Clint Eastwood receives honorary doctorate from AFI

"Go ahead, punks - make my day." (He might very well have thought.)

by PegNews wire

In an example of epic understatement combined with "DUH!"-ism, the American Film Institute (AFI) has bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts on Clint Eastwood, for "contribution of distinction to the art of the moving image.” The conferral came during commencement ceremonies for AFI's 2009 graduating class, which took place on Wednesday (June 10).

His list of accomplishments is L-O-N-G. (I'm just sayin'.)

After the presentation (made by film historian Richard Schickel) - and in an effort to quell what must have been tumultuous applause - the laconic actor/director/composer (etc., etc.) told the crowd to "knock it off, will ya?"

Eastwood went on to quip "I never went to a film school because they didn't have them when I started out. But after doing more than 50 films as an actor and 30 as a director I would have thought I could have graduated before this."

Eastwood concluded with a reminder to graduates that, when they find themselves challenged by the difficulties of their filmmaking careers, they should never forget that they are artists. He urged them to believe in their talent.

(The AFI Conservatory offers a two-year accredited MFA program, granting degrees in six filmmaking disciplines—Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting.)

For those unfamiliar with Eastwood's half-century of accomplishments, here are the complete details as provided by AFI. But be forewarned: his list of accomplishments is long.

An American master, actor and director, Eastwood has built a legendary body of work in a career that spans more than 60 films and over a half-century.

Born in San Francisco in 1930, Eastwood grew up in Depression-era Northern California. After technical high school, he held jobs as a firefighter, lumberjack and steelworker before serving in the US Army as a swimming instructor during the Korean War. He came to Los Angeles to attend college on the GI Bill, eventually signing as a contract player at Universal.

Eastwood first gained recognition as an actor as boyish cattle driver Rowdy Yates in the popular '60s television series RAWHIDE. He then took a chance on a new, more ambiguous kind of cowboy in his collaboration with director Sergio Leone on a trilogy of spaghetti westerns that helped redefine the western genre. A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (1964), FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (1965) and THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (1966) made Eastwood a star as the laconic “Man With No Name.”

In the '70s, Eastwood created another iconic screen character—the fiercely independent, rogue cop Harry Callahan in five controversial and crowd-pleasing DIRTY HARRY movies—firmly establishing his quiet persona, spare acting style and totemic macho presence.

Eastwood used his clout as an international star to found his own production company, Malpaso Productions, where he expanded into directing with PLAY MISTY FOR ME (1971). As director, producer, composer and star, he has worked across genres, including westerns, comedies, romances, thrillers and a music biopic, with such diverse films as THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES (1976), BIRD (1988), THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (1995), MYSTIC RIVER (2003), FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (2006) and LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (2006). His UNFORGIVEN (1992) and MILLION DOLLAR BABY (2004) were Academy Award winners for Best Direction and Best Picture. In 2008, Eastwood directed CHANGELING and starred in and directed the highly acclaimed GRAN TORINO.

A virtuoso screen artist who works with the greatest economy of style, Eastwood is one of the great creative talents in American film history. His list of accomplishments is long, including two years in politics as mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Among his honors, Eastwood has received the 24th AFI Life Achievement Award, the Kennedy Center Honors and the Irving Thalberg Memorial Award for producing.

In my capacity as film guy, let me be the first to offer up a hearthy congratulations to "Dr. Eastwood" on behalf of Pegasus News.

posted by JM; source: AFI