LOS ANGELES – Director Robert Zemeckis (search), traveling on "The Polar Express," (search) stopped long enough to pick up a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (search). Zemeckis, who won an Oscar for directing "Forrest Gump," received the 2,268th star Friday.
Frequent collaborator Tom Hanks attended the ceremony along with hundreds of other fans.
"He is, to film, a visionary," Hanks said. "He is what Paul McCartney is to music. Bob is without a doubt the most inspirational example of the true work ethic that is needed in order to make movies in this day and age than any other human being I have worked with or come across."
The director of the "Back to the Future" trilogy, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and "Cast Away" is known for using pioneering technology to create otherworldly action in his films.
"The Polar Express" is no exception. Zemeckis used motion capture computerization to allow Hanks to play several characters in the fantasy, including a boy, a train conductor, a hobo and Santa Claus.
"The Polar Express" was inspired by the Christmas picture book illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. It is set for release Nov. 10.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox