MJZ and Biscuit Filmworks each had two directors scoring nominations for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2015. MJZ’s Juan Cabral and Tom Kuntz are up for the honor as are Biscuit’s Andreas Nilsson and Steve Rogers. Rounding out the field is director Miles Jay of Smuggler.
All but Kuntz are first-time DGA Award nominees. Kuntz now picks up his sixth DGA Award nomination. He previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for Eyebrows (Cadbury), Tips (Career Builder), Scents for Gents (Old Spice) and Tailor (Skittles) in 2009; and was previously nominated in this category in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012.
This time around Kuntz is nominated for Old Spice’s “So It Begins” from Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Ore., Heineken’s “The Chase” via Wieden+Kennedy, Amsterdam, and Clash of Clans’ “Revenge” out of Barton F. Graf 9000, New York.
His MJZ compatriot, Cabral, earned nominee status for Ikea’s “Monkeys” out of agency Mother, and Lurpak’s “Freestyle” for Wieden+Kennedy, London.
Biscuit’s Nilsson garnered his first career DGA nom for the Comcast spot “Emily’s Oz” out of Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, NY, General Electric’s “Time Upon A Once” for BBDO NY, and Old Spice’s “Dad Song” from Wieden+Kennedy, Portland.
Rogers, also on the Biscuit roster, scored his nomination for Nike Golf’s “Ripple” and Nike’s “Snow Day,” both via Wieden+Kennedy, Portland.
And Smuggler’s Jay scored his first DGA nomination for AT&T/ESPN’s “It Can Wait” from ESPN Creative Works.
Here’s a rundown of the commercial director nominees and some of their directorial teams behind the nominated work:
JUAN CABRAL
(MJZ)
“Monkeys,” Ikea – Mother
“Freestyle,” Lurpak – Wieden + Kennedy London
MILES JAY
(Smuggler)
“It Can Wait,” ESPN/AT&T – ESPN Creative Works
First Assistant Director: Scott Rorie
TOM KUNTZ
(MJZ)
“So It Begins,” Old Spice – Wieden + Kennedy Portland
First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith
Second Assistant Director: Robert Kay
“The Chase,” Heineken – Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam
First Assistant Director: Steven Fernandez
“Revenge,” Clash of Clans – Barton F. Graff
First Assistant Directors: Peter Jackson, Kevin Burke
Second Assistant Director: Kevin Burke
ANDREAS NILSSON
(Biscuit Filmworks)
“Emily’s Oz,” Comcast – Goodby, Silverstein & Partners NY
First Assistant Directors: Craig Owens, Eric Topp
Second Assistant Director: Eric Topp
“Time Upon A Once,” General Electric – BBDO
Unit Production Manager: Vincent Landay
“Dad Song,” Old Spice – Wieden + Kennedy
STEVE ROGERS
(Biscuit Filmworks)
“Ripple,” Nike Golf – Wieden + Kennedy Portland
Unit Production Manager: Vincent Landay
First Assistant Director: David Dean
Second Assistant Director: Blake Perkinson
Second Second Assistant Director: Frank Horn
“Snow Day,” Nike – Wieden + Kennedy Portland
Unit Production Manager: James Veal
First Assistant Director: Craig Owens
Second Assistant Director: Eric Topp
Second Second Assistant Directors: Rob Nia, Rob Topp, Rob Torres
