May 19, 2006

'The Hollywood Reporter,' one of the entertainment industries key trade papers, has been running the Key Arts Awards for 35 years. They honor achievements in motion picture marketing and advertising, and are Hollywood's marketing equivalent of The Academy Awards. The Student competitions are for Best Poster and for Best Trailer. The student competition is only four years old and this is the first year that they were opened to students from outside of NY or California. There were 288 entries from 29 schools and Westphal student Stephen Viola is one of three finalists for Trailers and Westphal Student Marcy (Marcella) Zuczek is one of three finalists for Posters.

Marcy and Stephen are eligible for prizes of: third place ($1,000), second place ($2,500) or top prize ($7,500). Beyond the trophies they'll receive, they're being flown to Los Angeles, all expenses paid, to attend the awards at the Kodak Theater on June 16^th (the Kodak Theater is the home for the Academy Awards) and the gala that follows. The turnout for the Key Arts awards is huge and is a who's who of top studio marketing and management executives. This audience of Hollywood movers and shakers will learn of the accomplishments of our Drexel students. No other university yielded more than one finalist.

Digital Media Ted Artz was the faculty advisor for Stephen Viola on his project and Graphic Design Instructor Mark Willie served as faculty advisor for Marcy Zuczek.

To read the Hollywood Reporter?s coverage of the awards: The Hollywoord Reporter