Jay Z Leads 56th Grammy Awards Nominations

by Amos Semien

The Grammy Awards (or Grammys) are given out by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States.  The Grammy is an accolade that recognizes outstanding achievement in the music industry.  It is the music industry equivalent to the Academy Awards for film, the Emmy Awards for television, and the Tony Awards for stage.

Jay Z leads the 56th annual Grammy Awards pack with nine nominations, but none came in the “Big Three” categories of album, song, or record of the year.  The following acts each had seven nominations:  Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, and Justin Timberlake  With her nomination in the "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" category ("Part II (On The Run)" - Jay Z Featuring Beyoncé), Beyoncé becomes the most nominated woman in Grammy Awards history with her 46th nomination.

The eligibility period for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards is October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013.  The 56th annual Grammys awards ceremony will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California and will air on CBS on Sunday, January 26, 2014.  See a complete list of nominees at http://www.grammy.com/nominees

NOTE:  Scroll to the bottom to see the "Music for Visual Media" categories, which may be of particular interest to movie fans.

Nominees in select categories for the 56th annual Grammy Awards:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
"The Blessed Unrest" - Sara Bareilles
"Random Access Memories" - Daft Punk
"Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" - Kendrick Lamar
"The Heist" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
"Red" - Taylor Swift

SONG OF THE YEAR
"Just Give Me A Reason" - Jeff Bhasker, Pink & Nate Ruess, songwriters
(Pink Featuring Nate Ruess)
"Locked Out Of Heaven" - Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine & Bruno Mars,
songwriters (Bruno Mars)
"Roar" - Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Katy Perry & Henry
Walter, songwriters (Katy Perry)
"Royals" - Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor, songwriters (Lorde)
"Same Love" - Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert & Ryan Lewis, songwriters
(Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Mary Lambert)

RECORD OF THE YEAR
"Get Lucky" - Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
"Royals" - Lorde
"Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars
"Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
"Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell

BEST NEW ARTIST
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
"Brave" - Sara Bareilles
"Royals" - Lorde
"When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
"Roar" - Katy Perry
"Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake

BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
"Get Lucky" - Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
"Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink Featuring Nate Ruess
"Stay" - Rihanna Featuring Mikky Ekko
"Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell
"Suit & Tie" - Justin Timberlake & Jay Z

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
"Steppin' Out" - Herb Alpert
"The Beat" - Boney James
"Handpicked" - Earl Klugh
"Summer Horns" - Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair & Richard Elliot
"Hacienda" - Jeff Lorber Fusion

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
"Paradise" - Lana Del Rey
"Pure Heroine" - Lorde
"Unorthodox Jukebox" - Bruno Mars
"Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke
"The 20/20 Experience - The Complete Experience" - Justin Timberlake

BEST DANCE RECORDING
"Need U (100%)" - Duke Dumont Featuring A*M*E & MNEK
"Sweet Nothing" - Calvin Harris Featuring Florence Welch
"Atmosphere" - Kaskade
"This Is What It Feels Like" - Armin Van Buuren Featuring Trevor Guthrie
"Clarity" - Zedd Featuring Foxes

BEST DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM
"Random Access Memories" - Daft Punk
"Settle" - Disclosure
"18 Months" - Calvin Harris
"Atmosphere" - Kaskade
"A Color Map Of The Sun" - Pretty Lights

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
"Viva Duets" - Tony Bennett & Various Artists
"To Be Loved" - Michael Bublé
"The Standards" - Gloria Estefan
"Cee Lo's Magic Moment" - Cee Lo Green
"Now" - Dionne Warwick

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
"Always Alright" - Alabama Shakes
"The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" - David Bowie
"Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
"Kashmir" - Led Zeppelin
"My God Is The Sun" - Queens Of The Stone Age
"I'm Shakin'" - Jack White

BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
"T.N.T." - Anthrax
"God Is Dead?" - Black Sabbath
"The Enemy Inside" - Dream Theater
"In Due Time" - Killswitch Engage
"Room 24" - Volbeat Featuring King Diamond

BEST ROCK SONG
"Ain't Messin 'Round" - Gary Clark Jr., songwriter (Gary Clark Jr.)
"Cut Me Some Slack" - Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic &
Pat Smear, songwriters (Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic,
Pat Smear)
"Doom And Gloom" - Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, songwriters (The
Rolling Stones)
"God Is Dead?" - Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi & Ozzy Osbourne,
songwriters (Black Sabbath)
"Panic Station" - Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)

BEST ROCK ALBUM
"13" - Black Sabbath
"The Next Day" - David Bowie
"Mechanical Bull" - Kings Of Leon
"Celebration Day" - Led Zeppelin
"...Like Clockwork" - Queens Of The Stone Age
"Psychedelic Pill" - Neil Young With Crazy Horse

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
"The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The
More I Love You" - Neko Case
"Trouble Will Find Me" - The National
"Hesitation Marks" - Nine Inch Nails
"Lonerism" - Tame Impala
"Modern Vampires Of The City" - Vampire Weekend

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
"Love And War" - Tamar Braxton
"Best Of Me" - Anthony Hamilton
"Nakamarra" - Hiatus Kaiyote Featuring Q-Tip
"How Many Drinks?" - Miguel Featuring Kendrick Lamar
"Something" - Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway

BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
"Please Come Home" - Gary Clark Jr.
"Get It Right" - Fantasia
"Quiet Fire" - Maysa
"Hey Laura" - Gregory Porter
"Yesterday" - Ryan Shaw

BEST R&B SONG
"Best Of Me" - Anthony Hamilton & Jairus Mozee, songwriters (Anthony Hamilton)
"Love And War" - Tamar Braxton, Darhyl Camper, Jr., LaShawn Daniels &
Makeba Riddick, songwriters (Tamar Braxton)
"Only One" - PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton Featuring Stevie Wonder)
"Pusher Love Girl" - James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley &
Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake)
"Without Me" - Fantasia Barrino, Missy Elliott, Al Sherrod Lambert,
Harmony Samuels & Kyle Stewart, songwriters (Fantasia Featuring Kelly
Rowland & Missy Elliot)

BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
"Love And War" - Tamar Braxton
"Side Effects Of You" - Fantasia
"One: In The Chamber" - Salaam Remi
"Unapologetic" - Rihanna
"New York: A Love Story" - Mack Wilds

BEST R&B ALBUM
"R&B Divas" - Faith Evans
"Girl On Fire" - Alicia Keys
"Love In The Future" - John Legend
"Better" - Chrisette Michele
"Three Kings" - TGT

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
"Started From The Bottom" - Drake
"Berzerk" - Eminem
"Tom Ford" - Jay Z
"Swimming Pools (Drank)" - Kendrick Lamar
"Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
"Power Trip" - J. Cole Featuring Miguel
"Part II (On The Run)" - Jay Z Featuring Beyoncé
"Holy Grail" - Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake
"Now Or Never" - Kendrick Lamar Featuring Mary J. Blige
"Remember You" - Wiz Khalifa Featuring The Weeknd

BEST RAP SONG
"F***in' Problems" - Tauheed Epps, Aubrey Graham, Kendrick Lamar,
Rakim Mayers & Noah Shebib, songwriters (ASAP Rocky Featuring Drake, 2
Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
"Holy Grail" - Shawn Carter, Terius Nash, J. Harmon, Timothy Mosley,
Justin Timberlake & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Kurt Cobain, Dave
Grohl & Krist Novoselic, songwriters) (Jay Z Featuring Justin
Timberlake)
"New Slaves" - Christopher Breaux, Ben Bronfman, Mike Dean, Louis
Johnson, Malik Jones, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, Che Smith, Kanye
West & Cydell Young, songwriters (Anna Adamis & Gabor Presser,
songwriters) (Kanye West)
"Started From The Bottom" - W. Coleman, Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib,
songwriters (Bruno Sanfilippo, songwriter) (Drake)
"Thrift Shop" - Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore &
Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz)

BEST RAP ALBUM
"Nothing Was The Same" - Drake
"Magna Carta...Holy Grail" - Jay Z
"Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" - Kendrick Lamar
"The Heist" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
"Yeezus" - Kanye West

BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
"I Drive Your Truck" - Lee Brice
"I Want Crazy" - Hunter Hayes
"Mama's Broken Heart" - Miranda Lambert
"Wagon Wheel" - Darius Rucker
"Mine Would Be You" - Blake Shelton

BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
"From This Valley" - The Civil Wars
"Don't Rush" - Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill
"Your Side Of The Bed" - Little Big Town
"Highway Don't Care" - Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
"You Can't Make Old Friends" - Kenny Rogers With Dolly Parton

BEST COUNTRY SONG
"Begin Again" - Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
"I Drive Your Truck" - Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington & Jimmy
Yeary, songwriters (Lee Brice)
"Mama's Broken Heart" - Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally & Kacey
Musgraves, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
"Merry Go 'Round" - Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne,
songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
"Mine Would Be You" - Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington & Deric
Ruttan, songwriters (Blake Shelton)

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
"Night Train" - Jason Aldean
"Two Lanes Of Freedom" - Tim McGraw
"Same Trailer Different Park" - Kacey Musgraves
"Based On A True Story" - Blake Shelton
"Red" - Taylor Swift

BEST NEW AGE ALBUM
"Lux" - Brian Eno
"Illumination" - Peter Kater
"Final Call" - Kitaro
"Awakening The Fire" - R. Carlos Nakai & Will Clipman
"Love's River" - Laura Sullivan

BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO
"Don't Run" - Terence Blanchard, soloist
"Song For Maura" - Paquito D'Rivera, soloist
"Song Without Words #4: Duet" - Fred Hersch, soloist
"Stadium Jazz" - Donny McCaslin, soloist
"Orbits" - Wayne Shorter

BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
"The World According To Andy Bey" - Andy Bey
"Attachments" - Lorraine Feather
"Liquid Spirit" - Gregory Porter
"WomanChild" - Cécile McLorin Salvant
"After Blue" - Tierney Sutton

MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media:

• Django Unchained – Various Artists
• The Great Gatsby (Deluxe Edition) – Various Artists
• Les Misérables (Deluxe Edition) – Various Artists
• Muscle Shoals – Various Artists
• Sound City: Real to Reel – Dave Grohl & Various Artists

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media:

• Argo - Alexandre Desplat, composer
• The Great Gatsby - Craig Armstrong, composer
• Life of Pi - Mychael Danna, composer
• Lincoln - John Williams, composer
• Skyfall - Thomas Newman, composer
• Zero Dark Thirty - Alexandre Desplat, composer

Best Song Written for Visual Media:
"Atlas" (from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (performed by Coldplay)

"Silver Lining (Crazy 'Bout You)" (from Silver Linings Playbook)
Diane Warren, songwriter (performed by Jessie J)

"Skyfall" (from Skyfall)
Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (performed by Adele)

"We Both Know" (from Safe Haven)
Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw, songwriters (performed by Colbie Caillat featuring Gavin DeGraw)

"Young and Beautiful" (from The Great Gatsby)
Lana Del Rey & Rick Nowels, songwriters (performed by Lana Del Rey)

"You've Got Time" (from "Orange Is the New Black")
Regina Spektor, songwriter (performed by Regina Spektor)


END

"Veronica Mars" Movie Due March 14, 2014

Warner Bros.’ “Veronica Mars” Movie Opens on March 14, 2014

Kickstarter Campaign, Launched by Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell, Brings “Veronica Mars” to the Big Screen at AMC Theatres through Record-Breaking Fan Support

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. has announced a spring release date for the Rob Thomas-written and directed “Veronica Mars” feature film, based on the beloved and acclaimed television series of the same name. The film will open in the U.S. on March 14th in AMC Theatres in select markets across the country. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

“This project has been a labor of love for everyone involved -- me, the cast, my producing partners. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from the Kickstarter backers. This movie wouldn’t have happened without them.”

“We are tremendously excited to work with our friends at AMC Theatres in bringing this fan favorite to the big screen,” said Fellman. “Rob has made a high-spirited film with comedy, romance and mystery, and we’re confident its appeal will go well beyond the core group of Kickstarter supporters.”

“We at AMC are excited to partner with Warner Bros. to bring ‘Veronica Mars’ to theatres,” said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, vice president of special and alternative content at AMC Theatres. “Enthusiastic fans of the popular television series helped make this movie a reality, and AMC is proud to serve our guests by playing it in their communities, as well as providing a national platform for the movie to reach a broader audience.”

The “Veronica Mars” movie was made possible by a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign driven by fans of the television show, which ran from 2004 – 2007. Launched by Thomas and series star Kristen Bell, the Kickstarter campaign unleashed an unprecedented level of fan enthusiasm and support, reaching the project goal of $2 million in just 10 hours. At the end of the 31-day campaign, fans contributed $5.7 million, making Veronica Mars the number one funded project in the film category and the third-highest funded project in Kickstarter history. It is the most widely supported Kickstarter campaign ever with more than 91,000 backers, who have remained engaged throughout production with frequent behind-the-scenes updates from Thomas and the film’s cast and crew.

Added Thomas, “This project has been a labor of love for everyone involved -- me, the cast, my producing partners. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from the Kickstarter backers. This movie wouldn’t have happened without them.”

Fans of the show and the upcoming film can follow its progress, see cast and filmmaker diaries, exclusive content and release information by following the film’s social media presence, including:

Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TheVeronicaMarsMovie) Twitter (http://twitter.com/VeronicaMars) Instagram http://www.instagram.com/TheVeronicaMarsMovie) YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/veronicamarsmovie) Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/theveronicamars/) Tumblr (http://tumblr.com/OfficialVeronicaMars)

Fans can also get information about the film by following Rob Thomas on Twitter at @RobThomas.

Written and directed by series creator Thomas, “Veronica Mars” stars original show cast members Kristen Bell (“House of Lies,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), Jason Dohring (“The Ringer”), Chris Lowell (“The Help,” “Up in the Air”), Ryan Hansen (“G.I. Joe: Retaliation”), Krysten Ritter (“Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23”), Percy Daggs III (“Detention”), Tina Majorino (“True Blood,” “Grey’s Anatomy”), Francis Capra (“Blood and Bone”), Ken Marino (“Party Down,” “Burning Love”) and Enrico Colantoni (“Just Shoot Me”).

The screenplay for “Veronica Mars” is written by Thomas & Diane Ruggiero from a story by Thomas. The film is produced by Thomas, Dan Etheridge and Danielle Stokdyk. Joel Silver, Kristen Bell and Jennifer Hinkey are serving as executive producers.

In the film, Veronica Mars has put Neptune and her amateur sleuthing days behind her on the eve of graduating law school. While interviewing at high-end law firms, Veronica gets a call from her ex-boyfriend Logan who has been accused of murder. Veronica heads back to Neptune just to help Logan find an attorney, but when things don’t seem right with how Logan’s case is perceived and handled, Veronica finds herself being pulled back into a life she thought she had left behind.

A Warner Bros. Digital presentation, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Down to 10 in 2014 Visual Effects Oscar Race

10 Contenders Remain in VFX Oscar® Race

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 86th Oscars®.

The films are listed below in alphabetical order:

         “Elysium”
         “Gravity”
         “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”
         “Iron Man 3”
         “The Lone Ranger”
         “Oblivion”
         “Star Trek Into Darkness”
         “Thor: The Dark World”
         “Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Pacific Rim”
         “World War Z”

The Academy's Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist.  All members of the Visual Effects Branch will now be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Thursday, January 9, 2014.  Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.

Oscars nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

Review: Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead Play to Type in "The Bat" (Happy B'day, Anges Moorehead)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 110 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Bat (1959) – B&W
Running time:  80 minutes (1 hour, 20 minutes)
DIRECTOR:  Crane Wilbur
WRITER:  Crane Wilbur – screenplay and screen story (based upon the play by Avery Hopwood and Mary Roberts Reinhart)
PRODUCER:  C.J. Tevlin
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Joseph Biroc
EDITOR:  William Austin
COMPOSER:  Louis Forbes

MYSTERY/THRILLER with elements of horror

Starring:  Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead, Gavin Gordon, John Sutton, Lenita Lane, Elaine Edwards, Darla Hood, John Bryant, Harvey Stephens, Robert B. Williams, Mike Steele, and Riza Royce

The subject of this movie review is The Bat, a 1959 mystery-thriller starring Vincent Price and Agnes Moorhead.  The film is based on the 1920 Broadway play, The Bat, by Avery Hopwood and Mary Roberts Reinhart.  The play was adapted as a motion picture three times:  in 1926 as The Bat, in 1930 as The Bat Whispers, and again in 1959 as The Bat (the subject of this review).  The 1959 movie version focuses on a crazed killer, known as “The Bat,” who is on the loose in a mansion full of people.

Best-selling mystery author, Cornelia van Gorder (Agnes Moorehead, best known as “Endora,” the spiteful mother-in-law on the TV series, “Bewitched”), and her staff are summering at The Oaks, a fine estate near the small town of Zenith.  It is at The Oaks where Cornelia finds that she can write her hugely successful murder mysteries.  This summer, however, the locals are falling dead, and a mysterious, possible supernatural, killer known as The Bat is on the loose.

After The Oaks’ owner, John Fleming (Harvey Stephens), who also owns the local bank, dies, suspicions about the whereabouts of one million dollars in missing money from the bank, land squarely on The Oaks.  Soon, a bevy of townsfolk including the local coroner, Dr. Malcolm Wells (Vincent Price), Fleming’s nephew, Mark (John Bryant), the local law official, Lt. Andy Anderson (Gavin Gordon), and more are hanging around the mansion looking for the loot – with the threat of gruesome death at the hands (and claws) of The Bat hovering over them.

The Bat is one of those “spooky old house thrillers,” and is based upon a novel and play that was apparently very popular in the 1920 and 30’s.  This was the third film version of the story (the first was a silent film), and by 1959, this sub-genre of mystery films must have seemed quaint.  In fact, scary stories – the kind that take place in creaky old house riddled with secret passage ways where lies hidden money that is in turned hunted for by a masked villain – was soon to be (if not by the time of this movie’s release) children’s fare.  This is pretty much the template for most “Scooby-Doo” cartoons and other Hanna-Barbera cartoons like it.  Still, it’s very entertaining, and Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead play to type.  This is a nice treat for the genre it represents.  In fact, The Bat holds the identity of its villain to the very end surprisingly well.

6 of 10
B

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Updated:  Friday, December 06, 2013

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

--------------------

Happy Birthday, Ellie

Happy second birthday... already!!!

15 Vie for Five 2014 Best Documentary Oscar Nominations

15 Documentary Features Advance in 2013 Oscar® Race

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 86th Oscars® . One hundred forty-seven films had originally qualified in the category.

The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:

   "The Act of Killing," Final Cut for Real

   "The Armstrong Lie," A Kennedy/Marshall Production in Association with Jigsaw Productions and Matt Tolmach Productions

   "Blackfish," Our Turn Productions

   "The Crash Reel," KP Rides Again

   "Cutie and the Boxer," Ex Lion Tamer and Cine Mosaic

   "Dirty Wars," Civic Bakery

   "First Cousin Once Removed," Experiments in Time, Light & Motion

   "God Loves Uganda," Full Credit Productions and Motto Pictures

   "Life According to Sam," Fine Films

   "Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer," Roast Beef Productions

   "The Square," Noujaim Films and Maktube Productions

   "Stories We Tell," National Film Board of Canada

   "Tim’s Vermeer," High Delft Pictures

   "20 Feet from Stardom," Gil Friesen Productions and Tremolo Productions

   "Which Way Is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington," Tripoli Street

The Academy’s Documentary Branch determined the shortlist in a preliminary round of voting.  Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles.

The Oscars nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards® for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

41st Annie Awards Nominations - Complete List

by Amos Semien

ASIFA-Hollywood, the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Society, presents the Annie Awards.  The Annie honors achievements in animation as a whole, including current animated productions, as well as career and lifetime achievements.  At the beginning of this week, the group announced the nominations and award recipients for the 41st Annual Annie Awards.

Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Frozen and Pixar’s Monsters University led the feature film nominations for the 41st Annie Awards nominations with 10 each.  Universal/Illumination’s Despicable Me 2 and DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods followed with nine.

Right now, Frozen appears to be the Oscar favorite.  It has performed quite well at the box office.  I have yet to see the film (not interested, really), but it has been described as having “flashy visuals” and “a strong musical score and songs,” which are generally attractive to critics, audiences, and Oscar voters.  However, the Annies do not always presage the Oscars.  Last year’s Annie winner for “Best Animated Feature” was Wreck-It-Ralph, but Pixar’s Brave won “Best Animated Feature” at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Academy Awards.

The 41st Annual Annie Awards will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, in Los Angeles, California.  They ceremony will be hosted by noted voice actor, Patrick Warburton.  Director Steven Spielberg (The Adventures of Tintin) will be presented with the Winsor McCay Award at the ceremony.

41st (2014) Annual Annie Awards Nominees:

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature
•A Letter to Momo - 
GKIDS
•Despicable Me 2 - 
Universal Pictures
•Ernest & Celestine
 - GKIDS
•Frozen - 
Walt Disney Animation Studios
•Monsters University - 
Pixar Animation Studios
•The Croods
 - DreamWorks Animation
•The Wind Rises
 - The Walt Disney Studios

Best Animated Special Production
•Chipotle Scarecrow
 - Moonbot Studios
•Listening Is an Act of Love
 - StoryCorps
•Room on the Broom - 
Magic Light Pictures
•Toy Story OF TERROR!
- Pixar Animation Studios

Best Animated Short Subject
•Despicable Me 2 - Puppy
 - Universal Pictures
•Get A Horse!
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
•Gloria Victoria
 - National Film Board of Canada
•My Mom is an Airplane
 - Acme Filmworks
•The Numberlys - 
Moonbot Studios

Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial
•Despicable Me 2 - Cinemark
 - Universal Pictures
•Sound of the Woods – Acme Filmworks
•The Polar Bears Movie
 - CAA Marketing

Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
•Bubble Guppies
 - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Disney Sofia the First
 - Disney Television Animation
•Doc McStuffins
 - Disney Television Animation
•Justin Time
 - Guru Studio
•Peter Rabbit - Nickelodeon Animation Studio

Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children’s Audience
•Adventure Time - 
Cartoon Network Studios
•Beware the Batman
 - Warner Bros. Animation
•Disney Gravity Falls
 - Disney Television Animation
•Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness - 
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Regular Show - 
Cartoon Network Studios
•Scaredy Squirrel - 
Nelvana Ltd.
•Teen Titans Go!
 - Warner Bros. Animation
•The Legend of Korra
 - Nickelodeon Animation Studio

Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Archer
 - FX Networks
•Bob's Burgers - 
Bento Box Entertainment
•Disney Tron Uprising
 - Disney Television Animation
•Futurama
 - 20th Century Fox Television
•Motorcity
 - Titmouse Inc.

Best Animated Video Game
•Diggs Nightcrawler
 - Moonbot Studios
•Tiny Thief
 - 5 ANTS
•The Last of Us - 
Naughty Dog

Best Student Film
•Chicken or the Egg
 - Ringling College of Art and Design
•Kellerkind - Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg
•Miss Todd
 - Kristina Yee
•Move Mountain
 - Kirsten Lepore
•SEMÕFORO - 
University of Southern California
•The Final Straw
 - Ringling College of Art and Design
•Trusts & Estates
 - CalArts
•Wedding Cake - 
Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in an Animated Production
•Alen Lai, David Quirus, Diego Garzon Sanchez, Ilan Gabai - Epic
 - Blue Sky Studios
•David Jones - Dragons: Defenders of Berk
 - DreamWorks Animation
•Joshua Jenny, Jason Johnston, Matthew Wong, Eric Froemling, Enrique Vila - Monsters University
 - Pixar Animation Studios
•Jeff Budsberg, Andre Le Blanc, Louis Flores, Jason Mayer - The Croods - 
DreamWorks Animation
•Greg Gladstone, Nikita Pavlov, Allen Ruilova, Matt Titus, Can Yuksel - Turbo
 - DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
•Jonathan Paquin, Brian Goodwin, Gray Horsfield, Mathieu Chardonnet, Adrien Toupet - Man Of Steel - 
Weta Digital
•Ben O’Brien, Karin Cooper, Lee Uren, Chris Root - Star Trek: Into Darkness - Industrial Light & Magic
•Dan Pearson, Jay Cooper, Jeff Grebe, Amelia Chenoweth - Star Trek: Into Darkness - 
Industrial Light & Magic
•Michael Balog, Ryan Hopkins, Patrick Conran, Florian Witzel - Pacific Rim
 - Industrial Light & Magic

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
•Brad Schaffer - Friendship All-Stars of Friendship: Wrong Number
 - Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
•Eric Urban - Ubermansion
 - Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
•JC Tran Quang Thieu - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
•David DeVan - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios Character
•Kureha Yokoo - Toy Story OF TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios Character
•Keith Kellogg - Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Lucasfilm Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Feature Production
•Thom Roberts - Epic
 - Blue Sky Studios
•Jonathan Del Val – Despicable Me 2
 - Universal Pictures
•Jakob Jensen - The Croods - 
DreamWorks Animation
•John Chun Chiu Lee - Monsters University
 - Pixar Animation Studios
•Kitaro Kosaka – The Wind Rises - 
The Walt Disney Studios
•Tony Smeed - Frozen
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
•Patrick Imbert - Ernest & Celestine
 - GKIDS

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Live Action Production
•Jeff Capogreco, Jedrzej Wojtowicz, Kevin Estey, Alessandro Bonora, Gino Acevedo - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Gollum
 - Weta Digital
•Dave Clayton, Simeon Duncombe, Jung Min Chan, Matthew Cioffi, Guillame Francois - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Goblin King
 - Weta Digital
•Hal Hickel, Chris Lentz, Derrick Carlin, Steve Rawlins, Kyle Winkelman - Pacific Rim
 - Industrial Light & Magic

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Craig McCracken - Disney Wander Over Yonder
 - Disney Television Animation
•Paul Rudish - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation
•Andy Bialk - The Awesomes
 - Bento Box Entertainment 

•Ben Adams - Regular Show - Cartoon Network Studios
•Danny Hynes, Howard Colin - Steven Universe
 - Cartoon Network Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
•Carter Goodrich, Takao Noguchi, Shane Prigmore - The Croods
 - DreamWorks Animation
•Sylvain Deboissy, Shannon Tindle - Turbo - DreamWorks Animation
•Craig Kellman – Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 - 
Sony Pictures Animation
•Chris Sasaki - Monsters University - 
Pixar Animation Studios
•Christophe Lourdelet - A Monster in Paris
 - Shout! Factory 

•Eric Guillon – Despicable Me 2 - 
Universal Pictures
•Bill Schwab - Frozen
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Colin Heck - The Legend of Korra
 - Nickelodeon Animation
•Elaine Bogan - Dragons: Defenders of Berk
 - DreamWorks Animation
•Stephan Franck - The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow
 - Sony Pictures Animation
•John Aoshima - Disney Gravity Falls
 - Disney Television Animation
•Aaron Springer - Disney Mickey Mouse - 
Disney Television Animation
•Angus MacLane - Toy Story OF TERROR!
 - Pixar Animation Studios
•Harold Harris - Justin Time - Guru Studio

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production
•Chris Sanders, Kirk DeMicco - The Croods
 - DreamWorks Animation
•David Soren - Turbo - 
DreamWorks Animation
•Chris Wedge - Epic
 - Blue Sky Studios
•Benjamin Renner, Vincent Patar, Stéphane Aubier - Ernest & Celestine
 - GKIDS
•Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee - Frozen
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Alan Williams - Estefan - Silverscreen Music
•Guy Moon - T.U.F.F. Puppy - 
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Peter Luyre, Stuart Kollmorgen, Peter Zizzo - Peter Rabbit
 - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Kevin Kliesch, Craig Gerber, John Kavanaugh - Disney Sofia the First
 - Disney Television Animation
•Christopher Willis - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation
•Andy Bean - Disney Wander Over Yonder
 - Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated Feature Production
•Alan Silvestri - The Croods - 
DreamWorks Animation
•Henry Jackman - Turbo
 - DreamWorks Animation
•Mark Mothersbaugh – Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2
 - Sony Pictures Animation
•Heitor Pereira, Pharrell Williams – Despicable Me 2
 - Universal Pictures
•Danny Elfman - Epic - Blue Sky Studios
•Randy Newman - Monsters University
 - Pixar Animation Studios
•Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Christophe Beck - Frozen
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios 

•Dominic Lewis - Free Birds - 
Reel FX

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Angela Sung, William Niu, Christine Bian, Emily Tetri, Frederic Stewart - The Legend of Korra
 - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Liz Artinian, Ray Feldman, Chris Fisher, George Fort - The Venture Bros.
“What Color is Your Cleansuit?” - Titmouse Inc.
•Steven Sugar, Emily Walus, Sam Bosma, Elle Michalka, Amanda Winterstein - Steven Universe
”Gem Glow” - Cartoon Network Studios
•Lynna Blankenship, Dima Malanitchev, Debbie Peterson, Charles Ragins, Jefferson R. Weekley - The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror XXIV" Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
•Christophe Vacher - Transformers Prime ‘Beast Hunters’
- Hasbro Studios
•Nick Jenings, Sandra Calleros, Teri Shikasho, Ron Russell - Adventure Time - Cartoon Network Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
•Christophe Lautrette, Paul Duncan, Dominique R. Louis - The Croods
 - DreamWorks Animation
•Yarrow Cheney, Eric Guillon – Despicable Me 2
 - Universal Pictures
•Michael Knapp, Greg Couch, William Joyce - Epic
 - Blue Sky Studios
•Zaza, Zyk - Ernest & Celestine - GKIDS
•Ricky Nierva, Robert Kondo, Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi - Monsters University
 - Pixar Animation Studios
•Michael Giaimo, Lisa Keene, David Womersley - Frozen
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Piero Piluso - Monsters vs. Aliens
 - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Douglas Lovelace - Dragons: Riders of Berk
 - DreamWorks Animation
•Adam Ford, Deke Wightman, Kevin Mellon, Justin Wagner, Benji Williams - Archer
 - FX Networks 

•Alonso Ramos-Ramirez - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation
•Daniel Chong - Toy Story of TERROR! - Pixar Animation Studios
•Alonso Ramos-Ramirez - Gravity Falls - 
Disney Television Animation
•Guillermo Del Toro, Guy Davis, Ralph Sosa - The Simpsons -- "Treehouse of Horror XXIV" -- Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
•Paul Watling - Justin Time - 
Guru Studio

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
•Steven MacLeod - The Croods
 - DreamWorks Animation
•Eric Favela – Despicable Me 2 - 
Universal Pictures
•Dean Kelly - Monsters University
 - Pixar Animation Studios
•Jason Hand - Planes
- Disneytoon Studios
•John Ripa - Frozen
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Eric Bauza as the voice of Foop - Fairly Odd Parents
 - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Bill Farmer as the voice of Goofy - Disney Mickey Mouse - 
Disney Television Animation
•Chris Diamantopoulos as the voice of Mickey Mouse - Disney Mickey Mouse - 
Disney Television Animation
•Mark Hamill as the voice of Skips and Walks - Regular Show
 - Cartoon Network Studios
•Tom Kenny as the voice of Ice King - Adventure Time - 
Cartoon Network Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
•Paul Giamatti as the voice of Chet - Turbo
 - DreamWorks Animation
•Terry Crews as the voice of Earl – Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2
 - Sony Pictures Animation
•Kristen Wiig as the voice of Lucy – Despicable Me 2
 - Universal Pictures
•Steve Carell as the voice of Gru – Despicable Me 2
 - Universal Pictures
•Pierre Coffin as the voice of Minions - Despicable Me 2
 - Universal Pictures
•Billy Crystal as the voice of Mike – Monsters University – Pixar Animation Studios
•Josh Gad as the voice of Olaf - Frozen
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Katie Matila - Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
 - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Ian Maxtone-Graham, Billy Kimball - The Simpsons
- Trocadero Holdings
•Lewis Morton - Futurama
 - 20th Century Fox Television
•Matt Price, John Infantino, Mike Roth, Michele Cavin, Sean Szeles - Regular Show - 
Cartoon Network Studios 

•Michael Price - The Simpsons
- The Simpsons

Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated Feature Production
•Daniel Pennac - Ernest & Celestine
 - GKIDS
•Daniel Gerson, Robert L. Baird, Dan Scanlon - Monsters University - 
Pixar Animation Studios
•Miyazaki Hayao – The Wind Rises
- The Walt Disney Studios
•Jennifer Lee - Frozen
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
•Adam Arnold, Hugo Morales, Davrick Waltjen - Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness - 
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Myra Lopez, Ana Adams, Justin Baker - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - 
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
•Lynn Hobson - Dragons: Defenders of Berk - 
DreamWorks Animation
•Illya Owens - Disney Mickey Mouse - 
Disney Television Animation
•Axel Geddes, Kathy Graves, Chloe Kloezeman - Toy Story OF TERROR!
 - Pixar Animation Studios
•Paul D. Calder - Futurama
 - 20th Century Fox Television
•Paul Douglas - Adventure Time
 - Cartoon Network Studios
•Jason W.A. Tucker - Star Wars: The Clone Wars - 
Lucasfilm Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
•Darren Holmes - The Croods
 - DreamWorks Animation
•James Ryan - Turbo
 - DreamWorks Animation
•Fabienne Alvarez-Giro - Ernest & Celestine - 
GKIDS
•Greg Snyder, Gregory Amundson, Steve Bloom - Monsters University
 - Pixar Animation Studios
•Jeff Draheim - Frozen - 
Walt Disney Animation Studios

JURIED AWARDS
Winsor McCay Award — Katsuhiro Otomo, Steven Spielberg & Phil Tippett

June Foray Award — Alice Davis

Certificate of Merit — “I Know That Voice” (Documentary)