Picture House Gala to Honor Mamk's "Capote Team" Feb 10

Glenn Close, Dan Futterman, Bennett Miller, Steve Tisch Are Honorees

by Rachel Breinin

(December 7, 2006) A star-studded cast of current and former Westchester residents will be honored at The Picture House’s Cinema Soiree on February 10, 2007. Emceed by Peter Travers, senior editor and film critic for Rolling Stone Magazine, the event will honor Academy Award-nominated and Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Glenn Close (at left), the Academy Award-nominated “Capote” writing/directing team of Dan Futterman and Bennett Miller and “Forrest Gump” producer Steve Tisch. Funds raised will benefit The Picture House, a non-profit organization formed to renovate and restore the historic Pelham Picture House movie theater to become a three-screen, state-of-the-art film center.

The event is two months away, but judging from last year’s experience, anyone hoping to attend will have to act fast. “Last year the venue was changed to accommodate the crowds,” said Lea Emery, executive director of the Picture House. “And then it still sold out.”

Honorary chairs this year are the Academy Award-nominated actor Matt Dillon, whose talent was discovered during his middle school years at the Hommocks, and actress Isabella Rossellini, a supporter of The Picture House. The awards ceremony will take place at the Hilton Rye Town in Rye, NY.

“This evening will be an opportunity for Westchester residents who love movies to honor some of the industry’s top talents and to support a film center that will show great films and offer an interactive experience that doesn’t typically happen at the multiplex,” said Ms. Emery. “Based on last year’s sold-out gala and overwhelming interest in The Picture House, we know the community wants a movie theater where they can see outstanding independent feature films, foreign films, classics, documentaries and shorts and not have to travel a great distance.”

Dan Futterman (left) and Bennett Miller at the 2006 Oscars. Photo by Matt Baron.

With an abundance of local and home-grown talent, the evening is a testament to why some now call Westchester, Hollywood on the Hudson. A resident of Bedford, NY, Glenn Close has received five Academy Award nominations including two for her performances in “Fatal Attraction” and “Dangerous Liaisons,” three Tony Awards and one Emmy Award. Mamaroneck High School alumni Dan Futterman and Bennett Miller’s film “Capote” was one of the most critically acclaimed films of last year, receiving five nominations including one each for Mr. Futterman (best adapted screenplay) and Mr. Miller (director). Steve Tisch, a former resident of Scarsdale, NY, has produced “Risky Business”, the Academy Award-winning “Forrest Gump” and the soon-to-be released “The Pursuit of Happyness” starring Will Smith.

The Picture House is on its way to making the dream of a film center a reality with the purchase of The Pelham Picture House last year. Since then, The Picture House has hired a professional staff to take the organization to the next level. Executive Director Lea Emery and Deputy Director Jennifer Christman both joined The Picture House in September. Ms. Emery is the former vice president and managing director for charitable services at the country’s sixth largest bank, U.S. Bank. Prior to that, she was the deputy director of Cincinnati’s Taft Museum of Art, where she oversaw a $28 million historic building renovation and expansion. Ms. Emery has an MBA and a masters in arts administration. Ms. Christman worked in film development and independent feature film production, has a masters in cinema studies from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and an MBA. Chief Operating Officer Phil Conte was a vice president of business and guest services for the $300 million Georgia Aquarium, working on the executive team that initiated the start up and successful opening of the world’s largest aquarium. Michelle D’Urso, Director of Special Projects, has successfully organized major fundraisers in Westchester and New York City for the past six years. She has been working with The Picture House since early 2005.

To complement high-caliber programming, The Picture House plans to bring industry professionals in to talk about their films and did so recently by playing host to the sixth annual Westchester Italian Film Festival with guest Isabella Rossellini and previewed “Running with Scissors” with lead actor Joseph Cross as guest. “These events were a taste of things to come,” stated Ms. Christman. “Whenever possible, we want to follow screenings with a discussion or panel of some kind. The hope is to create an environment where audience members can, if they’re interested, take part in a dialogue with actors or with a director, producer, or screenwriter.” The Picture House has an industry connected Film Advisory Board to assist in this regard. “They help us bring the back lot to our front door,” said Ms. Emery. Board members include Peter Travers, Michael Luisi of Miramax, Paul Turcotte of Premiere.

Support for The Picture House is strong throughout Westchester with Gala Co-Chairs from numerous cities and towns. The Regional Co-Chairs for the gala are Anne and Richard Anderson of Dobbs Ferry; Tori and Sandy Brown of Greenwich; Vicki Lesser and Jordan Goldstein and Patty and Jeff Horing of Larchmont; Theresa Kump Leghorn and Tom Leghorn and Donna and Bob Young of New Rochelle; Liza and John Near of Bronxville; Anne and Peter Nicholson and Anne Marie Pensanti and Paul Turcotte of Rye; Anne and Geoff Nixon, Missy and James Palmisciano and Kathy and John Spicer of Pelham; and Joan and Richard S. Toder of Scarsdale.

To purchase tickets or for more information about the gala, contact the benefit office at 914-834-2868 or go to www.thepicturehouse.org.

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