00:09This goes against every theatrical instinct of my life,
00:12that I'm just going to turn away from everybody.
00:15In fact, I might just turn the whole thing around.
00:19Kevin, let me just say this.
00:21I'm not going to do this.
00:23I'm not going to do this.
00:25I'm not going to do this.
00:28Kevin, let me just say, this is so awesome,
00:30but if you have any Australian friends,
00:32do not tell them about this,
00:34because they will find it,
00:35and what they're going to do to it late at night.
00:37It's not right.
00:38It's just not right.
00:40All right.
00:41I'm so, so happy to be here today.
00:43There are so many things that make Kevin a success,
00:47but above all, he knows that to make a great movie,
00:50you need a great story,
00:52and I have one to share today
00:53that I think I might be uniquely qualified in telling.
00:56It's a Kevin Feige origin story.
00:59Don't worry, Mom and Dad.
01:01I'm not going back that far.
01:02It's okay.
01:03It's an I-knew-him-when story,
01:05because I first met Kevin 25 years ago
01:08on what was, for both of us, our very first movie.
01:11He was the assistant to the producer,
01:14Lauren Shuler, who is here today.
01:16By the way, if anyone wants to check it out,
01:20I want someone to check up.
01:21I don't know how many,
01:22but I think you must set a record, Lauren,
01:24for the amount of people who have worked for you,
01:26who have gone on to be leaders in this industry,
01:28and that is not a coincidence.
01:29You're a class act, me included, by the way.
01:32So anyway, he was the assistant to the producer.
01:36I'd been flown up to audition for X-Men,
01:38and I remember I was in L.A. at the time,
01:40and this stretch limousine pulled up at 5.30 in the morning.
01:43I'm like, wow, this is awesome.
01:45And even though I'm not actually getting to go into Disneyland,
01:49at least I'm going to arrive at the park in style.
01:52So I get there.
01:53I get ushered into the director's office at lunch,
01:56only to find out then that the movie had already been shooting
01:59for like two days, I think, when I did that first audition.
02:02And you know when an actor says,
02:03I knew I wasn't going to get the part?
02:05Well, I really knew I wasn't going to get the part.
02:07In fact, everybody knew I wasn't going to get the part
02:09because there just wasn't a part to be had.
02:12That's a long story, but I did my scene.
02:15As I left, Kevin was there, and he says,
02:18Hey, man, I'm going to give you a lift to the airport.
02:21And I said, Kevin, that's really, really sweet of you.
02:24You really don't have to do that.
02:26I really appreciate it, but I know I'm not getting the part.
02:29And I was also thinking at the time,
02:31what happened to the stretch limousine?
02:32I really wanted to go back in that.
02:35Anyway, Kevin says, no, no, I'm going to take you.
02:37So we get in the car, we're just chatting,
02:39and then all of a sudden he pulls over at a restaurant,
02:41and he gets out, and I'm like, Kevin, this is not the airport.
02:44And he goes, no, I'm not going to send you back on that plane
02:47without giving you some food.
02:49So anyway, now at this point, I know I'm not getting the part.
02:52Kevin knows I'm not getting the part.
02:54The waiter in the restaurant knows I'm not getting the part.
02:57But I'd flown, I'd been there from L.A. to Toronto for this audition.
03:02It's going to be 11 hours flying for the day.
03:04So Kevin, he just insists.
03:06He says, I want to give you a steak.
03:08So we go in to this steakhouse, and, you know, I'm an actor.
03:12It's free steak. I'm in, totally.
03:14And I just remember thinking to myself, this is a class act.
03:19He does not have to do this.
03:21And I don't know whether you felt sorry for me or whatever.
03:24He took the time to take care of me, and I will never, ever forget it.
03:29And then about five days later, all of a sudden the part became available.
03:32Like, it really actually became available.
03:34Sorry, Dougray.
03:36And I came back, and I auditioned, and spoiler alert, I got the part.
03:41And as we made the film, Kevin actually became a friend.
03:46Even way back then, I knew he was kind, he was trustworthy.
03:51No matter what, he was going to have my back.
03:53And I just figured this guy's never going to make it in showbiz.
03:56But I'd never read anything.
03:58I'd never read an X-Men comic at the time.
04:00When I got the part, he would slip me comic books.
04:02We'd hang out in his office.
04:03It was wall-to-wall toys.
04:05There was so much there, and he'd show me everything.
04:08There was no merch, because there was no merch on the movie.
04:10It was just literally toys from his own collection.
04:12And anyway, from those days of a free steak, comic book, toys, here we are.
04:19It's 25 years later, and this is kind of a full circle moment.
04:23So I was thinking, how can I, is there any way I can show my affection for this man today?
04:29Apart from saying a few words here.
04:31And then the idea came to me.
04:33So, hang on one sec, Kevin.
04:36I got you this gift certificate to Mastro's Steakhouse.
04:42Well, wait, this is not just any gift certificate.
04:44This is a full $15 gift certificate.
04:47Valid on Tuesdays between 3 and 3.30.
04:50Don't cry. It's okay.
04:52And I honestly would go with you, but I'm kind of like a massive movie star now.
04:57It wouldn't look good for me, so.
05:00I just can't.
05:01I just can't.
05:02So, but one other thing, Kev.
05:04I really want to say this, and I mean this.
05:06Ever since I've known you, you have a gift, many, many gifts.
05:10But you have a unique and extraordinary talent of making each project feel like it's the most exciting movie in the world.
05:18You make the best movie possible at every turn.
05:22You are generous, you are thoughtful, and you are like a Jedi, man.
05:25It's the mark of a great producer.
05:27It's why we are all here, gathered here, to celebrate your incredible legacy and the cinematic universe you have built over 16 years and counting.
