Robert de Niro speaks about ‘Remembering the Artist’ at Brown

In Salomon Hall, each seat was filled with eager students, staff, and visitors, anxiously awaiting the arrival of award-winning director and actor Robert de Niro onstage.

His notable works including The Godfather, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, and Goodfellas, have made us consider Robert de Niro to be one of the great actors of the modern era. De Niro’s upcoming role as Bernard Madoff in the upcoming television drama, The Wizard of Lies, which he was also the executive producer, has received excited anticipation from critics and the public.

The premise of the discussion was based upon the life and legacy of his father, artist Robert de Niro, Sr. The documentary, Remembering the Artist, which was directed by Brown alum Perri Paltz, and featured another panelist, Megan Fox Kelly, who was also a Brown alum and is the art advisor to Robert de Niro Sr’s estate. The documentary also features various interviews, including comments from Robert de Niro Jr. and interviews from artists such as Paul Resicka, Albert Kresch, among others.

Trailer for the film here:

The beautifully constructed and moving film was, in the words of Perri Paltz, “Not just the story of father and son, rather the film comments on the meaning of success.”

Robert de Niro Jr considers it to be his own responsibility to advocate and educate the public on his father’s art. De Niro commented that his father would reflect on his disappointment at not gaining the same recognition that he did at the start of his career throughout his lifetime and say, “Well, the artist only gets recognition after death.”

Interviews with Robert de Niro Sr’s granddaughter, Drena, as well as through comments from old friends from de Niro’s art scene would remember de Niro for his passion, dedication, and effort that was put into his work.

Home videos of Robert de Niro Sr in his workplace and at home provides the audience with a more personal welcome into his life and family.

The documentary was previously screened at the Sundance Film Festival, as well as on HBO. The documentary will also be relaunched on HBO next week.

Following the screening, a panel discussion followed, with our panelists being Robert de Niro Jr, Perri Paltz, and Megan Fox Kelly, and President Christina Paxson, who acted as the facilitator of the conversation.

When asked how his father played a role in his career and life, Robert de Niro paused, and with a tremble in his voice, responded that he admired the deep dedication as to which his father would have to his artwork. He also expressed deep regret on his part in his relationship with his father, saying that he wished that he was able to spend more meaningful time with his father before he passed.

Perri Paltz and Megan Fox Kelly also commented on the creation of the film itself, prefacing by saying that the documentary was initially not meant to be for the public, rather the film was meant to be for family archives. However, they realized this medium would allow for the legacy and name of Robert de Niro Sr, the artist, to reach larger audiences.

De Niro Jr expressed his gratitude to the film, saying the documentary allowed for him to fulfill his promise, which was to have his father’s name be remembered in the public eye.

The facilitated discussion ended, and students and visitors were permitted time to ask questions from the floor.

A question was asked regarding Jodie Foster, who was invited to Brown on Tuesday as a part of the Ivy Film Festival as well. Foster expressed that her role alongside de Niro in Taxi Driver, was a pivotal moment for her, as she was finally able to really learn what it meant to create a character.

De Niro was then asked to elaborate on the artistic process of transforming oneself into a character. With a laugh, he responded by saying working with Jodie was quite easy, then laughing again, saying that it must have been that way since she was only twelve-years-old. But jokes aside, de Niro commented on the need to immerse oneself into the role and allowing yourself to be open to change.

The final question was targeted towards the students of the Brown community, as President Paxson asked de Niro whether he had any advice to the students.

He said: “Do what you do that makes you happy. Do it and don’t let up. Even when things look bleak, it’s the perseverance that will help you succeed. Don’t expect public recognition. If you find what makes you happy, that is the recognition that you need.”