Full Sail University

Full Sail Alumni Credited on 2012’s Emmy Winners

Looking at the results of the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards and accompanying Creative Arts Emmy Awards, we’re proud to see that 45 Full Sail graduates worked on 23 winning projects in 42 different categories.

Full Sail Alumni Credited on 2012’s Emmy Winners - Hero image

The 2012 Emmy season came to a close this September, honoring another impressive year for television programming. Looking at the results of the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards and accompanying Creative Arts Emmy Awards, we’re proud to see that 45 Full Sail graduates worked on 23 winning projects in 42 different categories.

Of the alumni who contributed to the year’s honorees, two were presented with their own Emmy statues. Film grad Ben Folts was recognized for his work as editor on the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which won Outstanding Picture Editing for Short-Form Segments and Variety Specials. Recording Arts grad Brett Voss also garnered a statue for his work as Foley editor on the epic fantasy novel adaptation Game of Thrones, winner of Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series.

Three more graduates were also involved in the postproduction of HBO’s Thrones, which went on to win five additional Emmys. This team was made up of Evan Ghigliotty (compositor; Computer Animation, 2006), Paul Flinchbaugh (digital media assistant; Recording Arts, 1992), and Zhoutao Zhang (matchmove artist; Computer Animation, 2008).

HBO had another big success with Boardwalk Empire, which scored four awards, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role. A group of four alumni contributed to this period piece, with Tara Boccia as set dresser (Film, 1996), Ruy Garcia as sound designer (Recording Arts, 1992), Paul Tirone as sound re-recordist (Recording Arts, 2005), and Kelsey Randle as digital compositor on the award-winning visual effects (Digital Arts & Design, 2010).

Showtime’s Homeland was another favorite with Emmy voters, taking in six awards, including top prizes like Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The gripping cable thriller included the efforts of Film graduates Patrick Borowiak (1992; first assistant camera) and Evan Showler (2010; location assistant) in its first season.

Other notable winners in the drama categories included Breaking BadGame ChangeAmerican Horror StoryThe Good WifeSmashThe Walking Dead, and Justified, which had a combined twenty-two graduates involved in their development.

Adding some humor to the proceedings, a fresh batch of comedies featuring the work of our grads also walked away with Emmy statues. Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series was awarded to the word of mouth hit Girls, which had 2006 Film graduate Julie Sage as location assistant. 2005 Recording Arts grad Brent Findley also worked as a sound editor on 2 Broke Girls, recipient of Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series.

Additional winner Veep (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series) featured a credit from grad Heath Howard (production coordinator; Film, 1999), while Childrens Hospital (Outstanding Special Class – Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program) included the work of Max La Bella (post production assistant; Film 2006).

The winners in key reality television categories also saw alumni involvement, and a total of five grads contributed to Undercover Boss (Outstanding Reality Program), The Amazing Race (Outstanding Reality-Competition Program), and Dancing with the Stars (Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program).

Remaining categories included winners like the documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World, which netted two awards and featured grads Christian Kontis (digital restoration artist; Film, 2008) and Paul Tirone (sound re-recordist; Recording Arts, 2005). The children’s shows The Penguins of Madagascar and Wizards of Waverly Place also received recognition, and featured alums Adam Kugler (lead visual effects artist; Computer Animation, 2009) and Benjamin Watson (production assistant; Film, 2009), respectively.

Looking at the volume and quality of entertainment broadcast during the past year, you get a new respect for the achievements of those in the industry, including the Full Sail alumni who worked behind the scenes to get this programming on the air. We’d like to congratulate the 45 graduates who worked on the 64th Emmy winners, as well as the many other alumni credited on the full range of nominees.

The Emmy-winning projects featuring Full Sail alumni are:

2 Broke Girls (CBS)
Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series
Grad: Brent Findley (sound editor; Recording Arts/Entertainment Business, 2005)

2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (HBO)
Outstanding Picture Editing for Short-Form Segments and Variety Specials
Grad: Ben Folts (editor; Film, 2002)

84th Academy Awards (ABC)
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special
Grads: Ben Folts (editor; Film, 2002), Geoff Knight (lighting technician; Film, 2006), Nate Selvidio (post production assistant; Show Production/Music Business, 2009)

The Amazing Race (CBS)
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
Grads: Michael Jay (logger; Film, 2010), Lucas McGough (prop assistant; Film, 2007)

American Horror Story (FX)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or Movie
Grads: Chris Cotterman (grip; Film, 2004), Cesar Davila-Irizarry (theme song; Recording Arts, 2007), Judah Getz (ADR mixer; Recording Arts, 2006), Spencer Hutchins (second assistant camera; Film, 2009), Eric Kovtun (production coordinator; Film, 2005)

Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series
Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series
Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role
Grads: Tara Boccia (set dresser; Film, 1996), Ruy Garcia (sound designer; Recording Arts, 1992), Kelsey Randle (digital compositor; Digital Arts & Design, 2010), and Paul Tirone (sound re-recordist; Recording Arts, 2005)

Breaking Bad (AMC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Grads: Bryan P. Jones (additional set production assistant; Film, 2010), Lani Wasserman (additional set production assistant; Film, 2010)

Childrens Hospital (Cartoon Network)
Outstanding Special Class – Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program
Grad: Max La Bella (post production assistant; Film, 2006)

Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
Outstanding Make-up for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic)
Grad: Rory Ambron (sound mixer; Recording Arts, 2003)

Game Change (HBO)
Outstanding Miniseries or TV Movie
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie, or a Special
Grads: Bryan Carrigan (digital score recordist; Recording Arts, 1991), Chris Fogel (music scoring mixer; Recording Arts, 1996), Todd Norton (rigging best boy; Film/Digital Arts & Design, 2000)

Game of Thrones (HBO)
Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series
Outstanding Costumes for a Series
Outstanding Make-up for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour)
Outstanding Special Visual Effects
Grads: Paul Flinchbaugh (digital media assistant; Recording Arts, 1992), Paul Tirone (ADR recordist; Recording Arts, 2005), Brett Voss (Foley editor; Recording Arts, 2003), Zhuotao Zhang (matchmove artist, Computer Animation, 2008)

George Harrison: Living in the Material World (HBO)
Outstanding Nonfiction Special
Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming
Grads: Christian Kontis (digital restoration artist; Film, 2008), Paul Tirone (sound re-recordist; Recording Arts, 2005)

Girls (HBO)
Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
Grad: Julie Sage (location assistant; Film, 2006)

The Good Wife (CBS)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Grads: Christopher D. Jones (Dolly grip; Film, 2004), Rocco Nisivoccia (assistant location manager; Film, 2002), Paul Tirone (ADR recordist; Recording Arts, 2005)

Homeland (Showtime)
Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series
Grads: Patrick Borowiak (first assistant camera; Film, 1992) and Evan Showler (location assistant; Film, 2010).

Justified (FX)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Grad: Tamara Thomas (assistant location manager; Film, 2001)

Paul Simon’s Graceland Journey: Under African Skies (A&E)
Outstanding Sound Mixing for Nonfiction Programming
Grad: Chris David (sound editor; Recording Arts, 2007)

The Penguins of Madagascar (Nickelodeon)
Outstanding Animated Program
Grad: Adam Kugler (lead visual effects artist; Computer Animation, 2009)

Smash (NBC)
Outstanding Choreography
Grads: Andrew J. Bly (visual effects producer; Film, 2003), Marcus Bykowsky (key production assistant; Film, 2005), Timothy Martin (staff set production assistant; Film, 2008), Sean W. Matthews (location assistant/location assistant: second unit; Film, 2010), Jason Quimby (location scout; Film, 1999), Paul Tirone (sound re-recording mixer; Recording Arts, 2005)

Undercover Boss (CBS)
Outstanding Reality Program
Grads: Tom Goodwin (production coordinator; Recording Arts, 2003), John C. Wise (production assistant; Film, 2002)

Veep (HBO)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Grad: Heath Howard (production coordinator; Film, 1999)

The Walking Dead (AMC)
Outstanding Prosthetic Make-up for a Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special
Grads: Reid Andrews (first generator operator; Film, 2001), Hunter M. Via (editor; Film, 2000)

Wizards of Waverly Place (Disney Channel)
Outstanding Children’s Program
Grad: Benjamin Watson (production assistant; Film, 2009)