By Ysabel Cacho
When Dr. Taras Danyluk, chair of the SCAD Board of Trustees, reiterated Sir Laurence Olivier’s description of Diane Lane as “the next Grace Kelly,” audiences sat upright in their seats and eagerly craned their necks to hear and see more.
Dr. Danyluk went on to describe Lane as a “bold performer” whose career spanned nearly three decades, juggling comedy, drama and everything else in between. He attributed her chameleon-esque talent to her first year of high school, which he proudly stated was spent in Savannah. He concluded his speech by calling her the “perfect storm of wit, grit and glamor.”
A video tribute highlighted Lane’s impressive and decorated career featuring films such as “The Outsiders,” “Unfaithful” and “Cinema Verite,” generating applause from the audience members.
When Lane stepped on to the stage, not only did she receive her Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award but she also received a standing ovation from the audience. In her speech, Lane thanked Bobby Zarem not only for their friendship but also for being “so loyal and tenacious,” referring to the countless of letters Zarem had written to Lane, saying, “Diane, this is the year! You gotta come down to Savannah and do this!”
Lane said that she was “so glad” to be in the city and was given a tour around the school by Zarem. She went on to say that she was “so impressed and will always be impressed” at the facilities. She added that in an alternate life, she would love to be a student at SCAD, calling it a “wonderful program.”
Before Lane ran off to have a reunion with her former co-star, Matt Dillon, she ended her speech thanking the crowd for making her feel special. The Trustees Theater erupted in applause once again proving that Lane’s charm offstage is just as captivating as her charm onscreen.
