Battle After Battle: Filmmakers Honor Late Crew Member at Golden Globe Win

Honoring a Fallen Crew Member at the Golden Globes

At the recent Golden Globes ceremony, the film One Battle After Another took home several top awards, and the cast and crew used their moment in the spotlight to honor a member of their team who had passed away earlier in the year. Director Paul Thomas Anderson and producer Sara Murphy both acknowledged the late Adam Sumner, the film’s first assistant director, during their speeches.

The principal cast and crew gathered on stage during the final moments of the event to accept the award for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy. In her speech, Murphy shared a heartfelt message that resonated with the audience. “I want to agree with Paul that this has been one of the most incredible filmmaking experiences, once in a lifetime, due largely in part to the person that we share this award with, the late Adam Sumner, who we miss every day,” she said. She was joined by Anderson, as well as stars Teyana Taylor, Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn, and Chase Infiniti.

Adam Sumner was more than just a first assistant director—he was a trusted collaborator for some of Hollywood’s most acclaimed filmmakers. He worked with director Paul Thomas Anderson on multiple projects, but his expertise also extended to other legendary directors like Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott. Over the past decade, he contributed to films such as Blitz, Killers of the Flower Moon, West Side Story, Licorice Pizza, Ford v Ferrari, and Ready Player One.

Sumner passed away in November 2023 after a battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer. His contributions to the film industry were widely recognized, and his absence was deeply felt by those who worked alongside him.

During the ceremony, Anderson also paid tribute to Sumner when he received the Golden Globe for Best Director. In his acceptance speech, he reflected on the impact that Sumner had on the production of One Battle After Another. “There’s an unfortunate title to the people that we work with, ‘assistant director,’ ’cause that’s inaccurate,” he said. “If you get a good one, like I had — I had the best one, his name was Adam Sumner, a lot of you in this room might know ’em, Steven [Spielberg] knows ’em — it’s underselling it, what he did for me and for us and for this film. He’s why I’m standing here. He’s what made making this film so much fun.”

The film itself includes a dedication to Sumner in its end credits, a fitting tribute to a man whose work left a lasting impression on everyone involved. His legacy continues to be honored through the projects he helped bring to life.

In addition to Anderson’s speech, Teyana Taylor also received recognition during the night. She won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical for her role as Perfidia in One Battle After Another, a member of the revolutionary group the French 75. During her emotional acceptance speech, she expressed her surprise at winning the award. “I almost didn’t even write a speech because I didn’t think I would get this,” she said. “Oh my babies! My babies are upstairs watching, y’all better be off those damn phones and watching me right now.”