Singapore Contact: Josh Murray (Oct. 1-13), Tisch Asia, 347.401.0612
josh.murray@nyu.edu
Hollywood Director and Tisch School Alumnus Brett Ratner Presents the Honor
Presentation Marks the Highlight of the Opening Celebration for New Tisch Asia in Singapore
SINGAPORE, Oct. 8 - Tonight, international film star Jackie Chan was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work as a distinguished actor and humanitarian by New York University Tisch School of the Arts Asia at a glittering red-carpet event at the Mandarin Oriental, Singapore. The invitation-only affair for 200 people was part of an evening celebration, named A Daring Adventure, to help mark the official opening of the new Tisch Asia campus. Presenting the award was Hollywood director and Tisch School alumnus and Dean’s Council member Brett Ratner.
Jackie Chan, whose blockbuster movies include Rumble in the Bronx, the Rush Hour trilogy, and Shanghai Noon, rose to international stardom from humble beginnings in his birthplace of Hong Kong. His films blend action and humor in a mix that has entertained audiences around the world. He has won numerous awards for acting, choreography, and filmmaking. He has also been honored for his humanitarian and public service work. The Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation is devoted to a variety of causes, including youth development programs, scholarships, and support to the performing arts.
“Tonight, we are excited not only to be celebrating the opening of New York University Tisch School of the Arts Asia, but also to be honoring the outstanding film career and humanitarian work of Jackie Chan,” said Mary Schimidt Campbell, dean of the Tisch School of the Arts and chairman of the board of directors for Tisch Asia. “As an actor and international film star, Jackie has been celebrated worldwide for his global impact as an artist, spanning both the U.S. and Asian film communities. The Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation, begun in 1988, has been helping Hong Kong’s young people as well as others through a variety of worthy projects over the years. His well-known generosity to a wide range of charitable causes best exemplifies the qualities the Tisch School of the Arts strives to instill in its students. It is only fitting, therefore, that we recognize him with Tisch Asia’s first Lifetime Achievement Award.”
New York University Tisch School of the Arts Asia officially opened in Singapore earlier today with a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception. Tisch Asia is the first branch campus of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and it is also the first American art school to set up residence in Singapore. Tisch Asia’s inaugural class of 33 graduate film students began their studies in September. More than half the students in this group are from the United States, while the others come from Australia, Europe, Asia, and Central America. In 2008, Tisch Asia will also begin offering MFA degrees in animation and dramatic writing.
NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia currently offers students the opportunity to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in film production, and will offer degrees in Dramatic Writing as well as Animation and Digital Arts in 2008. Tisch Asia has a diverse faculty of distinguished artists, all with ties to the industry. For more information, visit www.tischasia.nyu.edu.sg.