The annual NYU Tisch School of the Arts Gala honored the father-daughter duo Chris and Eleanor Columbus as well as producer Eddy Moretti
Alma maters mean a great deal to people. They’re the places where one met lifelong friends, honed their passions, and grew into the people that they are now. For many, an alma mater is a home away from home, where life began to take shape and dreams were beginning to be fulfilled. And to the Columbus’ that is most certainly true. Graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, both Harry Potter director Chris Columbus (class of ’80) and The Witch producer Eleanor Columbus (class of ’11) were hugely thankful to their alma mater’s generosity, recognizing the influence that the school had on their artistic endeavors.
“Growing up, I would see Chris light up when he spoke about NYU, and as soon as I walked through the doors of Tisch everything made sense,” said Eleanor. Her father reiterated his love for the school, adding “I love the students of NYU. Art can change the world, and this world needs your vision and integrity more than ever.” It seemed like it was inevitable for the two to have a continued close relationship with the school, one that they continue to foster and grow. When asked how it felt being honored by NYU, Chris exclaimed, “it’s a dream come true. It’s awesome! I love this school and I love everything about this school. It’s a great night for us. And it’s early on in our company, I mean we’re only four years into it. But I feel really good about it.”
As the gala started, Alec Baldwin (class of ’94) presented the two with the Big Apple Award for Artistic Achievement, saying “The two of them have each found a fabulous partner in each other.” The actor went on to explain that “they are two NYU film students, committed to giving a hand to other young talented filmmakers and stocking the pond with new talent.” Never resting on their laurels, the Columbus’ pointed out some of the new projects that they’re looking forward to, one of which is The Lighthouse. “The movie we’re shooting now in Nova Scotia with Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe called The Lighthouse is a psychological thriller with a great script.” The director went on to explain that the film is Robert Eggers’ second project with the duo, the first of which was the critically acclaimed The Witch. If Eggers’ first film is anything to go by, then The Lighthouse will certainly be yet another home run for the nascent director.
