Ron Howard | 
Jack Shea and wife Patt. | 
Robert Ilea of The Sopranos with
his father, Eddie Ilea. | 
Edward Kennedy | 
Cynthia Nixon of Sex and the City. | 
Shirley MacLaine with daughter,
Sachi Parker, and husband
Frank Murray. | 
The Sopranos was represented by
Federic Castelloccio (l-r), John
Bentiniglia and Dominic Chianeso. | DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA
Directors Invite
Stars to Dinner Story and photos by Tim Boxer  HIRD annual Directors Guild of America Honors, celebrating individuals and organizations that have made distinguished contributions to our nation’s culture in support of filmmaking and television, will take place Nov. 17 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.
Last year’s black-tie dinner at the Grand Hyatt brought out the A-List of film celebrities. President Jack Shea and national vice president Ed Sherin were thrilled indeed. At the time Sherin announced that DGA would present a $15,000 scholarship award to Columbia University’s film program. “The Directors Guild of America Honors scholarship is given to encourage the artistic vision of the next generation,” he said. “We want to support educational programs like Columbia’s which foster talent, excellence and creativity among young filmmakers.” At the first annual awards, DGA donated a similar scholarship award to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Ellen DeGeneres hosted last year’s event to the delight of such personalities in the audience as Edie Falco, Gina Gershon, James Gandolfini, Nicole Kidman, Michael Ovitz, Jack Valenti and many more VIPs. Those honored were filmmaker Mike Nichols; director/actor/producer Sidney Pollack; Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Jeff Bewkes, chairman/ceo of Home Box Office; Thomas C. Short, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE), and Frank Capra Jr., president of EUE Screen Gems. Presenters were Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow, Shirley MacLaine, David Chase and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH). | 
