The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) has established an award in honor of Barbara Boyle, associate dean for entrepreneurship and special initiatives and professor of film, television and digital media.
The Barbara Boyle Promising Producers Prize will carry on the former film executive’s legacy in educating future filmmakers. Beginning in 2016, the award will be given to a TFT Producers Program student selected to present his or her work at the annual Producers Marketplace during the annual Student Film Festival. The award was established by Albert Dorman, Boyle’s brother and founding chairman of Los Angeles-based AECOM Technology Corporation.
TFT Dean Teri Schwartz, in announcing the award, described Boyle as, “an industry legend, an outstanding colleague, an inspiring mentor [and] the most loyal, wise and generous of friends.”
Boyle earned a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law in 1957, as one of only four women in the student class of 140. From 1982 to 1986, as a film company executive, she oversaw production of “The Terminator” (1984) and “Platoon” (1986). In 1990, she co-founded Sovereign Pictures, with offices in Los Angeles and London. As an independent producer, she made “Phenomenon,” one of the top-grossing movies of 1996. Her films have been nominated for 22 Academy Awards.
In 2003, Boyle stepped down from the presidency of Valhalla Motion Pictures to accept the post of chair of TFT’s Department of Film, Television and Digital Media, where she served for nine years before moving to her current position at the school. She is past president of Film Independent as well as Women in Film, which honored her with the WIF Crystal Award. In 1999, she received the UCLA School of Law Alumni of the Year Award.
“I can think of no one better than Barbara Boyle to be honored with the namesake for the UCLA TFT Promising Producers Prize,” said Cathy Schulman, head of production at STX Entertainment and WIF president. “Barbara devotes herself to each and every student she meets with laser focused attention, creating leaders, collaborators and moral global citizens.”