Biography: Blaise Godbe Lipman known professionally as "Blaise" is an award-winning American filmmaker, actor, political commentator, and a Time Person of the Year for his social activism. Blaise initially was professionally known as a Blaise Embry, a surname his first agents recommended because they thought “god” in Godbe may be too polarizing, and Lipman too ethnic. Blaise later returned to his given name upon becoming a filmmaker.