FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               RELEASE NO.  10-08

CADET CHOICE MOVIE AWARD – Feb. 25, 2008

    WEST POINT NY—Tonight the West Point Corps of Cadets recognized the 2007 movie character who best exemplifies West Point leadership, Dr. Robert Neville from “I Am Legend.”

       The cadets will recognize the screenwriters Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman; the producers, Akiva Goldsman, David Heyman, James Lassiter, Neal H. Moritz, and Erwin Stoff, executive producers Michael Tadross; co-producers Tracy Tormé and Jeffrey Wetzel; and the actor, Will Smith.

       The cadets here selected a number of characters from movies released last year who best embody values-based leadership. The Corps of Cadets then voted via the internet, 2200 actually voted, and the cadet leadership announced the winner in our 4400 seat cadet mess hall.

       The cadets will invite the screenwriters, producers, and actor to the United States Military Academy for an awards presentation later in the spring. The actual award is a “Tarbucket,” the tall ornate gray and black cadet parade hat with a feather plume.

       “We all know the power of motion pictures as a domestic and international cultural influence,” said the cadet public affairs officer, AJ Folsom.

       “In this case,” said Folsom, “we have America's future leaders speaking out about what constitutes the best in character and leadership as presented by America's leading exporters of popular culture.

       “Marianne Pearl was a particularly interesting vote-getter as here character is not military in any way,” said Folsom. “That just goes to show that a leader of character can come from any profession.”

Vote results:
1. (588 / 27%) Dr. Robert Neville “I Am Legend” (portrayed by Will Smith)
2. (548 / 25%) King Leonidas “300” (portrayed by Gerard Butler)
3. (308 / 14%) John McClane “Live Free or Die Hard” (portrayed by Bruce Willis)
4. (189 / 9%) Dan Evans “3:10 to Yuma” (portrayed by Christian Bale)
5. (129 / 6%) Ronald Fleury “The Kingdom” (portrayed by Jamie Foxx)
6. ( 99 / 4%) Marianne Pearl “A Mighty Heart” (portrayed by Angelina Jolie)