Comic legend Jerry Lewis, who turns 88 on March 16, was hale and hearty in a rare public appearance as he accepted the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award from Carol Burnett. “I’m humbled by this and humble isn’t a word you hear too often with my name,” he joked in brief remarks.
At the start of the ceremony, Steven Poster, president of ICG/IATSE Local 600, which the publicists union is part of, called for a moment of silence in memory of second assistant camerawoman Sarah Jones, a member of the guild, who died last week in an accident on a shoot in Georgia. “Sarah was a much-loved member of the International Cinematographers Guild family,” Poster added.
Linda Bell Blue, president of Entertainment Tonight Studios received the President’s Award, presented to her by Poster. This year’s winner of the Les Mason Award, the highest honor publicists give out to one of their peers, went to Michael Singer, vice president of marketing and publicity at Jerry Bruckheimer Films.
The excellence in still photography for motion pictures award went to Peter Fountain and Michael Yarish received the television still photography award. And two awards were handed out for media coverage: Scott Mantz, film reviewer for Access Hollywood won the press award, and Phil Berk received the international media award.
The members of the Gravity team that won what is officially known as the Maxwell Weinberg Award for Best Publicity Campaign for a Motion Picture included Jade Alex, Sharon Black, Cecilia Calderon, Mark Capaldi, Deva Cervera, Julie Cole, Melissa Crow, Justine Gamez, Mary Hunter, Kimberly Lerner, Jesse Mesa, Maureen O’Malley, Paulette Osorio, Emily Patt, Orna Pickens, Susan Shapiro, Gina Soliz and Lisa Stone. The Maxwell Weinberg Television Campaign Award went to American Horror Story publicist Mathew Mitchell.
