Updated March 4, 2008

2008 Spirit Award Announced! Congratulations Sylvia Gill!

At the evening's event Sylvia Gill was announced to be this year's and the first Topaz Spirit Award winner.

As a pioneer in the development of the Dallas talent pool for the last 40 years, Sylvia has played a vital role in gaining national recognition for her actors in feature film and episodic television.  Sylvia currently represents the top voice talent in Dallas and has negotiated in behalf of her voice actors for major commercial campaigns, nationwide.

She's fought to establish and maintain fair rates and working conditions, which has benefited the local acting community as a whole.  Sylvia originated the concept of the Kim Dawson Agency master video and audio CD. For many years she produced and edited these vital marketing tools in the area of commercials and industrial films.

She served as President of the Dallas Communications Council; on the boards of AICP, Association for Preservation of Talking Pictures, KD Studio Actors Conservatory and Trinity River Arts Center; and is a memver of WIF.D and DPA.

In the early years of Sylvia’s association with Kim Dawson, she helped produce many fashion shows at the Dallas Apparel Mart. She was also a booking agent for models in fashion and still photography.

2008 Spirit Award Nominees

In the tradition and spirit of most film and television award programs, The Topaz Awards will be keeping the ballot sealed and suspense building until the ceremony to announce this year’s Spirit Award.

The new Spirit Award honors a woman who has made significant contributions to the local and Texas production industry. The nominees were made by WIF.D members, and will be voted on by WIF.D members and sponsors.

Leading ladies include Trayc Claybrook, Linda Dowell, Sylvia Gill, Suzanne Horne, Taneia Lednicky, Melina McKinnon-Cain, Lynne Moon, Jana Perez, and Shirley Thompson.

Look for your ballot soon and stay tuned to reading more about these nominees here.