Hollywood publicity and marketing executives, producers, studio and network executives, celebrities and press gathered for the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) 49th Annual Publicists Awards Friday (2/24) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The awards presentation included several moving moments.
Julie Andrews and Jodie Foster dedicated the 2012 ICG Publicist Directory to Arlene Ludwig, West Coast Director of Publicity, Motion Pictures, in celebration of her 50th anniversary at The Walt Disney Studios. The dedication struck an emotional chord since Ludwig is recovering from a serious fall that left her partially paralyzed.
In another touching moment, ICG President Steven Poster presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Carol Burnett. “It is my pleasure to present this award to someone I dearly admire and who continues to make me laugh to this day,” he said.
Oscar nominee Gary Oldman presented the Motion Picture Showmanship Award to David Heyman, producer of the Warner Bros. Harry Potter franchise. “This year, we honor the producer of the most successful film franchise of all time,” he said. “We’re delighted to recognize the person responsible for a collection of films that represents the best example of what can be accomplished with creative and smart publicity and promotion.”
David Stapf, President of CBS Television Studios, received the Television Showmanship Award. Josh Charles, of “The Good Wife,” who presented the award, said, “David, who is a former publicist, now heads a studio that broadcasts six of the top 10 drama series on television, including the CSI franchise and “The Good Wife.”
Missi Pyle, one of the stars of “The Artist,” presented the Press Award to Susan King of the Los Angeles Times. “The award this year goes to a reporter who captures the magic of Hollywood in her reporting while demonstrating her understanding and appreciation of its history.”
Oscar nominee Max Von Sydow presented the International Media Award to Elaine Lipworth of the United Kingdom. “The international media, particularly those based in Los Angeles, play an increasingly important role in creating awareness for American-made movies,” Sydow said. “It’s appropriate that we honor them here.”
Tony Angellotti, of the Angellotti Company, received the Les Mason Award, the highest honor paid a union publicist. “The recipient this year plans and executes publicity campaigns for films, filmmakers, production companies, industry events, including the Golden Globes and the Oscars,” said presenter Wendi McLendon-Covey, one of the stars of “Bridesmaids.”
Kali Hawk, of “Bridesmaids,” presented The Bob Yeager Award, which honors a publicist for community service, to Warner Bros. publicist Sharon Black in recognition of her extraordinary work on behalf of animals.
Maria Canals-Barrera, of Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place,” presented the Excellence in Unit Still Photography Awards for movies and television. Frank Masi was recognized in the Motion Pictures category and Hopper Stone for television.
Awards ceremony emcee Rove McManus, Australia’s top talk show host and a “Tonight Show” regular, presented the Maxwell Weinberg Publicists Showmanship Awards for the year’s best publicity campaigns. Disney Studios union publicists who worked on “The Help,” received the award in the motion picture category; and the union publicists who worked on Fox Television’s “Modern Family” won the television.
Actor Steve Guttenberg Returns To L.A. Neighborhood Now Charred By Devastating Wildfire
Steve Guttenberg awoke Thursday morning to a grim reality: The treacherous wildfire that tore through the Pacific Palisades had left his once-lush neighborhood charred and unrecognizable.
With homes smoldered, streets emptied and friends scattered by evacuation orders, Guttenberg counted himself among the fortunate. His property was miraculously spared. But the actor-producer still struggled to reconcile his relief with the haunting sight of his ravaged, once lavish community.
"Just this morning, I woke up and I was really conscious of my mental state and my mental health, because the last three days, I've seen so much tragedy," said Guttenberg, pacing through the ruins of his neighborhood. He said his home has electricity but no running water.
Guttenberg thanked God that his block was safe, but he said about 20 homes were burned "pretty bad" in his 80-home community after wind-whipped fires tore across Los Angeles, destroying homes, clogging roadways as tens of thousands fled as the fires burned uncontained Wednesday. He said the fires are the worst he's ever seen in his 66-years.
The wildfires have burned the homes of several celebrities including Billy Crystal, Carey Elwes and Paris Hilton.
Guttenberg said he never expected all of this to happen.
"It's like when someone dies suddenly," he said. "It's like when someone gets hit by a car. You never expect that to happen. That's how shocking it was."
During Guttenberg's stroll, it was an eerie scene with scorched palm trees, homes reduced to ash and rubble, and the daytime skies casted an ominous twilight over the devastation.
"I've seen people scared, people in wheelchairs, mothers and fathers trying to find their kids, people having anxiety and panic... Read More