Hollywood's 50th Annual ICG Publicists Awards

50th Annual ICG Publicists Awards Salute Kirk Douglas with Lifetime Achievement Award. Argo, USA Network, and Marvel Studios Receive Honors. Robert Downey Jr., Sally Field, Corbin Bernsen, Matt Bomer, Piper Perabo and Robert Knepper Among Presenters.

Los Angeles, CA February 22, 201-

Close to a thousand Hollywood publicity and marketing executives, producers, studio and network executives, celebrities, and press gathered for the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) 50th Annual Publicists Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel today. Theo Von, star of Yahoo!'s Prime Time In No Time, hosted.

Kirk Douglas received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Ron Meyer, president and COO of Universal Studios.

 In a surprise appearance Robert Downey Jr. presented the Motion Picture Showmanship Award to Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, while the Television Showmanship Award went to the co-presidents of USA Network, Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel, presented to them by star of Covert Affairs, Matt Bomer and Piper Perabo, star of the network's White Collar.

Surprise presenter Sally Field awarded publicist Heidi Schaeffer of PMK/BNC with this year's Les Mason Award, the highest honor publicists can pay to one of their own.

Corbin Bernsen, star of L.A. Law and USA's current hit Psych, presented the Press Award to Deadline Hollywood's Pete Hammond, while the International Media Award went to James White of the UK. Two 14-year-olds from Kabul, Afghanistan, Fawad Mohammadi and Jawanmard Paiz, stars of the Oscar® nominated Live Action Short, Buzkashi Boys, made this presentation.

Sharon Black, winner of the award last year, presented the Bob Yeager Award to Linda Weitzler in recognition of her community work. Weitzler belongs to the Volunteer League, which helps clothe needy children; is part of a 22-voice choir that performs at nursing homes; and serves on the board of the Fulfillment Fund helping under privileged kids to go to college; among other nonprofit efforts.

The Maxwell Weinberg Award for Best Publicity Campaign for a Motion Picture went to the publicity team from Warner Bros. for Argo, presented by Chi McBride, one of the stars of CBS' upcoming series Golden Boy, which will be premiering February 26. McBride also handed the Maxwell Weinberg Television Campaign Award to the publicists for their work on Showtime's Homeland.

Robert Knepper, one of the stars of new CW midseason series Cult, which premiered February 19, presented the Excellence in Still Photography for Motion Pictures Award to Jaimie Trueblood and the Television Still Photography Award to Suzanne Tenner.

ICG President Steven Poster began the ceremony by highlighting the important contributions publicists make to the industry. He also welcomed IATSE President Matt Loeb who flew in from New York for the occasion.

                                                   

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The Publicists Guild of America, Local 818, merged with the International Cinematographers Guild, Local 600, in January of 2002, under the umbrella of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE). The union has represented film and television publicists throughout the US and Canada since 1955. It negotiates base salaries and benefits for its members. Those covered by the union’s contracts include publicists who work on film and television productions produced under an IATSE contract, as well as those who represent individual actors, directors, writers and producers who work on such productions. 

It also includes major studio photo editors, publicists who create and produce movie trailers, electronic press kits for film and television productions, on-air promos and other materials used to promote productions under the Basic IATSE Agreement.

Among the union’s other major activities are the Publicists Annual Awards Luncheon, which recognizes outstanding film and television marketing campaigns, and the Directory of Members. It also co-sponsors UCLA Extension entertainment publicity courses and symposiums and panel discussions presented by the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS).

The Union's Publicists Code of Ethics

As participating members of Local 600 for the gathering, preparation and dissemination of information and ideas through the communications media of a world society, each member agrees to:

1. Be guided in all professional activities by accepted standards of honesty, accuracy, fair dealing, good taste and ethical competition.

 
2. Pledge continued contribution to the growth and betterment of our profession through the encouragement and support of continuous training, education and high standards of business practices.

 
3. Be ever mindful of the power of the media through which we serve, of the dignity of our profession and the responsibilities invested in us by our clients, employers and colleagues.

A member shall not intentionally injure the professional reputation or practice of another member.  However, if a member has evidence that another member has been guilty of unethical, illegal or unfair practices, including practice in violation of the Code, they should present the information to the proper authorities of the Union for action in accordance with the procedure set forth in its Constitution.