Photo Flash: CSUN Renames Wing in Ceremony Featuring Jenna Elfman

California State University, Northridge (CSUN) renamed its south wing of the Manzanita Hall to the "Hollywood Foreign Press Association Wing" in honor of the HFPA's significant and continued investment in the Department of Cinema and Television Arts (CTVA). The dedication is in celebration of the $2 million grant the HFPA donated to CSUN's CTVA department to support students, and enhance technology along with the creation of a Hollywood Foreign Press Association Scholars program.

"The HFPA is investing in improving the film and television community with grants to education, the arts and film preservation," said Dianne F. Harrison, President of California State University, Northridge.

Harrison continued saying, "for their desire to make positive change in the face of entertainment, celebrate diversity and offer opportunity for underrepresented students to have a chance to pursue a career in entertainment, I applaud the HFPA and acknowledge the university's gratitude for all your philanthropy has accomplished."

"Over the course of our two-decade relationship, CSUN has shown and proven that the existence of the Department of Cinema and Television Arts continues to be vital," said President of the HFPA Meher Tatna. "It provides invaluable opportunities to underrepresented students and produces exceptional entertainment industry professionals, all while maintaining its top-notch status."

"The HFPA has chosen to partner with CSUN and invest in our ability to deliver the diversity lacking in the entertainment industry with the quality that our program has shown that it provides," said Dan Hosken, Dean of Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication. "The HFPA Scholars program provides generous support to underrepresented students, and gives them unique opportunities. "

Following the wing dedication ceremony, actress and CSUN alumna Jenna Elfman moderated a short panel discussion to a packed house about the history and evolution of the HFPA, where panelists also shared personal anecdotes from over the years about some of the most iconic actors of our time. Panelists included Noel de Souza, Jorge Camara, Aida Takla-O'Reilly, Philip Berk, and Mahfouz Doss.

Highlights from the panel include:

When asked about their favorite celebrity interview from over the years, the entire panel agreed in unison that Alfred Hitchcock was by far their favorite. They admired his honesty, humor and directness.

When Elfman asked about their most memorable Golden Globe moment, Doss answered:

"I remember the event with Marilyn Monroe and Rock Hudson. As a matter of fact, someone took a picture of me. It was me, Marilyn Monroe and Rock Hudson. The three of us together." When Elfman asked if he still had the photo, Doss responded, "Yes, I still have it. I show it to people from time to time." Elfman joked, "If you get pulled over by the police, just pull that out." As the room erupted with laughter, Doss replied, "That's what I'll do."

When Elfman asked the panelists about how they managed to file their newspaper stories in time for their deadlines before technology existed, Camara replied with his anecdote:

"I would go to the airport and find people who were flying to Mexico City. I would ask them if they could please take the story with them. Fortunately, most of them said yes. Then when they got into Mexico City, there was somebody there waiting to greet them. That was our system."

When Elfman asked the group about their most memorable interview, de Souza recalled:

"In the early days, we didn't have these press conferences, so the studio publicists would get us one-on-one {interviews}. I had one with Charles Bronson. I went up to his house and I remember he was teaching me how to do karate and jiu jitsu, while we were munching on cookies."

CSUN's relationship with the HFPA dates back to 1996, with an initial gift of $500. In addition to the $2 million gift, the HFPA grants have supported student film projects and helped keep CSUN's film program current with the latest technology. CSUN students edit in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Senior Film Edit Suite on campus, and work on sound design in a state-of-the-art sound mix facility made possible by funds given by the association.

To date, the HFPA has committed nearly $30 million in grants to charities and institutions of higher education, handed out more than 1,500 scholarships and helped restore more than 90 films. Just last month, the HFPA continued its long-time tradition by awarding $2.8 million in grants at its annual Grants Banquet. The donations benefit a wide range of projects, including higher education, training and mentoring, and the promotion of cultural exchange through film.

ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION

Founded in the 1940s during World War II, the HFPA was originally comprised of a handful of L.A.-based overseas journalists who sought to bridge the international community with Hollywood, and to provide distraction from the hardships of war through film. Seventy years later, members of the HFPA represent 56 countries with a combined readership of 250 million in some of the world's most respected publications. Each year, the organization holds the third most watched awards show on television, the Golden Globe® Awards, which has enabled the organization to donate nearly $30 million to entertainment-related charities, scholarship programs and humanitarian efforts. For more information, please visit www.GoldenGlobes.com and follow us on Twitter (@GoldenGlobes) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/GoldenGlobes).

Photo Credit: Allison Bird

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