The Brooklyn Public Library Foundation
honored best-selling author Terry McMillan, 1998 Nobel Prize-winner
Dr. Robert Furchgott, Caldecott Medal-winning author-illustrators
Ted and Betsy Lewin and jazz legend Max Roach at its sixth annual
gala on Nov. 21.
NewsChannel 4 reporter Ti-Hua Chang served as master of ceremonies.
(Chang also introduced his father Jen-Chung Chang, a Midwood
librarian, to the audience.)
Other guests included author Amitav Ghosh ("The Glass Palace")
with his wife, editor Deborah Baker; gala co-chair and children’s
book author Jon Scieszka; New York Times "Personal Health"
columnist and author Jane Brody; Brooklyn Heights Councilman
David Yassky; Assemblywoman Joan Millman; Rep. Jerrold Nadler;
Prospect Park administrator Tupper Thomas; Brooklyn Children’s
Museum executive director Carol Enseki; Brooklyn Arts Council
president Ella Weiss and Time Out New York publisher Allison
Tocci.
New BPL executive director Ginnie Cooper attended the gala, and
made a brief remark from the podium, but rebuffed GO Brooklyn’s
attempt to either chitter or chatter.
McMillan (author of "A Day Late and a Dollar Short,"
"How Stella Got Her Groove Back" and "Waiting
to Exhale") called in sick to the event.
Literally.
Her cousin Jaqueline Dixon accepted the award on her behalf,
but McMillan did call from California and her remarks were amplified
on a PA system.
"I apologize for being menopausal," she jokingly told
the black tie room while they dined. "To be honest with
you, I had surgery and the doctor advised me I couldn’t fly."
"I lived in Brooklyn for seven years," said McMillan.
"I hate that I had to miss this."
Dixon said that McMillan lived in Cobble Hill and her novel "Mama"
was born in Brooklyn.
"Thank you for acknowledging that my works mean something
to anyone," said McMillan.
The gala, catered by Great Performances, raised $300,000 for
the Brooklyn Public Library, announced acting executive director
Siobhan Reardon.
’Nam flashbacks
BAMcinematek’s Vietnam film series, "From Hanoi to Hollywood:
The Vietnam War on Film" at 30 Lafayette Ave. at Ashland
Place is attracting all kinds of Hollywood celebs.
On Nov. 10, Vincent D’Onofrio and Matthew Modine answered questions
for an hour about the making of the 1987 film "Full Metal
Jacket," directed by Stanley Kubrick. (Modine remembering
having an "anxiety attack" during the filming.) The
actors remembered how long it took to finish a scene by the number
of days it took – not the number of takes.
Celebrated filmmaker Milos Forman will participate in a Q&A
at BAM following a screening of "Hair" (1979) on Friday,
Nov. 29. Forman’s list of achievements include "Loves of
a Blonde" (1965), "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
(Best Director Academy Award, 1975)," "Ragtime"
(1981), "Amadeus" (Best Director Academy Award, 1984)
and "The People vs. Larry Flynt" (Best Director nomination,
1996).
Also participating in the Q&A are writer Jim Rado, composer
Galt McDermott and producer Michael Hausman. For more information
and to purchase tickets to the screening, call (718) 636-4100
or visit the Web site at www.bam.org.
Grey at BMA
Academy Award- and Tony-winning actor Joel Grey (father of "Dirty
Dancing" actress Jennifer Grey) read stories to children and signed
autographs at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, 200 Eastern Parkway, at the
museum’s First Saturday event on Oct. 5. The next First Saturday event
is Dec. 7.
– Additional reporting by Greg Mango
