Yo-Yo Ma's 'Silk Road' leads to prize
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, four journalists, and two leading American cancer researchers are the winners of the 2006 Dan David Prize; the announcement is expected to be made today at a Paris press conference. Now in its fifth year, the Dan David Prize awards three prizes of $1 million each to those who have made achievements in honoring the past, recognizing the present, and working for the future. Ma's ''Silk Road Project" was singled out for preserving cultural heritage; four print journalists, Magdi Allam of Italy, Mónica González of Chile, Adam Michnik of Poland, and Goenawan Mohamad of Indonesia, were chosen for exceptional reporting and their commitment to press freedom; and researchers John Mendelsohn and Joseph Schlessinger are being honored for their work in cancer therapies. The awards, endowed by the Dan David Foundation and headquartered at Tel Aviv University, will be presented in May.
Mark Wahlberg aims for ‘Shooter’
Mark Wahlberg's a busy guy. The former Dorchester juvie, who has two movies in the can and has signed on to appear in a cop drama with Joaquin Phoenix, will star in Antoine Fuqua's political thriller ''Shooter," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Based on Stephen Hunter's novel ''Point of Impact," the story centers on a marksman framed for the presidential assassination he was trying to prevent. In a twist reminiscent of ''The Fugitive," Wahlberg's character goes on the run while tracking the real killer. . . . Plans are taking shape for the Meryl Streep celebration at Coolidge Corner Theatre. Add Oscar winner Kevin Kline to the list of those who've said they'll be here April 6 when the ''Sophie's Choice" star is feted. (Lily Tomlin, Chris Cooper, director Robert Altman, and author Susan Orlean have already RSVP'd.) In the weeks leading up to the big event, the Coolidge will screen some of Streep's best-known films and hold acting seminars. One will be led by publicist Lois Smith, cofounder of the legendary PMK Public Relations.
Bobby Brown causing trouble? No . . .
Bobby Brown swears that he and Whitney Houston are still happily married, but you have to wonder after reading what actress Tamala Jones has to say in the new issue of Smooth magazine. Talking about her encounter with Brown at Nick Cannon's birthday party in LA, Jones says the Roxbury-bred R&B singer made a crude pass at her. ''He picks me up and he's like, 'I heard you been in Atlanta, girl. Why you don't come and see me? Don't you know I always wanted to [expletive]?' He said he wasn't even with Whitney anymore." Later, according to Jones, ''[Brown] pulled me by my hair and kind of like pulled me back. I was like, 'You better stop playing.' Then he yanked me back harder and now my whole body tripped back and I'm 'bout to fall. I turn around and he pushes me. I push him back! Then he pushes me again. So I sock-push his [expletive]!" Jones says Bobby's brother, Tommy, broke up the fight.
Stacy London of TLC's ''What Not to Wear" was among the featured speakers at the MGH Harris Center for Education and Advocacy in Eating Disorders the other night, and WBUR's Robin Young moderated.
Paul Rusesabagina, who was portrayed by Don Cheadle in the movie ''Hotel Rwanda," told more than 1,000 people at Bridgewater State College earlier this week about the history of the Rwandan genocide during the mid-1990s.
A Common bash for 'Stiffs'
North Shore brothers Frank and Joe Ciota finish shooting their low-budget indie film ''Stiffs" this week and will have a ''wrap" party at the Boston Harbor Hotel tomorrow with a chunk of the cast and crew, including the movie's star Danny Aiello and executive producer Roger Marino, in attendance. The party will be hosted by Niche Media CEO Jason Binn and his Boston Common magazine, whose spring issue comes out next week. The edition features Pittsfield native Elizabeth Banks, who has four movies in the works, including ''Invincible" with Mark Wahlberg, which was filmed in Philadelphia, where Banks went to college. In her Q&A interview with the glossy publication, Banks talks about being back in the western part of the state for last summer's Williamstown Theatre Festival: ''My whole family's there. . . . I had 30 people who came to see the show." . . . That sassy, blue tank top that ''American Idol" contestant Ayla Brown was spotted wearing on TV the other day? It was one of several pieces the Noble and Greenough student picked up at bebe and Arden B at Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in her hometown.
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