ROBERT L. FREEDMAN's (BA, '79), musical comedy, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder, won four Tony Awards on Sun., June 8, including Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical for Freedman. These are the first two individual Tony Award wins for Freedman.
JOHN RUBINSTEIN RETURNS TO 'PIPPIN'
Veteran stage and screen actor JOHN RUBINSTEIN, who originated the role of Pippin on Broadway in 1972, has joined the revival Broadway cast of Pippin at the Music Box Theatre in the role of Charles, from June 10-July 27. The revival began its run on Fri., April 25.
ELIJAH TRICHON PERFORMS OFF-BROADWAY
ELIJAH TRICHON (BA, '10) is performing in the world premiere of The Mysteries, in which 48 playwrights and 54 actors retell the entirety of the Bible in a single night, at Manhattan's Flea Theater, through Mon., July 14.
NANCY KEYSTONE RECEIVED DORIS DUKE AWARD
In April, multi-disciplinary artist NANCY KEYSTONE (BA, '85) received the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation's 2014 Doris Duke Artist Award, which invests in the potential of dedicated artists.
ALEX LEVY DIRECTED 'THE TASTE OF IT'
ALEX LEVY (MFA, '12) directed the world premiere of The Taste of It by John Adams for Ballybeg Theatre at Theatre 54 in New York City. The show ended its run in June.
ROXIE PERKINS, PLAYWRIGHT FELLOW/FINALIST
ROXIE PERKINS (BA, '13) was the youngest Playwright Fellow at the Sundance Institute's 2014 Playwrights Retreat at the Ucross Foundation in Sheridan, Wyo., which is designed for both emerging and established artists. Additionally, Perkins' play, RUN, was a finalist in the 2014 Global Age Project new work reading series at Berkeley's Aurora Theatre Company.
OTHER THEATER ALUMNI NEWS
Fox has tapped writer-director SHANE BLACK (BA, '83) to write the treatment for a 'Predator' remake while Warner Bros. has picked up his script "The Nice Guys." Black will direct both projects…Director and production designer JAMES DARRAH (MFA, '10) was instrumental in the San Francisco Symphony's highly successful celebration of English composer Benjamin Britten's centenary with a series of concerts in June, including the semi-staged production of Peter Grimes, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas…ROB DUVAL (BA, '93, MFA '98) directed Pat Sajak and Tony Award nominee Loretta Ables in Wrestling Ernest Hemingway at the Hawaii Theatre Center in June. Last summer, he directed Patty Duke in the world premiere of the play Heaven Forbid, also at the Hawaii Theatre Center...The work of stage director and costume designer ERICH LANE (BA, '06) was on display in A-li-en the Family, a play featured in the first annual Sci-Fest: The Los Angeles Science Fiction One-Act Play Festival in May…Lighting designer KRISTIE ROLDAN (MFA, '03) designed Lesli Margherita's Vegas-style nightclub act All Hail the Queen for its June premiere at Supper Club 54 Below in New York City. She also designed the It Gets Better Tour, a music and theater production aimed at energizing community awareness and support around the issues of bullying and harassment. The tour is a collaboration between the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Speak Theater Arts and the It Gets Better Project...Award-winning actor TISHUAN SCOTT (MFA, '06), who stars in the critically acclaimed 'The Retrieval' (written and directed by CHRIS ESKA (MFA, '03)), was interviewed by the Daily Actor. The film's Los Angeles premiere was held in May.
'AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY' BROADCAST PREMIERE
'American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs,' the documentary of alumna and filmmaker GRACE LEE (MFA, '02), had its national broadcast premiere in late June on PBS' 'POV.' The film will stream on the POV website from July 1-30.
AMPAS EXTENDS INVITATION TO TFT ALUMNI AND FACULTY
GINA PRINCE-BLYTHEWOOD (BA, '91), EARL GHAFFARI (BA, '84) and lecturer TONY FANNINGwere among the 271 individuals invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in June.
'A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT'
U.S. distributor Kino Lorber has acquired the rights to ANA LILY AMIRPOUR's (MFA, '10) Iranian vampire film 'A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night.' The unexpected hit, which Amirpour wrote, directed and produced, debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival. 'Girl' will also be part of the Sundance NEXT Fest lineup, Aug. 7-10, screening at the Theatre at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles.
FRANK MARSHALL'S NEXT PROJECT
Alumnus and executive board member FRANK MARSHALL (BA, '68) will direct Paramount's shipwreck drama 'The Longest Night.' His company, Kennedy/Marshall, will also produce, alongside Conde Nast Entertainment.
MOCTESUMA ESPARZA PROFILED
Maya Cinemas North America CEO MOCTESUMA ESPARZA (BA, '71, MFA, '73) was the cover story of the April 2014 edition of Smart Business Los Angeles magazine, which talked about his rise to success and how he gives back to his community.
JUSTIN LIN'S NEW PROJECTS
JUSTIN LIN (BA, '95) has teamed with Gaumont International Television on 'Radiant Doors,' a dystopian drama for WGN America, while his new branded entertainment firm, Bullitt, is teaming with Marvel and Harley-Davidson to create a digital franchise featuring two motorcycle-riding superheroes.
'HIDDEN MIRACLES OF THE NATURAL WORLD'
LOUIE SCHWARTZBERG (BA, '72) was one of five speakers at TED2014 in March. As of early July, his stunning seven-minute presentation, 'Hidden Miracles of the Natural World,'has reached nearly 3 million views on TED.com. He was also interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in April for OWN TV's Super Soul Sunday.
2014 HUNTER ZAKIN AWARD RECIPIENTS
Screenwriters CORMAC and MARIANNE WIBBERLEY (MFA, '91) were honored in May with the 2014 Lew and Pamela Hunter/Jonathan and Janice Zakin Chair Holder in Screenwriting Award at the James Bridges Theater. Following the screening of their film 'National Treasure,' the couple participated in a Q&A with Screenwriting Program co-Chair HAL ACKERMAN. Additional credits for the Wibberley's include 'National Treasure: Book of Secrets,' 'I Spy' and 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.'
OTHER FTVDM ALUMNI NEWS
In conjunction with the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Nevada and the Laugh Factory at the Tropicana Hotel, MAX AMINI (BA, '05) headlined a special evening of comedy in May, donating his performance to help make the wish of a little boy named Vinnie, who needs a swimming pool in his backyard, come true… Directors BENJAMIN ARFMANN (MFA '13, 'Random Stop') and PATRICK BROOKS (MFA, '12, 'The Boy Scout') were finalists at BAFTA's 11th Annual Los Angeles Student Film Awards, which took place in June at the Los Angeles Film School in Hollywood…HAL BORDEN (MFA, '96) brings his comedy, 'A Position of Relative Importance,' to the Interplay Jewish Theater in Cleveland July 13-14….SUSANA CASARES (MFA, '12) won the Special Jury Prize for her film 'Tryouts' at the Bermuda International Film Festival…'Fingerprints,' a film by ROBYN CHARLES (BA, '07), was shown at the San Francisco Black Film Festival in June…MIGDIA CHINEA (MFA, '12) was at the Marché at the Cannes Film Festival in May with her company, Ciboney Prods., and her film 'Old Havana and the Great Pimp of San Isidro.' It stars DIANA DENSMORE (MFA, '11), was edited by SKIP SPIRO (MFA, '75) and art directed by UCLA alumnus Frank Varela (AB, '92)…Director JON CRAWFORD (MFA, '12) and cinematographer IVAN RODRIGUES (MFA, '14) have joined the public television reality series 'Mineral Explorers'…JESSE DRAPER (BA, '06) expanded her show, 'The Valley Girl Show,' from the Internet to syndicated TV via Cox Media Group this summer…Producer TED FAYE (MFA, '84) has teamed up with director Zatella Beatty to produce a feature documentary about NBA superstar Allen Iverson. 'Iverson' had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in April…ARTEL GREAT (BA, '10; MA, '12), currently a Ph.D. candidate at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, is the 2014 winner of the university's prestigious Cinema Research Institute (CRI) Fellowship…'Blue Boy,' by alumnus ALEX JABLONSKY, was part of KQED's Film School Shorts' new season, which began in April…JOSH MANDEL's (MFA, '06) film, 'Uncertain Terms,' had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June…CARLOS MARQUES MARCET's (MFA, '12) film, 'Long Distance (10.000 Km),' was among the standout films at SXSW, according to Variety and IndieWire…ERIC MARTIN's (MFA, '12) 'Mudbloods,' about real-life Quidditch teams, premiered at AFI Docs in June… Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions have jointly acquired 'Dear White People,' lensed by cinematographer TOPHER OSBORN (MFA, '08)…'Targeting,' the first feature film from UCLA MFA alumni TARIQUE QAYUMI (MFA, '09), ALAN DE LA ROSA (MFA, '10), JOEY PATTERSON (MFA, '12) and KATE HACKETT (MFA, '09), premiered at the Dances With Films festival in June…'Oh Baby!,' a feature film from STEVEN ROTHBLATT (BA '87, MFA '90) starring Didi Conn, Laura Ceron and Paul Lieber, will be released later this summer…MIA SABLE (BA, '07) wrote, performed and co-produced the theme song 'It's Easy' for the Bravo reality series 'Southern Charm,' which ended its first season in May…ESTHER SHUBINSKI (MFA, '12), has edited the fundraising reel for the documentary 'Weed the People,' which looks into medical marijuana. The film is produced by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein…'Casablanca Mon Amour,' the first feature film from JOHN SLATTERY (MFA, '05), which explores a Moroccan perspective on the entwined relationship between Hollywood and Morocco, had its world premiere at the International Film Festival in December…two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner JOEL SURNOW's (BA, '76) comedy, 'Small Time,' which was written 38 years ago at UCLA TFT, was released in April. The film also marked Surnow's feature film directorial debut...LISA VANGELLOW (MFA, '13) is directing a nearly completed documentary about James Franco. The cinematographer is ANDREW GLENNON (BA, '13)…QI WANG (Ph.D., '08) has been awarded tenure and promoted to the rank of associate professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication. 'Memory, Subjectivity and Independent Chinese Cinema,' Wang's first book, will be published in August 2014 by Edinburgh University Press, UK.
KCET'S FINE CUT FILM FESTIVAL
The films of UCLA TFT MFA students SETH RONQUILLO ('US'), VANESSA KNUTSEN ('The Promised Land') and DEHANZA ROGERS ('Sweet, Sweet Country') were chosen as part of KCET's Annual Fine Cut Student Film Festival. 'US' premiered on Mon., June 23; 'The Promised Land' premiered on Mon., July 7; and 'Sweet, Sweet Country' will premiere on Mon., July 14.
SPRITE FILMS WINNER
Sprite Films has named MFA production student MERLIN CAMOZZI the Green Ribbon Panel Award Winner in its 2014 program for his short film 'What We Need.' Written and directed by Camozzi and produced by fellow UCLA TFT MFA production student RICHARD PERRY, 'What We Need' was chosen from six finalist films by a panel of film industry and corporate professionals. Promotional advertising about the program will run in more than 23,000 theaters this August and Camozzi's film will play in theaters across the country this November.
NATO FELLOWSHIP IN FILM RECIPIENTS
DAVID GRANGER (MFA, '14), JENNIFER MANEL (MFA, '14), first-year MFA animation student GRACIELA SARABIA,CADDY PANTIDA VANASIRIKUL (MFA, '14) and second year-MFA production student JOSHUA YUNIS were the 2014 UCLA NATO Fellowship in Film recipients. Vanasirikul's film, 'My Name is Caddy,' screened as part of the NATO Membership meeting in June.
SHORTTAKES FILM FESTIVAL
In May, three UCLA TFT students won awards at the 20th Annual Shorttakes Student Film Festival at Ackerman Grand Ballroom: MFA animation student BEN HAIST earned the Best Animation award for 'How to See New York in One Day'; senior film student RYAN ELKINS received the Best Comedy award for 'Small Talk'; and MFA animation student VALERIE GIULI won Best in Show for 'Attack of the Killer Trees.'
NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL
MFA students STEVEN HUFFAKER ('XR91 BioRebellion 2.0') and DEHANZA ROGERS ('Sweet, Sweet Country') along with alumni JASON KOHL (MFA, '12) ('The Slaughter'), PUJA MAEWAL (MFA, '12) ('Jaya') and JULIA VAZQUEZ (BA, '13) ('Gotas de Sal') were featured in the Newport Beach Film Festival's Collegiate Showcase in April.
LACMA Muse selected MFA production student MEJA SHOBA's 'Boys of Soweto' and MAGGIE TRAN's (MFA, '12) 'Out of the Blue' to screen at the 13th annual Young Directors Night in April. Other UCLA alumni who worked on 'Out of the Blue' include DP DAGMAR WEAVER-MADSEN (MFA, '12), producer SORAYA SELENE (MFA, '11), producers RAZA AHMAD (MFA, '12) & CHEN-WEI LIU (MFA, '12), editor ALEX DEMILLE (MFA, '10), AD DANA TURKEN (MFA, '12), and AD team LUKE SLENDEBROEK (MFA, '12) & MASAMI KAWAI (MFA, '13).
UCLA DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD
Ph.D. in film candidate BENJAMIN SHER has been named a recipient of the UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award for Teaching Assistants.
CMS BOOK GETS STRONG REVIEW
'Superhero Synergies: Comic Book Characters Go Digital,' written by CMS Ph.D. student MATTHIAS STORK and JAMES N. GILMORE (MA, '13), has received a strong, positive review from Slant. Read it here.
SUE-ELLEN CASE'S BOOK TRANSLATED INTO POLISH
Poland's Jagiellonian University Publishing Press is translating and publishing SUE-ELLEN CASE's 'Performing Science and the Virtual' into Polish. Case is a distinguished professor and chair, Ph.D. Program in Theater and Performance Studies.
DAN IONAZZI'S LORTEL NOMINATION
Dept. of Theater Director of Production DAN IONAZZI received a 2014 Lucille Lortel Award nomination for outstanding lighting design for his work on the Acorn Theater production of The Jacksonian in New York City.
CHRISI KARVONIDES' WORK
Costume design professor CHRISI KARVONIDES will moderate the Costume Designers Guild Comic Con panel 'Costumes as a Career' at the San Diego Convention Center on Thurs., July 24. Panelists include Kristin Burke (costume designer, 'Sleepy Hollow'), Brigitta Romanov (assistant costume designer, 'Glee'), Gina DeDomenico Flanagan (costume illustrator, 'Godzilla') and Cate Adair (vice president, Costume Designers Guild Local 892 Union), as well as Eddie Marks (Western Costume Company), Celia Sedwick Rogus (creative director, FIDM Film & TV Costume Design Advanced Study Program) and Shane Mahan (Co-founder of Legacy Effects).
Additionally, Professor Karvonides designed the costumes for the Fox pilot, 'Hieroglyph.' Recent UCLA TFT grads were also involved, including REBECCA GUZZI (MFA, '13), EUN NYM CHO (MFA, '13), DANIEL MAHLER (MFA, '12) and PATRICK SCALISE (MFA, '13), working on digital graphics for numerous presentations as well as graphics for Egyptian costume elements.
DEBORAH NADOOLMAN LANDIS HONORED
Professor DEBORAH NADOOLMAN LANDIS has received the 2014 CSA Professional Costume Designer/Technologist Award from the Costume Society of America and will present her work at the CSA National Symposium in 2015.
COPLEY CENTER HOSTS FIRST SWAROVSKI DESIGNER IN RESIDENCE
In April, Professor Landis welcomed the Copley Center for the Study of Costume Design's first Swarovski Designer in Residence, Academy Award-winning costume designer Sandy Powell ('Shakespeare in Love'). In tandem with Powell, Professor Landis spoke at the Getty Center about the role of photographs and other visual sources in costume design, with particular reference to 'A Royal Passion: Queen Victoria and Photography,' which was on view at the Getty Museum, through early June.
SEAN METZGER'S NEW BOOK RELEASED
Indiana University Press published Assistant Professor SEAN METZGER's new book, 'Chinese Looks — Fashion, Performance, Race' in April. Separately, Professor Metzger was interviewed by Framing the Global, a five-year initiative of Indiana University Press and the Indiana University Center for the Study of Global Change. He was also interviewed by Voice of Americaabout 'Chinese Looks.'
CAROL FISHER SORGENFREI HONORED
Professor Emerita CAROL FISHER SORGENFREI will be honored as one of the Founding Mothers of Asian Theater Studies by the Association for Asian Performance at this year's conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., July 23-24.
JOSE LUIS VALENZUELA HELMS LATEST LATC PRODUCTION
In May, Professor JOSÉ LUIS VALENZUELA directed the Los Angeles Theatre Center's production of Evelina Fernandez's Premeditation. The play starred Sal Lopez, Lucy Rodriguez, Geoffrey Rivas and Evelina Fernandez.
BARBARA BOYLE'S WORK
UCLA TFT Associate Dean of Entrepreneurial Activities and Special Initiatives BARBARA BOYLE attended Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival in June to award the Barbara Boyle Fellowship to Project Involve Fellow Kimberly Hwang. Project Involve is Film Independent's signature diversity program dedicated to cultivating the careers of filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the entertainment industry. The award was named after Boyle, a Project Involve founder, to acknowledge her efforts in creating and raising funds for the fellowship.
In March, Professor Boyle attended the 34th Annual International Festival of New Latin America Cinema as part of a U.S. delegation from Women in Film to welcome the Cuban Women Filmmakers Network as an official WIF chapter in Havana, Cuba. During her time there, Professor Boyle and her fellow delegates participated in meetings with The Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry and exchanged ideas with filmmakers from Latin America and the Caribbean.
JEFF BURKE SELECTED AS IFIP KEYNOTE SPEAKER
JEFF BURKE, Assistant Dean, Technology and Innovation, gave a keynote speech, 'Why Architecture Matters to Everyone: Creativity on the Future Internet,' at the IFIP Networking 2014 Conference in Trondheim, Norway in June. Additionally, Burke and the work created by his students with Google Glass were profiled in this UCLA Newsroom story.
MARIA ELENA DE LAS CARRERAS LECTURE
Assistant Professor MARIA ELENA DE LAS CARRERAS (MA, '89, Ph.D. '95) recently returned from teaching at the Universidad Austral in Buenos Aires. While in Buenos Aires, she spoke about the Catholic imagination in film at the Facultad de Comunicación of the Universidad de Montevideo.
Lecturer KATHLEEN MCINNIS was the new festival director of the Palm Springs International Short Films Festival and Market in June.
CHON NORIEGA KEYNOTES AT IU's LATINO FILM FESTIVAL
UCLA TFT professor CHON NORIEGA, director of the Chicano Studies Research Center, was the keynote speaker at Indiana University's annual Latino Film Festival and Conference in April, and led a conversation with actor Edward James Olmos as part of the Jorgensen Guest Filmmaker Lecture Series. Separately, Professor Noriega co-curated, with Celine Kopp and Pilar Thompkins Rivas, the exhibit 'Asco and Friends: Exiled Portraits,' which was on view, through early July, at the Friche Belle de Mai cultural complex in Marseille, France.
HOWARD SUBER RECEIVED DICKSON EMERITUS PROFESSORSHIP AWARD
Professor Emeritus HOWARD SUBER has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2014 Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award. It is the highest honor bestowed upon a retired faculty member of the University of California, Los Angeles.
RICHARD WALTER APPOINTED NEW ASSOCIATE DEAN, STUDENT AFFAIRS
Professor RICHARD WALTER, co-chair of the UCLA TFT Screenwriting Program, has been appointed Associate Dean, Student Affairs. His appointment began Tues., July 1.
SOCIETY FOR CINEMA & MEDIA STUDIES CONFERENCE
In March, the UCLA TFT Cinema and Media Studies department held a reception at the Society for Cinema & Media Studies Conference 2014 in Seattle, Wash. CMS professors from UCLA TFT who presented papers at the conference included JOHN CALDWELL, ALLYSON FIELD, DENISE MANN, KATHLEEN MCHUGH and JASMINE NADUA TRICE, who, as the newest member of the CMS faculty, was formally welcomed into the department. CMS alumna REBECCA PRIME (Ph.D., '09), whose recent book, 'Hollywood Exiles in Europe' has received strong reviews, was honored with the Alumni of the Year Award. CMS alumnus ERIC SMOODIN (Ph.D., '84) was also honored. A number of UCLA TFT CMS MA and Ph.D. students were present at the conference as well.
'MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.' SET VISIT
Early in the Spring Quarter, Adjunct Professor MYRL SCHREIBMAN took his undergraduate producing class to the Culver Studios set of 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,' where they met with Schreibman's former student, executive producer JEFF BELL (MFA, '90).
2014 UCLA PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS SPRING QUARTER CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION CEREMONY
Students of the 2014 UCLA Professional Programs in Screenwriting were feted last month during the Spring Quarter Certificate Presentation Ceremony at the Hammer Museum. Winners of the 10th Annual Nate Wilson Joie de Vivre Award and the annual Advanced Feature Screenplay Competition were also announced. The Nate Wilson Joie de Vivre Award, along with $2,500, was given to NICK HURWITCH for his comedic drama, 'The Ashes.' CHRISTOPHER FOWLER won the Advanced Feature Screenplay Award for his action script, 'Dead Run.' Honorable mentions included CHRIS CALZIA, 'Black Hole Mojo'; JENNIFER GIMBLIN, 'Go, Monkey, Go!'; DEVIN HUMMEL, 'The Fake Kidnapping of Nick Boddington'; and SERGIO KOPELEV, 'Butterfly Club.' The Advanced Feature Screenplay Awards include prizes in the amount of $1,500 for first place and $500 for honorable mentions.
PETER SMICK AND 'FRIENDED TO DEATH'
'Friended to Death,' the first feature of Professional Programs alumnus PETER SMICK ('08), opened in 10 U.S. cities in May.
BILLY PORTER AND THE TRAILBLAIZER BENEFIT GALA
Professional Programs in Screenwriting alumnus and Tony Award-winning performer BILLY PORTER (Kinky Boots) headlined the 13th annual Trailblazer Benefit Gala hosted by Live out Loud in April.
CRUZAMENTOS: CONTEMPORARY BRAZILIAN DOCUMENTARIES
Cruzamentos: Contemporary Brazilian Documentary explores the provocative and engaging cinematic tradition of Brazil, from founding texts to recent triumphs. At the same time, it examines a country in motion and contextualizes the astonishing economic and cultural transformation that Brazil has witnessed over the past 20 years. July 11-Aug. 15, Billy Wilder Theater
HOLLYWOOD EXILES IN EUROPE
The Archive takes a look at a group of progressive American directors, screenwriters and actors who were blacklisted by Hollywood in the late 1940s and who voluntarily moved to Europe to continue working on their crafts. Hollywood Exiles in Europe, co-curated by UCLA TFT alumna REBECCA PRIME (Ph.D., '05), author of 'Hollywood Exiles in Europe: The Blacklist and Cold War Film Culture,' examines how their art was influenced by their experiences of loss, betrayal and exile. Dr. Prime will be present on opening night. July 25-Aug. 17, Billy Wilder Theater.
THE ARCHIVE AT THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
Several films using footage from the Archive were screened at this year's Tribeca Film Festival in April, including Mike Myers' directorial debut, 'Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon,' about the legendary talent manager; the short film 'Life After Manson,' in which a former Manson Family member speaks; Johanna Hamilton's documentary '1971' (2014), which chronicles a plan to steal incriminating files from an FBI office; and the latest from director Alex Gibney, 'The Untitled James Brown Documentary.'
THE ARCHIVE AT THE TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL
Archive Director JAN-CHRISTOPHER HORAK introduced the Archive's restoration of the romantic drama 'Her Sister's Secret' (1946), as it premiered in front of a sold-out crowd at April's TCM Classic Film Festival in Los Angeles.
L.A. REBELLION IN CHICAGO
In April, the Gene Siskel Film Center presented 'Passing Through' (1977) by L.A. Rebellion director/UCLA TFT alumnus LARRY CLARK, in a new print produced by the Archive. Described by L.A. Weekly as, '...raw, gritty, surreal and at times, terrifying,' the award-winning film is often cited as one of the best jazz films ever made.
FILM IN CAMBODIA
Archive Director JAN-CHRISTOPHER HORAK visited Cambodia in early June to participate in the Memory! International Film Heritage Festival in Phnom Penh. The festival brought together scholars, archivists, filmmakers, students and the general public for a week of screenings, conferences and meetings, all focused on the need to preserve the film heritage of Asia. Read Horak's blog about his experiences here.
2014 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
More than 1,500 parents, students, alumni, faculty, staff and guests attended the 67th Annual School of Theater, Film and Television Commencement ceremony on Fri., June 13 as 208 students (100 undergraduates, 98 graduates and 10 Ph.D. candidates) walked across the stage at Royce Hall to shake hands with Dean TERI SCHWARTZ, FTVDM Chair BILL MCDONALD and Theater Chair MICHAEL HACKETT. Professors JANET BERGSTROM, JOHN CALDWELL, ALLYSON FIELD,STEVEN MAMBER,KATHLEEN MCHUGH and SEAN METZGER placed hoods on the TFT Ph.D. candidates.
Jane Fonda, a two-time Academy Award winner and seven-time nominee, was the ceremony's Commencement Speaker. Fonda has starred in more than 40 films, with a great string of classics, since her initial screen debut. She was one of the first women in Hollywood to form her own production company, producing award-winning films such as 'The China Syndrome,' 'Nine to Five,' 'On Golden Pond,' 'Rollover' and 'The Dollmaker.' In 1994, Ms. Fonda was named Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund; in 1995 she founded The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Potential & Power, and in 2004 she co-founded the Women's Media Center with Gloria Steinem and Robin Morgan.
DARREN STAR, a 1983 UCLA graduate, was the Distinguished Alumnus in Film honoree. He is known for such projects as 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' 'Melrose Place' and 'Sex and the City.' 'Beverly Hills, 90210' became one of the longest-running series in TV history and 'Sex and the City' was the first cable series to win a Best Series Primetime Emmy Award, in addition to winning three consecutive Golden Globe Awards.
WENDY C. GOLDBERG (MFA, '98) was the Distinguished Alumna in Theater honoree. She currently is in her 10th season as artistic director of the historic National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Conn. Under Goldberg's tenure, the O'Neill was the recipient of the 2010 Regional Theatre Tony Award.
After the ceremony, everyone gathered at Coral Tree Walk for a late afternoon reception to celebrate the new TFT graduates.
UCLA TFT 23rd ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL
UCLA TFT's 23rd Annual Film Festival took place in June. Presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, The Hollywood Reporter was this year's media sponsor. Honorees included Academy Award-winning writer/director Spike Jonze ('Her'), executive producer and Academy Award winner Mark Johnson ('Breaking Bad,' 'The Chronicles of Narnia'), Academy Award-winning screenwriter Callie Khouri ('Nashville,' 'Thelma and Louise'), award-winning Disney animator Andreas Deja, filmmaker ANA LILY AMIRPOUR (MFA, '10) ('A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night') and director Destin Cretton ('Short Term 12'). The student award winners were: ANIMATION:Best of Show:HEATHER COLLINS; Best Story (tie): TENAYA ANUE, LAUREN KRIEGER; Best Animation:LATOYA RAVENEAU; Best Art Direction:KATE ISENBERG; and Most Innovative:ALEX WONG. PRODUCERS MARKETPLACE: The UCLA Producers Marketplace Jury Prize and The UCLA Producers Marketplace Audience Award:CADDY PANTIDA VANASIRIKUL. DIRECTORS SPOTLIGHT:Spotlight Film Awards: 'Quyen' by LUCRETIA STINNETTE; 'Stepped On' by LATOYA RAVENEAU; 'Out of the Blue' by MARGOT YE; 'Stubbs the Cat' by JOE STATOM; 'Random Stop' by BENJAMIN ARFMANN; 'How to See New York in One Day' by BEN HAIST; 'Disaster Preparedness' by MELISSA FINELL; 'OBITUARIES' by RYAN MOODY; 'Big Manly Chess' by GEORGE FLEMING; 'Role Play' by Brynach Day. The KQED Film School Shorts Best Film Award: 'Quyen' by LUCRETIA STINNETTE. The Panavision Excellence in Cinematography Awards:RAZA RIZVI (undergraduate) and DAGMARWEAVER-MADSEN (graduate). SCREENWRITERS SHOWCASE:TV winners: 'Absentia' by GAIA VIOLO; 'Going Straight' by KYNAN DIAS; 'Littlefoot' by JAROD ROE; 'Providence' by STEVEN CANALS; and 'Unheavenly City' by JESSICA BLAIRE. Feature winners: '26.2' by JASON ROMAINE; 'Forgive Me' by KAMERON BLAKE; 'Shallow Creek' by NOVIN SHAKIBA; 'Tau' by NOGA LANDAU; 'Woman Up!' by ANASTASIA MATVEYEVA; 'Heartless' by JOHANNA MORT. New to the festival this year was a Digital Media/Interactive Animation installation and a presentation of graduate student work by Cinema and Media Studies.
DESIGN SHOWCASE WEST
Award-winning costume designer Ellen Mirojnick ('Behind the Candelabra') was the guest speaker at the 12th annual Design Showcase West in June, at UCLA TFT's Freud Playhouse. UCLA TFT costume design graduate student RUOXUAN LI received the Swarovski Shooting Star Award.
Held at UCLA TFT each year, Design Showcase West is the only national entertainment design showcase on the West Coast featuring the work of students graduating from the nation's top university design programs. Exhibits range from costume design to set, sound and lighting design. Design Showcase West is regularly attended by entertainment producers, directors and A-list designers looking for new talent.
Design Showcase West was hosted by UCLA TFT and sponsored by the Costume Designers Guild, Local 892; the United Scenic Artists, Local 829; the Set Decorators Society of America; and the Art Directors Guild, Local 800.
'AN EVENING OF DEVISED WORK'
The students in the first-year MFA Interdisciplinary Program in Acting, Directing and Playwriting presented three scenes at Macgowan Hall in June. Design Team: Staffers RAQUEL BARRETO, LEARON INBAR and JOHN ZALEWSKI; grad students LEXI NEWMAN, YUKI IZUMIHARA, YEE EUN NAM, PABLO SANTIAGO, NING JI and MATT JOHNS. Production Managers: Staffer BRIDGET KELLY and grad students LIJUN WAN and DENNIS HO. Dramaturg/Research: grad student MIGUEL GARCIA. Faculty Advisor: JOSÉ LUIS VALENZUELA.
'GUYS AND DOLLS'
The Ray Bolger Musical Theater Program presented the classic musical Guys and Dolls at the Freud Playhouse in May. This production about gamblers, showgirls and missionaries in New York City featured UCLA TFT undergraduate actors. Directed by LINDA KERNS with choreography by PEGGY HICKEY, musical direction by DAN BELZER and vocal direction by JEREMY MANN. Production Manager: JEFF WACHTEL. Stage Manager: STEPHEN TAYLOR SNYDER. Music/Lyrics: Frank Loesser. Book: Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling. A reception for UCLA TFT alumni took place prior to the Wed., May 28 performance and was hosted by Dean TERI SCHWARTZ and Theater Chair MICHAEL HACKETT.
'MAUSER'
Performed in May in 1340 Macgowan Hall, this provocative play by Heiner Müller (with translation by Carl Weber) examined revolutionary war in Russia and the legacy left behind. It featured undergraduate UCLA TFT actors. Direction was by MFA directing student BRYAN PUCKETT, with scenic design by KAREN RANDOLPH, lighting design by GELAREH SOOFISIAVASH, costume design by CAITLIN DOOLITTLE and sound design by JESSE KIOUS. Production Manager: SONYA CURRY. Stage Manager: NICHOLAS BELL.
2014 UNDERGRADUATE ACTOR SHOWCASE
The 2014 UCLA TFT Undergraduate Actor Showcase, presented by UCLA TFT's Department of Theater, took place in May at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. Directed by Michael Donovan, CSA, the showcase featured undergraduate actors from the Department of Theater's 2014 graduating class, who performed for agents, managers, casting directors and other industry professionals. As a result of the showcase, MARIELLE EISNER (AB, '14) has signed across the board with Stage9/DDO Artists Agency.
'THE ART OF OBSERVING LIFE'
A screening of 'The Art of Observing Life,' the latest film from celebrated documentary filmmaker and UCLA TFT professor MARINA GOLDOVSKAYA, was held in May at the James Bridges Theater. Over an extended period of time, Professor Goldovskaya interviewed pioneers of the American documentary about making films that are now considered milestones in the history of documentary cinema. The film is now available for rental and purchase on iTunes.
2014 FULBRIGHT FILM FESTIVAL
The 2014 Fulbright Film Festival took place at the James Bridges Theater in May. Thirteen Fulbright scholars from around the world, including UCLA TFT staff member STEVEN FOLEY, had their films shown at this one-day event, which also featured filmmaker Q&As, a panel discussion and opportunities for networking.
NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY INDUCTEE
Professor ALLYSON FIELD provided opening remarks prior to the screening of filmmaker and UCLA TFT staffer BILLY WOODBERRY's 1984 film 'Bless Their Little Hearts,' which took place in April at the School's James Bridges Theater in celebration of the film's induction into the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. Following the screening, UCLA Film & Television Archive Director JAN-CHRISTOPHER HORAK moderated a Q&A session with Woodberry and audience members.
DEVELOPMENT WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF
After eight years at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, FREDERICK E. A. (FRED) BUSH has joined UCLA TFT as the school's executive director of development. Bush is a highly knowledgeable professional with experience in all aspects of development including major gifts, capital campaigns, annual gifts, planned giving, events and alumni engagement. A native New Yorker, Bush graduated from Hamilton College. Also new to development is NOAH GREEN, assistant to the executive director, who joins UCLA TFT after four years at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Welcome Fred and Noah!
