Publicists' kudos to Spidey, 'Bachelor'
Sony pic takes award for top campaign
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"Spider-Man," which grossed $805 million worldwide, topped MGM's "Die Another Day," U's "8 Mile," 20th Century Fox's "Ice Age" and Disney's "Signs."
ABC's "The Bachelor" won the Weinberg award for TV over Warner's "Smallville" and a trio of CBS entries -- "Becker," "CSI Miami" and the movie "Martin & Lewis."
Kudos were presented Wednesday at the 40th annual publicists awards event at the Beverly Hilton with about 900 in attendance and Wayne Brady handling MC duties.
The publicists also tapped Lois Smith of PMK/HBH Public Relations, with director Martin Scorsese on hand to make the presentation.
Guild merger lends stability
The publicists joined IATSE Local 600 of the Intl. Cinematographers Guild last year as a result of that local's recent merger with Publicists Guild Local 818. Wednesday's event launched with IA president Thomas Short citing the "stability" for showbiz resulting from the recent ratification of a three-year IA master contract that covers 20 West Coast locals.
The deal was ratified more than five months prior to expiration of the previous contract. Short also reiterated his call for SAG and AFTRA to start bargaining on their next deals as soon as possible, adding, "This should serve as a roadmap for SAG and AFTRA to start early in order to assure stability."
The performers unions are tentatively set to start talks with the ad industry on Sept. 3 for a contract to replace the current pact, which expires Oct. 30. The current SAG/AFTRA film & TV contract expires in July 2004.
