A Starry Night At Creative Emmys

When "Wizards of Waverly Place" won an Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming last year, Peter Murrieta and his team found themselves in a "heart-stopping" moment of surprise.   Although their tickers kept on beating at this year's Creative Arts Emmys when "Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie" won Outstanding Children's Programming, receiving a second Emmy was equally as meaningful.

 

"No one thought we would win the first time," said Executive Producer Peter Murrieta.  "Peer recognition is great.  You struggle and you work hard in this business for a very long time, and it's great to have someone nod at you occasionally."  

 

"Wizards of Waverly Place" is a Disney Channel show that follows a group of high school wizards grappling with the challenges of growing up while recognizing and developing their supernatural skills.  The movie was a stand alone project that followed the main characters as the traveled to a wizard camp for the summer.  Elements from this adventure have been worked into upcoming episodes.  Incorporating this and previous storylines, along with allowing the characters to grow and develop as the young actors who play them: Selena Gomez (Alex Russo), David Henrie (Justin Russo) and Jake T. Austin (Max Russo), transform into young adults, has been a great joy to Murrieta and his team.

 

"In terms of storytelling, what the writers and I try to do is stay engaged with who those characters are and how to tell their stories," said Murrieta.  "As the actors get older I think the fun is letting the characters age.  We let Justin Russo graduate from high school this year, and it's interesting to let that play out.  Those are the kinds of things you do to challenge yourself." 

 

Murrieta never expected to work in children's programming.  A few years ago he relocated to Los Angeles from New York after working on "Hope and Faith." Soon after the move he received a call from the Disney Channel to assist with developing "Wizards."  Although he was apprehensive about becoming involved in the youth-oriented series, Murrieta took advantage of the opportunity to help guide the focus, writing, and casting of the series before it hit the air

 

"I was really scared, I didn't know if this would work out, all those mixed emotions come through when you take a new job," said Murrieta.  "It's a show that the cast and I at the end of every week look back and say, 'You know, we're proud of that one, we made a great show.'  I hope it will stand, even when we are all done with it, as something that was pretty awesome."

 

Although Murrieta is extremely grateful that children’s programming is recognized at the Creative Emmy Awards, he would like to see the other categories, such as Art Direction, Costume Design and Cinematography, honor the artists involved with children’s programming.

 

“I think it would be great if there were categories for set design and wardrobe and the other categories for children’s programming,” said Murrieta.  “I think they bring along their own set of challenges in terms of time and money that warrant someone getting a nod.   There’s expert work being done on these shows.”

 

Below is a complete list of all the winners from the 62nd Annual Creative Arts Emmys:

 

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

LAURA SCHIFF, CSA, Casting Director

CARRIE AUDINO, CSA, Casting Director

Mad Men AMC

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

MEG LIBERMAN, CSA, Casting Director

CAMI PATTON, CSA, Casting Director

CHRISTINE KING, CSA, Casting Director

JENNIFER EUSTON, CSA, Casting Director

SUZANNE M. SMITH, CDG, Casting Director

The Pacific HBO

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

JEFF GREENBERG, CSA, Casting Director

Modern Family ABC

OUTSTANDING PROSTHETIC MAKEUP FOR A SERIES, MINISERIES,

MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

JASON BAIRD, Prosthetic Designer, Special Makeup Effects Department Head

SEAN GENDERS, Special Makeup Effects Artist

JAC CHARLTON, Special Makeup Effects Artist

CHAD ATKINSON, Special Makeup Effects Artist

BEN RITTENHOUSE, Special Makeup Effects Artist

STEVE KATZ, Special Makeup Effects Artist

ROBERT CHARLTON, Special Makeup Effects Artist

GREGORY NICOTERO, Prosthetic Designer

The Pacific HBO

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP FOR A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE (NON-PROSTHETIC)

CHIARA TRIPODI, Department Head Makeup Artist

TONI FfRENCH, Makeup Artist

The Pacific HBO

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP FOR A SINGLE-CAMERA SERIES (NON-PROSTHETIC)

NORMAN LEAVITT, Department Head Makeup Artist

BRIGITTE BUGAYONG, Key Makeup Artist

MICHELE TELEIS, Additional Makeup Artist

Grey's Anatomy - Suicide Is Painless ABC

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP FOR A MULTI-CAMERA SERIES OR SPECIAL

(NON-PROSTHETIC)

LOUIE ZAKARIAN, Department Head Makeup Artist

JOSH TURI, Makeup Artist

AMY TAGLIAMONTI, Makeup Artist

Saturday Night Live - Host: Betty White NBC

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

BETTY WHITE as Host

Saturday Night Live - Host: Betty White NBC

OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

JENNY BEAVAN, Costume Designer

ALISON BEARD, Costume Supervisor

Return To Cranford (Masterpiece)  PBS

OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR A SERIES

JOAN BERGIN, Costume Designer

SUSAN CAVE, Wardrobe Supervisor

The Tudors - Episode #408 SHOWTIME

OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR A VARIETY/MUSIC PROGRAM OR A SPECIAL

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RODNEY MUNOZ, Costume Designer

Jimmy Kimmel Live - Episode 09-1266 ABC

* * * * * * *

SOYON AN, Costume Designer

GRAINE O’SULLIVAN, Costume Supervisor

So You Think You Can Dance - Top 12 Perform FOX

* * * * * * *

JEANETTE DIANE MOFFAT, Costume Designer/Costume Supervisor

Titan Maximum - Went to Party, Got Crabs CARTOON NETWORK

OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING FOR A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

ANNE (NOSH) OLDHAM, Department Head Hairstylist

Emma (Masterpiece) PBS

OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING FOR A MULTI-CAMERA SERIES OR A SPECIAL

MARY GUERRERO, Department Head Hairstylist

KIMI MESSINA, Key Hairstylist

JENNIFER MAZURSKY, Additional Hairstylist

MARIA VALDIVIA, Additional Hairstylist

CYNTHIA ROMO, Additional Hairstylist

CYNDRA DUNN, Additional Hairstylist

Dancing With The Stars

Episode 902A ABC

OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING FOR A SINGLE-CAMERA SERIES

LUCIA MACE, Department Head Hairstylist

ANTHONY WILSON, Key Hairstylist

MARY GUERRERO, Additional Hairstylist

PEGGY SEMTOB, Additional Hairstylist

Mad Men

Souvenir AMC

SYD CASSYD FOUNDERS AWARD

JOHN LEVERENCE

Senior Vice President of Awards, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY.

MIA MICHAELS, Choreographer

So You Think You Can Dance

Routines: Gravity/Addiction & Koop Island Blues & One FOX

OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION

DAVE PIERCE, Music Director

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremon