Sony's Ben Feingold (l.) was introduced by Netflix's Reed Hastings. |
DEC. 6 | BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.—Congratulatory festivities and general camaraderie made for a merry mix at Video Business’ 25th annual Video Hall of Fame gala on Monday.
Some 450 industry execs and others gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the induction of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president Benjamin S. Feingold, Marvel Studios and Wal-Mart into the VHOF.
Feingold was feted with a light-hearted, star-studded film trailer, which poked fun at Feingold’s modest personality while highlighting the films he has turned to DVD gold. Humorous cameos by Will Smith, Adam Sandler, Kevin Smith and others highlighted the reel.
“I’m a complicated guy in a complicated business,” Feingold observed good-naturedly in accepting the accolades.
“It has been a fantastic ride for the video industry,” he added. “But as exciting as the past has been, new technology will make the future even greater. … Right now, DVD is a little bit soft, but DVD is a fantastic business.”
Marvel Studios chairman-CEO Avi Arad, in accepting a VHOF sculpture marking the comics giant’s induction, thanked Feingold for Sony’s work on the Spider-Man movies.
“We pay him $500 every time he says ‘fantastic,’” Arad joked. 20th Century Fox’s Fantastic Four, based on the Marvel comic, debuted on DVD on Dec. 6, he added.
Marvel has participated in the release of 15 DVD titles, bringing to life a host of characters developed over the 60-year history of the company. “It couldn’t have happened without the studios taking a risk with us,” Arad said.
Marvel's Ari Arad (l.) was introduced by Fox's Tom Rothman. |
Gary Severson (l.) accepted for Wal-Mart and was introduced byWarren Lieberfarb. |
Gary Severson, senior VP-general merchandise manager, acknowledged Wal-Mart’s induction into the VHOF by recounting a meeting with then Warner Home Video president Warren Lieberfarb in 1997.
“I told [Lieberfarb], ‘This is too important—don’t let us screw it up,’” the Wal-Mart exec recalled.
Things since then have gone pretty well, Severson added in vast understatement of the mass merchant’s storied accomplishments in disc retailing. He also thanked Wal-Mart employees, or “associates,” and its customers.
“Without them, we would not be a business, any of us,” Severson said. “Wal-Mart is committed to this category. … We’re committed to maximizing this business in this generation and generations to come.”
Iconic game show host Alex Trebek of Jeopardy! emceed the VHOF gala, which benefited Variety—The Children’s Charity and the Samara Jan Turkel Foundation.
VB publisher Kevin Davis, staging his first VHOF on the silver jubilee of both the event and the magazine, offered a welcoming address.
Editor-in-chief Scott Hettrick, in his remarks from the podium, noted the recent passing of industry veteran Phil Pictaggi, “one of the truly good guys.”
Helping to introduce the honorees were Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, 20th Century Fox Filmed Entertainment co-chairman Tom Rothman and home entertainment consultant Lieberfarb. All offered intros that were equal parts toast and roast, but Rothman—saying he was happy to participate in Feingold’s industry “bar mitzvah”—also took the opportunity to suggest inductees had embraced the “second best piece of advice” offered by his own father.
“‘Be sure to choose a vocation that is your avocation,’ he told me,” Rothman recalled.
His dad’s best-ever piece of advice? “Always eat before attending a gentile’s party.”
It was unclear if the second maxim was meant to apply to the evening.
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