A Return To Grazerheads
According to a press release in the Defamer inbox, Hollywood superproducing entity and non-recovering idea-addict Brian Grazer will be the recipient of the Mary Pickford Foundation Award at the USC School of Cinematic Arts 2008 graduation tomorrow—an honorarium presented by Disney head Bob Iger, and awarded to "men and women of USC who have made an indelible impact on the entertainment industry." This is obviously exciting news indeed, and we encourage any proud parents in attendance to send along video of the mogul-rich milestone. But were that all, for what lifted this publicist-penned correspondence beyond the realm of the commencement-speech-announcement mundane was a file attachment, accompanied by eight little words that shot a volt of pure ecstasy through our spine: "Have also attached a photo for your use." Oh. My. God. Are they kidding us? Just this once: Grazerhead has come home.
The entire press release is after the jump.
OSCAR WINNING PRODUCER BRIAN GRAZER TO RECEIVE USC PICKFORD AWARD
Disney CEO Robert A. Iger Co-Speaker at May 16 Ceremony
MAY 12, 2008, LOS ANGELES - Brian Grazer, Oscar-, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning film and television producer and co-founder of Imagine Entertainment, will receive the Mary Pickford Foundation Award at the USC School of Cinematic Arts 2008 commencement ceremony, at which Robert A. Iger, president and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, will serve as co-speaker, Dean Elizabeth M. Daley announced today.
Iger, who will earlier in the day receive an honorary doctorate and appear as the featured speaker at USC's commencement ceremony, will share industry observations with the cinema class. Additionally Iger will present Grazer with the School of Cinematic Arts's Pickford Award, presented to men and women of USC who have made an indelible impact on the entertainment industry. Grazer, a 1974 USC alumnus, will provide his own unique insights gained while producing projects for the big and small screens for nearly 30 years.
States Daley: "Brian has been an indisputable leader in the entertainment community, and a staunch supporter of the School of Cinematic Arts for many years. We are thrilled to honor him with the Pickford Award and to send our latest class off with the wisdom that both he and Bob will impart."
Among the notable films Grazer has produced are Splash, Apollo 13, Backdraft, 8 Mile, Parenthood, The Da Vinci Code, Liar Liar and Cinderella Man. In 2002, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded him and long-time producing partner, Ron Howard, the Best Picture Oscar for A Beautiful Mind. Grazer's television credits include 24, Arrested Development, SportsNight, Felicity and the Emmy-award winning mini-series From the Earth to the Moon.
Iger and Grazer will address the May 16 commencement ceremony, which takes place at the Shrine Auditorium. Grazer is the 14th recipient of the Pickford Award, which is conferred in association with the Mary Pickford Foundation. Past recipients include: Ray Harryhausen, William Fraker, Conrad L. Hall, Alan Ladd, Jr., Michelle Manning, Walter Murch, Jay Roach, Gary Rydstrom, Stacey Sher, John Singleton, David L. Wolper, Laura Ziskin and Robert Zemeckis.