2003 Oscar Awards

Achievement In Sound
by Stephanie Morgan, Columbus Wired Columnist (3/18/03)

You might have noticed that fancy thing that movies are doing nowadays – I think that they call them “talkies.” Seriously, sound is everything that you hear in a film.

The technical explanation: Achievement in sound is awarded for re-recording and production mixing. The five nominations are chosen by the sound branch of the academy.

Nominees:

Chicago

Gangs of New York

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Road to Perdition

Spider-Man

Chicago	David Lee Michael Minkler Dominic Tavella
Past Oscar Nominations	David Lee – None Michael Minkler – 2001 – “Best Sound” - “Black Hawk Down” 1994 – “Best Sound” - “Cliffhanger” 1992 – “Best Sound” - “JFK” 1990 – “Best Sound” - “Born on the Fourth of July” 1986 – “Best Sound” - “A Chorus Line” 1983 – “Best Sound” - “Tron” 1981 – “Best Sound” - “Altered States” 1980 – “Best Sound” - “The Electric Horseman” Dominic Tavella – None
Past Award Wins	David Lee – 2003 - BAFTA Award for “Best Sound” – “Chicago” 2000 – Australian Film Institute “Achievement in Sound” Award - “Bootmen” Michael Minkler – 2003 – BAFTA Award “Best Sound” - “Chicago” 2002 – Oscar Award for “Best Sound” - “Black Hawk Down” 2002 – Golden Reel Award for “Best Sound Editing” – “Black Hawk Down” 1993 – BAFTA Award “Best Sound” – “JFK” 1979 – BAFTA Award “Best Sound” – “Star Wars” Dominic Tavella – 2003 – BAFTA Award “Best Sound” – “Chicago”
Pass-Overs	The only interesting pass-over fact in this category is the named nominees. For the BAFTA Awards, Maurice Schell was also listed as a nominee. In Oscar’s world, however, he was not considered a principle contributor.
Miramax Factor	ABSOLUTELY.
Hip Factor	This is tricky, as we’re talking about the resurgence of the musical.
# of Nominations	13
Intangibles	The 13 nominations for the film. This can sometimes sends wins to other films with the expectation that a film will win “so many other awards.”

Gangs of New York	Eugene Gearty Tom Fleischman Ivan Sharrock
Past Oscar Nominations	Eugene Gearty – None Tom Fleischman – 1992 – “Best Sound” – “Silence of the Lambs” 1982 – “Best Sound” – “Reds” Ivan Sharrock – 2001 – “Best Sound” – “U-571” 1988 – “Best Sound” – “The Last Emperor”
Past Award Wins	Eugene Gearty – 2001 – Hong Kong Film Award “Best Sound Design” – “Wo hu cang long” 2001 – Golden Reel Award “Best Sound Editing” – “Wo hu cang long” 2000 – Golden Horse Award “Best Sound” - “Wo hu cang long” Tom Fleischman – None Ivan Sharrock 1982 – BAFTA Award “Best Sound” – “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”
Pass-Overs	In this category, there is a second-year competition in the “Best Sound” category between Ivan Sharrock and Michael Milkner. Will this be Ivan’s year?
Miramax Factor	Yes.
Hip Factor	None, Oscar traditionally loves the period dramas.
# of Nominations	10
Intangibles	Rumor is that this is Scorcesse’s last film. Awards could go this film’s way as a way of thanking Scorcesse for his excellent work over the years.

The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers	Christopher Boyes Michael Hedges Hammond Peek Michael Semanick
Past Oscar Nominations	Christopher Boyes – 2002 – “Best Sound Effects” – “Pearl Harbor” 2002 – “Best Sound” – “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” 1998 – “Best Sound Effects” – “Titanic” Michael Hedges – None Hammond Peek – 2002 – “Best Sound” – “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” Michael Semanick – 2002 – “Best Sound” – “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”
Past Award Wins	Christopher Boyes – 2002 – Oscar “Best Sound Effects” – “Pearl Harbor” 2002 – Cinema Audio Society Award “Oustanding Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures” – “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” 2002 – Golden Satellite Award “Best Sound” – “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” 2001 – Golden Reel Award “Best Sound Editing – Animated Feature” – “Titan A.E.” 1998 – Oscar “Best Sound Effects” – “Titanic” 1998 – Golden Reel Award “Best Sound Editing” – “Titanic” Michael Hedges – 1999 – New Zealand Film Award “Best Sound Design” – “When Love Comes” 1997 – New Zealand Film Award “Best Soundtrack” – “Saving Grace” 1996 – New Zealand Film Award “Best Soundtrack” – “Broken English” 1995 – New Zealand Film Award “Best Soundtrack” – “Heavenly Creatures” 1994 – New Zealand Film Award “Best Soundtrack” – “Once Were Warriors” Hammond Peek – 2002 – Cinema Audio Society Award “Outstanding Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures” – “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” 2002 – Golden Satellite Award “Best Sound” – “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” Michael Semanick – 2002 – Cinema Audio Society Award “Outstanding Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures” – “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” 2002 – Golden Satellite Award “Best Sound” – “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”
Pass-Overs	“Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” was passed over in this category last year.
Miramax Factor	No.
Hip Factor	Uber-geek is now mainstream in the corn belt, which means that it is officially “out” on either coast.
# of Nominations	6
Intangibles	Oscar appears to be viewing this trilogy as one film. It could be that the big Oscar year for LOTR will be 2004.

Road to Perdition	Bob Beemer Scott Millan John Pritchett
Past Oscar Nominations	Bob Beemer – 2001 – “Best Sound” – “Gladiator” 1997 – “Best Sound” – “Independence Day” 1995 – “Best Sound” – “Speed” 1994 – “Best Sound” – “Cliffhanger” Scott Millan – 2001 – “Best Sound” – “Gladiator” 1996 – “Best Sound” – “Apollo 13” 1996 – “Best Sound” – “Braveheart” 1994 – “Best Sound” – “Schindler’s List” John Pritchett – None.
Past Award Wins	Bob Beemer – 2001 – Oscar “Best Sound” – “Gladiator” 2001 – Golden Reel Award “Best Sound Editing” – “Gladiator” 2000 – Golden Reel Award “Best Sound Editing” – “American Beauty” 1995 – Oscar “Best Sound” – “Speed” 1995 – BAFTA Award “Best Sound” – “Speed” Scott Millan – 2001 – Oscar “Best Sound” – “Gladiator” 2000 – Golden Reel Award” – “American Beauty” 1996 – Oscar “Best Sound” – “Apollo 13” 1996 – BAFTA Award “Best Sound” – “Braveheart” 1996 – Cinema Audio Society Award – “Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Feature Film” – “Apollo 13” John Pritchett – None.
Pass-Overs	This entire film.
Miramax Factor	No.
Hip Factor	You might be thinking “period piece” but you’re forgetting “based on a graphic novel!”
# of Nominations	6
Intangibles	“Road to Perdition” was largely passed-over this year because it came out in the summer (ever wonder why so many serious films come out around Christmas?).

Spider-Man	Kevin O’Connell Ed Novick Greg P. Russell
Past Oscar Nominations	Kevin O’Connell 2002 – “Best Sound” – “Pearl Harbor” 2001 – “Best Sound” – “The Patriot” 1999 – “Best Sound” – “Armageddon” 1999 – “Best Sound” – “The Mask of Zorro” 1998 – “Best Sound” – “Con Air” 1997 – “Best Sound” – “The Rock” 1997 – “Best Sound” – “Twister” 1996 – “Best Sound” – “Crimson Tide” 1993 – “Best Sound” – “A Few Good Men” 1991 – “Best Sound” – “Days of Thunder” 1990 – “Best Sound” – “Black Rain” 1987 – “Best Sound” – “Top Gun” 1986 – “Best Sound” – “Silverado” 1985 – “Best Sound” – “Dune” 1984 – “Best Sound” – “Terms of Endearment” Ed Novick None. Greg P. Russell 2002 – “Best Sound” – “Pearl Harbor” 2001 – “Best Sound” – “The Patriot” 1999 – “Best Sound” – “Armageddon” 1999 – “Best Sound” – “The Mask of Zorro” 1998 – “Best Sound” – “Con Air” 1997 – “Best Sound” – “The Rock” 1990 – “Best Sound” – “Black Rain”
Past Award Wins	Kevin O’Connell 1989 – Emmy Award “Outstanding Sound Mixing” – “Lonesome Dove” Ed Novick None. Greg P. Russell None.
Pass-Overs	Look to Mr. O’Connell if you want a history – this is his 16^th Oscar Nomination with no prior wins.
Miramax Factor	No.
Hip Factor	Anyone that grosses 400 million is cool.
# of Nominations	2
Intangibles	Highest-grossing film of the year, which means the public LOVED this film. There had to be some nominations.

Bottom Line:

“Chicago” is my favorite in this category – after all, how can you sing without sound? Possible spoiler is “Spider-Man” with Mr. O’Connell’s impressive run of “always the nominee, never the winner” with Oscar.

Achievement In Sound by Stephanie Morgan, Columbus Wired Columnist (3/18/03)

Chicago

Gangs of New York

Eugene Gearty

Eugene Gearty –

Tom Fleischman –

Ivan Sharrock –

Eugene Gearty –

Tom Fleischman –

Ivan Sharrock

Christopher Boyes

Christopher Boyes –

Michael Hedges –

Hammond Peek –

Christopher Boyes –

Michael Hedges –

Hammond Peek –

Michael Semanick –

Road to Perdition

Bob Beemer

Scott Millan

John Pritchett

Bob Beemer –

Scott Millan –

John Pritchett –

Bob Beemer –

Scott Millan –

John Pritchett –

Spider-Man

Achievement In Sound
by Stephanie Morgan, Columbus Wired Columnist (3/18/03)