Striking Gold

Michael Barker (BS ’76), alumnus of the Department of Communication Studies and co-founder of Sony Pictures Classics, won gold at the 2015 Academy Awards on Feb. 22, helping earn his studio two Oscars including J.K. Simmons’ excellent performance in “Whiplash” for best supporting actor and the film’s Oscar for best film editing and sound mixing.  

WME Global agent and Department of Radio-Television-Film alumna Deborah McIntosh (BS '07) helped broker the original sale of “Whiplash,” garnering publicity for the film, which was nominated for a total five Academy Awards including best picture.

Other Oscar nods going to Austin and UT Austin-based filmmakers include alumnus Wes Anderson (BA ’90) for “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and the film’s four Oscars for best original music score, best makeup and hairstyling, best costume design, and best production design along with Patricia Arquette’s best supporting actress Oscar for Austin Film Society founder Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood,” which was nominated for six awards.

Barry Dale Johnson (BS '00), vice-president of national publicity for Fox Searchlight, helped spearhead the Oscar campaign for best picture nominees “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “Birdman,” both of which had nine nominations with “Birdman” taking the prize for best picture this year.