Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Julianne Cho Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting (212) 489-6710
Joining Mayor Giuliani at the ceremony were Commissioner Patricia Reed-Scott, of the Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting; Co-Chair of the Mayor's Advisory Council for Film and Television Elliot Cukor; Cablevision CEO James Dolan; Rainbow Media CEO Joshua Sapan; and director Martin Scorsese.
The Crystal Apple is awarded annually by the City of New York to industry leaders in film and television who have made outstanding progress in their fields and notable contributions to the City's production industry. It is donated to the City by Tiffany & Co.
"New York City is the entertainment capital of the world, and there's never been a more exciting time to be a part of it than right now," Mayor Giuliani said. "For the fourth consecutive year, we've enjoyed record-breaking growth in the television and film industries. What many people don't notice is that the motion picture service industry is New York's number-one growth industry. This administration has recognized that a strong film and television industry presence is beneficial to the City in every way. We pride ourselves on the superb partnership we've been able to create between labor, the artistic community, government officials and industry professionals."
Direct expenditures from the production of films, television series and specials, commercials, and music videos in New York City continued to grow at record levels, totaling $2.37 billion in 1997 compared to $2.23 billion in 1996. The City has also set a record in television shooting days, with 7,458 in 1997, compared to 6,439 in 1996. Television production expenditures increased by more than $200 million from 1996 to 1997 and now totals $1.2 billion. Feature film production rose to 213 films shot in the City in 1997, compared to 201 in 1996, and direct expenditures for features totaled $847 million in 1997, up from $829 million in 1996.
"There is another benefit for the City," the Mayor continued. "Every time a film or television show is shot on the streets of New York City, people all across the globe experience the beauty of our City. The 1998 recipients of the Crystal Apple Award have all made great contributions to the television and film industries and have been crucial players in this City's renaissance."
This year's event was sponsored by Cablevision and its subsidiary, Rainbow Media, which includes Bravo, AMC, Romance Classics, and the Independent Film Channel.
The following are biographical synopses of this year's distinguished honorees:
Comedienne, dramatic actress, Broadway, television and movie star, Whoopi Goldberg has done it all. She won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her performance in "Ghost," and several Emmys and a Grammy. Aside from her entertainment successes, Ms. Goldberg has helped to raise over $40 million for the nation's homeless. In comedies like "Sister Act" and dramas like "The Color Purple," she proved herself to be a critical and popular favorite. Throughout her life, she has devoted time and energy to children's causes, written children's books, starred in after-school specials and has been honored five times with Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress. Adding to her numerous honors, Ms. Goldberg was awarded the NAACP Image Award twice. In 1996 she stepped into the role of Pseudolus in the Broadway musical, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Ms. Goldberg hosted the Grammy Awards in 1992 and the Academy Awards in 1996, both of which received critical acclaim. She will next be seen in a movie based on Terry McMillan's best-selling book, "How Stella Got Her Grove Back," co-starring Angela Basset, and in "The Deep End of the Ocean," with Michelle Pfeiffer.
Working her way up from the bottom, Barbara De Fina began her career in the film industry as a production assistant and grew into the role of producer, most recently on Martin Scorsese's Academy Award nominated film "Kundun". She has served as production office coordinator for over 15 films, associate producer for King/Hitzig Productions, and unit manager for a number of Universal and Spelling/Goldberg television productions. In the 1980's, Ms. De Fina co-produced the "Color of Money" with Irving Axelrad and began a stream of successful partnerships with Martin Scorsese. She served as producer of "The Last Temptation of Christ," and later, executive producer of "Goodfellas," both of which won critical acclaim and a Best Picture Oscar for "Goodfellas." She also served as producer for Scorsese's "Cape Fear" and "Casino." Most recently, Ms. De Fina was executive producer of Matthew Harrison's "Kicked in the Head" and Stephen Frear's "Hi Lo Country."
Currently the National Vice President of the Directors Guild of America, Ed Sherin has directed and produced the critically acclaimed television drama "Law & Order" since 1993. He also directed the ground-breaking "crossover" two-part production that combined "Law & Order" with "Homicide: Life On the Streets," the first three-part "Law & Order" filmed in both New York and Los Angeles, and a repeat double-header with Homicide. In recent years, "Law & Order" has won the Peabody Award and an Emmy for Best Dramatic Television Series. Mr. Sherin's career also includes Broadway, where he made his directorial debut in 1968 with "The Great White Hope," starring James Earl Jones. The play won the Pulitzer Prize and several Tony and Drama Critics Awards. A man of many talents, he has acted in over 75 roles on television programs and directed numerous other TV programs, including "Hill Street Blues." He also directed "Cosi Fan Tutti" for the New York City Opera Company.
Nick Wollner has been a partner of Crossroads Film since he helped found the New York division of the company 17 years ago. Since then, Crossroads has become one of the largest and fastest growing commercial production companies in the nation. Crossroads currently has two full-length features in production, produces corporate films and music videos, handles TV programming and promotion. From 1991-1994, Mr. Wollner was Chairman of the Board of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP). He served as the President of the East Chapter from 1992-1994 and continues to be active at the national and local levels. Prior to founding Crossroads, Mr. Wollner was in the TV production departments for both Benton & Bowles and Doyle, Dane and Bernbach advertising agencies.