New York University Tisch School of the Arts Asia President Pari Sara Shirazi, Ph.D., today announced that Oliver Stone, the three-time Academy Award winning filmmaker, has been named artistic director of the school. In this role, Stone will advise the president on the artistic direction of the school. In addition, Stone may also teach courses and conduct workshops in Singapore.
“It is an honor to announce that Oliver Stone will serve as artistic director for Tisch Asia,” said Dr. Shirazi. “Mr. Stone is one of our most accomplished graduates, inspiring countless numbers of students to choose an education in the arts. His commitment to our school has never wavered, and his interest in Southeast Asia and the region will ensure that Tisch Asia will achieve unprecedented success.”
Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D, chairman of the board of directors for Tisch Asia and dean, Tisch School of the Arts, said, “Oliver Stone embodies the spirit of Tisch School of the Arts. He is a keen observer of the world, and chooses to tell stories that often challenge the audience and the nation. Most importantly, he is a masterful filmmaker who makes films with consummate skill and craftsmanship. His association now with Tisch Asia provides our students an exemplary model of superlative filmmaking.”
“Forty some years ago, I came to Asia as a young teacher in South Vietnam, and the region opened my eyes to a world I never knew. I was never the same again,” said Stone. “I hope, in the same capacity, to continue to learn from Asia and its students at Singapore’s Tisch School about a craft that is still fresh, and open to greater and greater exploration. I look forward to spending, outside of my own filmmaking interests, as much time as I can there.”
Eric Khoo, filmmaker and member of Tisch Asia’s Board of Directors, said “To have someone like Oliver Stone as artistic director of Tisch Asia signals the beginning of an exciting time in Asia’s film and media industry. This will hopefully attract even more prominent professionals from the international film industry to Singapore. This decision by Tisch Asia illustrates the quality of education Tisch Asia believes in providing.”
Oliver Stone, born in New York, September 15, 1946, has directed: “World Trade Center” (‘06), “Alexander” (’04), “Any Given Sunday” (‘99), “U-Turn” (‘97), “Nixon” (‘95), “Natural Born Killers” (‘94), “Heaven and Earth” (‘93), “JFK” (‘91), “The Doors” (‘91), “Born On The Fourth Of July” (‘89), “Talk Radio” (‘88), “Wall Street” (‘87), “Platoon” (‘86), “Salvador” (‘86), “The Hand” (‘81) and “Seizure” (‘73). Stone has written or co-written all of the above, with the exception of “U-Turn” and “World Trade Center.”
Stone also has written or co-written: “Midnight Express” (‘78), “Scarface” (‘83), “Conan The Barbarian” (‘82), “Year Of The Dragon” (‘85), “Evita” (‘96), and “8 Million Ways To Die” (’86). Stone has directed 3 documentaries — “Looking for Fidel” (’04), “Comandante” (’03), “Persona Non Grata” (’03). Stone produced or co-produced: “The People vs. Larry Flynt” (‘96), “The Joy Luck Club” (‘93), “Reversal of Fortune” (‘90), “Savior” (‘98), “Freeway” (‘96), “South Central” (‘98), “Zebrahead” (‘92), “Blue Steel” (‘90), and the ABC mini-series “Wild Palms” (‘93). An Emmy was given to him and his co-producer for the HBO film “Indictment: The McMartin Trial”, and he was nominated for the documentary “The Last Days of Kennedy and King.”
Stone has won Oscars for directing “Born On The Fourth Of July” and “Platoon”, and for writing “Midnight Express”. He was nominated for director “JFK” and co-writer “Nixon.” He’s also received three Golden Globes for directing, “Platoon”, “Born On The Fourth Of July” and “JFK;” and one for writing (“Midnight Express”).
Stone wrote a novel, published in 1997 by St. Martin’s Press, entitled “A Child’s Night Dream,” based on Stone’s experiences as a young man. He is also a contributor of some 200 pages of essays on movies, culture, politics and history to the book “Oliver Stone’s USA”, edited by Robert Brent Toplin and published by the University Press of Kansas (2000).
Prior to his film career, Stone worked as a school teacher in Vietnam, a Merchant Marine sailor, taxi driver, messenger, production assistant, and sales representative. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry in Vietnam in 1967-68. He was wounded twice and decorated with the Bronze Star for Valor. After returning from Vietnam, he completed his undergraduate studies at New York University Film School in 1971.
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New York University Tisch School of the Arts Asia opened in Singapore in 2007. It is NYU’s first campus outside of New York City and offers the same curriculum that led the school to become one of the leading centers for academic and professional training in the world. Students at Tisch Asia come from 20 countries and are earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in Animation and Digital Arts, Dramatic Writing and Film. For more information on the school, please visit www.tischasia.nyu.edu.sg
