Kevin Feige Accepts Will Rogers Foundation Pioneer Of The Year, Promises Many More Movies To Come

It seems appropriate Kevin Feige was the honoree at a dinner that would became the most successful for the philanthropic Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation Assistance Fund in 22 years.

It appears everything the Producer and Marvel Studios President touches turns to gold. The annual Pioneer Of The Year dinner earned $1.9 million, the biggest haul since 2004 for the group that helps those in the motion picture distribution and exhibition industry in dire need. And yes, there was lots of talk about money when extolling the virtues of this year’s Pioneer Of The Year, With Focus Features Distribution head Lisa Bunnell and Disney Chairman Alan Bergman both among those on stage noting the boxoffice record breaking success of Feige, particularly just after a weekend where a reissue of Marvel’s Avengers End Game – Encore managed to top the box office against all new movies and earn another $80 million globally. Bunnell also mentioned the most recent achievement of Spider-Man: Brand New Day becoming the biggest movie of all time at the domestic box office, among other records set. Feige’s 38 films as a producer for Marvel have all opened to number one earning a collective $35 billion dollars. It is nice he could extend that streak for this worthy cause.

“The Will Rogers Motion Pictures Pioneers Foundation makes an extraordinary difference for the people in this industry, and it’s a mission I’m very, very honored to stand behind. And of course, to be mentioned in same breath as Will Rogers is incredibly humbling,” Feige said as he accepted the award.

A tradition for more than 75 years, the Pioneer of the Year Award is bestowed upon esteemed and respected members in the motion picture industry whose leadership, service to the community, and commitment to philanthropy are exceptional. It is one of the most distinguished honors in the entertainment industry and within the philanthropic community. All proceeds raised at the event benefit WRMPPF’s Pioneers Assistance Fund, the only charity of its kind in the nation which provides financial assistance and social services to individuals in the motion picture distribution and exhibition community in times of need.

The Beverly Hilton ballroom was packed Wednesday night to celebrate Feige, and before the man called “the most successful producer in the history of motion pictures” hit the stage, his Guardians Of The Galaxy star Chris Pratt appeared to sing his praises. “Kevin and I, we go way back. I auditioned for this man honestly, probably seven or eight thousand times before he said, ‘You know what? This guy just might be able to act’, either that or he just really needed a third Chris to complete the set,” he laughed. “And to be fair, when I was finally cast in Guardians Of The Galaxy, it took someone with real vision to look at me and say, ‘Yeah, that’s a guy that can guard the galaxy, since at that point, all anyone knew me as was Andy Blair from Parks and Recreation. Yeah, nobody was thinking that there’s an action star who carry a big sci-fi film franchise.”

Before he presented the award to Feige, Iron Man director Jon Favreau shared his stories about the man of the hour, especially during the making of that very first Marvel giant hit which actually was a negative pickup, essentially an independent movie at the time. He said they didn’t always see eye to eye in the editing room, even as Favreau fought to save scenes. “They were very nice scenes, and Kevin would just be like, ‘cut this, cut this, get out there. I think you don’t even need that scene’. And I would just turn to him and I would say to him, ‘why do you hate movies?’ And he would laugh. Eventually, of course everything that he suggested (worked), but not because he forced me to, but because he was right. And I learned like later that you know you got to keep things moving. You can’t be too indulgent when you’re making movies,” he said. “If there’s one individual who has been quality control central in this kind of thing Kevin was a personification of what pioneers are because he had this vision of putting together films that were going to be part of a total universe. Not only do the films have to stand on their own, but they had to connect, not by plot but by character. He loves films and always wants it to be the best it could be. His love of storytelling and storytellers is who the guy is.”

Feige thanked everyone for making the evening possible, but said his initial thought was to turn it down. “This cause, of course, is important. But the truth is, when the team first called and told me about it, my instinct was absolutely to be flattered and to be honored and to say I’m too busy. And then they sent me a picture of that statue. And my wife knows that I have a mildly concerning habit of collecting a lot of things, and collecting toys and action figures because I want to find a way to bring movies home with me, and I think that’s one of the coolest action figures I’ve seen in a while. It’s real bronze,” the Marvel President marveled while assuring the crowd he is just getting started. “I love movies. It’s the greatest privilege of my life that I get to make movies. The motion picture industry has given me my career, my closest friends, and my sense of purpose. So this award means something to me-not just a recognition for the work, but a reminder of the responsibility that comes with it.”