Variety’s eighth annual Artisans Awards returns to an in-person ceremony for 2022 to celebrate and honor those essential to the filmmaking process who have exhibited the most exciting, immersive and innovative work of the year in their respective fields.
The tribute evening will take place March 7 at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara. Jazz Tangcay, Variety senior artisans editor, will moderate conversations with the award recipients.
Santa Barbara Intl. Film Festival, which is hosting the event, is thrilled to have the ceremony back in person.
“What festivals and events like the Artisans Awards are all about is connectivity and building community through the art of film,” says festival executive director Roger Durling. “The past two years have not been good to those essential aspects of cinema that I cherish so much. Both Variety and SBIFF are thrilled to be back together celebrating our talented artisans. “
Tangcay says, “What I love so much about the Artisans Awards and honoring them here at SBIFF, is that this shines a spotlight on those essential to the art of filmmaking and storytelling. This is their moment to shine and share how they tell a story through their craft and celebrate them.”
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Frederic Aspiras and Göran Lundström Makeup Artist And Prosthetics Designers, 'House Of Gucci'
Image Credit: Courtesy of Frederic Aspiras and Goran Lundstrom Lundström relied on an old cast to build out the prosthetics for Jared Leto in “House of Gucci.” Leto’s transformation required nine prosthetics pieces; a neckpiece, earlobes, a nose, a chin and three pieces for the bald head. The mustache was Leto’s own.
Lady Gaga calls on Aspiras to build her chameleon looks, whether it’s pink hair for her Chromatica promotion or a blonde wig for a jazz number. It was no surprise she turned to her Haus of Gaga teammate to completely make her disappear under a set of wigs for her portrayal of Patrizia Reggiani.
Aspiras’ prep began months in advance ending in a 450-page bible of looks that Gaga would carry in the film.
Aspiras made history with his first nomination by becoming the second Asian American to be nominated in the field of hair/ makeup. This is Lundström’s second Oscar nomination.
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Tamara Deverell Production Designer, 'Nightmare Alley'
Image Credit: Courtesy of Tamara Deverell Guillermo del Toro assigned Deverell the task of building the visual feast of “Nightmare Alley.” Deverell’s work encompassed a carnival world, filled with sideshows, stages and banners for a traveling circus. The second half of the film shifts into art deco as Bradley Cooper’s Stanton makes a new life for himself. Much of the action takes place inside Lilith’s (Cate Blanchett) office, a wood-paneled setting.
Deverell landed her first ADG win and is nominated for both a BAFTA and Academy Award.
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Germaine Franco Composer, 'Encanto'
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes When Disney needed to deliver an authentic score for “Encanto,” the studio turned to composer Franco to deliver the goods. She worked to weave her score in alongside eight new songs from songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda as they told the story of the Madrigal family.
Using traditional folk instruments played a big part in the score: the accordion, the tiple, a three-stringed guitar; the tambora bass drum; the gaita, a cactus-made flute; the arpa llerna, a harp; and the marimba de chonta, a percussion instrument specific to the region. Franco’s nomination is historic.
She is the first Latina to be nominated for original score and only the sixth woman in Academy Award history. Among Miranda’s awards are Tonys, Grammys and Emmys as well as Kennedy Center Honors.
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Greig Fraser Cinematography, 'Dune'
Image Credit: Courtesy of Greig Fraser Paul’s journey was central to this adaptation of the sci-fi classic “Dune” in writer-director Denis Villeneuve’s vision. That meant the film’s cinematographer, Fraser, kept Timothée Chalamet’s Paul front and center of the frame while utilizing natural light and combining it with built-in lighting to deliver some of the most awe-inspiring shots on film this year. Up next is another hero’s journey, “The Batman.”
Fraser is nominated for a BAFTA, ASC and an Academy Award.
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Paul Massey Re-Recording Mixer, 'No Time To Die'
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paul Massey Massey worked on a host of films this year including “The Last Duel,” “House of Gucci” and “Summer of Soul,” but it’s his nominated work for James Bond where Massey mixed sound for Daniel Craig’s final outing, “No Time to Die.” Massey created an immersive aural experience, mixing in Dolby Atmos and blending in Han Zimmer’s thrilling score and dialogue to create Bond’s most emotional outing yet. He won an Academy Award for “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This is his 10th nomination.
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Lin-Manuel Miranda Songwriter, 'Encanto'
Image Credit: Courtesy of Matthew Murphy This past year alone saw Miranda make his directorial debut with “Tick, Tick … Boom!” and contribute songs to “Vivo.” But for Disney’s “Encanto,” he wrote lyrics for eight songs, including the Oscar-nominated “Dos Orugitas.” The song encapsulates what the Madrigal family is going through and pushed Miranda outside his comfort zone as it was the first tune he wrote in Spanish. “I had my Thesaurus with me at all times. Even after I’d written my first draft, I asked myself if the Spanish that I’m using would translate and be at home in Colombia and Puerto Rico.”
The hit soundtrack continues to go viral on the internet, sitting atop the Billboard Top 100 album chart. Miranda has two Oscar-nominations.
Should he win original song this year, he will join the elite group of artists who have a Grammy Award, Tony Award, Emmy Award and Oscar or EGOT.
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Kelly Port, Visual-Effects Supervisor, 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'
Image Credit: Courtesy of Kelly Port Port’s credits include “Avengers: Infinity War,” for which he delivered close to 50 minutes of effects for Marvel baddie Thanos. This year, he oversaw 12 vendors to who contributed 2,400 minutes for “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which revived classic villains Green Goblin, Doc Ock and Sandman.
Port received VES Awards and BAFTA and Oscar nominations this year.
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Peter Sciberras Editor, 'The Power Of The Dog'
Image Credit: Courtesy of Rhett Wade-Farrell For “The Power of the Dog,” Sciberras worked with Jane Campion to intercut between the Burbank family tensions of love, longing, revenge and loyalty. He added chapter cards to contribute to the anticipation. Additionally, he cut conversations and scenes, leaving much ambiguity and tension while questioning the characters’ intentions building up to that finale.
Sciberras is nominated for an ACE Eddie and an Oscar.
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Jacqueline West and Bob Morgan Costume Designers, 'Dune'
Image Credit: Morgan: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures It took two costume designers to dress the characters on the sci-fi epic “Dune.” West and Morgan created close to 4,000 outfits with 400 specialty costumes. Morgan and West built still suits, which were made out of multiple layers of fabrics, the sort used by athletes to draw sweat away from bodies. She turned to Marlon Brando in “Apocalypse Now” for inspiration when it came to dressing Stellan Skarsgård’s long black muumuu and director Denis Villeneuve loved it.