ER" Producer and "Lost" Casting Director to Be Honored at Casting Society of America's Upcoming Artios Awards(R)
"ER's" John Wells and "Lost's" April Webster to Be Special Honorees at Annual Award Ceremony
The Casting Society of America will fête their own this November 1, 2006, with their 22nd Artios Awards®. Presented yearly for outstanding achievement in casting, the awards are given on the criteria of originality, creativity and the contribution of casting to the overall quality of a project. The term "Artios" is from the ancient Greek word meaning "perfectly fitted," and in 1985, the Casting Society established the Artios Awards to recognize the significance of casting to the success of a movie, television or theatrical production.
"The Artios Awards are intended to celebrate the work that we do that sometimes goes unnoticed," said Dawn Steinberg, Event Chairperson and Senior Vice President, Talent and Casting, Sony Pictures Television. "This very important evening provides our community the opportunity to honor ourselves, and to further demonstrate the pride that we have in the work that has been accomplished during the course of a year."
Each year, in addition to the twenty different theatrical casting categories announced during the award presentation, the Casting Society of America also recognizes Industry notables with a Career Achievement Award and bestows the Hoyt Bowers Award on one of its own. This year, these awards will be presented to John Wells and April Webster, respectively, each luminaries in their field.
The Career Achievement Award recognizes excellence in casting and especially the recipient's overall contribution to the industry as a whole. Mr. Wells, a multi-talented producer, writer, and director is responsible for projects that have amassed worldwide acclaim, garnering accolades for both stage and screen. Most recently, Mr. Wells was responsible for the running of two of television's most revered programs: "ER" and "The West Wing." In addition to "ER" and "The West Wing," Wells served as a writer and producer on NBC's award-winning drama "Third Watch." Prior to his work on these programs, Wells served as a director and writer on the Emmy-winning war drama "China Beach," starring Dana Delany and Marg Helgenberger. For the scope of his work, Mr. Wells was awarded the 2005 David Susskind Achievement Award in Television from the Producers Guild of America.
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This Fall, Mr. Wells is behind the highly anticipated criminal drama "Smith," starring Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen and Jonny Lee Miller.
Mr. Wells joins a distinguished list of previous Career Achievement Award winners that include Lawrence Kasdan, Quentin Tarantino, David E. Kelley, Leslie Moonves, Garry Marshall, Steven Bochco and Norman Lear.
The Hoyt Bowers Award honors casting professionals who have elevated the profession by embodying the spirit and ideals that were uniquely Hoyt Bowers'. Ms. Webster, a 30-year industry veteran has worked in all aspects of the entertainment industry including theater, film and television. In the late '70s, Ms. Webster focused her efforts on casting and worked for several notable casting companies before launching her own casting company, April Webster and Associates. She has worked on an eclectic mix of projects including television shows "Lost," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and the new drama series "Criminal Minds" starring Mandy Patinkin. She has earned two Artios awards for the pilot casting of "CSI" and "Lost;" a Dramalogue Award for Ezra Pound's "Elektra;" and an Emmy for "Lost." In the film world, Ms. Webster's scope of work includes "Mission Impossible III," "The Day After Tomorrow," and "The Patriot."
"I feel incredibly honored to receive this distinction," said Ms. Webster. "Hoyt Bowers was an elegant, classy and generous man. Hal Gefsky, from APA , introduced me to Hoyt when I first arrived in town and he took the time to speak with me and teach me the trade. To do what you love to do and get acknowledged by your peers -- to be deemed worthy -- is very touching."
History of the Artios Awards
In October of 1985, the Casting Society of America presented the first awards for excellence in casting at an Artios Awards luncheon. Held in the Crystal Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel, the event was attended by more than 500 industry leaders. Seven CSA members were honored in four different casting categories. Three years later, the first Artios for theatrical production was presented (to Johnson-Liff Casting) in an added New York ceremony. Today, members are honored in twenty different theatrical casting categories in simultaneous events held in Beverly Hills and New York.
About CSA
The Casting Society of America is the premier organization of theatrical Casting Directors in film, television, and theater and is passionately committed to establishing a recognized standard of professionalism in the industry; enhancing the stature of the profession in the industry; freely exchanging information and ideas among members; providing the opportunity to honor the outstanding achievements of our members; and providing members with professional support and resources. Working in conjunction with the newly established Teamsters affiliation, CSA members are a united professional society that consistently set the level of professionalism in casting on which the entertainment industry has come to rely.
With more than 360 members, the Casting Society of America has representation not only in the United States, but also in Canada, England and Australia. For more information, or to become a member, visit www.castingsociety.com
