American Society of Cinematographers Reveals Television Awards Nominees

The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) has announced nominees in three television categories for the 26th Annual Outstanding Achievement Awards competition. The awards ceremony will be held here on February 12 at the Hollywood & Highland Grand Ballroom.

Nominees in the one-hour Episodic Television Series/Pilot Category are:

• David Franco for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (“To the Lost”)
• Jonathan Freeman, ASC for Boardwalk Empire (“21”)
• David Katznelson, DFF, BSC for PBS’ Downton Abbey (Pilot)
• John Lindley, ASC for ABC’s Pan Am (Pilot)
• David Stockton, ASC for NBC’s Chase (“Narco Part 2”)

The finalists in the Television Movie/Miniseries category are:

• Ed Lachman, ASC for HBO’s Mildred Pierce
• Kevin Moss for Showtime’s Chicago Overcoat
• David Moxness, CSC for ReelzChannel’s The Kennedys (“Moral Issues and Inner Turmoil”)
• Martin Ruhe for PBS’ Page Eight
• Wojciech Szepel for PBS’ Any Human Heart (“Episode 2”)

The third category, for a half-hour Episodic Series or Pilot, was just added this year. The inaugural nominees are:

• James Bagdonas, ASC for ABC’s Modern Family (“Bixby’s Back”)
• Michael Balfry, CSC for The Hub’s R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour (“Brush with Madness”)
• Vanja Cernjul, HFC for HBO’s Bored to Death (“Forget the Herring”)
• Levie Isaacks, ASC for ABC’s Man Up (“Acceptance”)
• Michael Weaver, ASC for Showtime’s Californication (“Suicide Solution”)

“Our members who judged this competition were impressed by the extraordinary images created by these individuals,” says ASC Awards Chairman Richard Crudo. “The contributions they made to telling a wide variety of stories – from period dramas to contemporary comedies – is undeniable.”

Freeman, Moxness and Stockton have won ASC Awards. Freeman took home awards for Boardwalk Empire (2011) and Homeland Security in (2005), and earned additional nominations for Boardwalk Empire (2011), Taken (2003), Strange Justice (2000) and Prince Street (1998). Moxness won for this work on Smallville (2007). Stockton earned his ASC Award for Eleventh Hour in 2009, and a nomination for Nikita (2011).

This is the fifth ASC nomination for Franco who was previously nominated for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2008), Intensity (1998), Falling for You (1996), and Million Dollar Babies (1995).

Bagdonas has three prior nominations for photographing Chicago Hope (1997, 1998) and Hunter (1990).

Collecting their second nominations are Lachman (Far From Heaven, 2003) and Weaver (Pushing Daisies, 2008). The remaining nominees revel in their first nomination.

HBO shows lead the pack with four nominations, followed by PBS and ABC with three, and Showtime with two. The Hub and ReelzChannel claimed one each.

“Narrowing down the field to these nominees was a tough task given the tremendous quality of work being done,” says ASC President Michael Goi. "Innovation and technology has raised the bar for television viewers, and these nominees’ imagery more than meets a new standard.”