Last week, Olivia Wilde, Lee Daniels and David O. Russell hosted the Ghetto Film School (GFS) 10th Annual Spring Benefit honoring Katherine Oliver at The Standard Biergarten.
The Ghetto Film School (GFS) is an award-winning, independent film organization with a mission to educate, develop and celebrate the next generation of great American storytellers. With centers in the South Bronx (NYC) and MacArthur Park (Los Angeles), the non-profit annually supports 650 diverse teen and young adult artists through high quality, pre-professional programs focused on the intersection of art, business and education.
We covered the red carpet at the benefit. “Third Person” star Olivia Wilde told us, “David O. Russell is a friend, and he’s been on the board for a long time and he was the one who introduced me to it and I’m very grateful. So I think it’s an extraordinary program.”
Lee Daniels
I was wondering if you had heard anything about the status of the Richard Pryor Biopic?
Lee Daniel: The status of the Richard Pryor Biopic is that we’re looking for Richard Pryor. As soon as we have Richard Pryor, then we’ll have the movie.
I heard Marlon Wayans and Michael B. Jordan were part of the name dropping, so are they still a part for the running for it?
LD: Some are, some are. Maybe. It’s a secret.
Congratulations on your show The Empire. How is it like working with the cast, producers, and everything?
LD: Yay! It’s a different experience. Well one of my kids told me that I didn’t know anything about rap, that I’m stuck listening to Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey-land, so I did it to prove to them that I knew about hip-hop, which I knew I didn’t know. Timbaland knew, so he’s helping with all of my music. And it’s been a collaboration. I’ve never had to collaborate before, with a studio and everything. But its been a great collaboration and I’m very excited. Going after American Idol in January, giving you a little bit of Holmes and giving you a little of Dynasty, a little bit of Sopranos, a little bit of Precious, all infused.
David O. Russell
What do you think makes Jennifer Lawrence so great for the film?
David O. Russell: I think Jennifer is extraordinary in her ordinary ways. In some angles, she looks just like a girl in a mall, but in some other angles she’s extremely special and beautiful, and that’s what I think makes her – it’s very hard to define what would make her special. There’s something about her. A deep intelligence that comes across just in her eyes is very special.
And curious beyond her years, especially from the roles she’s played.
DR: Yes! In my opinion she is. And also she’s not pressured about her herself, you know, she doesn’t take herself too seriously.
-Tristen Yang
Photo Credit: Amanda Schwab/Starpix
