Saturday, February 12, 2011

GRAMMY Watch - Pop Music Categories - Picks & Predictions

As I wind up my Grammy Award preview, I do so while nursing a bad bug. I had planned to post real time tomorrow evening both here and on Twitter, but in lieu of me fighting whatever bug is currently going around, I have decided to rest up tomorrow. I guess, for what it is worth, it is a bit better than my coverage last year - where I waited till the last minute to post my predictions then caught one helluva flu bug and couldn't even finish my picks & predictions. I didn't even watch any of the telecast, I was so bad off. And anyone who knows me, knows, that was a first time ever life experience. I normally make it a point to catch all of the major show business awards shows. To miss an Grammy Award telecast is unheard of! Well, it happened. My best case scenario will be to rest up as much as I can tonight and tomorrow, nurse this bug, watch the Awards telecast, go back to sleep and wake up Monday and carry my fat behind on into the office. Not an exciting plan, but a plan nonetheless.

It is what it is. It is what I can do.

That being said, I still have some picks and predicting to do.

Best Pop Female Vocal Performance

Did they REALLY have to nominate a live performance of Halo by Be-YAWN-say? Seriously. I already told you I was under the weather. Are they trying to kill me already? Norah Jones has already been over rewarded as well. I wouldn't mind seeing Sara Bereilles pull an upset, but I am betting that won't happen. It is definitely between Gaga and Perry, at least - it should be.

My Pick: BAD ROMANCE - Lady Gaga (Track from: The Fame Monster)
[Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope]

My Prediction: TEENAGE DREAM - Katy Perry (Track from: Teenage Dream) [Capitol Records]

Best Pop Male Vocal Performance

Though he doesn't deserve it, Michael Jackson will receive the first of many (to come over the next several years) posthumous Grammy Awards this year. And it is a shame, because actually his This Is It is the weakest of the five nominees. I actually hope he loses here, but I know better. Don't mean to sound cold and heartless, but that was just about how I felt about his delivery in this wretched song.

My Pick: JUST THE WAY YOU ARE - Bruno Mars [Elektra]

My Prediction: THIS IS IT - Michael Jackson [Epic]

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

The Glee cast is nominated? Really? WTF? Are you effing kidding me?

My pick: BABYFATHER - Sade (Track from: Soldier Of Love) [Epic]
My Prediction: HEY, SOUL SISTER (LIVE) - Train (Columbia)

I also wouldn't mind Maroon 5 winning here.

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

I almost kinda want California Gurls by Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg to win, only because poor ol' Snoop has never gotten Grammy gold. Always the nominee, never a winner. Poor fella. And I would pick Telephone, but that would mean Be-YAWN-say would have another undeserved Grammy Award. Love Lady Gaga, but that is where I draw the line.

My Pick: IMAGINE - Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No 1, Jeff
Beck & Oumou Sangare (Track from: The Imagine Project) [Hancock Records]

My Prediction: AIRPLANES, PART II - B.o.B, Eminem & Hayley Williams (Track from: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray) [Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic]

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

My Pick: NESSUN DORMA - Jeff Beck (Track from: Emotion & Commotion) [Rhino]
My Prediction: SLEEPWALK - The Brian Setzer Orchestra (Track from: Don't Mess With A Big Band) [Surfdog Records]

Best Pop Instrumental Album

My Pick & Prediciton: EVERYTHING IS EVERYTHING: THE MUSIC OF DONNY
HATHAWAY - Kirk Whalum [Rendezvous Music/Mack Avenue]

Best Pop Vocal Album

I kinda want Susan Boyle to win here, even over Gaga. Tough competition. Anyone, but Bieber will do - and I truly think Perry has the edge. Her album screams Pop music of today. I think she will prevail.

My Pick: I DREAMED A DREAM - Susan Boyle [Sony/SYCO Music/Columbia Records]

My Prediction: TEENAGE DREAM - Katy Perry [Capitol Records]

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Photography by Cassone Category Nominations for 2011 Cassone Channel Honors

In the history of my Cassone Channel Honors, I was actually surprised by the results of what is now the final nominations list for my annual photography categories. I think more so because voters went away from tradition and all nominees in all categories have a chance at their first wins in the photography wing of my awards. The awards were established as a way to give back to the many models, makeup artists, hair & wardrobe stylists, technical geeks, location producers and such who I have had the pleasure of working with - and all through a bit of friendly competition.

The photography categories, unlike the 'regular' ones for the videos which are handed out 'season by season' are given annually, nominations are picked by the public and winners by a judges panel of my peer photographers and industry types, along with any former winner in the photography categories (as long as they are not a current year nominee, of course).

Feature of the Year has been won in the past by Diva Kingsley (2006), Anya Allen (2007) and Decorations and Designs by Paul Miller with Bob Drews and David Paul Miller (2008, 2009 & 2010). Best Picture was given the first time last year and that went to ...a few raindrops, with Katherine Myler (location producer) as the winner there. This Year, along with Best Picture, I decided to broaden the scope a bit and have added a Best Picture category for Conceptual pieces we have done and Best Picture with a Model. I figured it would be a lot more fair if the models didn't have to compete against mother nature, and vice versa - for at least one category.

Congratulations to the nominees!

Winners will be made public at this blog on Saturday, February 26, 2011.

Below you will find a complete list of nominees, followed by the photos being considered for these honors (just keep scrolling down to see all photos). Each category is hyperlinked to a video presentation for it (just click on the category title to see it's video).

2011 CASSONE CHANNEL HONORS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSONE CATEGORIES for 2010

FEATURE OF THE YEAR

GERMAN MARTINEZ

German Martinez, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

(March 2010 Feature)


LAURIEANNA

LaurieAnna, model, hair, makeup & styling

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photography

(May 2010 Feature)


MODEL: ROB

Robert Haines, model & wardrobe styling

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

(June 2010 Feature)


THE VAMPIRE SET

Robert Haines, model, vampire makeup & wardrobe

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer & special effects


WHILE IN ATLANTA: EXTERIORS

John W. Cheeves III, location producer

Piedmont Park/Atlanta Parks & Recreation; Atlanta, GA

Antonio Cassone, photographer

BEST PICTURE

BY THE LAKE

John W. Cheeves III, location producer

Atlanta Parks & Recreation; Atlanta, GA

Antonio Cassone, photographer


LYQUID MAN

Ken Kelley & Lloyd Pagels/The Stable, location producer

Ron Bivens, stage lighting

Cat De Santis, assistant to Cassone

Antonio Cassone, photographer


ROOFTOPS

John W. Cheeves III, location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer


TAKE A LONG WALK…

John W. Cheeves III, location producer

Atlanta Parks & Recreation; Atlanta, GA

Antonio Cassone, photographer


WEATHERED TUSKS

John W. Cheeves III, prop master/location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer

BEST PICTURE – CONCEPTUAL

FEAR

German Martinez, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer & concept


HEAT STROKER

Robert Haines, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer/editor & concept


MAN AT WORK

Stephanie Jadotte, location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer/concept


PAPARAZZI

German Martinez, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer/concept


THE VAMPIRE SET: DEATH AT SUNRISE

Robert Haines; model, vampire makeup, wardrobe & concept

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer/editor & concept

BEST PICTURE WITH A MODEL

FEAR

German Martinez, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer


JUNGLE

Ly Nguyen, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer


LATE AFTERNOON VISITOR

Robert Haines; model & wardrobe

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer


PAPARAZZI

German Martinez, model

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer


WAITING

LaurieAnna; model, makeup, hair & wardrobe styling

A.D., location producer

Antonio Cassone, photographer


HISTORY BY NUMBERS TALLY OF NOMINATED INDIVIDUALS

A.D.

Nominations This Season: 13

Previous Nominations: 5

Previous Career Wins: 2

Total Career Nominations: 18


GERMAN MARTINEZ

Nominations This Season: 5

Previous Nominations: 1

Previous Career Wins: 0

Total Career Nominations: 6


LAURIEANNA

Nominations This Season: 2

Previous Nominations: 3

Previous Career Wins: 0

Total Career Nominations: 5


ROBERT HAINES

Nominations This Season: 5

Previous Nominations: 3

Previous Career Wins: 2

Total Career Nominations: 8


J.W. CHEEVES III

Nominations This Season: 5

Previous Nominations: 1

Previous Career Wins: 1

Total Career Nominations: 6


KEN KELLEY & LLOYD PAGELS

Nominations This Season: 1

Previous Nominations: 4

Previous Career Wins: 0

Total Career Nominations: 5


RON BIVENS

Nominations This Season: 1

Previous Nominations: 9

Previous Career Wins: 1

Total Career Nominations: 10


CAT DE SANTIS

Nominations This Season: 1

Previous Nominations: 13

Previous Career Wins: 2

Total Career Nominations: 14


STEPHANIE JADOTTE

Nominations This Season: 1

Previous Nominations: This is Stephanie Jadotte’s first nomination.


LY NGUYEN

Nominations This Season: 1

Previous Nominations: 1

Previous Career Wins: 0

Total Career Nominations: 2

...And now the photo array, as it were...

FEATURE OF THE YEAR

GERMAN MARTINEZ
LAURIEANNA
MODEL: ROB
THE VAMPIRE SET
WHILE IN ATLANTA: EXTERIORS

BEST PICTURE 2010
BY THE LAKE
LYQUID MAN
ROOFTOPS
TAKE A LONG WALK...
WEATHERED TUSKS

BEST PICTURE 2010 - CONCEPTUAL


FEAR
HEAT STROKER
MAN AT WORK
PAPARAZZI
THE VAMPIRE SET: DEATH AT SUNRISE

BEST PICTURE WITH A MODEL 2010

FEAR
JUNGLE
LATE AFTERNOON VISITOR
PAPARAZZI
WAITING