Luckily, Offerman is more into being in a crowded room than Ron Swanson.
The 2014 Key Art Awards, the leading competition for advertising and communications, were as wildly well received by the audience at the Dolby Theatre Thursday as Taylor Swift’s performance outside on Hollywood Boulevard was by her noisy fans.
“I want to thank Taylor Swift for opening for me,” joked the awards show’s host, Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), who got as many laughs as most Oscar hosts who stand on the same stage. But the biggest hand — a thunderous, very long standing ovation — was reserved for iconic poster artist Drew Struzan, the second winner of the Saul Bass Award for graphic design. After a dazzling montage of Struzan’s posters for Blade Runner, E.T., Indiana Jones and Star Wars played on the big video screen, Frank Darabont (who hired Struzan to paint posters for AMC’s The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile) presented him with the award.
See more Key Art Awards: The Year’s Best Movie and TV Posters
“If I were in Tibet, I would fly halfway around the world to honor him tonight,” said Darabont. When they carve the Mt. Rushmore of movie art, said Darabont, “his face is going to be where Washington’s is.”
Struzan graciously bowed to acknowledge the ovation, and said, “You’ve heard the term ‘speechless’? I am. I’ve worked alone for 45 years and I haven’t seen your faces. Thank you for accepting me into the community.”
Campaigns for The Lego Movie, Gravity and Cougar Town were among the big winners.
The awards are presented by The Hollywood Reporter and the Clio Awards. Winners are decided by a jury of experts including Michelle Jackino, executive creative director at Concept Arts; Jordan Hayman, creative director at AV Squad; Jason Doherty, creative director at Greenhaus GFX; John McMahon, co-president and GM at Art Machine; Alex Sanger, senior vp interactive at And Company; and Massey Rafani, exec vp creative advertising at Warner Bros. Pictures.
See more Inside The Hollywood Reporter’s Key Art Awards 2014
Find the full list of winners below.
Grand Key Art Award Winners
Audio Visual, Trailers: Mad Max: Fury Road, mocean
Audio Visual, Theatrical: The Lego Movie, Aspect
Audio Visual, Games: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Ant Farm
Audio Visual, Home Entertainment: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Transit
Audio Visual, Television: The Simpsons on FXX, mocean
Digital Social, Theatrical: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Watson DG
Display, Television: Cougar Town second Season on TBS, Johnson & Murphy Advertising
Engagement, Television: Dallas, Turner Entertainment Networks
Integrated Campaign, Theatrical: Gravity, Warner Bros. Pictures
Partnerships, Television: Cougar Town and Target, Turner Entertainment Networks
Print, Theatrical: Bad Words, P+A
Packaging, Home Entertainment/Box Set Packaging: Breaking Bad: The Complete Series, Elite Packaging by Caramundi
