Gordon Parks, Director of 'Shaft,' to Receive DaimlerChrysler's 2003 'Behind the Lens' Award

* DaimlerChrysler recognizes Hollywood's 'Behind the Lens' artists * Pioneer in Black filmmaking, Gordon Parks, honored

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 27 -- Gordon Parks, an award-winning photographer, author and director of the original movie "Shaft," will receive the DaimlerChrysler "Behind the Lens" Award on Sunday, March 9, 2003, in Los Angeles. Parks is being recognized for his trailblazing accomplishments in photography, film and the literary arts.

"A creative genius, Parks remains one of our nation's most influential African American artists," said Frank Fountain, Senior Vice President -- Government Affairs and President of the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund. "His work has served as a beacon in arts and culture."

The "Behind the Lens" Award was created in 2002 by DaimlerChrysler to recognize and celebrate the achievements of individuals who work behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. Award recipients are chosen by an advisory panel of entertainment professionals.

Parks, 90, boasts several "firsts" in his career. He was the first African American to write, direct, and produce a film for a major motion picture company. The film, "A Learning Tree," was among 25 films placed on the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1989. Parks' place in film history was further solidified when he directed the hit movie "Shaft" in 1971.

According to casting director Reuben Cannon, the first "Behind the Lens" recipient, Parks' recognition also celebrates others whose names may be unknown, but who have made significant contributions. "The creative contributions of African Americans who work behind the scenes have been largely overlooked by the entertainment industry," said Cannon. "I am especially grateful to DaimlerChrysler for taking the lead by instituting this award to bring awareness to the public and to those in the industry."

In addition to directing films, Parks has published 12 books, including three autobiographies. He has composed orchestral music and film scores, and wrote a ballet about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was the first African- American photographer to work at LIFE and Vogue magazines.

Born in Fort Scott, Kansas, Parks attended a segregated elementary school and an integrated high school where the aspirations of young blacks were often dismissed. Nevertheless, he was able to achieve significant success during a career spanning more than 60 years. During this period, Parks received many awards, including the Guild for High Achievement from the National Urban League in 1980; the NAACP Hall of Fame Award; the Spingarn Medal in 1972 (NAACP); Frederick Douglass Gold Medal in 1984; the National Medal Arts Award in 1988; and, the American Society of Magazine Photographer's Award in 1995. He has been awarded honorary degrees from 13 institutions, including Syracuse University, Boston University, Rutgers University and the University of the District of Columbia.

Parks also has the distinction of having two New York-area schools named in his honor: the Gordon Parks Media Center at John F. Kennedy High School, and the Gordon Parks Academy in East Orange, N.J. The Gordon Parks Academy is a magnet school specializing in radio, animation, film, and television.

The March 9 event at the Beverly Hills Hotel is by "invitation only." An array of Hollywood actors, directors, and producers have been invited to celebrate Parks, including several from his early films.

Gordon Parks' bio can be found on the DaimlerChrysler media website: www.media.daimlerchrysler.com .

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