Caucus for Television Producers Lauds Student
Filmmakers and Pros Alike at 23rd Annual Gala
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| The Caucus honored television producer Suzanne De Passe as Producer of the Year during their 23rd annual black tie gala. |
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| Producer-Directors John Moffitt and Lee Miller. Miller chaired the Caucus Awards and sits on the Television Academy's Executive Committee. Both Miller and Moffitt are governors of the Television Academy's Directors Peer Group. |
Beverly Hills, CA – Suzanne De Passe and David E. Kelley were among pivotal industry figures honored by the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers & Directors this month during their 23rd annual black tie gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Hosted by ABC Television entertainment editor George Pennacchio, the evening flowed with warm collegial energy, a coterie of celebrity presenters and moments for some select student filmmakers to shine like pros.
Acknowledging a flurry of technological challenges facing the television industry as well as individual acheivements, Caucus Chair Vin Di Bona quipped, "Any of you who take pictures on your Blackberries to later download and podcast to your friends? Please be advised, you owe somebody, somewhere some money."
"We're not sure who and we don't know why," Di Bona continued, "but someone will be around to pick up a check from your table before you leave."
Award presenters included Kelly Carlson of Nip/Tuck, Grey's Anatomy's Patrick Dempsey, five-time Emmy® winner Doris Roberts and Scrubs star John C. McGinley and TV/radio host Ryan Seacrest.
Celebrating their peers' distinctive achievements in television, the Caucus named De Passe Producer of the Year and bestowed Writer of the Year on Kelley.
Director of the Year went to Gene Reynolds. Henry Winkler took home the new Actor/Producer of the Year award, installed to acknowledge the increasing expansion of actors into production.
Executive of the Year honors went to ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson, whom Di Bona lauded for "having experienced the largest increase in the actual number of adults, l8-49, watching prime time from one season to the next of any major network in at least 25 years” under his leadership—up l7 percent.
ABC's Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy and Lost—the top three shows in total viewers for the 2004-2005 television season—were all developed by McPherson during his previous tenure as president of Touchstone Television.
Others saluted with distinguished honors include: Comedy Central president Doug Herzog, the Chair’s Award; veteran television host Larry King, the Journalism Award; TV/film producer Moctesuma Esparza, Diversity Award; executive producer Jerry Isenberg, Lifetime Achievement; and Weller/Grossman Executive Producer Gary Grossman, the Distinguished Service Award.
The Caucus Foundation presented the Gold Circle Award for this year's Outstanding Student Film to AFI's Adam Schlachterfor for his film "My Back Yard Was a Mountain." Stanford student Lila Place earned runner-up honors for her film "Under the Rollercoaster."
Schlachterfor and Place each receive cash awards to complete their films, as well as services Panavision and HD Vision Studios' Randal Dark. Since its inception in 2001, the Caucus has awarded more than $315,000 in awards and grants to 48 student filmmakers.
Chuck Fries and Lee Miller co-chaired the awards gala.
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| ABC Entertanment President Stephen McPherson (l.), Executive of the Year Award; Jerry Isenberg, Caucus Lifetime Achievement; David E. Kellley, Writer of the Year; Caucus Chair Vin DiBona; Byron Allen, Actor/Producer nominee; Comedy Central CEO Doug Herzog, Chair's Award; Caucus Foundation President Chuck Fries; Edward James Olmos; Moctesuma Esparza, Diversity Award; Henry Winkler, Actor/Producer Award. |
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| Caucus member and TV/radio host Tanya Hart with husband Philip Hart | Hannah Beth King, student filmmaker and Caucus Foundation grant recipient |
J.Bolden