Legendary film producer and UB alumnus Harvey Weinstein donated $50,000 to a scholarship fund for minority students from New York State applying for UB's master's degree program in film and performance.
Weinstein attended UB from 1969 to 1973 as an English major but did not complete a degree. He received an honorary SUNY doctorate in 2000.
"There is a long-time connection," said Uday Sukhatme, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "He was a student here a long time ago."
While attending UB, Weinstein was active in the school's University Union Activities Board where he worked promoting rock concerts, according to the UB Reporter.
Weinstein began to produce concerts independently of UUAB with college friend Horace "Corky" Burger, and after a successful concert featuring Stephan Stills in 1972, Harvey and Corky Productions was formed.
Weinstein's Miramax Films was the natural progression of Harvey and Corky Productions. Established in 1979 as a partnership between Weinstein and his brother Bob, its first office was in Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium.
Miramax - named after Miriam and Max Weinstein, the producer's parents - has received 229 Academy Award nominations and won 54 times. Since 1992, the studio has received 14 Best Picture Nominations, winning two.
Recent Miramax films include "Jersey Girl" with Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck and the upcoming "Kill Bill Vol. 2" with Uma Thurman.
Sukhatme said the college's development staff has been in touch with Weinstein for many years.
"He expressed an interest in helping out in some way," said Sukhatme.
The scholarship is for the graduate program in film and performance, a one-year program consisting of three semesters that is designed to teach the basics of film producing.
Linda Reisman, an active film producer and former head of production for Francis Ford Coppola's production studio, American Zoetrope, heads it the program.
Sukhatme said this gift is a great way for an established filmmaker to advance those coming up in the field. Sukhatme believes it will become annual, though details about future gifts are unclear.
Exactly how the money will be spent depends on the number of students who apply and the quality of the applications received, Sukhatme said. Prospective students must demonstrate filmmaking talent and be residents of New York State.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
