DGA Award Spot Nominees: Ayson, Bond, de Thurah, Jonze, Shane
David Shane of O Positive
  • LOS ANGELES
  • --

MJZ leads the way with three of its directors--Steve Ayson, Fredrik Bond and Spike Jonze--scoring nominations for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2018. This marks Bond’s eighth career DGA nomination, Jonze’s third and Ayson’s second.

Jonze’s three prior nods consisted of two for commercials and the third coming in the feature film category (for Being John Malkovich in 1999).

Meanwhile Martin de Thurah of Epoch Films is the only nominee this year who has actually won the DGA Award. This is his third career nomination and he’s won both times he was previously in the running, most recently last year.

Rounding out the field is director David Shane of O Positive. This is Shane’s first career DGA Award nomination.

Shane’s DGA nod came on the basis of Babbel’s “An Alien Abroad” out of Wieden+Kennedy London, and the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund PSA “Daughter and Mother.”

The latest nod for de Thurah was on the strength of Audi RS 5 Coupe’s “Final Breath” for Venables Bell & Partners, Chase’s “Momma Said Knock You Out” for Droga5, and Macy’s “Space Station” from BBDO NY.

Jonze’s most recent DGA nom was on the basis of Apple Homepod’s “Welcome Home” for TBWA\Media Arts Lab.

Ayson earned his second career DGA nom for Dollar Shave Club’s client-direct spot “Getting Ready” and Speight’s “The Dance” from DDB.

And Bond’s Guild nod came for Virgin TV’s “Harmony” out of BBH, BT Sport’s “Take Them All On” for AMV BBDO London, and Confused.com’s “The Big Win” from Karmarama.

The winner will be announced and honored at the 71st Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at the Hollywood & Highland Center’s Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood.

Here’s a rundown of the commercial director nominees and some of their supporting teams behind the nominated work:

STEVE AYSON
(MJZ)
“Getting Ready,” Dollar Shave Club – (client direct)
First Assistant Director: Robert Phillips
Second Assistant Director: Braden Anderson

“The Dance,” Speight’s – DDB

This is Mr. Ayson’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2012 for "Beer Chase" (Carlton Draught) and "Let Me Go" (The Cosmopolitan of Los Vegas).

FREDRIK BOND
(MJZ)
“Harmony,” Virgin TV – BBH

“Take Them All On,” BT Sport – AMV BBDO
First Assistant Director: Matthew Clyde

“The Big Win,” Confused.com – Karmarama
First Assistant Director: Aldric Porter
Second Assistant Director: Erv Gentry

This is Mr. Bond’s eighth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2016 for "Dive" (Apple) and "World of Play" (LG); in 2013 for "Voyage" (Heineken) and "From the Future" (Johnny Walker); in 2012 for "Surfer" (Puma) and "Eternal Optimism" (Budweiser); in 2011 for "Date" and "The Entrance" (Heineken); in 2008 for "First Time" (Levi's) "Fridge Magnet" (Guinness) and "Space" (Carling); in 2007 for "Aviator" (JCPenney) and "Straw" (Milk); and in 2004 for "Cherry and Jelly Fish" (Three) and "The Other Game" (Nike-Euro).

MARTIN de THURAH
(Epoch Films)
“Final Breath,” Audi RS 5 Coupe – Venables, Bell & Partners
First Assistant Director: Howell Caldwell

“Mama Said Knock You Out,” Chase – Droga5
First Assistant Director: Shawn Thomas
Second Assistant Director: Oren Tuvia

“Space Station,” Macy’s – BBDO
First Assistant Director: John Lowe

This is Mr. de Thurah’s third DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials in 2013 for "The Man Who Couldn’t Slow Down" (Hennessy VS) and "Human Race" (Acura MDX 2014); and again in 2017 for "Festival" and "Machines" (StubHub) and "Mad World" (WealthSimple).

SPIKE JONZE
(MJZ)
“Welcome Home,” Apple Homepod – TBWA \ Media Arts Lab
Unit Production Managers: Vincent Landay, Natalie Hill
First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith
Second Assistant Directors: Robert Kay, Nadeem Ashayer, Dave Marnell
Second Second Assistant Director: Jeff Tavani

This is Mr. Jonze’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2006 for "Hello Tomorrow" (Adidas), "Penguin" (Miller Beer) and "Pardon Our Dust" (Gap). He was also previously nominated for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film Award for Being John Malkovich in 1999.

DAVID SHANE
(O Positive)
“An Alien Abroad,” Babbel – Wieden + Kennedy London

“Daughter and Mother,” Cure Alzheimer’s Fund - BBDO NY
First Assistant Director: Daryl Patterson
Second Assistant Director: Samantha Melville

This is Mr. Shane’s first DGA Award nomination.

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