The Caucus of Producers, Writers & Directors’
37th Annual Caucus Awards a Night to Remember
37th Annual Awards Dinner
Photo l-r: Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin; Writers Honorees, Dr. Edna Sims; Chairs Award, Carolyn Strauss; Producer Honor, Edward James Olmos; Industry Icon Award, Michael Berk; Distinguished Service Award, and Gary Levine; Executive of the Year Award
Photo Credit: Steve Cohn Photography
Photo l-r: Vin Di Bona, Tanya Hart, Deniece Williams; Multi-Grammy Awards Winner and Edward James Olmos
Photo Credit: Steve Cohn Photography
Photo l-r: Brett Johnson, Gary Levine, Michael Tolkin.
Photo Credit: Steve Cohn Photography
Photo l-r: Michael Berk, Dr. Edna Sims, Edward James Olmos and James Pickens, Jr. star of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, was the M.C.
Photo Credit: Steve Cohn Photography
Photo l-r: Paul Miller, Lifetime Achievement Award and Chat Floyd Johnson, Caucus Member
Photo Credit: Steve Cohn Photography
Photo l-r: James Hirsch, Caucus Event Vice Chair and Robert Papazian, Caucus Co-Chair
Photo Credit: Steve Cohn Photography
Photo l-r: Gary Smith, Caucus Awards Dinner Chair and James Pickens, Jr.
Photo Credit: Steve Cohn Photography
Photo l-r: Deborah Leoni, Caucus Executive Director and Edward James Olmos
Photo Credit: Steve Cohn Photography
Beverly Hills, CA – The Caucus of Producers, Writers & Directors 37th Annual Caucus Awards Dinner at the Skirball Cultural Center was an enchanting night filled with history and storytelling from entertainment industry’s honorees.
James Pickens, Jr. star of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, was the M.C. for this wonderful evening. Producing the annual dinner was The Caucus Awards committee which included; Events Chair Chuck Fries and Awards Dinner Chair Gary Smith; Caucus Co-Chairs Robert Papazian and Tanya Hart; Vin Di Bona, Honorary Event Vice Chair and Vice Chairs Dennis Doty, James Hirsch, Ron Friedman and Sharon Arnett, along with Deborah Leoni, Executive Director.
Over the past 18 years The Caucus Foundation has awarded almost $2 million in finishing funds and in-kind services to students at accredited colleges and universities across the country for completion of their thesis projects. The Caucus Foundation also awarded the Television/ New Media Award to USC for Side Effects. The Caucus Foundation is proud to have the support of the Annenberg Foundation, the Angell Foundation, Panavision and Illuminate Hollywood.
2019 Caucus Award list of Honorees:
| Producer Honor | Carolynn Strauss | HBO’s Game of Thrones, Chernobyl, Deadwood the Movie |
| Writers Honor | Brett Johnson Michael Tolkin | Showtimes’ Escape at Dannemora |
| Director Honor | Amy York Rubin | Netflix’s Dead to Me |
| Executive of the Year Award | Gary Levine | President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks, Inc. |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Paul Miller | Saturday Night Live, Country Music Awards |
| Industry Icon Award | Edward James Olmos | Zoot Suit, The West Wing, Stand and Deliver, Mi Familia, Mayans, M.C. |
| Distinguished Service Award | Michael Berk | Writer, Producer, Actor & Creator Baywatch |
| Chair’s Award | Dr. Edna Sims | Caucus Public Relations Director |
| 1st Place Gold Circle Student Award Winner | Aaron Fink | Rust, Chapman Collete |
| 2nd Place Gold Circle Student Award Winner | Kelly Pike | Undercut, UCLA |
| Television/New Media Award | University of Southern California | Side Effects, UCLA |
2019 College Students Grantees
Aaron Fink for Rust, Chapman University
Madison Gwinn for Marketa In The Desert, Chapman University
Alexandra Geller for Undercovered, Emerson College
Noah Graham for Outsider, Emerson College
Jasmine Galdamez for El Mozote, CSUN
Takai Ginwright for Canary In A Mine, UCLA
Kelly Pike for Undercut, UCLA
Lia Lenart for Cassandra, UCLA
Sherial McKinney for Frog Catcher, UCLA
About The Caucus for Producer, Writers & Directors
The Caucus is leading the evolution of television by providing a creative forum for Producers, Writers and Directors to explore the issues of the ever-changing landscape of content and exhibition. The Caucus is proud of its rich history and esteemed membership of television innovators. For over 40 years, The Caucus has provided an opportunity for the best and the brightest talent to network and voice the ‘creative conscience’ of the Television Industry. Today, we continue to stand for better and meaningful content across all platforms. As Producers, Writers and Directors we support a working environment that fosters, through our various programs, the best content that we can create for our audiences.
In addition to its professional membership, The Caucus is proud of its non-profit work through The Caucus Foundation. Established in 2000 to help launch the careers of future entertainment professionals in film, television and emerging media.
Current members of The Caucus also include: Chuck Fries, JJ Abrams, Tom Hanks, Kevin Bright, James Burrows, Vin Di Bona, Loreen Arbus, Dennis Doty, Jim Hirsch, Robert Papazian, Tanya Hart, Chas Floyd Johnson, Norman Powell, Herman Rush, Sharon Arnett, and other leading producers, writers and directors.
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Media Contact: photos, interviews, etc.:
Dr. Edna Sims, ESP Public Relations, The Caucus Public Relations Director
Tel: 310-770.8117 ~ esppr@mac.com