![Monmouth University To Honor "Lego Movie" Filmmakers](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2015/LegoFilmmakers.jpg "Monmouth University To Honor "Lego Movie" Filmmakers")
(West Long Branch, NJ) -- Everything will be awesome on October 26 when “The Lego Movie” filmmakers Chris Miller and Phil Lord receive the Monmouth Award for Communication Excellence (MACE) from the University’s Department of Communication.
The award ceremony celebrating the careers and accomplishments of Lord and Miller is set for 7:30 p.m. in Pollak Theatre. The evening includes a discussion with Lord and Miller about their filmmaking techniques moderated by Monmouth University Professor of Communication Robert Scott.
“The Monmouth University Communication Council is proud to join with the Monmouth University Department of Communication to present the MACE to these two young, exciting and admired film producers,” said Jim Hickey, chair of the Monmouth University Communication Council.
“Chris Miller and Phil Lord, who began their filmmaking adventure as college classmates, hold to the highest traditions of the MACE. They have achieved extraordinary levels of success in their careers, they have the respect of their peers and, most importantly, they are strong role models for Monmouth University students. It is our honor to host Mr. Miller and Mr. Lord on the Monmouth University campus,” said Hickey.
Lord and Miller are the prolific writing and directing duo behind some of today’s most successful films, including “The Lego Movie,” “21” and “22 Jump Street” and “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” In 2014, they saw incredible success at the box office and were the only writers/directors with two films ranked among the top highest-grossing features of the year. Their critically acclaimed and commercially popular films have received numerous awards including the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Producers Guild of America (PGA) and Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Animated Feature, the National Board of Review award for Best Original Screenplay and the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Writing for an Animated Feature. Additionally, “The Lego Movie” was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Film and was named one of the top ten films of 2014 on over 75 critics’ lists, and their hit action comedy “21 Jump Street” earned a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for Best Comedy.
Up next for filmmakers Lord and Miller will be directing the highly anticipated untitled Star Wars Anthology. Focusing on a young Han Solo, the feature is slated for a May 25, 2018, release date and will be written by Lawrence and Jon Kasdan.
The MACE is given to individuals who have made significant lifetime contributions in the field of communications. Previous honorees include White House correspondent Helen Thomas; newspaper publisher Jules L. Plangere Jr.; Myron Kandel, founding financial editor of CNN; CBS sports commentator Jim Nantz; and Brian Williams of NBC News.
The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. A cocktail reception preceding the presentation will be held at 6 p.m. in the Pollak Theatre Gallery. Tickets to the reception are $75. For more information, contact Nicole Frame, assistant director of Conference Services and Special Events, at 732-571-3473 or nframe@monmouth.edu. All proceeds benefit the Monmouth University Department of Communication and its students.
