A new wrinkle and a familiar link to the past will mark the The Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) Show, The Art & Technique of the American Television Commercial, slated for Monday, June 11, in New York. The annual event honoring the best in U.S. spotmaking is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, with Jon Kamen, proprietor of bicoastal/international @radical.media, named to serve as AICP Show chairman.
Kamen’s selection hearkens back to the AICP Show’s origin. He was one of the Show’s founders, helping to forge its close-knit relationship with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Commercials selected for AICP Show honors continue to be annually incorporated into the permanent collection of MoMA’s Department of Film and Video.
The new ingredient in the AICP Show recipe this year is a change of venue for its premiere screening of honorees and gala reception, traditionally held at MoMA. This year, the MoMA facility is undergoing extensive renovations, prompting the AICP Show ceremony to be held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
"It is my privilege to have been associated with the AICP Show since its earliest days, when MoMA took the bold step of recognizing the artistic talent employed in the best of commercial filmmaking," said Kamen. "The change in venue this year posed a particular challenge. But the Met generously stepped in to provide us with an equally exciting, temporary home."
Kamen was national chairman of the overall AICP in 1992, the first year of the Show. At the time, he wrote in the event’s program book, "The awards shows that honor our industry have needed a fresh approach. I believe this show will prove to be a perfect forum from which to honor excellence in our industry." Kamen’s vision was prophetic. The AICP Show has grown over the years to become one of the major advertising awards events, attracting SRO crowds and, via its international tour, reaching more than 15,000 of the world’s creative leaders in advertising and production. The annual compilation video of honored spots has come to be known globally as "America’s Reel," representative of the best U.S. work.
The AICP Show exhibits commercials selected for honors in 22 categories of technical craft and artistic execution. The call for entries is now out, with a deadline of Feb. 16.
Accompanying the AICP Show debut presentation of this year’s honorees in New York is the AICP Lecture Series, which will take place, as usual, at MoMA, in the Roy and Niuta Titus Auditorium. Speakers are to be announced, along with other festivities commemorating the Show’s 10th anniversary.
Scheduled for Tues., June 12, the Lecture Series will not only gaze into the industry crystal ball, but also take the opportunity to reflect on the history of commercialmaking, according to Kamen. "Reaching the 10-year anniversary is a benchmark and represents a fitting occasion for us to look back and learn from the past," he observed.
Kamen’s retrospective powers regarding the Show date back to when it was a concept and there was no certainty of success. "The question for us at the time was: ‘If you build it, will they come?’ " recalled Kamen. "And thanks to tremendous support from the community, that first year turned out to be an overwhelming success, laying the foundation for the long-term growth of the Show."
In fact, Kamen recollected that one of the prime reasons he took on the overall AICP chairmanship back then was the opportunity to launch an awards show. "It gave me the political platform to help make that dream come true," said Kamen, who cited the tireless work of a contingent of volunteers, including Jordan Kalfus, chairman of the first AICP Show. (An AICP mainstay, Kalfus has since retired from the business.)
This is the second time Kamen has chaired the AICP Show. He first held that distinction in ’94. The impetus for Kamen returning as chairman is rooted partly in his desire to recognize those who made the AICP Show a reality. A special dinner is tentatively slated for Wed., June 13, to bring together many of those who have been instrumental in the success of the Show. At press time, the venue for this event had not yet been finalized.
Beyond commemorating the anniversary milestone, Kamen added that he was also drawn to the challenge of helping to secure an appropriate venue for the Show itself, given the unavailability of MoMA. "We needed a temporary alternative space that would equal what we’ve had in the past, and would hopefully even add somewhat to this momentous occasion. The Met certainly does that."
As chairman of the 10th annual AICP Show, Kamen leads a 23-person Show Committee, comprising AICP members, and is responsible for recommending policies and speakers, reviewing marketing materials, and promoting the event. He additionally serves on the AICP Show’s board of governors, which is the final arbiter charged with ensuring the quality of the Show and adherence to its rules.
The AICP Show Committee consists of Kamen; Sally Antonacchio, Denise Blate and Mary Eiff of bicoastal/international The Artists Company; Al Califano of bicoastal OneSuch Films; Carol Case of bicoastal GSP4; Bess Dulany and Becky Slattery of @radical.media; Nancy Early of New York-based eo productions; Jack Fahey of Celsius Films, New York; Joanne Ferraro of bicoastal Coppos Films; John Jonston of the Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., and Hollywood; Rick Lopes of The Lopes Picture Company, New York; Tom Mooney of bicoastal Headquarters; Chuck Ryant from bicoastal Bob Industries; Bill Sandwick and Melanie McEvoy of bicoastal HSI Productions; Jerry Solomon from bicoastal Epoch Films; Stuart Match Suna and Alan Suna of Silvercup Studios, Long Island City, N.Y.; Steve Wax of bicoastal/international Chelsea Pictures; Robert Wherry of bicoastal Go Film; and Nick Wollner of Crossroads Films, bicoastal and Chicago.
Matt Miller is AICP president; Alex Blum of Headquarters was recently elected to his third term as AICP chairman (SHOOT, 1/5, p. 1).
