In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the AICE Awards, the organization has taken a look back at the most-awarded editors and editing houses over the past 10 years. From dozens of memorable TV spots and campaigns going back to its first awards presentation in 2001, the postproduction industry trade organization has compiled lists of the top five most decorated editors and shops.
Chris Franklin, partner/editor at Big Sky Editorial in New York, is the single most-awarded editor, having won 13 AICE Awards over the years, including one in 2010 for his work on Progresso. Joining Franklin at the top of the heap is Lost Planet, the bicoastal creative editorial shop, which is the single most-honored editorial company with 18 awards. Lost Planet has won for work edited by Hank Corwin, Paul Martinez, Jennifer Dean, Kim Bica and Geoff Ashenhurst.
Franklin’s award-winning work spans a range of categories, which include National Campaign and Dialogue in 2004, Comedy and Music/Sound in 2005 and Visual Effects in 2007. Among the brands featured in his work are American Express, Fox Sports, Miramax Films, Planters, the Food Network and Discovery Channel, among others.
Rounding out the AICE list of the top five most-awarded editors are Martinez, now with Arcade Edit; Angus Wall of Rock Paper Scissors; Lost Planet’s Corwin; and, in a tie for fifth place, Adam Liebowitz of Go Robot and Jeff Ferruzzo of Outside Edit + Design.
“It’s incredible to be honored by the AICE,” said Franklin, who has historically taken an active role in the organization’s New York chapter. He has served as president of its Board of Directors and continues to head up its Camp Kuleshov trailer editing competition for assistant editors. “Any time you are recognized by your peers it’s very meaningful. As editors, we look at each other’s work and have those times we think, ‘Wow, that was a great moment.’ Getting an AICE Award means so much because it’s editors recognizing editors, and acknowledging when something really works.”
Lost Planet’s winning work includes spots for the NBA, American Express, Fox Sports, Hewlett-Packard and Adidas. Among its awards are 2002’s National Campaign winner, 2004’s Montage and Visual Effects winners and 2008’s Storytelling winner.
“We’re very proud of the work we’ve done and the people we’ve worked with over the years,” said Lost Planet executive producer Gary Ward. “Our reputation has been built on doing the most innovative creative work possible.”
The other editorial companies among the top five are Big Sky Editorial, Rock Paper Scissors, Outside Edit + Design and Final Cut.
The AICE Awards honors the top editorial and post production work from its member companies. Finalists in categories such as Comedy, Design, Dialogue, Montage, Public Service, Spec Spot and Storytelling are selected by panels of judges across the country. Regional achievement is recognized in the “Best Of” categories.
Over the past decade, AICE has recognized the craftsmanship and artistry of the editorial work in many broadly acclaimed spots and campaigns. Among them are Computer Associates’ “Amnesia” (2002 Comedy winner, edited by David Cornman, BlueRock); Reebok’s “Terry Tate: Office Linebacker” (2004 Comedy winner, edited by Jason Painter, Jigsaw); American Express’ “Robert De Niro” (2005 Montage winner, edited by Hank Corwin, Lost Planet); Nike’s “Magnet” (2005 Storytelling winner, edited by Angus Wall, Rock Paper Scissors); Careerbuilder.com’s “Chimps” (2006 National Campaign and Best of San Francisco winners, edited by Jay Herda, Mad River Post); Tide’s “Talking Stain/Interview” (2008 Comedy winner, edited by Dan Maloney, the Whitehouse); Adidas’ “House Party” (2009 Montage winner, edited by Gary Knight, Peep Show); and Dos Equis’ “Most Interesting Man” series (2008 Best of New York winner and 2010 National Campaign and Comedy winners, edited by Jeff Ferruzzo, Outside Edit + Design).
The first AICE Awards Show, held in 2001, honored the 10 Best Edited Commercials of 2000 from a field of 30 finalists. In 2002, the competition was broadened to include 10 categories and over the next eight years, expanded to the 15 categories in this year’s competition. There was no competition in 2003 in order to move the AICE Awards gala celebration from the fall to the spring.
The 10th Anniversary AICE Awards show will take place on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 583 Park Avenue in New York City. Tickets for the event are available now at www.aice.org.
To view past winners of the AICE Awards, click here.
Directing and Editing “Conclave”; Insights From Edward Berger and Nick Emerson
It’s been a bruising election year but this time we’re referring to a ballot box struggle that’s more adult than the one you’d typically first think of in 2024. Rather, on the industry awards front, the election being cited is that of the Pope which takes front and center stage in director Edward Berger’s Conclave (Focus Features), based on the 2016 novel of the same title by Robert Harris. Adapted by screenwriter Peter Straugham, Conclave stars Ralph Fiennes as the cardinal leading the conclave that has convened to select the next Pope. While part political thriller, full of backstabbing and behind-closed-door machinations, Conclave also registers as a thoughtful adult drama dealing with themes such as a crisis of faith, weighing the greater good, and engaging in a struggle that’s as much about spirituality as the attainment of power.
Conclave is Berger’s first feature after his heralded All Quiet on the Western Front, winner of four Oscars in 2023, including for Best International Feature Film. And while Conclave would on the surface seem to be quite a departure from that World War I drama, there’s a shared bond of humanity which courses through both films.
For Berger, the heightened awareness of humanity hit home for him by virtue of where he was--in Rome, primarily at the famed Cinecittà studio--to shoot Conclave, sans any involvement from the Vatican. He recalled waking up in Rome to “soak up” the city. While having his morning espresso, Berger recollected looking out a window and seeing a priest walking about with a cigarette in his mouth, a nun having a cup of coffee, an archbishop carrying a briefcase. It dawned on Berger that these were just people going to... Read More