motion pictures and one for television–convened at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Los Angeles, California for two days of deliberation. The jurors have remained confidential until today. (Complete list attached.)
AFI AWARDS 2002 is the only form of national recognition that honors the film and television creative ensemble as a whole–those people in front of and behind the camera–acknowledging the collaborative nature of film and television.
"We salute the collaborative team of artists that created these American landmarks and their place in our rich, cultural legacy," commented Jean Picker Firstenberg, AFI Director and CEO.
AFI will honor the creative ensembles for each of the honorees at a luncheon on January 16, 2003 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
The honorees are listed below in alphabetical order:
==============================================
AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR–OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
ABOUT A BOY
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult
DIRECTOR Paul Weitz & Chris Weitz
PRODUCER Jane Rosenthal, Robert DeNiro, Tim Bevan, Brad Epstein, Eric Fellner
SCREENWRITER Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz
COMPOSER Badly Drawn Boy
CINEMATOGRAPHER Remi Adefarasin
EDITOR Nick Moore
PRODUCTION DESIGN Jim Clay
RATIONALE: ABOUT A BOY is a pure comic pleasure. This mature look at immaturity is witty, smart and heartwarming without being sentimental. In a world where laughs are precious, yet film comedy is undervalued, ABOUT A BOY is a tonic for what ails us. Hugh Grant proves once again that his charm is boundless.
ABOUT SCHMIDT
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Jack Nicholson, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney, Len Cariou, Howard Hessman, Kathy Bates
DIRECTOR Alexander Payne
PRODUCER Harry Gittes & Michael Besman
SCREENWRITER Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor
COMPOSER Rolfe Kent
CINEMATOGRAPHER James Glennon
EDITOR Kevin Tent
PRODUCTION DESIGN Jane Ann Stewart
RATIONALE: ABOUT SCHMIDT puts a new face on film satire, embodied in a towering performance by Jack Nicholson. The movie presents America’s heartland with a richness of detail that brings a unique light to this funny, sad and always captivating tale.
ADAPTATION
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper,
DIRECTOR Spike Jonze
PRODUCER Jonathan Demme, Vincent Landay, Edward Saxon
SCREENWRITER Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman
COMPOSER Carter Burwell
CINEMATOGRAPHER Lance Accord
EDITOR Eric Zumbrunnen
PRODUCTION DESIGN KK Barrett
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Gray Marshall
RATIONALE: ADAPTATION is a film that makes the word "original" seem ordinary. Both entertaining and intelligent, the film mercilessly destroys an audience’s expectations and demands that it keep up…keep laughing…or be cut out of the final draft.
ANTWONE FISHER
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Derek Luke, Denzel Washington, Joy Bryant, Salli Richardson, Viola Davis
DIRECTOR Denzel Washington
PRODUCER Todd Black, Randa Haines, Denzel Washington
SCREENWRITER Antwone Fisher
COMPOSER Mychael Danna
CINEMATOGRAPHER Philippe Rousselot
EDITOR Conrad Buff
PRODUCTION DESIGN Nelson Coates
RATIONALE: ANTWONE FISHER provides a clarion call for all films that strive to bring unspoken topics into the national conversation. For a modern world drowning in cynicism, this is an honest and sincere film that helps us understand that sometimes we have to go home again before we can go forward. Derek Luke’s performance in the title role heralds the arrival of a fresh, new talent.
CHICAGO
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly
DIRECTOR Rob Marshall
PRODUCER Martin Richards
SCREENWRITER Bill Condon
COMPOSER Danny Elfman
CINEMATOGRAPHER Dion Beebe
EDITOR Martin Walsh
PRODUCTION DESIGN John Myhre
RATIONALE: CHICAGO gives contemporary audiences the "old razzle dazzle" with an explosion of talent and energy that dares them not to applaud after each musical number. The film pioneers new ground in this uniquely American art form and reminds us once again of the brilliance of Bob Fosse.
FRIDA
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Rush, Valerio Golina, Mia Maestro, Roger Rees
DIRECTOR Julie Taymor
PRODUCER Sarah Green, Salma Hayek, Jay Polstein
SCREENWRITER Clancy Sigal, Diane Lake, Gregory Nava & Anna Thomas
COMPOSER Elliot Goldenthal
CINEMATOGRAPHER Rodrigo Prieto
EDITOR Francoise Bonnot
PRODUCTION DESIGN Felipe Fernandez
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Amoeba Proteus
RATIONALE: FRIDA is a movie about art that is a work of art in itself. The film’s unique visual language takes us into an artist’s head and reminds us that art is best enjoyed when it moves, breathes and is painted on a giant canvas, as only the movies can provide.
GANGS OF NEW YORK
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis, Liam Neeson, Henry Thomas
DIRECTOR Martin Scorsese
PRODUCER Alberto Grimaldo
SCREENWRITER Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, Kenneth Lonergan
COMPOSER Howard Shore
CINEMATOGRAPHER Michael Ballhaus
EDITOR Thelma Schoonmaker
PRODUCTION DESIGN Dante Ferretti
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Michael Owens
RATIONALE: GANGS OF NEW YORK is bravura filmmaking by an American master. Martin Scorsese’s epic tale moves with cinematic elegance from New York City’s Five Points to Ground Zero, and the story it tells will be a revelation to today’s audiences. Daniel Day Lewis’ mesmerizing performance as Bill the Butcher creates one of the great screen villains of all time.
THE HOURS
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore , Nicole Kidman,
Allison Janney, Ed Harris, Claire Danes, Jeff Daniels,
Stephen Dillane, John C. Reilly,
Miranda Richardson, Toni Collette
DIRECTOR Stephen Daldry
PRODUCER Scott Rudin and Robert Fox
SCREENWRITER David Hare
COMPOSER Philip Glass
CINEMATOGRAPHER Seamus McGarvey
EDITOR Peter Boyle
PRODUCTION DESIGN Maria Djurkovic
RATIONALE: THE HOURS provides further proof that film is the language of the 21st Century. A strong adaptation of a difficult literary project, THE HOURS blossoms on-screen in a brilliant, ever-unfolding exploration of madness. Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore create an acting ensemble across time…and for the ages.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, Sean Bean, Andy Serkis
DIRECTOR Peter Jackson
PRODUCER Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh
SCREENWRITER Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Stephen Sinclair, Fran Walsh
COMPOSER Howard Shore
CINEMATOGRAPHER Andrew Lesnie
EDITOR Michael Horton
PRODUCTION DESIGN Grant Major
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri, Randall William Cook, Alex Funke
RATIONALE: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS is an epic screen experience that will inspire awe in generations of movie lovers for years to come. Though presented on a massive scale, the film’s attention to detail and its emotional depth are the heart of its extraordinary achievement. Whether marching in the shadow of 10,000 warriors or showing two people talking, Peter Jackson’s personal vision for the trilogy fully realizes J. R. R. Tolkien’s boundless literary imagination.
THE QUIET AMERICAN
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRINCIPAL CAST Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, Do Thi Hai Yen, Rade Sherbedgia, Tzi Ma
DIRECTOR Phillip Noyce
PRODUCER Staffan Ahrenberg, William Horberg
SCREENWRITER Christopher Hampton and Robert Schenkkan
COMPOSER Craig Armstrong
CINEMATOGRAPHER Christopher Doyle
EDITOR John Scott
PRODUCTION DESIGN Roger Ford
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR Murray Pope
RATIONALE: THE QUIET AMERICAN gives us an inside look at America’s early involvement in Vietnam at a time when audiences are evaluating how the world perceives the United States’ role in global politics. The film brilliantly captures 1950s Saigon as well as the subtleties of Graham Greene’s novel. Michael Caine continues to prove that he is the most consistently reliable actor in American film.
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AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR–OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
THE BELIEVER
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRODUCER Susan Hoffman, Christopher Roberts, Jay Firestone, Adam Haight, Daniel Diamond, Eric Sandys
PRINCIPAL CAST Ryan Gosling, Summer Phoenix
DIRECTOR Henry Bean
WRITER Henry Bean
EDITOR Mayin Lo, Lee Percy
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jim Denault
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Susan Block
COMPOSER Joel Diamond
RATIONALE: THE BELIEVER is proof that television can take the most difficult and disturbing of subject matters and bring them to a national audience with style and grace. Ryan Gosling’s performance stands out among the year’s most extraordinary acting achievements.
BOOMTOWN
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Graham Yost
SHOWRUNNER Graham Yost, Jon Avnet
PRODUCER Graham Yost, Jon Avnet
PRINCIPAL CAST Donnie Wahlberg, Neal McDonough, Mykelti Williamson, Gary Basaraba, Nina Garbiras, Lana Parrilla, Jason Gedrick
DIRECTOR Jon Avnet
WRITER Graham Yost
EDITOR Debbie Neil Fischer
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Denis Lenoir
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Michael Hanan
DIGITAL EFFECTS ARTIST Ric Zorro
COMPOSER Philip Giffen
RATIONALE: In a television world populated with crime dramas, BOOMTOWN explodes with originality. By presenting multiple points-of-view in a non-linear narrative style, BOOMTOWN dares to be gray in a colorful medium that often presents its heroes and villains in black and white. Every week its considerable action unfolds with a sense of moral ambiguity that enriches the storytelling.
DOOR TO DOOR
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
PRODUCER David Rosemont, Dan Angel, Billy Brown, Forest Whitaker, Robert J. King
PRINCIPAL CAST William H. Macy, Helen Mirren, Kyra Sedgwick, Kathy Baker
DIRECTOR Steven Schachter
WRITER William H. Macy, Steven Schachter
EDITOR Paul Dixon
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jan Kiesser
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Brent Thomas
COMPOSER Jeff Beal
RATIONALE: DOOR TO DOOR is a small film with a giant impact. This intimate story knocks on your door, makes itself comfortable in your living room and offers you its life-affirming tale at no cost. William Macy’s performance is a work of love, on par with the landmark achievements of Dustin Hoffman in RAINMAN and Cliff Robertson in CHARLY.
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Philip Rosenthal
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Stu Smiley, Rory Rosegarten, Lew Schneider, Tucker Cawley, Steve Skrovan, Jeremy Stevens, Ray Romano, Philip Rosenthal
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Tom Caltabiano, Aaron Shure, Lisa Helfrich Jackson
PRODUCER Mike Royce, Ken Ornstein
CO-PRODUCER Holly Gailen
PRINCIPAL CAST Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, Brad Garrett, Madylin Sweetin
DIRECTOR Jerry Zacks
WRITER Ray Romano
EDITOR Pat Barnett
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Pat Barnett
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Sharon Busse
COMPOSER Rick Marotta
RATIONALE: EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND…and AFI does too. This modern classic consistently makes big comedy out of small things, and its laughs are often enriched with insights into family togetherness that many dramas struggle to characterize.
THE GATHERING STORM
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Julie Payne
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Lisa Ellzey, Tracey Scoffield
PRODUCER Frank Doelger, David M. Thompson
CO-PRODUCER Sue Berger
PRINCIPAL CAST Albert Finney, Tom Hiddleston, Timothy Bentinck, Ronnie Barker, Diana Hoddinott, Dolly Wells, Vanessa Redgrave
DIRECTOR Richard Loncraine
WRITER Hugh Whitemore, Larry Ramin
EDITOR Jim Clark
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Peter Hannan
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Luciana Arrighi
DIGITAL EFFECTS ARTIST Angus Bickerton
COMPOSER Howard Goodall
RATIONALE: THE GATHERING STORM utilizes the medium to present epic subject matter on a very intimate scale. This unexplored chapter in the Churchill saga is masterfully brought to life by the performances of Albert Finney and Vanessa Redgrave.
GILMORE GIRLS
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Amy Sherman-Palladino
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Amy Sherman-Palladino, Gavin Polone, Daniel Palladino
SUPERVISING PRODUCER Sheila R. Lawrence
CONSULTING PRODUCER Allan Heinberg
PRODUCER Patricia Fass Palmer
CO-PRODUCER Helen Pai
PRINCIPAL CAST Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Melissa McCarthy, Keiko Agena, Yanic Truesdale, Scott Patterson, Liza Weil, Jared Padalecki, Milo Ventimiglia, Sean Gunn, Kelly Bishop
DIRECTOR Robert Berlinger
WRITER Amy Sherman-Palladino
EDITOR Jill Savitt
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Michael A. Price
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Lauren Crasco
COMPOSER Sam Phillips
RATIONALE: GILMORE GIRLS fulfills television’s promise to elevate its audience through entertainment. The program creates a beautifully self-contained universe, where the traditional rules of television seem not to apply. The unique mother/daughter relationship drives the drama with heart, virtue and laughter.
THE SIMPSONS
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Matt Groening
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Al Jean, James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Sam Simon
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Ian Maxtone-Graham, Matt Selman, Dan Greaney, Josh Lieb, Al Jean, James L. Brooks, Matt Groening
SUPERVISING PRODUCER Larina Jean Adamson, Carolyn Omine, Tim Long, John Frink, Don Payne, Dana Gould, Kevin Curran, Brian Kelley,
PRODUCER George Meyer, Ron Hauge, Tom Gammill, Max Pross, David Mirkin, Mike Reiss, Jon Vitti, Richard Raynis, Bonita Pietila, David Silverman, Denise Sirkot, Richard Sakai
CO-PRODUCER Marc Wilmore
ANIMATION PRODUCER Mike Wolf, Laurie Biernacki
ANIMATION EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS John Hyde, John Bush
PRINCIPAL CAST Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer
DIRECTOR Lauren MacMullan, Robert Pinsky
SUPERVISING DIRECTOR Jim Reardon
WRITER Jon Vitti
EDITOR Michael Bridge, Don Barrozo
COMPOSER Alf Clausen, Danny Elfman
RATIONALE: Even as it enters its 14th season, THE SIMPSONS continues to bring television audiences social and cultural satire in the finest of America’s comedic tradition. Irreverent and literate, timeless and timely, this show may be the most comically dense series in the history of television, and one where adults and children alike can enjoy a laugh.
SIX FEET UNDER
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Alan Ball
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Alan Ball, Alan Poul, Robert Greenblatt, David Janollari
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Bruce Eric Kaplan
SUPERVISING PRODUCER Rick Cleveland, Scott Buck, Laurence Andries
PRODUCER Christian Taylor, Jill Soloway
CO-PRODUCER Robert Del Valle, Lori Jo Nemhauser
PRINCIPAL CAST Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose, Freddy Rodriguez, Mathew St. Patrick, Rachel Griffiths, Richard Jenkins
DIRECTOR Daniel Attias
WRITER Jill Soloway
EDITOR Michael Ruscio
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Alan Caso
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Daniel Ross
COMPOSER Thomas Newman, Richard Marvin
RATIONALE: SIX FEET UNDER breaks new ground every week…literally. This show drags the uncomfortable topic of mortality into the living room and watches television’s most unusual family struggle with matters of life and death in equally unusual ways.
THE SOPRANOS
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR David Chase
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER David Chase, Brad Grey, Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess, Ilene S. Landress
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Terence Winter
PRODUCER Henry J. Bronchtein, Martin Bruestle
CO-PRODUCER Ann Holm, Gianni Maria Smart
PRINCIPAL CAST James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Tony Sirico, Drea De Matteo, Joe Pantoliano, John Ventimiglia, Federico Castelluccio, Aida Turturro, Ateven R. Shirripa, Vincent Curatola, Michael Imperioli, Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Dominic Chianese, Steven Van Zandt
DIRECTOR Tim Van Patten
WRITER Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess
EDITOR William B. Stich
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Phil Abraham
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Bob Shaw
COMPOSER Kathryn Dayak
RATIONALE: THE SOPRANOS embraces America in a big family hug…and doesn’t let go. The show has shattered the expectation of what television can be and reminds us this year that compelling drama — like the death of a marriage — is as powerful and painful as murder. James Gandolfini and Edie Falco consistently transcend the art of acting — particularly in the final episode of the season.
THE WEST WING
CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:
CREATOR Aaron Sorkin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, John Wells
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Alex Graves, Kevin Falls, Christopher Misiano
PRODUCER Paul Redford, Kristin Harms, Neal Ahern, Jr., Llewellyn Wells
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Mindy Kanaskie, Patrick Ward
PRINCIPAL CAST Rob Lowe, Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, Martin Sheen
DIRECTOR Christopher Misiano
WRITER Aaron Sorkin
EDITOR Russell Denove
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Thomas Del Ruth
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Kenneth Hardy
COMPOSER W.G. Snuffy Walden
RATIONALE: Week after week, THE WEST WING projects a heroism that America yearns for in its political system. Heightened by its extraordinary use of language, THE WEST WING puts American civic life in a dramatic context, placing the White House in the national conversation and often bringing pertinent global issues to the watercooler on mornings after a broadcast.
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AFI MOMENTS OF SIGNIFICANCE
DVD IN/VHS OUT
The sale of DVDs surpassed VHS sales for the first time in 2002. In addition to signaling the desire by consumers for quality picture and sound, the enormous success of DVD inspires filmmakers and studios to invest time, effort and money in presenting additional materials for films old and new. The access to these materials represents a significant step in film education for both the general public and scholars.
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING
Originally developed by Nia Vardalos as a one-woman stage show, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING became a word-of-mouth phenomena and went on to become both the highest-grossing independent film of all time and, more significantly, the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time. Miss Vardalos adapted the screenplay from her play and starred in the film. Without the benefit of a major marketing and advertising campaign, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING provides a reminder that the public is the ultimate arbiter of what makes good entertainment.
CRISIS IN TV JOURNALISM
As television news has become a larger profit center for network and cable channels, an intensely competitive environment has increased the tendency to blur the line between news/commentary, news/entertainment and news/advocacy on all channels. AFI hopes that television will find a solution that will better serve the public interest, but in the interim, reminds audiences that the responsibility to seek an objective opinion is more difficult to find on a single channel.
AMERICAN IDOL
Fox’s AMERICAN IDOL brought an old-fashioned concept into the new century when young amateurs from around the nation competed for the title of "American Idol." Founded in a television concept that can be traced back to Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, which ran on CBS from 1948 to 1958, the slickly packaged summer series swept the nation with the notion that the American dream is still alive for young, talented performers.
WOMEN LEAD ALL FOUR GUILDS
When Martha Coolidge became the first female president of the Directors Guild of America on March 10, 2002, all of the major guilds were led by women for the first time. Victoria Riskin has served as president of the Writers Guild since September 21, 2001. Kathleen Kennedy served as co-president of the Producers Guild in 2001 and was elected president on May 20, 2002. Melissa Gilbert was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild on March 9, 2002.
THE OSBOURNES
THE OSBOURNES is the happy accident of 2002, garnering a legion of fans by presenting the day-to-day tribulations of their strange, but loving family in a hybrid of reality television, situation comedy and melodrama. Where 1973’s television experiment THE AMERICAN FAMILY shattered the image of a "normal" family, THE OSBOURNES have shattered the image of an "abnormal" family by reminding America that each family is unique in its own, often bizarre, way.
MOVIELINK.COM LAUNCHES MODEL FOR FUTURE DISTRIBUTION
Five of Hollywood’s biggest studios (Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal, Warner Bros.) launched a video-on-demand service that will allow consumers to access the studios’ libraries of films via a broadband Internet connection. The joint venture is one of the biggest distribution advances since Hollywood’s earliest days, when studios distributed their films to a network of studio-owned theaters.
STEVEN SPIELBERG PRESENTS TAKEN
The Sci Fi Channel’s ambitious presentation of the 20-hour epic mini-series TAKEN has resurrected the potential for long-form storytelling on commercial television. Scheduled over ten consecutive weeknights, this landmark achievement and the vast creative ensemble who collaborated to bring it to television — including 10 different directors and a single writer — will hopefully spawn others who take risks at this level.
TIVO BECOMES A VERB
As further evidence of the digital revolution continuum, TIVO and other "personal recording devices" have penetrated the national consciousness to a degree that they have begun to affect how television is not only watched, but produced and presented.
BILLY WILDER, 1906 - 2002
On March 27, legendary writer/director/producer Billy Wilder died at the age of 95. Recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1986 and winner of five Academy Awards, Wilder gave the world several of America’s greatest film achievements, including SUNSET BLVD., DOUBLE INDEMNITY, THE APARTMENT, THE LOST WEEKEND and SOME LIKE IT HOT.
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ABOUT AFI
AFI is the preeminent organization dedicated to advancing and preserving the art of film, television and other forms of the moving image. AFI trains the next generation of moving image artists, provides leadership in the nationwide film and television preservation effort and explores new technologies in the digital media arts. AFI also presents the best of film through the AFI International Film Festival (AFI Fest), the AFI National Theater at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and the annual AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor given for a career in film. Opening in 2003, the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center will offer a year-round program of the best in American and international cinema, featuring an eclectic mix of festivals, premieres, retrospectives, special events, tributes, guest appearances and education programs. More information about AFI can be found by visiting its Web site, located at www.AFI.com.
