JULY’S SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: RONALD SCHWARY
Academy-Award Winning Producer, Director & current Executive Producer of the hit TV show, Medium

In a career that has spanned more than 37 years in film, and 18 years in television, award-winning Ronald L. Schwary has gathered the skills, experience and laurels that make him one of the most sought-after and respected purveyors of his craft. He has also gathered an enviable rolodex of connections that has included the likes of Cecil B. Demille, Robert Redford, Sydney Pollack, Mick Jagger, Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt.

Schwary’s astonishingly impressive list of film credits include, “Absence of Malice”, Academy Award-winner, “Ordinary People,” Academy Award-nominated, “Tootsie,” Academy Award-nominated “A Soldier’s Story,” “Batteries Not Included,” “Havana,” “Sabrina,” “Scent of a Woman,” “Cops and Robbersons,” “The Mirror Has Two Faces,” “Meet Joe Black,” and “Random Hearts.” Schwary made his move to television as Producer for the series, “Tour of Duty”. It was this show that he made his directorial debut, adding more credits throughout his career directing episodes of series such as the long-running drama “Sisters” and “Now and Again,” on which he also served as executive producer.

At age 14, already an aspiring filmmaker, young Schwary began a storybook odyssey that would take him from his native Portland, Oregon on a 1,000 mile solitary bus trip to the studio of his boyhood idol, Cecil B. Demille. It was an unlikely friendship and correspondence that began years earlier and would continue between the two until Mr. Demille’s death.

Later, unerring in his determination, he entered film school at the University of Southern California. As Manager of the USC Football Team, Schwary met another film legend, John Wayne, who would again figure prominently in furthering his goal. It would be Wayne who would provide the encouragement and counsel that prompted the frustrated would-be director/producer to accept work as an extra: standing in for Dustin Hoffman on “The Graduate” and later on “Planet of the Apes,” ultimately launching his long and successful career. Schwary would soon make the move to the other side of the camera as an assistant director trainee.

In 1978, Schwary was hired as associate producer for Sydney Pollack’s “The Electric Horseman” starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. He so impressed Redford, that he tagged Schwary to produce “Ordinary People” for him in his directorial debut. Starring Mary Tyler Moore and Donald Sutherland, “Ordinary People” went on to capture Academy Awards for Best Picture for Schwary, Best Director for Redford, as well as several other awards.

Also in 1982, Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones called upon Schwary to produce their concert film, “Let’s Spend The Night Together” a forerunner of future rock documentaries. Schwary is particularly proud of the recognition he has received for his contribution to New York’s film industry. He is the recipient of the Crystal Apple Award presented by New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the Primetime Award given by the Westchester Film Commission.