When the new American Film Institute season starts today, the class will have at least one legacy student. I’ve heard that Malcolm Washington, son of Oscar winner Denzel and his wife Pauletta, is embarking on a career as a filmmaker. Malcolm was a high school and college basketball player with an eye on cinema. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2013.
Malcolm isn’t the first kid who’s come to AFI with a starry provenance. The class of 2014 included Pixar chief John Lasseter’s son Bennett and John de Menil of the famed de Menil art collector family.
In past years, the school also boasted John Kerry’s daughter Alexandra, Karl Malden’s granddaugher Cami Starkman, Jace Alexander (son of Jane Alexander and writer Robert Alexander), Charlie McDowell (Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen are the parents) and even Bette Midler’s performing artist husband Martin von Hasselberg.
When the Conservatory opens today, the new class will get a nice perk– an early screening of AFI grad Ed Zwick’s new film “Pawn Sacrifice” starring Tobey Maguire, Peter Sarsgaard, and Lily Rabe.
