At the recent Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards held in Los Angeles, Dwayne Johnson revealed the striking response director Christopher Nolan had to The Smashing Machine, a biographical sports drama directed by Benny Safdie. Johnson highlighted Nolan’s admiration for Safdie’s unconventional decision to film the MMA fights exclusively from the crowd’s perspective, a bold move that challenged traditional directing techniques.
Christopher Nolan’s Respectful Praise for ‘The Smashing Machine’
During the award presentation to Benny Safdie, Dwayne Johnson shared Nolan’s candid reaction upon first viewing the film. Instead of praising the usual cinematic elements, Nolan expressed a deeply respectful discomfort related to the film’s intimate portrayal of fighters. Johnson quoted Nolan, who told Safdie,
“I mean this in the most respectful and complimentary way, but I feel like I shouldn’t be watching this. I feel like I’m violating their space. And it’s so counterintuitive as a director. I really want to give you credit and flowers for that.”
This acknowledgement underscored Nolan’s recognition of the film’s unique approach to storytelling and its ability to capture the fighters’ environment without exploiting it.
Earlier, Nolan had also commended The Smashing Machine in an October episode of the Director’s Cut podcast hosted by Benny Safdie. He described the film as “heartbreaking” and praised Johnson’s acting, especially his portrayal of MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Nolan stated,
“I don’t think you’ll see a better performance this year or most other years,”
further cementing the emotional and artistic impact of the project.
Honoring Excellence Behind the Scenes
The Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards, now in its 14th year and presented by Variety, celebrate the craftsmanship that occurs away from the spotlight. On November 5, thirteen industry professionals were honored at Avalon Hollywood and Bardot in Los Angeles. Alongside Benny Safdie, the evening recognized talents such as Inbal Weinberg, production designer for Roofman, and Douglas Ware, the property master for Sinners. Cinematographer Matthew Libatique was acknowledged for his work on Is This Thing On?, while costume designer Colleen Atwood was celebrated for her contributions to One Battle After Another.
Other honorees included editor Pamela Martin for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, hair and makeup artist Mike Hill for Frankenstein, composer Nicholas Britell for Jay Kelly, and sound professionals Al Nelson, Gary Rizzo, and Juan Peralta for their work on F1. Sasheer Zamata hosted the ceremony, which fostered an atmosphere of recognition and gratitude for those whose work is crucial to filmmaking but often unseen by audiences.
Creative Collaborations Highlighted Throughout the Night
Each honoree was introduced by a notable creative partner, adding personal anecdotes that illuminated the hard work behind their contributions. Actor Channing Tatum introduced Inbal Weinberg, applauding the production designer’s faithful reconstruction of an early 2000s Toys R Us. Tatum remarked on the emotional effect it had on the cast and crew, saying,
“She really creates environments that bring grown men to tears. I know that some of my friends would argue I might not be a grown man, but I can promise you that there were some grisly, bearded men that had like cement bags for hands, that I swear to you got teared up when they walked into this Toys R Us. You got to watch them walk into their childhood dreams and fantasies.”
Mike Hill’s contribution to make-up and prosthetics was introduced by acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who recounted their first meeting at Monsterpalooza, a special effects convention in Burbank. Del Toro described the shared passion of convention attendees, joking,
“The people that go there are mostly pale like me,”
and,
“And like me, are mostly feed on Cheetos and very, very well versed on things that nobody cares about. But we care vehemently.”
He praised Hill’s authentic prosthetic recreation of Boris Karloff’s head from the classic 1931 film Frankenstein, which sparked a creative collaboration culminating, this year, in del Toro’s own adaptation of the story. “We just finished our Franken-sandwich,” del Toro said with a laugh, concluding,
“We were both destined to be.”
Gratitude and Teamwork Central to Every Recognition
Like many of the honorees, Weinberg and Hill expressed deep appreciation for their teams, highlighting that film craftsmanship is a collective effort. Following an introduction by F1 director Joseph Kosinski, sound artists Al Nelson, Gary Rizzo, and Juan Peralta acknowledged their supervising sound editor, production mixer, composer Hans Zimmer, and the Skywalker Sound team for their meticulous work. Rizzo commented,
“The partnership between Apple and Skywalker Sound truly highlights how a commitment to the highest of standards can bring an exceptional cinematic experience like Formula 1,”
adding,
“And to our crew at Skywalker Sound, thank you so much for your meticulous attention to detail and your continued pursuit of sonic excellence.”
Douglas Ware also thanked his prop master team, who have maintained consistent collaboration across multiple projects.
“I’ve had the same team since Season 4 of ‘Queen Sugar,’ and then we did ‘Nickel Boys’ and then to roll right into ‘Sinners’ was just the best opportunity possible. I have to thank my crew: Melissa Waltrip, Madison Aucoin, Jasmine Hall, Drew Wahardo,”
Ware shared, underscoring the significance of long-standing creative partnerships.
From a cinematographer’s perspective, Matthew Libatique echoed the importance of teamwork.
“Cinematography is such a collaborative endeavor, and this honor really belongs to everyone who helped me on ‘Is This Thing On?’”
Libatique stated, emphasizing the joint effort needed to achieve visual storytelling excellence.
Unique Insights on Recent Creative Experiences
Some honorees recounted special moments and distinctive processes on recent projects. Composer Nicholas Britell, who was introduced by director Barry Jenkins, spoke about his experience working on Jay Kelly. Invited by director Noah Baumbach to film in Italy, Britell described performing score ideas live on set as an extraordinary event:
“I’ve never done that before, like physically gone and played on set the score ideas I was working on. I went to Tuscany, and it was just a miraculous kind of experience, and playing the score ideas inside the movie itself was very, very wonderful.”
Costume designer Colleen Atwood shared her enthusiasm for dressing actors Teyana Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another. She reflected,
“As a designer, I feel like I got to do some really new and interesting work, and I will never, ever be sorry that I did this job. It’s just my favorite movie I’ve ever worked on.”
The Power of Story and Connection in Filmmaking
Screenwriters Hikari and Stephen Blahut, introduced by actor Steven Yeun, emphasized the emotional core of their film Rental Family. Hikari explained,
“Our film rental family is, at its heart, a story about loneliness and belonging, especially in the age of disconnection. It asks what it means to manufacture connection and yet find something deeply human in the act, in the world that feels increasingly divided.”
Editor Pamela Martin, honored for her work on Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, echoed these themes, saying,
“My greatest hope is that people watch this film and know that they don’t need to suffer alone. We are all in this together.”
This sentiment captured the evening’s prevailing spirit of unity and collaboration.
Collective Creativity Shapes Every Film
As the night concluded, Benny Safdie reflected on the shared nature of filmmaking while accepting his award from Dwayne Johnson. He stated,
“We’re all mining this stuff together,”
before adding,
“A piece of the movie exists with everybody.”
This statement crystallized the event’s message that every behind-the-scenes artist plays an essential role in crafting the stories that resonate with audiences worldwide.
The ceremony not only celebrated individual achievement but underscored the interconnectedness of artistry in film, highlighting how the work of directors like Christopher Nolan, performers like Dwayne Johnson, and countless behind-the-camera professionals together shape the emotional power and immersive experience of cinema.
