As the Screen Actors Guild Foundation awarded the Patron of the Arts Award to mega-producer Jerry Weintraub at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Gala, actors Bruce Willis and Elliott Gould honored both the producer and the Foundation's BookPALS effort.
Willis surprised the crowd as a special presenter, arriving with his entourage to gasps on the red carpet at the Palm Springs Convention Center. He presented the award to the Palm Desert resident who is the producer of films ranging from "Nashville" and "Diner" to the Ocean's series and "The Karate Kid" series.
Willis and Weintraub have been great friends for years, the "Die Hard" series superstar said from the stage. But, he couldn't resist some humor. "Patron of the Arts Award? The guy's from Brooklyn!"
SAG Foundation Board Member Elliott Gould spoke during the Weintraub presentation as well, lauding the BookPALS program and its new presence in the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs area.
Coachella Valley BookPALS Coordinator Tere Romero Britton attended the event on behalf of the SAG Foundation's Coachella Valley BookPALS Program and thanked Gould for his public support of the reading program.
BookPALS
http://www.bookpals.net/content/article.php?story=20080122165343841