"Happiness Is A Goal Of Life"
President Of Motion Picture Academy Urges Artists To Pursue Their Dreams And Protect Artistic Freedom
Cheryl Boone Isaacs gives commencement address at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.,
May 14, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Artists are responsible for protecting freedom of expression,
Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), told graduates of the University of
North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) during her commencement address on
May 9 at the Stevens Center in downtown
Winston-Salem.
"As the world becomes smaller and more globally connected, you as
artists have a responsibility to protect freedom of expression and
ensure that no one's voice is silenced by threats, violence or
prejudice, and that different opinions can be shared without fear of
personal or professional attack," she said.
Boone Isaacs is serving her second term as president of the 7,000-member Academy, presenter of the Oscars.
"Every year at the Oscars we honor the courage of filmmakers who
cross borders and test boundaries, who give voice to challenging ideas
and alternative points of view, and who encourage us to see the world
and those around us in new ways," she said. "As you embark on the next
phase of your careers in the arts, I hope you will carry that torch,
tell the truth about the world as you perceive it and change the
narrative."
Boone Isaacs told 235 recipients of bachelor of fine arts, bachelor
of music, master of fine arts and master of music degrees they should
remain faithful to their aspirations: "I want you all to follow your
passion. There may be detours … but just keep moving forward. Stay
focused on your goals and dreams. Happiness is a goal of life."
She noted that "there will be times when your passion has to take a
back seat to the need to earn money. A career in the arts does not
guarantee financial stability, but if you're smart about finding ways to
monetize the work you love, the rewards will be immense."
As head of CBI Enterprises, Inc., Boone Isaacs has consulted on
marketing efforts on such films as
THE CALL,
THE ARTIST, THE KING'S
SPEECH, PRECIOUS: BASED on the
NOVEL "PUSH" BY SAPPHIRE,
SPIDER-MAN 2
and
TUPAC: RESURRECTION. Previously, she oversaw marketing for New Line
Cinema's box office hits including
AUSTIN POWERS:
THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME and
RUSH HOUR; and for Paramount Pictures she
orchestrated publicity campaigns for the Best Picture winners
FORREST GUMP and
BRAVEHEART.
"As a marketing and public relations executive both at major studios
and independent companies, I have had to learn to maneuver both sides of
the show business equation – the show side and the business side," she
said. "As creative artists nowadays, it's incumbent on you to understand
the business of the arts."
Boone Isaacs told the graduates their conservatory education will
serve them well. "It's hard to see it now, but your time here will
fundamentally shape the way you look at the world, solve problems and
challenges, and build a sustainable future," she said.
Technological advancements offer countless opportunities to this
generation of graduates, she said, but technology has not altered "the
human love of storytelling – whether it is music, painting, literature,
dance or film."
She also asked the graduates to "give back to the community through
the nonprofit sector. There are so many youngsters who never get the
chance to experience the arts. I urge you to support arts education for
the underserved."
In closing, Boone Isaacs advised graduates to "bring the light of
humanity and inspiration that you found here at UNC School of the Arts
to the world around you."
Presiding over his first UNCSA commencement, Chancellor
Lindsay Bierman
spoke of mixed emotions. "I've loved seeing your work in our shops and
studios, and on our stages and screens. But I'm personally very, very
sad to see you go," he said. "Wherever you go from here, I want you to
know this: I will always admire your creativity, respect your
individuality, and applaud your extraordinary talents. The past two
semesters together have made me one of your biggest lifelong fans."
Wearing custom-designed academic regalia created by UNCSA costume
design faculty and students, Bierman asked graduates to recall the
moment they informed their parents of their career choice. "Parents,
let's be honest. Some of you took the news pretty hard at first," he
said. "You might have hoped for finance, or engineering.
"But you knew, in your heart, that your child has a rare ability and
passion that must be cultivated and nurtured and protected. That success
is defined by doing what you love, and loving what you do. That your
child's unique gift, discipline, and focus would be highly valued and
developed at a conservatory. That being true to oneself, and following
one's calling, can lead to the richest and most rewarding life of all."
Honorary doctorates were presented during the ceremony to Boone Isaacs and to Dean Emeritus
John Sneden,
who led the School of Design and Production from 1970 to 2003 and
established the first graduate program at the School of the Arts.
Celebrating its 50
th anniversary, the University of
North Carolina School of the Arts
is America's first state-supported arts school, a unique stand-alone
public university of arts conservatories. With a high school component,
UNCSA is a degree-granting institution that trains young people of
talent in music, dance, drama, filmmaking, and design and production.
Established by the N.C. General Assembly in 1963, the School of the Arts
opened in
Winston-Salem ("The City of Arts and Innovation") in 1965 and became part of the
University of North Carolina system when it was formed in 1972. For more information, visit
www.uncsa.edu.
Photo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150514/216112
Photo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150514/216111
SOURCE University of
North Carolina School of the Arts
CONTACT: Lauren Whitaker, 336-734-2891, whitakerl@uncsa.edu
RELATED LINKS
http://www.uncsa.edu
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