"Skyfall," "The Hobbit," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Les Miserables" and "Lincoln" are the feature films nominated for the top award by the Cinema Audio Society, a non-profit organization that honors the art of sound mixing in film and television.
For the first time, CAS also nominated five animated films for their sound mixing. In that category, one stranger to awards season, "The Lorax," joined more expected nominees "Brave," "Frankenweenie," "Rise of the Guardians" and "Wreck-It Ralph."
In the television category, nominees included episodes of the one-hour series "Boardwalk Empire," "Breaking Bad," "Game of Thrones," "Homeland" and "Mad Men," the half-hour series "30 Rock," "Californication," "Modern Family," "Nurse Jackie" and "The Office," and the movies and miniseries "American Horror Story," "Game Change," "Hatfields & McCoys," "Hemingway & Gellhorn" and "Sherlock."
CAS is one of two groups that gives awards for sound work. Its awards – made in two film and four TV categories – are minimal compared to the nearly 20 categories handed out by the Motion Picture Sound Editors, who will announce their nominations in mid-January.
Since 2000, almost 75 percent of the films nominated by the Cinema Audio Society have gone on to receive Oscar nods in the sound mixing category.
In the press release announcing the nominations, CAS president David E. Fluhr noted that the organization is now in its fourth year of online voting, adding that the voting "went smoothly and was a secure and uncomplicated procedure for our members."
The CAS ceremony will take place on Feb. 16 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. At the show, the CAS Career Achievement Award will be presented to Chris Newman, and the CAS Filmmaker Award will go to director Jonathan Demme.
Here are the nominated films. The complete list of nominated sound mixers in each category can be found at http://www.cinemaaudiosociety.org/.
Motion Pictures – Live Action:
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Misérables
Lincoln
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty
Motion Pictures – Animated:
Brave
Frankenweenie
The Lorax
Rise Of The Guardians
Wreck-It Ralph
Television Movies and Mini-Series:
American Horror Story: Asylum Part 1 – Welcome to Briarcliff
Game Change
Hatfields & McCoy’s: Part 1
Hemingway & Gellhorn
Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia
Television Series – One Hour:
Boardwalk Empire: The Milkmaid's Lot
Breaking Bad: Dead Freight
Game of Thrones: Blackwater
Homeland: Beirut is Back
Mad Men: Commissions and Fees
Television Series – Half-hour:
30 Rock: Mazel Tov, Dummies!
Californication: Hell Ain't a Bad Place To Be
Modern Family: Disneyland
Nurse Jackie: Handle Your Scandal
The Office: New Guys
Television – Non-Fiction, Variety or Music – Series or Specials:
The 2012 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Deadliest Catch: I Don't Wanna Die
Frozen Planet: To the Ends Of The Earth
Great Performances At The Met: Anna Bolena
Soundtracks: Music Without Borders