Look To The Stars News: Martin Scorsese

London Critics’ Circle Invite You to Film Awards

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0000

The London Critics’ Circle is inviting you to attend their 29th annual film awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Proceeds from the event are to benefit The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), a UK based charity that advocates for child protection through public awareness campaigns, helplines, and counseling services.

Tickets to the Film Awards, to be held on February 4, 2009, are on sale for £200 (US$297) per person, or £2000(US$2970) per table. The star-studded event will begin with a champagne reception, followed by the award ceremony. The evening will continue with dinner and dancing, before coming to a close with carriages at 1:30. Celebrity attendees of past ceremonies include notables such as Hugh Grant, Nicole Kidman, Sienna Miller, and Martin Scorsese amongst others. This year, Dame Judi Dench has been confirmed to be on hand to accept the Circle’s highest honor.

Nominations for the 2009 Awards include a selection sure to please any film buff. Film Section Chair Jason Solomons told Look to the Stars, "I am thrilled with this year’s set of nominations which show a wide range of critical tastes and, I hope, a refreshing mix of studio movies and independent-minded film making.” He remarks that the participation of a record number of critics and films this year will “hopefully…encourage our public to be as proud and supportive of our own films and industry as we (the London Critics’ Circle) clearly are.”

This year’s partnership with the NSPCC continues a tradition dating back to 1994. A Film Awards brochure explains the choice of charity noting, “We (the Critics’ Circle Film Section) are very proud of our long association with the NSPCC, a great and deserving charity that works ceaselessly for distressed, abused and deprived children. Every penny raised by our Awards goes to the NSPCC and towards helping somewhere a child who is in dire need.”

For more information about obtaining tickets to the 29th annual awards, visit the NSPCC website

A Funny Thing Happened...

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Scarlett Johansson was among the incredible list of stars showing their support at the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s annual benefit, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Cure Parkinson’s.

Along with her husband, Ryan Reynolds (who recently ran the NYC Marathon for Fox’s foundation), Johansson joined Michael J. Fox, Elizabeth Berkley, Martin Scorsese and Ben Stiller at the New York event.

A performance by The Who ensured that the evening rocked as guests mingled and raised awareness and funds for the charity.

In previous years, the event has raised between $4 and $6 million in a single night — this year’s total is yet to be announced.

Fox founded the organization after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1991. To date, the foundation has funded $128 million in research for a cure.

Paul Newman - A Life Spent Giving

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor and philanthropist Paul Newman leaves behind a legacy modern celebrities will find hard to match.

83-year-old Newman – who passed away after a short illness on Friday – made his movie debut in 1954, and went on to become one of the most well known faces to grace the silver screen, appearing in over 50 films. Born in Ohio, Newman made his acting debut at the age of seven, but didn’t start acting professionally until after serving as a gunner in the Pacific in World War II. When the acting bug did bite, it went on to net Newman 10 Oscar nominations in his five-decade-long career – winning the best actor accolade for his role opposite Tom Cruise in The Color Of Money in 1986 – two Golden Globe awards, a Screen Actors Guild award, a Cannes Film Festival award and an Emmy award.

But it is Newman’s humanitarian and philanthropic efforts that gained him true popularity in the American heart. Much has been written about his Newman’s Own Food Company, the initiative he established in 1982 to manufacture his special salad dressings. Over $200 million were generated by the company for charity over the years, and earlier in 2008 the actor announced he had signed ownership of the company to charity. He wrote a book – titled Shameless Exploitation in the Pursuit of the Common Good – about his work with the company, explaining that the inspiration behind his humanitarian outlook was the death of his son from a drug overdose in 1978, which led him to set up the Scott Newman Center for Drug Abuse Prevention. Much of the money Newman raised went to the Hole in the Wall Gang summer camps he established in 1988. The camps allow ill children to participate in activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, archery, arts and crafts, woodworking, performing arts, horseback riding, overnight camping and group adventures, all while receiving superior 24-hour medical care free of charge. More than 100,000 children from 31 countries have attended the Hole in the Wall camps.

Newman was also one of the founders of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), an organization of CEOs and corporate chairpersons committed to raising the level and quality of global corporate philanthropy. He regularly donated to causes around the world, including a donation of $40,000 to a Welsh Breast Cancer Center and $10 million to Kenyon College last year, and $250,000 to aid refugees in Kosovo in 1999. At the age of 79, he flew to Britain to entertain sick and disabled children in north London by performing as a clown in a special version of Zippo’s Circus.

Newman was a huge fan of car racing, and competed in the San Jose Grand Prix (where he came in second) in 2004 to help raise money for the Canary Foundation. His love of racing led him to narrate the film Dale – based on the life of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt – in 2007, the last film project Newman was to be involved in.

In 2007, Newman announced he was retiring from acting to concentrate on charity work. Last month he was named as one of the top celebrity givers of 2007 in the Giving Back Foundation’s Top 30, with over $10 million donated to needy causes.

“He was really all about philanthropy, and people caring, and people voting, and that’s really who he was,“ said Newman’s daughter, Melissa. “So many of his ideas were reaching out. That is what he would like people to remember. Reach out, keep doing it. If we all did something for somebody or some organization today, can you imagine the change that would happen?”

Tributes for Newman have poured in from around the world, and many of the actor’s fellow philanthropic celebrities have been quick to praise the man who inspired several generations, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elizabeth Taylor, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, David Letterman, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, and many others.

“He was purity of heart,” said Taylor. “Working with him was such a joy. Knowing him, being his friend, was as golden as the sunset and a privilege I’ll never forget."

But perhaps the most poignant tribute came from Robert Redford, Newman’s co-star from 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: “There is a point where feelings go beyond words. I have lost a real friend. My life – and this country – is better for his being in it.”

Newman is survived by his wife – actress Joanne Woodward – and their three daughters, Elinor, Melissa and Claire. He also has two daughters, Susan and Stephanie, from his first marriage to Jackie Witte.

Stars Turn Out For LA Free Clinic Anniversary

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:44:45 -0000

Written by Charles Harder

Mick Jagger, Claire Danes, Zach Braff, Martin Scorsese, Bob Saget and Don Rickles took the stage at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday night to honor Paramount Pictures CEO Brad Grey at a gala dinner celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Free Clinic.

Marc Anthony performed a lively three-song set backed by his powerhouse salsa band. Also in attendance were Anthony’s superstar spouse, Jennifer Lopez, actor Mark Wahlberg and former California Governor Gray Davis.

The event raised $4 million for the Clinic, which provides free health care services throughout Los Angeles County.

Bon Jovi Works to Provide Affordable Housing in Philadelphia

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 02:16:11 -0000

Written by Robert Powers

Earlier this month rocker Jon Bon Jovi, standing alongside former President Bill Clinton, announced the proposed renovation and rebuilding of fifteen abandoned row houses in North Central Philadelphia.

The newly refurbished homes are to be part of the charitable initiative “Phase V Homeownership Project”, which will work to provide affordable and environmentally-friendly quality housing to first-time homeowners that might otherwise go homeless.

The project represents the flagship initiative of the newly formed Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation and involves the efforts of Saturn, Habitat For Humanity, and Project HOME as cooperating partners.

The Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation will finance the project with Saturn who is also ensuring that the homes are eco-friendly, Habitat for Humanity will oversee construction of the homes, and Project HOME will assist prospective homeowners with the training of skills required of homeownership.

Bon Jovi, who was also recently made Habitat for Humanity’s first ever Habitat Ambassador, has himself pledged $450,000 to the project.

“It is my sincere and heartfelt desire not to let neighborhoods deteriorate any further,” he said during a press conference to mark the start of the project.

In May of this year Bon Jovi was given the HELP Heroes Award by HELP USA, a charitable organization that works to assist the country’s homeless, during a tribute dinner that also honored director Martin Scorsese. More recently, he was presented with the City of Brotherly Love Award by Philadelphia mayor John F. Street.

“It gives me great joy,” Bon Jovi has said of doing work for charity, “There’s just too many haves and have-nots in the country.”

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