00:00Lewis D. Esposito.
00:15Hello, everyone.
00:17You know, I was given a choice.
00:19Do you want to speak between Ryan and you or after Ryan and you?
00:23I said, let me think about that.
00:25Two gorgeous, talented, charismatic.
00:28That's not a choice, that's a death sentence.
00:31Anyway, I chose the cozy middle.
00:34I started at Marvel in June of 2006 on Iron Man 1.
00:39It was the very beginning.
00:41Kevin Feige was not a household name yet.
00:43Avengers haven't assembled.
00:45The MCU did not exist.
00:47But Kevin had big plans and dreams, so we rolled up our sleeves and started to work.
00:52Since then, Kevin and I spend approximately 95% of our working day together.
00:57We go from meeting to meeting, morning to night, day in and day out.
01:01This has been going on for the past 18 years.
01:05And after all this time, I can honestly say we don't have very much in common.
01:12You would think spending that much time together, something would rub off on each other, but it hasn't.
01:17And I'll give you an example that's not sports.
01:20I love the outdoors, especially the beach, the ocean, and the sun.
01:23Kevin hates the sun.
01:25He never goes in it.
01:26He's the palest person I know.
01:29Months ago, we decided to go on a family vacation.
01:32We outvoted him 5 to 1 to go to the ocean.
01:35Kevin had no choice but to say yes.
01:38We arrived at the resort.
01:40Let's get ready and meet at the beach.
01:41It was hot and sunny, and I couldn't wait to jump into the ocean.
01:45I arrived, bathing suit on, ready to go.
01:47Kevin appears wearing a hat, of course, but he also had a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, socks, and sneakers.
01:55We looked great, but this was the beach.
01:58None of us questioned his attire.
02:00We quietly laid out and said nothing.
02:04I want to thank Henry and Shannon, the two paramedics that treated Kevin for heat stroke that day.
02:10We were very, very lucky they were Marvel fans.
02:15But after the incident, we had the best three days possible, indoors, of course.
02:21I'm obviously kidding.
02:24While we do have many differences, we have an unbreakable bond, love, and shared passion,
02:29and that's for filmmaking, storytelling, and entertaining people all over the world.
02:33That's been the driving force that keeps us going day in and day out.
02:37Kevin not only loves film, he's a student.
02:40He watches everything, literally everything, except sports.
02:44He's also an avid reader, reading everything, everything except sports.
02:49I believe he's read every comic book ever written.
02:53He's a machine that never stops.
02:55That AI brain of his takes all that information and turns it into a unique skill,
03:01and that unique skill is called being amazing.
03:04And even though I've been with him a very long time, he impresses me every day.
03:09First of all, he has no ego when it comes to filmmaking.
03:12The best idea wins.
03:13It just so happens he usually has the best idea.
03:16And once we announce a release date, that clock starts ticking, the pressure is on.
03:21It requires a deft hand to bring all the elements together.
03:24His incredible knowledge and love of filmmaking comes into play.
03:28Kevin understands the medium and uses all the tools at his disposal,
03:33from story to music and everything in between.
03:36With the lightest touch, Kevin bends it all to his will.
03:39He displays remarkable courage, never giving up, and he never stops plussing.
03:45From the moment we start through release, Kevin displays guts and audacity,
03:49always willing to try something new, to have the most impactful story possible.
03:54And I've seen it time after time, Kevin rising to the occasion,
03:58displaying remarkable leadership, carrying us across the finish line.
04:02And what pushes him to keep telling stories that have such a profound effect
04:08on millions of people all around the world, it's not awards, it's not accolades,
04:13it's not prestige.
04:15No, it's plain and simple.
04:16It's his love of movies.
04:18And I can go on and on about his incredible attributes,
04:21but we don't have enough time today.
04:23The results speak for themselves.
04:26But it's not only his producorial acumen that impresses me.
04:30What also makes an impression is Kevin Feige's father and Kevin Feige's husband.
04:34And I can attest to this.
04:36I spent time with his remarkable wife and his two beautiful children.
04:43We've cooked Italian meals together, gone on vacation,
04:46and shared many memories.
04:48They are as loving a family as I've ever encountered.
04:52There is no box office equivalent to determine their value.
04:56When you take someone that has such an astounding storybook career
05:00and also has a remarkable, incredible family,
05:04well, you can place that person in the pantheon of the all-time greats.
05:08And that's you, Kevin.
05:09You are the GOAT.
05:12It's been an honor and privilege to work alongside of you these past 18 years.
05:16I hope that honor and privilege continues for the rest of my working days.
05:20But what I love about you most, as different as we are, is that we are friends.
05:25There is no one I know that is more deserving of this honor.
05:28You are a shining star.
05:30Thank you.
05:31Thank you.
05:32Unbelievable.
05:33Unbelievable.
05:34Thank you.
05:35Thank you.
05:36Lou, everybody!
05:37Lou!
05:38Lou!
05:39Lou!
05:40Lou!
05:41Lou!
05:42Lou!
05:43Lou!
05:44Lou!
05:45Lou!
05:46Lou!
05:47Lou!
05:48Lou!
05:49Lou!
05:50Lou!
05:51Lou!
05:52Lou!
05:53Lou!
05:54Lou!
05:55Lou!
05:56Lou!
05:57Lou!
05:58Lou!
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