All
are invited to hear Robby Benson speak at
the IU Cinema Tuesday 4 December 9.30 – 10.45. a.m.
Robby Benson’s talk “Life of a Story” covers
the stages of a film script from story conception through development and
production. Drawing on his 40 years in show business, Benson will focus on the
first script he sold at age 18, the life and death of a 10 million dollar
feature he was set to direct, and the success of a million dollar indie film he
made with his film students while teaching in South Carolina. Q & A will
follow.
Robby
Benson Biography
Best
known for starring in films such as Ice Castles, Ode to Billy Joe,
The Chosen, Tribute, Running Brave, Harry and Son, in his
own screenplay for the Warner Bros. basketball classic, One on One, and
to a new generation as the voice of Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,
the first animated film ever to receive a Best Picture Academy Award
nomination, Robby Benson is also a two time Golden Globe nominated actor whom
has co-starred with legends Paul Newman, Jack Lemmon, Burt Reynolds, Gene Hackman,
George Burns, Maximillan Schell, and Rod Steiger.
His
four decades of show business versatility include producing and directing
feature films and television series. Robby directed over 100 sitcom episodes
and pilots, including episodes of Friends, and an entire season of Ellen.
Most recently he helmed Billy: The Early Years (2009) casting actor
Armie Hammer in his first starring role.
Benson
starred on Broadway in Zelda, The Rothschilds, and the Joseph
Papp production of The Pirates of Penzance, where he met and fell in
love with his co-star, Karla DeVito.
Robby
Benson has composed film soundtracks, and has been the recipient of several
RIAA Gold Records for song writing, most notably “We Are Not Alone” for John
Hughes seminal teenage film The Breakfast Club. Most recently
Robby collaborated with Lyric Benson co-writing, arranging, engineering, and
producing her debut album, Lyric’s Love Light Revolution (2012).
For
the theatre, Mr. Benson wrote the libretto and score of his musical Open
Heart, which debuted in New York at the historic Cherry Lane Theatre, and
is published and licensed by Samuel French (2006).
Robby
Benson added author to his career accomplishments with the release of his first
book, Who Stole the Funny? A Novel of Hollywood published by HarperCollins
(2007) and praised by the Editor in Chief of Variety Peter Bart as “an
irreverent and hilarious stroll down the dark alleys of Hollywood’s TV
landscape.” Who Stole the Funny? made The Los Angeles Times bestsellers
list (2007).
Robby
Benson’s new medical memoir I’m Not Dead…Yet! is a funny, explicit
look at surviving four open heart surgeries for a congenital valve defect while
continuing a dynamic creative career in and out of Hollywood.
