Contact: Jeanne Corcoran
NFO Production Manager
Phone: (702) 486-2713

For Immediate Release
January 26, 2004

AC.S.I. Creator honored by Lieutenant Governor at Annual Awards Event

LAS VEGAS, NV. Lieutenant Governor Lorraine T. Hunt, Chair of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development which oversees the Nevada Film Office, announced today that the recipient of the Fifth Annual Silver Nitrate Award is Anthony E. Zuiker, Creator / Executive Producer of the television series AC.S.I. Although Mr. Zuiker was not able to attend, his mother, Diana Zuiker of Las Vegas, was present and accepted the plaque on his behalf at the press conference and awards event held at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Monday, January 26th.

Honored for his outstanding contribution to the success and quality of television programming that benefits the citizens and the State of Nevada, Mr. Zuiker was recognized for his innovative crime-solving drama television series that is set in Las Vegas, which continues to be one of the top primetime television programs in America. "Mr. Zuiker is a Las Vegan who persevered to the top of his industry, and we are all proud of his achievements. We also recognize the tremendous value of the press and publicity "C.S.I." has brought to Nevada", said the Lieutenant Governor. "Mr. Zuiker's talent has taken him far beyond our city, but he will always be a part of Las Vegas. The Silver Nitrate Award is given in conjunction with the Las Vegas Film Critics Society, and encompasses television, motion pictures and other media which impact the Las Vegas economy. The Silver State/Silver Screen Award in Northern Nevada is customarily presented at the Reno Film Festival to similarly distinguished recipients."

Several other announcements were made by Lieutenant Governor Hunt at the event, including the screenwriters of the top three winning scripts from the State's 16th annual screenwriting competition in 2003. First place/Best Screenplay went to Jennifer Weber of Las Vegas, for her thriller "Civil Servant", about a slacker college student who inadvertently uncovers a government program of Abreeding supernaturally gifted children and becomes obsessed with tracking them down, while the government tracks him. Second place was won by Andrea Nasfell of Burbank, California, for the family film "Serpent Watch", set in Northern Nevada on Walker Lake where legend has it Nevada's own version of the Loch Ness Monster dwells, and local children set out to prove the myth is true. Third place honors went to Aaron Sicherman of Syracuse, New York, for his over-the-top comedy of a plumber's son who discovers his Areal destiny and birth father are in Las Vegas, where his journey of discovery takes some bumpy, wacky turns. All three writers were presented with awards, prizes and certificates from both the Lieutenant Governor and Governor Guinn of Nevada.

The press conference also included the announcement of filming revenues of $104,440,000 in the state for calendar year 2003, making this the fourth consecutive calendar year with revenue numbers surpassing the $100 million mark. "We're very gratified to see our filming revenues continue to be this high, considering the cyclical nature of the industry", says Charles Geocaris, Director of the Nevada Film Office. ANevada is fortunate in that we are uniquely branded, diverse geographically, have little or no red tape, and are affordable with excellent weather. All of which has given us some insulation against the sharp drop in location production that has occurred nationwide, cutting deeply into most states' revenues. Television represented the lion's share of production activity - approximately 60% - for the year, followed by commercials, feature films, still photography, documentaries, music videos, corporate/industrial projects, and miscellaneous production encompassing student films and other media.

Additionally, the Lieutenant Governor officially launched the 2004 Nevada Production Directory. This award-winning book of comprehensive resources, information, contacts and more is published once a year and distributed selectively to thousands of professionals in the fields of film, television, commercial production and other media throughout the world. It can be viewed online at www.nevadafilm.com and copies are available on request by calling the Nevada Film Office at (702) 486-2711.

The Palms Resort and the Brenden Theatres jointly hosted the multipurpose press conference and luncheon following for the attendees. Lieutenant Governor Hunt noted, "Our corporate citizens such as The Palms and Brenden Theatres are invaluable members of the film community. Their involvement in and receptiveness to film and television projects of all kinds help to prove that 'film friendly' in Las Vegas is more than just a catch phrase, and we greatly appreciate that."