Tag: ryan murphy

Emmy Episode Analysis: Who Will Direct an Emmy-Winning Episode? • AwardsCircuit – By Clayton Davis – Celebrating 10 Years

Best Directing in a Limited Series or Made for TV Movie

“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” – “The Man Who Would Be Vogue” – Directed by Ryan Murphy

Plot: The murder of Gianni Versace turns the eyes of the world onto Miami Beach.

Ryan Murphy certainly accentuates the lush locale and circumstances of the titular murder. The inaugural episode of the miniseries launches with grand, salacious detail as a horrifying crime happens before us. Murphy knows how to draw us in using bright, poppy visual imagery that has their own energy. The acclaimed series enters as the frontrunner, and this category tends to go to the frontrunner. However, surprises usually happen when Ryan Murphy is involved. In fact, his shows have never won a directing category in the Miniseries or TV movie vertical. Even “The People vs. O.J. Simpson” had all three of its submissions lose out to “The Night Manager.” If voters are once again looking for a Ryan Murphy alternative, what other option might they go for?

Predicted Ranking

  1. “Godless”
  2. “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” – “The Man Who Would Be Vogue”
  3. “Patrick Melrose”
  4. “Paterno”
  5. “Twin Peaks”
  6. “Jesus Christ Superstar”
  7. “The Looming Tower” – “9/11”

Emmy Episode Analysis: Who Will Direct an Emmy-Winning Episode? • AwardsCircuit – By Clayton Davis – Celebrating 10 Years

2018 Emmy Winner Predictions: Writing and Directing Categories

Limited Series could be a tough fight. The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story has the most nominations for a Limited Series/TV Movie (18) and the episode nominated was heralded as the most poignant and heartbreaking (it is) and I think those factors tip it in its favor. But Black Mirror just won here last year (with San Junipero) and its nominated TV Movie this year, USS Callister, was a massively praised hit. Scott Frank (Godless) is a respected writer in both film and television and then there’s David Lynch. Shockingly, Twin Peaks: The Return was completely snubbed in Limited Series and all acting categories but Lynch showed up here and in directing. He’s a longshot but maybe this would be a consolation but directing would make more sense for that.

Here are my ranked winner predictions for the 2018 Emmys in Writing and Directing for Comedy Series, Drama Series, Limited Series/TV Movie, Variety Series and Variety Special.

WRITING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, TV MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
1. Tom Rob Smith, “The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (“House By The Lake”)
2. William Bridges and Charlie Brooker, “USS Callister: Black Mirror”
3. Scott Frank, “Godless”
4. David Nicholls, “Patrick Melrose”
5. David Lynch and Mark Frost, “Twin Peaks”
6. Kevin McManus and Matthew McManus, “American Vandal” (“Clean Up”)

Next up…Directing for Comedy Series, Drama Series, Limited Series, Variety Series and Variety Special

Limited Series is probably a closer race than it seems. The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story should be the frontrunner and another win for creator Ryan Murphy but Jesus Christ Superstar: Live in Concert blew everyone away with 13 nominations. It’s a real force to be reckoned with here. Scott Frank is also a top contender. As the creator and sole writer/director of Godless (which has 12 nominations) voters might feel compelled to award him for such a huge undertaking. Then there’s David Lynch. Could he take one of Twin Peaks‘ nine nominations home as a win?

DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, TV MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
1. Ryan Murphy, “The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (“The Man Who Would Be Vogue”)
2. David Leveaux (director) and Alex Rudzinski (Live Television Director), “Jesus Christ Superstar: Live In Concert”
3. Scott Frank, “Godless”
4. David Lynch, “Twin Peaks”
5. Edward Berger, “Patrick Melrose”
6. Craig Zisk, “The Looming Tower” (“9/11”)
7. Barry Levinson, “Paterno”

2018 Emmy Winner Predictions: Writing and Directing Categories

Season of Trump Baby

The Emmy nominations brought a much-deserved accolade to Darren Criss for his extraordinary work in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.” Criss was nominated for Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. There is stiff competition in the category, including Antonio Banderas for “Genius: Picasso” and John Legend for “Jesus Christ Superstar,” among others, but we think the breadth of Criss’ amazing performance, the nuance with which he presented Andrew Cunanan as both tortured, closeted gay man and vicious, sociopathic serial killer, deserves the win.

If you didn’t see the series, binge it. Criss is mesmerizing. Our only surprise is that the Emmys didn’t recognize some of the other players in that amazing series, notably Judith Light. The series itself is nominated for Outstanding Limited Series, and we don’t see anything else in the category that is as good. Ryan Murphy and Bryan Falchuk should get the win.

Season of Trump Baby

See how your favorite stars are reacting to their Emmy nominations

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Outstanding Limited Series)

Ryan Murphy (creator)

“Of course it’s thrilling to see this series attract so much recognition, and I am forever grateful to Tom Rob Smith for his brilliant take, to my producing partners Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson and Brad Falchuk for their collaboration and friendship, and to our talented cast who breathed such humanity into these characters. This was a heartbreaking story to tell, made more so by the fact that we continue as a culture to grapple with homophobia and shame and intolerance.”

Darren Criss (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie)

“Zorro, Dr. Strange, Harry Dunne, Todd Alquist, and Jesus Christ… pretty incredible company to keep. Humbled by your talent, Antonio Banderas, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeff Daniels, Jesse Plemons, John Legend. I’m such a fan. Congrats! What an honor, Television Academy. Thank you so much. Truly. Wow. And a huge congrats to my fellow cast and crew of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story! Ryan Murphy does it again!”

Penelope Cruz (Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie)

“What a great honor to be nominated alongside this incredible group of women. I am very grateful to the Television Academy, to Ryan Murphy and our amazing cast and crew.  Donatella Versace is someone I really respect and admire and stepping into her shoes was a very inspiring adventure for me.”

Judith Light (Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie)

“My deepest thanks to the Emmy voters and of course, the brilliant Ryan Murphy for the gift of being a part of this culture changing  production; thanks to Brad Simpson, Nina Jacobsen, the crew, cast, hair, makeup, wardrobe, Tom Rob Smith for his remarkable script, Gwyneth Horder Payton and Dan Minahan for their glorious direction. My gratitude to all of them and FX is beyond words or measure.”

Tom Rob Smith (Outstanding Writing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special)

“This nomination is an extraordinary honor. Participating with the extraordinary team behind Americans Crime Story has been one of the highlights of my career. I owe Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson a great deal. And FX are the best partners a writer could dream of having. I’m so thrilled.”

Édgar Ramírez (Outstanding Supporting Actor in A Limited Series Or Movie)

“I am so touched by this nomination . Portraying Gianni Versace, has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life, and I am so happy, so proud and so grateful for the enormous recognition the show has received. I am so humbled to share this joy and honor with such talented artists, who are more than friends, they are now my family.”

Ricky Martin (Outstanding Supporting Actor in A Limited Series Or Movie)

“I am beyond humbled and so honored to be nominated in this category along with Edgar Ramirez and the other amazing actors in my category. This recognition from my peers is the highest honor I could dream of. I am grateful to Ryan Murphy and the whole FX team.”

Finn Wittrock (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie)

“I am so honored to be nominated today. I owe a great debt to Ryan Murphy and I would like to express a big congrats to my fellow nominees, especially my co-stars from American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace.  I’m thrilled to be sharing this category with such a talented group of actors.”

See how your favorite stars are reacting to their Emmy nominations

Ryan Murphy: “I Was Told I Was Too Weird, Too Faggy, Too Unusual” for Hollywood

Prolific producer and director Ryan Murphy was recognized at last week’s VH1 Trailblazer Honors for highlighting queer stories in projects like The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, The Normal Heart, and his latest hit, Pose.

Now his full acceptance speech has been released online, and watch as Murphy tells the audience about his years as an out gay man in Hollywood where he was told he was “too weird, too faggy, too unusual.”

“My mannerisms and voice were mocked by executives in notes meetings,” he adds.

When he was about to give up on his dream of making it in the entertainment industry, Murphy got a call from another television pioneer, someone he calls one of the original trailblazers: Norman Lear.

The All in the Family and One Day at a Time creator told Murphy not to give up. “I see you. Keep going,” he told him.

Watch as the Glee creator talks about being inspired by older women, creating the Half Initiative, and how the upcoming episode of Pose directed by Janet Mock is “perhaps the best hour of television in my career that I have been associated with.”

Ryan Murphy: “I Was Told I Was Too Weird, Too Faggy, Too Unusual” for Hollywood