International commercial/branded content production house Hungry Man, headquartered in New York, was among five recipients of the fourth annual “Made in NY” Awards. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg presented the honors, which are in recognition of individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to New York City’s entertainment industry. The ceremony was held on Monday (6/15) at Gracie Mansion in NYC.
In addition to Hungry Man, the honorees were: actress Edie Falco; Broadway composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda; Gerry Byrne, senior VP for the Entertainment Group at Nielson Business Media; Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, a not-for-profit advocacy organization; and Sesame Street, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this fall. The proceedings began with Mayor Bloomberg being introduced by Sesame Street’s Elmo and joined by Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert C. Lieber and Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting Commissioner Katherine Oliver.
Hungry Man’s credentials include being home to 20 notable directors worldwide and producing in the past year alone high profile brand launches for Microsoft as well as the Sprint campaign featuring many iconic New York City images and memorable spots for American Express starring Martin Scorsese and Tina Fey. Hungry Man is run by three partners: directors Hank Perlman and Bryan Buckley, and executive producer Kevin Byrne.
Actress Falco is known for her Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award-winning role as Carmela Soprano in the lauded HBO series The Sopranos. She can currently be seen in the Showtime series Nurse Jackie, which is filmed entirely in New York City.
Miranda is the composer-lyricist-star of In The Heights, the 2008 Tony Winner for Best Musical. Sesame Street stands out as the most thoroughly developed and researched preschool television program and media offering with a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on the development of the whole child. Produced in New York since its inception nearly 40 years ago, Sesame Street has introduced generations of children to information and experiences ranging from nutrition and space exploration to lessons about cooperation, friendship, and diversity with the help of the beloved Muppets including Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie Monster. Honored with more Emmy Awards than any other television show in history, Sesame Street continues to set the gold standard for excellence in educational media, giving children the best head start in school and life.
Byrne in his capacity at Nielsen Business Media is responsible for the global entertainment, music and literary publishing enterprises across digital, print and face-to-face platforms. .
And the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, established in 1986, is a national not-for-profit advocacy organization based in New York City that seeks solutions to the problems of racism and exclusion in theatre, film, and television.
It serves as an expert advocate and educational resource for the full creative participation of American arts and entertainment professionals who are African American, Asian American, Native American, Latino, South Asian, Arab American, those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, blind or have low vision, or who have intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities. The Alliance promotes and facilitates inclusive hiring practices and standards, diversity in leadership, and balanced portrayals of persons of color and persons with disabilities.
“New York City is home of some of the most talented people on the planet, and tonight’s honorees prove just that,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “They have become stars here in the City in various facets of the entertainment industry, and we’re proud to call them all New Yorkers. Our film and television industry is critical to our city’s economic success, and it’s the reason we created the ‘Made in NY’ tax incentive. We look forward to working with the industry to extend the credit in a fiscally responsible way.”
“The ‘Made in NY’ Awards truly are the perfect way to celebrate the City’s vibrant entertainment industry,” said Commissioner Oliver. “Today we honor those who diligently work behind the scenes, in front of the camera, and behind desks to contribute to the films, TV shows, theatrical productions, commercials, and publications that showcase the best New York City has to offer.”
At the ceremony, Mayor Bloomberg also acknowledged the CBS daytime drama Guiding Light, which will come to an end this fall after fifty-seven years on air. The show, which the Guinness Book of World Records named the world’s longest-running TV drama, has been based in New York City since 1949 when it was a radio serial. The Mayor also recognized recent New York City College of Technology graduate Michael McLean, the first recipient of the “Made in NY” Scholarship, which is awarded to students who are pursuing a baccalaureate degree in the Entertainment Technology field at the New York City College of Technology.
Since 2002, the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting has been at the forefront of the New York City’s entertainment industry, supporting the film, television, music video, and commercial projects that shoot throughout the five boroughs. Last year, 208 films were shot on location here, and during the 2008-2009 season, twelve new broadcast and cable series came to New York City.
This winter, the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting unveiled a public service announcement initiative entitled “Reel Jobs. Reel Proud. Real New Yorkers.” The electronic and print campaign featured local New Yorkers who work in the production industry in an effort to thank local residents for hosting film and television production in their neighborhoods and explain the importance of the industry. The spots were helmed by Otis of bicoastal The Artists Company, who gained inclusion last month’s into SHOOT’s 7th annual New Directors Showcase (SHOOT, 5/22).
In recent weeks, the “Made in NY: Walking Tours of Film and Television Locations in New York City” was launched. Narrated by actors Julianna Margulies and Matthew Modine, these free and downloadable podcast walking tours, which are available on www.nyc.gov and iTunes, offer listeners an informative and fun way to learn about the rich and fascinating history of film and television location shooting in New York City.
Gene Hackman Tributes Pour In From Francis Ford Coppola, Viola Davis, Clint Eastwood and Paul Feig, Among Others
Director Francis Ford Coppola, actor Viola Davis, director Paul Feig and and actor-director Clint Eastwood are among those paying tribute to Gene Hackman after his death at age 95. Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead in their New Mexico home, authorities said Thursday.
"The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity, I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution." โ Francis Ford Coppola on Instagram.
"There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much." โ actor-director Clint Eastwood in a statement.
"He was a tough nut, Gene Hackman, but he was really good and he was really difficult. Like, we can say it now, but he was a tough guy because older great actors do not give young directors much of a chance. They're really rough on 'em." โ Bill Murray, recounting to The Associated Press Thursday how Hackman worked on the set of the "Royal Tenenbaums," including doing multiple takes flawlessly when other performers didn't nail the scene. "He was a great one. He was a great actor."
"We have lost a true legend. The magnificent Gene Hackman has passed away. A man whose breath of talent was immeasurable. Growing up on his movies was an absolute thrill for me. To observe his remarkable facility and humanity in every role was something to behold. Whatever film he was in, he made it better. A force of nature like no other and as such there will never be another like him." โ actor Cary Elwes.
"The greatest ... " โ director Edgar Wright on X.
"So awful. Gene was such an inspiration to so many of... Read More