News Sentinel staff
Friday, April 18, 2008

Regal Entertainment Group Chairman and CEO Mike Campbell received the Pioneer of the Year award Wednesday night in Santa Monica, Calif., from the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation.

Campbell, who entered the movie theater business in 1982 in Claiborne County, formed Regal Cinemas Inc. in 1989 and has grown the Knoxville-based company to become the world’s largest theater chain.

Campbell was recognized for contributions to the film industry and was presented with the Pioneer of the Year award by actor Tom Cruise during a ceremony at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The event raised $1.2 million for the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation and the proceeds will go to the Pioneers Assistance Fund to help motion picture industry veterans in need.

“I was certainly grateful and humbled by the award, but neither Regal nor I do what we do for the recognition. We do it because it is the right thing to do,” Campbell said Thursday.

Past Pioneer of the Year honorees have included Cecil B. DeMille, Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, Jack Valenti, Sumner Redstone and Sherry Lansing.

Campbell’s family and many Regal executives attended the presentation, which included entertainment by actor/comedian Kevin Pollack and music by John Fogerty.

“The entertainment was terrific. The highlight of the evening was Tom Cruise’s presentation of the Pioneer of the Year award to Mike Campbell,” said Regal spokesman Dick Westerling.

In his introduction of Campbell, Cruise pointed to characteristics the two have in common, including a passion for movies, meager backgrounds growing up and vows to help others less fortunate.

“Through hard work and determination, he turned a small business with one theater into the largest movie theater chain in the world,” Cruise said of Campbell. “He also revolutionized fundraising by being the first theater chain to promote to customers that Regal would donate a portion of the chain’s concession sales to charity. Not only did it improve concession sales, but it enabled Regal to raise over $14 million in the last 10 years on behalf of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Foundation.” (Source: Knox News)

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Los Angeles, February 27, 2008 – Cut Steakhouse, previews:

Updated: First Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood luncheon – February 21, 2008, previews:

Updated: New York, February 6, 2008 – Reception to benefit UNICEF, previews:

Apparently, he really does have a need for speed. Tom Cruise and his son, Connor, swapped the glitz and glamour of the Oscars for the grit and grunge of NASCAR’s Auto Club 500 in Fontana, California.

Wisely avoiding any Days of Thunder-style spinouts, Tom and Connor (seen above with NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick) chucked a football around with crew members in Jimmie Johnson’s pit box.

How very manly! Here’s hoping our favorite A-list NASCAR dad bought a round of jerky for the house. (Source: E! Online)

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Auto Club 500 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., previews:

Updated: First Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood luncheon – February 21, 2008, previews:

Updated: Los Angeles, February 9, 2008 – Broad Contemporary Art Museum at LACMA, previews:

While the crowning jewel of award season, the Academy Awards, are Sunday this whole week is full of actors rewarding each other including yesterday’s First Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood luncheon. Jada Pinkett Smith was one of the women of the afternoon and Will was on hand to present the award to his wife for everything that she has done in Hollywood. Tom and Katie (love her shoes) were there to help celebrate and speak about their friend alongside Kerry Washington, Gabrielle Union and Vivica A. Fox just to name a few. Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominee and possible record-breaker Ruby Dee also received an award at the luncheon and who knows, her mantel may be even more full by the end of the weekend! (Source: Popsugar)

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First Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood luncheon – February 21, 2008, previews:

Uploaded: At an elevator – February 19, 2008, previews:

Tom Cruise is planning a “romantic” Valentine’s Day for wife Katie Holmes.

The actor is known for his passionate gestures – including proposing to former Dawson’s Creek star Katie on the top of Paris’ Eiffel Tower – and says this Valentine’s Day will be no different.

He said: “I have plans, and it will definitely be romantic. I’m going to keep the details to myself but it’s going to be fun though!”

Katie, who accompanied Tom to the opening of Los Angeles’ Eli Broad Contemporary Art Museum on Saturday, also spoke about the couple’s 21-month-old daughter Suri.

She said: “Every day she does something new. She’s growing up so quickly!”

Tom recently revealed he will never be disillusioned by love, and hopes to always be a romantic at heart.

He said: “I will never be down with love. Ever. I’m the guy who loves relationships. I love women. I’m very much a romantic and an optimist.”

– BANG! SHOWBIZ (Source: The New Zealand Herald)

Pictures:

Los Angeles, February 9, 2008 – Broad Contemporary Art Museum at LACMA, previews:

Updated: New York, February 6, 2008 – Reception to benefit UNICEF, previews: