Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, will be honored as the “Pioneer of the Year” at CinemaCon in Las Vegas! The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation presents the title to leaders of the motion picture industry and within the philanthropic community.
Katzenberg got his start as the assistant to Barry Diller, the Chairman of Paramount Pictures. He had a huge hand in the revival of the Star Trek franchise and earned the title of president of production. Not long after, he shifted to Walt Disney Pictures where he breathed some life back into the animation studio. It was in rough shape at the time of his arrival, but Katzenberg accomplished his goal and created some of Disney’s highest grossing features such as The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.
As if all of that wasn’t enough for one man to tack on his resume, Katzenberg also locked in a partnership with Pixar Studios and brokered a deal that brought Miramax Films to Disney. Despite the fact that he had countless major accomplishments, Katzenberg is best known for joining forces with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen. These men are responsible for the creation of DreamWorks Studios. If it weren’t for this move we would never have had films like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and more recently, How to Train Your Dragon brought to life on the big screen.
In addition to his efforts in the motion pictures industry, Katzenberg is also an all-around good guy. He has worked with several charities and fundraisers in the entertainment industry. His efforts have helped raise over $30 million to benefit the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation, and he recently donated $1.25 million to Boston University’s College of General Studies.
“We are honored in our own right to be able to single out someone like Jeffrey Katzenberg,” said Ted Cooper, President of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. “When it comes to passion for our industry and compassion for those in our industry who need help, Jeffrey has no equals. He is most deserving of this prestigious accolade.”
Katzenberg will be honored for all of his effort and contributions on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. The event will be held at Caesar’s Palace. Previous recipients of the “Pioneer of the Year” title include: Cecil B. DeMille, Jack Warner, Jeff Blake, Frank G. Mancuso and Dick Cook.
Sources: Press Release
Photo Source: Wikipedia