The Visual Effects Society (VES) has named former VES executive director Eric Roth as the forthcoming recipient of the VES Board of Directors Award in recognition of his leadership in presiding as the Society’s top executive leader. The award will be presented at the 21st Annual VES Awards on February 15 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The VES Board of Directors Award is bestowed with deepest gratitude and appreciation by the VES Board of Directors to a distinguished individual for their meritorious service to the Society. The VES will honor Roth for his 19 years of service to the Society and for shepherding its expansive growth–from a primarily California-centric organization of about 750 people to a global Society with nearly 4,500 members in 45 countries and 14 regional Sections worldwide. Roth retired from this post in September 2022.
“As my longtime friend and colleague, Eric was the kind of leader, partner and source of inspiration that you always hope to work with,” said VES chair Lisa Cooke. “Eric played a transformational role in building the Society’s global footprint and championing our mission on behalf of VFX artists and practitioners around the world. We were gifted to have a leader with Eric’s vision, integrity and unwavering passion, and it is with gratitude and admiration that we present him with the well-deserved VES Board of Directors Award.”
“For 19 years, it was my privilege to serve as the executive director of this incredible organization,” said Roth. “I am exceedingly proud of what we have achieved together globally as a Society, committed to shining a light on outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation and lifting up the creative talent that never ceases to inspire us all. Thank you for placing your trust in me, for your friendship and for giving me this special honor. I am forever grateful to be a part of this remarkable community.”
For nearly two decades, Roth had a front row seat to the dynamic global VFX industry and played a major role in the Society’s tremendous growth, and helmed the organization to reach its milestone 25th Anniversary in 2022.
Under his watch, the Society grew into a thriving worldwide community, launched the award-winning signature VFX Voice Magazine, created three editions of the acclaimed VES Handbook of Visual Effects, produced 17 years of the VES Awards, hosted the annual VES Honors and Hall of Fame Programs, and delivered a robust roster of educational programming.
During his tenure, Volunteer Committees did vital work in service to the membership and the worldwide VFX community, including creating industry-leading mental health benefits, mentoring programs, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, forward-looking technology projects, a video archive of VFX luminaries and a soon-to-be-realized VFX digital museum, and exclusive opportunities that foster networking, education and professional development.
Roth led the Society through the global pandemic and instituted new programs and initiatives to address the unprecedented impacts on the industry – while keeping the membership closely tethered. And importantly, he helped the organization create and amplify its powerful voice on behalf of the membership and the industry to serve as a convenor on topics of vital importance, from the state of the ever-evolving business to emerging technology.
As previously announced, acclaimed producer-writer Gale Anne Hurd is the forthcoming recipient of the VES Lifetime Achievement Award.
Emmy Awards ratings up more than 50%, reversing record lows
The Emmys telecast on ABC reached nearly 7 million viewers, a jump of more than 50%from the record low of the last ceremony in January and the biggest audience since 2021, according to numbers released Monday by the network.
Sunday night's 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, in which "Shogun," "Hacks" and "Baby Reindeer" won top awards, was back in its traditional mid-September spot after the rare January ceremony that was delayed four months by Hollywood's strikes.
That show, which aired on Fox, reached a record low audience of 4.3 million viewers.
ABC said Monday that the Sunday night show hosted by Eugene and Dan Levy reached 6.87 million viewers, a jump of 54% despite competition from NFL football.
The height-of-the-pandemic Emmys in 2020 on ABC, with no in-person audience and remote nominees, set a new low at the time with 6.1 million viewers. The show bounced back the following year with 7.4 million for CBS with help from an NFL game lead-in.
But NBC's 2022 telecast dropped to 5.9 million, followed by the further decline in January of this year.
The Emmys telecast rotates annually between the four broadcast networks.
The last time the Emmys reached more than 10 million viewers was 2018, when it drew in 10.2 million. The show had 21.8 million viewers in 2000, a level it's unlikely ever to reach again.
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