Gift will establish Scorsese institute
Martin Scorsese’s alma mater, New York University, is establishing a film institute in his name after a gift from George Lucas and Mellody Hobson.
The formation of the Martin Scorsese Institute of Global Cinematic Arts was to be announced Tuesday by NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. The institute will include a virtual production center, the Martin Scorsese Department of Cinema Studies and support for student scholarships — with tuition assistance for those selected as “Scorsese scholars.”
A large donation from the Hobson/ Lucas Family Foundation — the nonprofit run by the “Star Wars” filmmaker and his wife, Hobson, co- chief executive of Ariel Investments and chairwoman of Starbucks Corporation — made the new institute possible.
“This is such a singular and remarkable honor for me, and I thank my old, dear friend George Lucas, his wife, Mellody Hobson, and their remarkable foundation for this honor,” Scorsese said in a statement. “Their generosity of spirit and deed is deeply moving for me, and doubly so since this state- of- theart institute will be housed at my beloved alma mater, NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.”
In a joint statement, Hobson and Lucas said the Scorsese institute “deservedly highlights his legacy as a quintessential American filmmaker and will inspire generations of diverse, talented students.”
Kardashian West passes ‘ baby bar’: Kim Kardashian West has passed California’s “baby bar” exam.
“For anyone who doesn’t know my law school journey, know this wasn’t easy or handed to me,” she wrote Monday on Instagram. “I failed this exam 3 times in 2 years, but I got back up each time and studied harder and tried again until I did it!!! ( I did have COVID on the 3rd try w a 104 fever but I’m not making excuses.)”
The reality TV star and entrepreneur is studying law without attending law school. That means that she, like others who study in programs and schools that aren’t accredited by the State Bar of California, has to take two exams to earn her credentials — the so- called baby bar, plus the bar exam that all aspirants must pass to become attorneys.
‘ Zola,’ A24 lead Spirit Award nods: The Film Independent Spirit Awards, Hollywood’s leading indie film honors, stayed true to its name this year, bestowing a leading seven nominations to Janicza Bravo’s wild road trip saga “Zola,” including best feature, best director and best female lead for Taylour Paige. “The Novice,” a sports drama and psychological thriller, followed with five.
“Zola” was nominated for best feature alongside “The Novice,” “A Chiara,” “C’mon C’mon,” and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Elena Ferrante adaptation, “The Lost Daughter,” which picked up four nods.
Nominations were announced Tuesday. The 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards will be held March 6.
Dec. 15 birthdays: Singer Cindy Birdsong is 82. Drummer Dave Clark is 82. Actor Don Johnson is 72. Director Julie Taymor is 69. Actor Helen Slater is 58. Actor Garrett Wang is 53. Actor Adam Brody is 42. Actor Michelle Dockery is 40. Actor George O. Gore II is 39. Guitarist Alana Haim is 30. Actor Maude Apatow is 24.