The Entertainment Industry Council will launch a new awards event Thursday, which will honor movies and TV shows that effectively portray advances in science, engineering and technology.
Known as a go-to resource in Hollywood for producers looking to acquire technical information for their projects, the EIC is modeling the new event after its Prism Awards. This annual event, held in April and broadcast on myriad cable networks and local TV stations in the form of hybrid awards show presentation and news magazine, celebrates productions that accurately depict topics of substance abuse and addiction.
With sponsors including aircraft-maker Boeing looking to bolster science, engineering and technology education in the U.S., the EIC will also now pass out awards to individuals including Stan Lee (he'll get the Icon Award) and to groups such as the producers of "The Social Network" (they'll receive a Technology Award from Atari founder Nolan Bushnell).
"Our goal is to provide an orientation to members of the creative community to recognize and accept their potential to re-direct the attitude about science and technology among the American public," explained Brian Dyak, president and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Council. "This is all so that young people start to seriously consider careers in science and technology."
There's no TV window yet established for the event, but Dyak added, "We're building that out."
The Science/Entertainment/Technology/Engineering Awards are set to kick off at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
