Here’s how you know awards season is in full swing: Besides all the honors that are going to be given out – the People’s Choice Awards, the Critics’ Choice Awards, the Golden Globes -  there are a flurry of nominations being announced.

The American Society of Cinematographers named its five finalists. They are “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “The Reader,” “Revolutionary Road” and  “Slumdog Millionaire.” Two of the films, “The Reader” and “Revolutionary Road,” were shot or co-shot by the amazing Roger Deakins, who might finally win an Oscar this year. Last year he lost to Robert Elswit, who did the terrific work on “There Will Be Blood.”

The Writers Guild picked its nominees for adapted and original screenplay. In the former category, the nominees are "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," “ The Dark Knight," "Doubt," "Frost/Nixon" and " Slumdog Millionaire.” Original screenplay nominees are “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (it’s Woody Allen’s 19th WGA nomination), "Burn After Reading," "Milk," "The Visitor" and "The Wrestler."

With “Dark Knight” earning picks in such “prestige” categories - as well as nabbing a Producers Guild nomination for best picture – its chances for major Oscar nominations have risen.

Finally, the NAACP Image Awards nominations went out today. Among the leaders are “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” with six, and “Ugly Betty,” with five. Beyonce also received five nominations in music categories.

- Todd Leopold, CNN.com Entertainment Producer, from news services and press releases