Genius (no, really) filmmaker Edet Belzberg

One time in college, I took on the challenge of using academic research to prove Lou Reed was a genius. That was all fine and dandy (and did not take that much work, honestly), but if you really want to be a genius in this town, you should try and get one of these "Genius Grants" from the MacArthur Foundation--which, according to the foundation's Web site, is "dedicated to helping groups and individuals foster lasting improvement in the human condition."

Indeed, it seems that is really where it is at. Take New York-based documentary filmmaker Edet Belzberg, whose documentary Children Underground claimed a Special Jury Prize at Sundance in 2001 and an Oscar nomination for best documentary feature the following year. Her latest, Gymnast, just wowed audiences at Toronto, and the Daily News reports she might have a clear path to make at least a couple more with the $500,000 gift she received Tuesday:

(Belzberg) was so shocked when she got "the call" on her cell phone that she wandered into a bedding store and sat on a mattress for an hour in stunned disbelief.

"The manager assumed something was wrong and just let me sit there," said Belzberg, 35, who documented the plight of Romanian runaways in Children Underground. "The amount of freedom this provides is just incredible."

Evidently, you cannot apply for a Genius Grant; rather, you must be nominated anonymously among the MacArthur board's 125 members. So to all those reading, Vote Reeler in 2006, OK? I can send along the Lou Reed paper if you like. Oh, Jesus, who am I kidding? Give it to Harvey!