The campaigns for Crazy Rich Asians (Warner Bros. Pictures) and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS Television Studios) took top feature film and TV honors, respectively, at the 56th annual International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600) Publicists Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, The awards luncheon drew more than 900 industry leaders, including guild members, Hollywood public relations and marketing executives, producers, studio and network executives, celebrities and press.
Crazy Rich Asians figured prominently in another major honor, the Motion Picture Showman of the Year Award which was presented to the film’s director, Jon M. Chu. Defying those who contended there would be little box office potential for a feature with an all-Asian cast, Crazy Rich Asians not only became a huge box office hit but also a social phenomenon, part of mainstream culture. In his acceptance remarks, Chu said he was honored to be named Showman of the Year at a time when inclusion is gaining momentum, triggering a “giant wave of change” which he viewed as “only the beginning” of giving more diverse voices the opportunity to be heard. Chu added that the success of Crazy Rich Asians would not have been possible “without the storytellers behind the storytellers,” meaning the publicists who helped the film find an audience.
Greg Berlanti, Emmy®-nominated writer, director and producer, received the Television Showman of the Year Award. Berlanti’s company has made television history with a total of 15 scripted series currently in production. He presently works as executive producer and co-creator on Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl and You. Additionally, Berlanti serves as exec producer on Riverdale, Black Lightning, Blindspot, Titans, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, All American, God Friended Me, as well as the upcoming The Red Line, Doom Patrol, and Stargirl. Berlanti too thanked the publicists community, noting that it plays a key role in shows becoming viable, including passion projects which are often “quieter and need the most love and care in their introduction.”
Actress and author Jamie Lee Curtis received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award celebrating her prolific acting career spanning four decades and numerous genres. Curtis has performed in more than 55 films. She has garnered assorted awards and acclaim for her work in blockbusters such as True Lies, winning a Golden Globe Award; Trading Places, earning a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress; A Fish Called Wanda, receiving Best Actress nominations from BAFTA and the Golden Globes; and Disney’s Freaky Friday, earning a Golden Globe nomination. It was her starring role in Halloween that brought her to the attention of audiences worldwide. In 2018, Curtis revived that signature character in producer Jason Blum’s record-breaking version of Halloween, directed by David Gordon Green. Its opening weekend was the biggest debut ever, for any movie in any genre, to feature a female lead character over 55 years of age. Blum, CEO of Blumhouse Productions and producer of such other films as Get Out and BlacKkKlansman, presented the Lifetime Achievement honor to Curtis.
The ICG Publicists debuted its new Henri Bollinger Award, named after the renowned award-winning entertainment industry publicist Henri Bollinger. The award was presented to Bollinger posthumously as the first recipient in recognition of his dedicated service to the ICG Publicists for over 55 years, including Awards chair for 35 years. This special award was presented by Steven Poster, ICG President and accepted by Henri’s wife Sandy and their sons Jeffrey and Jeremy.
Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, was honored with The Press Award. The Les Mason Award, the highest honor the Publicists can bestow on one of its own members, was bestowed upon unit publicist Ernie Malik. The International Media Award was presented to Jami Philbrick, Mtime, China. Honors for Excellence in Still Photography were awarded to Murray Close and Macall Polay for motion pictures and TV, respectively. Kirsten Anderson received the Bob Yeager Award for Community Service.
A special honor recognizing the 25th Anniversary of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards was presented to Kathy Connell, SAG Awards executive producer. In addition, the 125th Anniversary of IATSE was spotlighted in a presentation by Rebecca Rhine, ICG national executive director. The Guild also recognized the 100th Anniversary of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). The ICG Publicist Awards Directory was dedicated to the late Paul Bloch, co-chairman of Rogers & Cowan, who passed away last year.
Here’s a rundown of ICG Publicists Award winners:
Maxwell Weinberg Publicist Showmanship Motion Picture
The union publicists that worked on publicity campaigns on behalf of: Crazy Rich Asians (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Maxwell Weinberg Publicist Showmanship Television
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – Ryan Aguirre (CBS Television Studios)
The Henri Bollinger Award
Henri Bollinger, posthumously
Excellence in Unit Still Photography for Motion Pictures
Murray Close
Excellence in Unit Still Photography for Television
Macall Polay
Les Mason Award, (highest honor the Publicists can bestow on one of their own members)
Ernie Malik, Unit Publicist
Press Award
Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times
Bob Yeager Award for Community Service
Kirsten Anderson
International Media Award
Jami Philbrick, Mtime, China
