• 14th Annual CDG Awards
• Awards Archive
• Lacoste Spotlight Award
• Career Achievement Award
• Hall of Fame Award

WINNERS OF THE 13TH ANNUAL COSTUME DESIGNERS GUILD AWARDS

 

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13TH ANNUAL COSTUME DESIGNERS GUILD AWARDS — HONOREES

Mistress of Ceremonies:

Kristin Davis

Lacoste Spotlight Award:

Halle Berry

Distinguised Collaborator Award:

Joel Schumacher

Disaronno Career Achievement in Film & Television Award:

Julie Weiss

Hall of Fame Award:

Michael Dennison

 

Kristin Davis
Mistress of Ceremonies

Through a variety of roles in television, film and on stage, Kristin Davis has proven herself as a talented and versatile actress.

Davis is currently filming "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," a sequel to the 2008 worldwide hit "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D." She will be playing Sean Anderson's (Josh Hutcherson) mother in the sequel which features a quest to find her son's grandfather, who is allegedly missing on a mythical island. The movie is expected to be released in September 2011.

Davis appeared in Universal Studios' comedy "Couples Retreat," which opened to box-office success in the fall of 2009. Davis plays opposite Jon Favreau, as an unhappily married couple who find each other again after unintentionally participating in a tropical resort's unconventional couple's therapy.

On May 28, 2010, Davis returned to the silver screen as the ever-hopeful Charlotte York Goldenblatt in the highly anticipated sequel "Sex and the City 2." The first installment, "Sex and the City: The Movie," was number one at the box-office opening weekend and grossed more than $400 million worldwide. Davis' role as Charlotte, for six seasons on HBO's hit series Sex and the City, earned her nominations for an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The women of "Sex and the City" won the Screen Actors Guild Ensemble Award twice. The series also won an Emmy and numerous Golden Globe Awards.

Prior to "Sex and the City," Davis made an impact on the television scene when she joined "Melrose Place" as the devious Brooke Armstrong. Her additional television credits include TNT's original film The Winning Season, co-starring Matthew Modine, as well as guest-starring roles on "Will & Grace," "Seinfeld," "Friends," "ER," and "The Larry Sanders Show."

Film credits for Davis include the Fox holiday comedy 'Deck the Halls," Disney's "The Shaggy Dog," and Robert Rodriguez's children's adventure feature "The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D."

Davis has also worked successfully in the theater. In May 2006, she made her London theater debut as 'Sunny Jacobs' in "The Exonerated." Prior to that, Davis appeared in "Brave New World" and "Land of the Dead," opposite Paul Rudd.

An active philanthropist, Davis has the honor of serving as a Global Ambassador for Oxfam, speaking outside the United Nations to eradicate poverty. She makes frequent trips to Africa to gain a better understanding of gender issues and poverty, and the effect of the environment on people and their surroundings. She contributes to wildlife conservation as a Board member on the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust and through her work with The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an organization in Kenya that focuses on raising orphaned elephants and rhinos and reintroducing them back into the wild.

Halle Berry
Lacoste Spotlight Award

Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry continues to break down barriers with her critically acclaimed roles and enduring success at the box office. Berry has tackled some of Hollywood's toughest parts making her one of today's most sought-after leading ladies.

For her brilliant performance in "Monster's Ball," Halle Berry won the Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as the SAG Award, the Berlin Silver Bear Award and was named Best Actress by the National Board of Review. No stranger to accolades, Berry earned the Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG and NAACP Image Award for her extraordinary performance in HBO's "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," which she produced. Harvard University honored Berry as Cultural Artist of the Year and in 2010, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in Frankie & Alice, the psychological thriller based on the true struggle of a young woman with multiple personality disorder. Berry was also a producer on the film.

Critics and filmgoers first took notice of Berry in her feature film debut, Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever." Other film credits include "Losing Isaiah" opposite Jessica Lange, "Executive Decision," "The Flintstones," "The Last Boy Scout," "Strictly Business," "Boomerang," opposite Eddie Murphy, and "Swordfish," with John Travolta and Hugh Jackman. She went on to star opposite Warren Beatty in the socio-political comedy, "Bulworth." In 2000, Berry began her role as 'Storm' in the trilogy of internationally successful X-Men films.

In 2002, Berry starred as 'Jinx' in the James Bond feature "Die Another Day," opposite Pierce Brosnan, the largest-grossing Bond film to date. She was the voice of 'Cappy' in the animated hit "Robots." Berry heated up theaters across the globe as "Catwoman," and it was her star turn in the psychological thriller "Gothika," which helped to cement her status as an international box-office draw.

In 2006, Berry received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in the Oprah Winfrey-produced movie "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and an Emmy nomination for Best Made for Television Movie, as executive producer, for HBO's "Lackawanna Blues." Other television credits include "Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Wedding," as well as the title role in Alex Haley's miniseries "Queen," which earned Berry her first NAACP Image Award for Best Actress, as well as the Best Newcomer Award from the Hollywood Women's Press Club.

In 2007, Berry starred opposite Bruce Willis in the thriller "Perfect Stranger" and gained critical and popular acclaim for her moving performance in "Things We Lost in the Fire." Most recently, Berry filmed the action thriller "Dark Tide" in South Africa. She has also signed on to star in the films "Cloud Atlas" with Natalie Portman and Tom Hanks, and the comedy "Shoe Addicts Anonymous." Berry will soon star in the title role of "Who Is Doris Payne?" The adventure crime drama was written by Eunetta T. Boone and is based on the life of the 75-year-old jewel thief.

Halle Berry is an active supporter and chair member of the Jenesse Center in Los Angeles, founded in 1980 to assist victims of domestic violence. Berry joined forces with Novo Nordisk and the Entertainment Industry Foundation to launch the "Diabetes Aware Campaign." She is also an Ambassador for the Callaway Golf Foundation for Women's Cancer Initiative, encouraging women to better understand their risks for ovarian cancer. She actively supports Revlon Run/Walk, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Afghanistan Relief Organization, Stand Up to Cancer, Lance Armstrong Foundation, Love Our Children USA and Clothes Off Our Back.

Joel Schumacher
Distinguised Collaborator Award

Joel Schumacher is renowned for his versatility, style and ability to move seamlessly between film genres with equal popular success and critical acclaim. He began his film career as a Costume Designer for such legendary directors as Woody Allen ("Sleeper," "Interiors") and Herbert Ross ("The Last of Sheila"). With the encouragement of Woody Allen, Joel made his own name as a screenwriter with "Sparkle" and "Car Wash." He achieved a lifelong dream of becoming a director in 1974 with his first of two television movies and went on to make his feature film directorial debut in 1981 on "The Incredible Shrinking Woman," starring Lily Tomlin. His career soon took off with such iconic fare as "St. Elmo's Fire" and "The Lost Boys," two films that launched the careers of the young and talented Demi Moore, Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Patric, while defining the look of the '80s. Joel followed with other successes: "Cousins," "Flatliners," "Dying Young" and "Falling Down" for which Joel was nominated for a Golden Palm at Cannes. He would go on to direct film versions of two bestselling novels by John Grisham ("The Client" and "A Time to Kill") as well as two installments of the blockbuster Batman film series, "Batman Forever" (the number one movie of 1995, with Jim Carrey as 'The Riddler') and "Batman & Robin" in 1997, the same year he was honored as the ShoWest Director of the Year.

Most recently, Joel has shown audiences a diverse range of stories with the films "8MM," "Flawless" (which he also wrote), "Tigerland," "Phone Booth," "Bad Company" and "Veronica Guerin," starring Cate Blanchett. In 2004, he adapted Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical "The Phantom of the Opera" for the screen. The lavishly epic film was nominated for three Academy Awards and the Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy. He followed that up with his second collaboration with Jim Carrey, the intriguing thriller "The Number 23."

Joel's latest film, "Twelve," based on the ground-breaking novel by Nick McDonell, was honored as the closing-night presentation of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. He is currently in post-production on his 24th feature film, "Trespass," starring Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman as a husband and wife who are held for ransom amid the discovery of betrayal and deception.

Joel Schumacher is a definitively modern man. A visualist, widely known for his generosity of spirit, his sense of humor and humanity to his cast and crew alike. He is equally hilarious and inspirational and has nurtured so many writers, actors and designers that he truly defines what it means to be a great collaborator.

Julie Weiss
Disaronno Career Achievement in Film & Television Award

Costume Design is Julie Weiss' alchemy. Melding text, character, history and clothing with her powerful imagination, Julie has mined design gold: extraordinary costumes that transform the actor, deepen the narrative and enrich the production. This alchemy, while magical, is forged in her design discipline, delicate detail and precise language of costume that suggests tantalizing hints into the character's journey, challenging both performer and audience to look deeper.

Julie's exquisite illustrations are the beginning of her process. Never static, her sketches represent a map of the character's interior and exterior life. Figures are drawn and redrawn, layered with swatches, research and technical notes. They invite introspection and dialogue. Much like her art studio, filled with inspiration and contemporary culture, Julie uses her multi-media illustrations to uncover new meaning.

Inspired by a family who actively served their community, respected the arts and believed in her empty canvases about to be filled, Julie received her B.A. from UC Berkeley and her M.F.A. in Theatre Design from Brandeis University. She then began designing costumes for The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles and prominent Broadway theaters in NYC. In 1979, Julie received a Tony nomination for The Booth's production of "The Elephant Man." Then in 1982, firmly rooted in the world of TV and film, Julie was nominated for her first Emmy for the TV movie version of that production. One year later, she was nominated again for "Little Gloria…Happy at Last." In 1984, her dedication to the truth and texture of a pioneer mother portrayed by Jane Fonda in "The Dollmaker" won Julie her first Emmy statuette.

By the late '80s, Julie was designing the costumes that would help distinguish some of the most beloved films of that time—"Steel Magnolias," "Honeymoon in Vegas," "Searching for Bobby Fischer," "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "A Simple Plan," and "American Beauty," for which she received the CDG Award. She moved freely between the big and small screens and was rewarded with Emmy nominations for "Evergreen" and "Liza Minnelli Live From Radio City Music Hall." In 1995, Julie received her second Emmy win for "A Woman of Independent Means." Then in 1996, Julie's poignant costume design for Terry Gilliam's apocalyptic "Twelve Monkeys" was honored with her first Academy Award nomination.

In the 2000s, Julie exhibited the full range of her artistry. In 2002, she took on Frida Kahlo's renowned Tehuana wardrobe for Julie Taymor's dynamic, "Frida." Julie received both an Academy Award nomination and a CDG nomination for her exceptional work. That year, she also designed Paul Schrader's salty biopic "Auto Focus" and Gore Verbinski's instant horror classic "The Ring." Julie followed up with a group of period projects: "The Missing," a feature set in 1885, "Mrs. Harris," garnering a fifth Emmy nomination and a CDG nomination, the 1950s murder mystery "Hollywoodland" and the fictionalized account of Robert Kennedy's last hours, "Bobby." Then, in a blaze of Swarovski crystals, came the dazzling ice-skating comedy "Blades of Glory," winning Julie another CDG Award. In 2005, New York Women in Film and Television honored Julie at their influential Designing Hollywood Gala. She continues to design diverse projects, infused with insight and wit, including the contemporary romance "No Strings Attached," Diane Lane's costumes as an American sportswoman and racehorse owner in "Secretariat," and the folksy fable "Get Low."

Julie Weiss has set the benchmark for every Costume Designer striving to uncover the truth of a character through the intimate relationship between director, written word, and actor. She believes that you cannot dress the body of a character without first addressing the character's soul.

Michael Dennison
Hall of Fame Award

Michael Dennison was just unfolding his wings as a Costume Designer but he had already soared to great heights when his spirit flew. Michael was designing "One for the Money" in Pittsburgh at the time of his passing. His first Primetime Emmy nomination and CDG nomination for the Lifetime Television biopic "Georgia O'Keeffe" came that same year.

Michael was born and raised in New Orleans, LA, and graduated from the University of Houston. When he moved to New York and began working at Eaves-Brooks Costume Co., the Yankees were smitten and his southern accent garnered him the nickname 'Dixie.'

Dixie began working as a costumer with the most creative and prolific Costume Designers of our time. He worked with Robert De Mora, Ann Roth, Gary Jones, Albert Wolsky, April Ferry and Julie Weiss. He also collaborated extensively with Ellen Mirojnick, who knew him to be an explorer, an adventurer and a traveler. "He was always able to discover something unscripted," Ellen would say, "to give more depth to the story and character. He knew filmmaking better than most and was fluent in all areas of film. He was a dynamic craftsperson who could build just about anything. A creative Pas de Deux was born between us. He helped me grow as a Designer and as a human being."

Albert Wolsky recalls working with Michael in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, on "Sophie's Choice." Amidst all the chaos of an international production, Albert, heard his name called from street. He looked over the balcony to find Michael below, presenting a perfectly realized street vendor looking as though he had just stepped out of a 1935 photograph. Says Albert, "I knew then that he would become a very good Costume Designer."

April Ferry met Dixie when they were neighbors in New Mexico, and they worked together on "Immediate Family" in Canada. "He was an instinctive chef who had mastered international cuisine which he shared with great flair. He was a realistic painter of beautiful southwestern subjects displaying a strong sense of color. The great range of his enormous talent had not yet been tapped in the films he designed," Ferry says of her friend and colleague.

Dennison took a hiatus from filmmaking in the United States when he became the head of manufacturing for Angels in London, and later in Paris. He traveled throughout Europe, Africa and South America before returning to the United States and his career as a Costume Designer.

Michael Dennison's talent was just beginning to reveal itself with an enormous range of work in a short span of time. The futuristic world of "The Chronicles of Riddick," the gripping, true story of "World Trade Center," Oliver Stone's chronicle of the life and presidency of George W. Bush in "W.," and Frank Miller's high-styled, crime-fighting comic series "The Spirit."

Michael's friendship with Julia Roberts helped him break out on his own with the 1950s film, "Mona Lisa Smile." Their relationship as neighbors and friends continued and they recently reunited professionally when he designed the film adaptation of the bestselling novel "Eat Pray Love.'

Several memorials were held to honor the life of the man known to many as 'Dixie,' including one at Julia Roberts' home in New Mexico and another at Western Costume Co. in Los Angeles. As his dear friend Ellen would say, "His heart was huge." As if to punctuate that point, Michael 'Dixie' Dennison donated his organs to several fortunate patients around the country. He will live on in every way.

 

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