March 1st, 2010, 12:32 pm · 2 Comments · posted by RICHARD CHANG, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts has announced that actor and directorRichard Benjamin will be the school’s spring 2010Marion Knott Filmmaker-in-Residence.

Benjamin is a Golden Globe-winning actor, with a 30-year career that spans Broadway, television and film. He has appeared in more than 20 feature films, and received the Golden Globe for best supporting actor for his role in“The Sunshine Boys” in 1975.

He directed “My Favorite Year” with Peter O’Toole in 1982; “Racing with the Moon” with Sean Penn andNicolas Cage in 1984; “City Heat” with Clint Eastwoodand Burt Reynolds in 1984; “The Money Pit” with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long in 1986; “Little Nikita” withSidney Poitier and River Phoenix in 1988; “Made in America” with Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson in 1993; and many other projects for TV and film.

Recently, he starred with George Segal at the Geffen Playhouse in the American premiere of “Heroes,”adapted and translated by Tom Stoppard.

“Benjamin’s distinguished reputation and years of experience in the industry make him a natural for our filmmaker-in-residence program,” said Bob Bassett, dean of Chapman’s Dodge College. “His unique perspective — as both actor and director, on both stage and set — will give our students a multi-leveled look into the inner workings of directing actors in a film.”

In discussing his appointment, Benjamin, 71, said in a statement: “It’s fun to work with young people, listen to what they have to say, and share what I have to offer.”

The 15-week filmmaker-in-residence program includes screenings of the filmmaker’s own work, followed by Q & A sessions, guest filmmaker screenings with discussions and student mentoring. In addition, the filmmaker in residence interacts with the larger Dodge College community by participating in weekly dinners with students, providing them with the opportunity to hear directly from Hollywood’s elite about their experience in the business.

Previous filmmakers in residence at Chapman have included John Badham, Martha Coolidge, David Foster, Carl Franklin, Bill Kroyer, Tom Mankiewicz, Peter Medak, Jocelyn Moorhouse, Mace Neufield,Polly Platt and David Ward.