MARK ORDESKY, EVP/COO NEW LINE PRODUCTIONS AND PRESIDENT OF FINE LINE FEATURES, TO RECEIVE SECOND ANNUAL RAY-BAN VISIONARY AWARD

IN PARK CITY, UTAH

 

PRESENTED BY THE CREATIVE COALITION AND HOLLYWOOD LIFE

 

NEW YORK, NY (January 8, 2004) – Ray-Ban, The Creative Coalition and Hollywood Life announced today that Mark Ordesky, EVP/COO New Line Productions and President of Fine Line Features, will be honored with the 2004 Ray-Ban Visionary Award.  The Visionary Award will be presented on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 in Park City, Utah.  The event will be held at The Village at the Lift (825 Main Street) from 7-10 p.m. and will conclude with a special musical performance. 

 

The Ray-Ban Visionary Award honors the work and dedication of an individual who possesses extraordinary passion, creativity and leadership, and whose work contains vision, imagination and originality.  “Mark Ordesky exemplifies the values that we hold true at Ray-Ban,” said Vittorio Verdun, Marketing Director of Luxottica Group, parent company of Ray-Ban.  “His innovative vision, creative spirit and groundbreaking body of work make him the ideal person to receive the 2004 Ray-Ban Visionary Award.”

 

The Creative Coalition Co-President and actor Joe Pantoliano said, "Mark's extraordinary dedication and commitment to independent and original film uniquely positions New Line Productions and Fine Line Features as maverick voices in the art of filmmaking."  "The Creative Coalition is proud to present this honor to Mark Ordesky whose leadership provides an uncompromising platform for the world's visionary filmmakers," added The Creative Coalition Co-President and actor/director Tony Goldwyn.

 

"I am tremendously honored to receive this award," said Mr. Ordesky.  "I am proud to be affiliated with Ray-Ban, The Creative Coalition and Hollywood Life - three organizations that recognize the voice, vision and impact of the independent film genre."

 

As Executive Vice President and COO of New Line Productions, Mark Ordesky has brought to the screen an eclectic array of titles that reflect his wide-ranging tastes and expansive love of film.  From 1998 to early 2003 Ordesky was President, Fine Line Features, and he still assumes responsibility for this division of New Line Cinema. 

 

Throughout his career at Fine Line and New Line, he has consistently championed original and offbeat talent from around the world.  Two films offer a measure of his singular vision:  Lars von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark, a provocative musical melodrama that Ordesky brought to Fine Line in pre-production; and Rumble in the Bronx, an acquisition for New Line that introduced U.S. audiences to action hero Jackie Chan.  Most recently, Ordesky has combined his passions for creative invention and eye-filling entertainment as executive producer of Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein’s epic trilogy, The

  

Lord of the Rings.  The series’ first installment, The Fellowship of the Ring, was released by New Line in December 2001 to critical raves and record-breaking box office.  The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring also led the field of 2001 Academy Award® contenders with 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor, and 4 wins.  The second installment, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers opened in December 2002 to even more critical raves, even more record-breaking box office and 8 Academy Award® nominations.  The final installment, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King opened in December 2003 to commercial and critical success.

 

Beginning in 1937 and continuing today, Ray-Ban is a brand that embodies America and adventure, great cities and wide-open spaces, heroism, individuality and authenticity. From the early aviators to the leading names in cinema, Ray-Ban is an icon associated with great and heroic faces and remains a true brand.

 

The Creative Coalition is the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community.  Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance, primarily public education, the First Amendment, arts advocacy, and runaway production.  Headquartered in New York City, The Creative Coalition also has offices in Washington, DC, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Creative Coalition does not endorse or raise funds for political parties or candidates.

 

Hollywood Life magazine, the ultimate source for Hollywood life, is known for its distinctive look and independent edge.  Hollywood Life commends the recipient of The Visionary Award for his sheer talent and innovative contributions to film.

 

The evening is hosted by:  The Creative Coalition Co-Presidents Joe Pantoliano and Tony Goldwyn; Nicole Kidman, Elijah Wood, Peter Jackson, Alan Cumming, Ted Hope, Atom Egoyan, Scott Hicks, Colin Callender, John Waters, Lauren Bacall, John Cameron Mitchell, Michael Lynne, Bob Shaye, Danny Huston and Christine Vachon.

 

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