UCLA TFT RECEIVES $20 MILLION GIFT TO PROPEL DIVERSITY AND ETHICS IN ENTERTAINMENT, PRESERVE TV HISTORY
Dean Teri Schwartz has brought a transformational $20 million gift to the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (UCLA TFT) and the UCLA Film & Television Archive from the Patricia W. Mitchell Trusts. The gift, conceived by the late philanthropist Patricia W. Mitchell to honor the legacy of her husband, legendary television industry leader John H. Mitchell, is designed to build a more ethical and socio-economically diverse entertainment landscape while ensuring that television’s history is preserved and shared with future generations. UCLA TFT will use $10 million from the Mitchell Trusts, coupled with a $5 million contribution from the UCLA Chancellor’s Centennial Scholars Match program, to create the John H. and Patricia W. Mitchell Endowed Scholarship Fund. This endowment advances UCLA TFT’s mission to recruit and retain the most talented and diverse students pursuing degrees in the entertainment and performing arts industries with a focus on ethical leadership. In addition, $10 million will be directed to the UCLA Film & Television Archive, the second-largest moving image archive in the United States, after the Library of Congress, and the world’s largest university-based media archive.
UCLA TFT'S 2019
DONOR HONOR ROLL UNVEILED
The 2019 UCLA TFT Donor Honor Roll, recognizing the generous contributions made to the school in the 2018-19 academic year, is now available for viewing on the UCLA TFT website. To make your tax-deductible donation, visit UCLA TFT's Giving Page.
TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL 2019
Alumna Farah Shaer's (M.F.A. ’19) short film Soukoon was accepted into the Filmmakers of Tomorrow Student Prints program of the 46th Telluride Film Festival, where, over Labor Day Weekend, Dean Teri Schwartz was joined by UCLA TFT’s 2019 FilmLAB fellows. Dean Schwartz conceived FilmLAB nine years ago to give final-year FTVDM students the opportunity to obtain high-level industry relations and experience, and to participate in master classes and screenings. The graduate student fellows included directors Hena Ashraf and
Justin Etheredge; screenwriters Aaron Dalton and Jacqueline Quintanar; producers Benjamin Atkins, Jacobo Garcia and Annissa Omran; animator Alexis Wong and CMS student Hana Peoples. For the first time, Dean Schwartz invited a final-year graduate Theater student to participate, Jean Carlo Aróstegui.
During the course of the busy weekend, the students participated in master classes with Tom Luddy, TFF co-director; Frank Marshall (B.A. ’68), TFT Executive Board Member, founding FilmLAB benefactor and producer; Portrait of a Lady on Firedirector Céline Sciamma and actress Adèle Haenel; First Cow director Kelly Reichardt; The Climb writer/director Michael Angelo Covino and writer Kyle Marvin; Academy Award-winning sound mixer Lora Hirschberg (Inception) and Glenn Kiser, director of the Dolby Institute. Since the program's inception, 90 TFT grad students have attended Telluride.
TFT STUDENTS ATTEND THE 73rd FESTIVAL D'AVIGNON
As part of her mission to create high-impact industry, research and creative relationships for TFT, Dean Teri Schwartz conceived a new program for TFT theater students through a unique partnership with the Festival D'Avignon, the most important theater festival in Europe. Eight final-year graduate students from the Department of Theater attended an all-expense paid trip to Avignon, France for the 73rd Festival d’Avignon, July 2-11. Michael Christopher Bauer, Rogelio Francis Douglas III, Madelynne Ann Hays, Narae Kim, Carla Estelle Neuss, Kathryn Margaret Morrow Schott, Ryan Glenn Stevens and Mark Anthony Vallejo were selected to attend with DeanSchwartz. During their time at the fest, they saw world premiere theater productions; participated in specially arranged workshops with the artistic director of the festival as well as renown theater artists; had numerous networking opportunities and attended special events. Neil Landau, Assistant Dean, Dean's Special Projects, traveled with the group as a faculty advisor. Chair BrianKite and Professor Michael Hackett served as advisors from the Department of Theater.
ALUMNI, FACULTY INVITED TO JOIN AMPAS
FTVDM Professor Liza Johnson, and alumni Laura Gabbert (M.F.A. ’04) and Kevin Messick (B.A. ’89) have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the directing, documentary and producing branches, respectively.
SECOND ANNUAL STORYTELLING INSTITUTE IN CANNES
MARKS SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
In mid-May, diplomas and certificates of completion were awarded to students participating in the second annual, graduate "first look" six-week Storytelling Institute in Cannes, France, created by Dean Teri Schwartz in partnership with Université Cote D'Azur (UCA), the Mayor of the City of Cannes, the president and director of the Cannes Film Festival and the CEO of Vivendi/Canal+. The Institute's 2019 class included four final-year graduate screenwriting students from UCLA TFT: Abigail Briley Bean, Tanha Dil, Alex DiTullio and Harrison Sim,
and four French students from UCA: Étienne Chédeville, Cécile Allegra, Pauline Mauroux and Luca Renucci.
HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS GRANTS FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF UCLA TFT STUDENTS
For the 37th year, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has given funds to UCLA TFT in support of students at the school. This year, $145,000 was granted to bolster an endowed scholarship, the UCLA TFT Film Festival, acting fellowships and thesis film awards.
UPCOMING EVENTS
217 BOXES OF DR. HENRY ANONYMOUS
AT FREUD PLAYHOUSE
UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) in association with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and with sponsorship by Dean Teri Schwartz, presents A Pick Up Performance Company(s) Production of 217 Boxes of Dr. Henry Anonymous on Friday, Oct. 11, at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 12 at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at Freud Playhouse.
The play tells the largely unknown story of a courageous gay psychiatrist whose activism made a profound and lasting impact on LGBTQ civil rights. Disguised in a mask and using a voice modulator, John E. Fryer testified as Dr. Henry Anonymous on a homosexuality panel at the 1972 Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Facing the loss of his medical license should his identity be discovered, Fryer’s testimony resulted in the APA’s removal of homosexuality from its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1973. Drawn from 217 boxes of Fryer’s personal papers, Obie Award-winning writer/director Ain Gordon re-imagines this historic moment through the eyes of three key figures in Fryer’s life, bringing it to UCLA to
coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Featuring Laura Esterman, Derek Lucci and Ken Marks.
DeanSchwartz will provide a special opportunity for Department of Theater students to attend the show as well as participate in a special master class with Gordon. Additional funds for the CAP UCLA presentation are provided by Diane Levine and the James A. Doolittle Endowment.
Tickets for $28-$59 are available now at cap.ucla.edu, (310) 825-2101, Ticketmaster and the UCLA Central Ticket Office.
SAVE THE DATE: BRUIN FAMILY WEEKEND, OCT. 25-27, 2019
Bruin Family Weekend is UCLA’s annual, three-day family event that’s jam-packed with exciting activities, important information about campus resources and fun opportunities to see UCLA through your student’s eyes. While bonding with your Bruin and meeting other UCLA families, enjoy presentations from top faculty, lunch with your student’s dean, parent and family workshops and so much more. Don’t miss this chance to spend quality time with your Bruin and find out what being part of the Bruin family is all about.
Registration opens in late September.
ONE DAY ONLY!
35th ANNIVERSARY SCREENING OF "EL NORTE" THIS SUNDAY
Join filmmaker Gregory Nava (B.A. ’71, M.F.A. ’76) on Sunday, Sept. 15 for the Fathom Events screening of his groundbreaking, Academy Award nominated 1984 film El Norte at the AMC Century City. The film's powerful story of immigration to the United States continues to speak volumes. The screening, which will take place at 2:00 p.m. nationwide, includes an exclusive featurette with Nava discussing the making of the film with its stars, Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez and David Villalpando, who portrayed the film's migrant siblings. Nava will donate his proceeds to the victims of the El Paso massacre.
Two-time Golden Globe-nominated actor Pierce Brosnan was the keynote speaker at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television's 2019 Commencement ceremony on Friday, June 14. Filmmaker Julie Dash (Daughters of the Dust) received the Distinguished Alumni Award in Film/Television/Digital Media and actor-activist George Takei (Allegiance) received the Distinguished Alumni Award in Theater. UCLA TFT Dean Teri Schwartz presided over the event that took place at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
UCLA TFT FILM FESTIVAL
JUNE 7-12, 2019
Academy Award-nominated producer Lynette Howell Taylor (A Star Is Born), award-winning screenwriter Linda Woolverton (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) and former Pixar story artist Nathan Stanton (Coco) were honored at UCLA TFT’s 28th Annual Film Festival, sponsored by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., SAG-Indie, Golden Road Brewing and Popcornopolis. On the fest's first night, L.A. Rebellion filmmakers Ben Caldwell, Alile Sharon Larkin and Stormé (Bright) Sweet participated in Elevate: Conversations, an evening of films and a discussion about the legacy of L.A. Rebellion films.
VOGEL HOSTS SCREENING OF THE REST I MAKE UP
On Wednesday, June 5, a special screening of the 2018 feature documentary The Rest I Make Up, about avant garde playwright Maria Irene Fornes, took place at UCLA TFT's James Bridges Theater. The evening was hosted by Paula Vogel, the 2018-19 Hearst Theater Lab Initiative Distinguished Playwright-in-Residence.
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
PROFESSOR OF LIGHTING, DEPARTMENT OF THEATER
The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television announces the availability a full-time, tenure position for an associate or full professor of Theater in the area of lighting design beginning July 1, 2020. More details can be found on the UCLA Recruit web page. The application period closes October 3, 2019.
STUDENTS
LALEZARZADEH STARS IN
U.S. PREMIERE OF ANNE,
A NEW PLAY
Undergraduate senior Ava Lalezarzadeh recently starred in the U.S. premiere of Anne, A New Play, at the Simon Weisenthal Center, in celebration of what would have been Anne Frank's 90th birthday in June.
WELLS AND BRADY PERFORM IN WEST SIDE STORY
Current Theater undergrad Michael Wells and Calvin Brady (B.A. ’18) are cast members of the Moonlight Stage production of West Side Story, with choreography by faculty member Hector Guerrero, one of two people in the country certified by the Jerome Robbins estate to reproduce the choreography that Robbins created for the original Broadway production in 1957.
STUDENTS NAMED WINNERS IN NIKON CONTEST
Graduate students Antonia Thornton and Monika Ivonne have been named winners in this year’s Nikon Storytellers Scholarship. They are among 10 students who have each been awarded $10,000 to support their growth as creators and celebrate their commitment to visual storytelling.
ALUMNI
BURNETT RETROSPECTIVE
Charles Burnett (B.A. ’69, M.F.A. ’77) joined the nonprofit Highways Performance Space for a special two-night film retrospective of Burnett’s most socially impactful films, Nightjohn and The Glass Shield, on Friday, Aug. 2 and Saturday, Aug. 3. Their presentation, “Charles Burnett: A Cinematic Social Conscience,” included a Q&A with Burnett and actors Carl Lumbly (Nightjohn), Lori Petty and Michael Boatman (The Glass Shield). Separately, TimeOut has released its list of "The 100 Best Movies of All Time" and Burnett's Killer of Sheep and Julie Dash's (M.F.A. ’85) Daughters of the Dust
were listed at #73 and #84 respectively.
CARTER WRITES, PRODUCES FRESHWATER
Tamara P. Carter (M.F.A. ’13) will be a writer and executive producer of the new FX series Freshwater, based on Akwaeke Emezi's debut novel. Freshwater focuses on a Nigerian student in her last year of college who discovers that she has three spirits inhabiting her subconscious.
ELYAN PARTICIPATES IN
PGA DIVERSITY WORKSHOP
Hanadi Elyan (M.F.A. ’19) was one of 10 filmmakers chosen to participate in the PGA’s annual Power of Diversity Master Workshop in Beverly Hills. She also recently spoke with BBC Radio and was featured in a UCLA Newsroom article.
KALOGRIDIS WRITES NEW STAR WARS SCRIPT
Laeta Kalogridis (M.F.A. ’94) is writing the script for the first film in a new Star Wars trilogy, based on the video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Her most recent film project was the box-office hit Alita: Battle Angel.
Mary Inhea Kang for The New York Times
LABOUVIER CURATES GUGGENHEIM EXHIBITION
Chaedria LaBouvier (M.F.A. ’13) has curated “Basquiat’s ‘Defacement’: The Untold Story” at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, on display until Wednesday, Nov. 6. She is the first black woman to assemble a solo exhibition at the museum.
MARYE'S BIGGER SET FOR BET
Felischa Marye (M.F.A. ’14) is the writer and co-executive producer of the new BET Networks series Bigger. The show, about a thirtysomething woman going through an early midlife crisis, is set in Atlanta. The first episode recently screened at the BronzeLens Film Festival in A-Town.
MILLER'S DOC SCREENS ON CAPITOL HILL
Melody Miller's (B.A. ’14) feature-length documentary about sex trafficking, California's Forgotten Children, screened for members of Congress in June at the invitation of California State Senator Kamala Harris. Also involved in the project were cinematographer Jason Knutzen (M.F.A. ’13) and composer StephenSpies (B.A. ’17).
ROTH BECOMES AMPAS GOVERNOR
Academy Award-winning screenwriter Eric Roth (M.F.A. ’74), whose next film, Dune, comes out in 2020, has been elected to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 2019-20 Board of Governors, Writers Branch.
SHAER'S COMPLAINT
Farah Shaer (M.F.A. ’19) has just completed Complaint, one of five short films that is part of an anthology feature film project spearheaded by The Royal Film Commission Jordan, the European Union and UNESCO. The project about gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Arab region will be screened at festivals around the world in November 2019.
ALUMNI, STAFF WORK ON GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE SHOW
Brett Banakis (B.A. ’06), Kaitlyn Pietras (M.F.A. ’12) and Jonathan Snipes (B.A. ’05). were designers for the Geffen Playhouse's last show of the 2018-19 season, Mysterious Circumstances.Brooke Baldwin (B.A. ’09) was the stage manager.
ALUMNI CURATE EXHIBIT
Edward Wong (M.F.A. '91), DuaneKubo (B.A. '75) curated the exhibit "At First Light: The Dawning of Asian Pacific America," running through Oct. 20 at L.A.'s Japanese American National Museum. The exhibit features the photos, films and videos of the Asian American media group Visual Communications.
FILM FESTIVALS AND AWARDS
PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS
Twenty UCLA TFT alumni and faculty have been nominated for 24 Primetime Emmy Awards this year. The 71st ceremony takes place on Sunday, Sept. 22 at the Microsoft Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, honoring the best programming from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019 and will be broadcast on Fox.
Mike B. Anderson, (M.F.A. ’90)
Supervising producer, The Simpsons, "Mad About the Toy" (Fox)
Animated Program
Steven Canals, (M.F.A. ’15)
Co-executive producer, Pose (FX)
Drama Series
Margaret M. Dean, (M.F.A. ’92)
Supervising producer, Robot Chicken, "Why is it Wet?" (Adult Swim)
Short Format Animated Program
Ava DuVernay
Director, writer, executive producer, When They See Us (Netflix)
Limited Series
Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
Erick Fefferman, (M.F.A. ’09)
Editor, Deadwood: The Movie (HBO)
Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie
Sacha Gervasi
Executive producer, My Dinner With Hervé (HBO)
Television Movie
Alex Gibney
Producer, The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (HBO)
Documentary or Nonfiction Special
Executive producer, Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes (A&E)
Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
Dhana Rivera Gilbert
(M.F.A. ’96) co-executive producer, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Comedy Series
Andrew Goldberg, (M.F.A. ’02)
Executive producer, Big Mouth, "The Planned Parenthood Show" (Netflix)
Animated Program
Silas Howard, (M.F.A. ’10)
Co-executive producer, Pose (FX)
Drama Series
John Matter, (M.F.A. ’04)
Dialogue editor, Game of Thrones, "The Long Night" (HBO)
Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (one hour)
Peter Merryman, (M.F.A. ’01)
Assistant director, BoJack Horseman, "Free Churro" (Netflix)
Animated Program
Kevin Messick, (B.A. ’89)
Executive producer, Succession (HBO)
Drama Series
Maureen Mlynarczyk, (M.F.A. ’98)
Sheet timing, Steven Universe, "Reunited" (Cartoon Network)
Short Format Animated Program
Ron Olsen, (M.F.A. ’87)
Set decorator, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons' (ABC)
Production Design for a Variety Special
Billy Porter
Actor, Pose (FX)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Ben Stiller
Director, executive producer, Escape at Dannemora (Showtime)
Limited Series
Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
Mark Worthington (Faculty)
Production designer, The Umbrella Academy, "We Only See Each Other at Weddings and Funerals" (Netflix)
Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (one hour or more)
STAGE RAW THEATER AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Eight UCLA TFT faculty and alumni are among the nominees for the fifth annual Stage Raw Theater Awards, which honor the finest work performed on Los Angeles area stages of 99-seats or fewer. This year’s ceremony takes place on Monday, Sept. 9 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Yee Eun Nam (M.F.A. ’14) – Black Super Hero Magic Mama, Geffen Playhouse
Video/Projection Design
Josh Epstein (Faculty) – American Hero, IAMA Theatre Company Brian Gale (Faculty) – Bronco Billy– The Musical, Skylight Theatre Company John A. Garofalo (Faculty) – Cost of Living, The Fountain Theatre
Lighting Design
François-Pierre Couture (Faculty) – Everything That Never Happened, Boston Court Pasadena
Set Design
Medalion Rahimi (B.A. ’14) and Jeff Marlow – Paradise, JuVee Productions and American Oasis
Two-Person Performance
Hunter Bird (B.A. ’12) – Bronco Billy, Skylight Theatre Company
Comedy Direction
Jessica Kubzansky (Faculty) – Everything That Never Happened, Boston Court Pasadena
Direction
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Ana Lily Amirpour (M.F.A. ’10) directs the mystery series Briarpatch, which makes its world premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival’s fifth annual Primetime section. The series, created by Andy Greenwald, stars Rosario Dawson. Marielle Heller (B.A. ’01) directs Tom Hanks in the biopic about Fred Rogers, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The film has been named part of TIFF's Gala lineup. The festival runs Sept. 5-15.
VENICE FILM FESTIVAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED Citizen K, from alumnus director Alex Gibney and 45 Seconds of Laughter from director Tim Robbins (B.A. ’82) have been chosen to be a part of the 76th Venice Film Festival in the Out of Competition — Non-Fiction lineup. The festival, which takes place Aug. 29-Sept. 7, will also feature on its Venice Classics roster New York, New York (1977) from UCLA TFT executive board member and Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese.
FACULTY AND ALUMNI AMONG L.A. AREA EMMY AWARD WINNERS
Finding Home: A Foster Youth Story was a Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards winner in the category of Crimes/Social Issues in July. UCLA TFT alumni involved in the project include (pictured, from left) associate producer Margo Newman (M.F.A. ’91); director and producer PamelaTom; executive producer Karen Hunte (M.F.A. ’99); and directors of photography Ann Kaneko (M.F.A. ’98) and John Simmons, ASC (Faculty). The project was a co-production of New Moon Pictures and PBS So/Cal.
BAJPAI'S HALWA WINS FIRST PLACE
Halwa, a short film co-directed by Gayatri Bajpai (M.F.A. ’16) won the first place prize in the HBO Asian Pacific American Visionaries Short Film Competition.
DUVERNAY’S WHEN WE RISE HONORED BY THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION
Ava DuVernay's acclaimed limited Netflix series When They See Us, about the Central Park Five case, earned four awards from the African American Film Critics Association's inaugural TV Honors on Sunday, Aug. 11 in Marina Del Rey: Best Limited Series, Best Ensemble, Best Writing and Breakthrough Performance for actor Jharrel Jerome.
HAUCK IS A TONY WINNER
Rachel Hauck (B.A. ’90) won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design on a Musical for her work on Hadestown.
THOMAS' FIRST POSITION SCREENS AT OUTFEST
Michael Elias Thomas’ (M.F.A. ’18) short film First Position was part of the lineup at this year’s Outfest, Los Angeles’ preeminent LGBTQ film festival.
WANG'S HOMEGROWN A
SHORT LIST FEST FINALIST
Yubo Wang's short film Homegrown was a finalist in TheWrap's online Short List Film Festival.
COSTUME DESIGN ALUMNAE WIN WACON CINTIQ TABLETS
Haley Simpson (B.A. ’16) and Samantha Vinzon (B.A. ’17) were awarded 16" Wacom Cintiq Creative Pen Display tablets from the manufacturer at this year’s Comic-Con. For a number of years, they have volunteered for the Costume Designers Guild at the convention, becoming central players in the success of the CDG's presence there. Lecturer Gina DeDomenico Flanagan, who also served as a panelist at this year’s Costume Concept Artist session, was on hand to surprise the alumnae.
FACULTY AND STAFF
UCLA TFT PROFESSORS TAKE ON MACBETH IN OREGON
Professor Emeritus Jose Luis Valenzuela and professors Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko and Pablo Santiago are working together at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival this summer. Valenzuela is directing a production of Shakesepare's Macbeth, with Karvonides-Dushenko in charge of costume design and Santiago in charge of lighting design. The production runs through Oct. 11 at the Allen Elizabethan Theatre.
LANDIS LECTURES ON THE QUEEN MARY II
In August, Professor Deborah Landis gave a lecture on costume design aboard the Queen Mary II on a seven-day transatlantic crossing as part of Cunard's Insights enrichment program.
ROSE CREATES SCENIC DESIGN FOR TOMATO
Professor Rich Rose is creating the scenic design for the world premiere of Andy Warhol's Tomato (Aug. 10-Sept. 29), the first production of the Pacific Resident Theatre's 2019-2020 season in Los Angeles.
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS
MARSHALL DIRECTS INVISIBLE TANGO
Frank Marshall made his theater directing debut in May with Invisible Tango, a one-man show featuring magician Helder Guimarães, at the Geffen Playhouse.
SCORSESE'S IRISHMAN PREMIERES AT NYFF
Martin Scorsese's latest film, The Irishman, starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, will have its world premiere at the upcoming New York Film Festival, which runs Sept. 27-Oct. 13.
IN MEMORIAM
BOB OLODORT
Bob Olodort
, 73, an award-winning inventor, died Wednesday, July 3 in Duarte after a five-year battle with multiple myeloma. Olodort was in the graduate program in the UCLA College of Fine Arts (now UCLA TFT), where he made documentaries and ethnographic films as well as special effects equipment, projectors, time-lapse cameras and optical printers. He was the inventor of the Stowaway portable keyboard, a revolutionary eight-ounce, full-size foldable keyboard that was plugged into hand-held devices, released in 1999 and which became an instant success. By the keyboard’s third year, approximately 3 million units had been sold, with $40 million in sales. Among his other inventions were the first computer label printer and UpStage, a phone created during his partnership with Samsung. His
son David, quoted in the Los Angeles Times, said of Olodort: “He saw himself as an inventor and an artist. He was in a constant, artistic process of exploring new ideas that materialized in consumer products more often than not.…His artistic medium was consumer electronics.” In 2001, he was awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He is survived by his wife, son and older sister.
PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
SCREENWRITING COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The winners and honorable mention recipients of the Professional Programs’ 2019 Feature Screenplay, Television Pilot and Acting for the Camera Pitch competitions were announced in June during the Spring Quarter Certificate Ceremony. acknowledged the achievements of 236 students who completed the yearlong Professional Program in Screenwriting, the yearlong Writing for Television Professional Program and the yearlong Acting for the Camera Professional Program. The awards were determined by industry professionals and UCLA alumni. Additional information on the award recipients can be requested by emailing
professionalprograms@tft.ucla.edu.
Advanced Screenwriting
Winner: Aaron Mobley (The Youth Pastor, action-comedy)
Screenwriting
Winner: Jessica Rowlands, (Wild Hearts, action-drama)
Honorable mentions: John Biolsi (Evolution Fitness, comedy), Nick Dible (Out of the Hollow, crime-drama)
Advanced Writing for Television Pilot
Winner: Michael Vaingauz (Seriously Embarrassing, comedy pilot)
Writing for Television Drama Pilot
Winner: Ellen Shanley, (The Longest Day, drama pilot)
Writing for Television Comedy Pilot
Winner: Danielle Schwartz (Emergency Break, comedy)
Honorable mentions: Richard Redlo (Goofy Foot, drama-comedy), SaraPearson (Redwood Curtain, drama), Laura Stubbs (My Bully Mia, drama-comedy)
Acting for the Camera Pitch
Winner: Saint Thompson, (Two Sides, drama)
Honorable mentions: Colleen Slattery (Big Fischer, comedy), Erica Mendel (Search for Serotonin, dark comedy)
PORTER PERFORMS IN CONCERT 4 AMERICA AT UCLA
Alumnus Billy Porter is among the performers slated to appear in the Los Angeles installment of Concert 4 America, a series of songs, comedy and commentary, set for Saturday, Sept. 21 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Proceeds from the show will go to the National Immigration Law Center.
UCLA FILM & TELEVISION ARCHIVE
COMING SOON:
ARCHIVE MEMBERSHIP
The UCLA Film & Television Archive will soon be offering membership to the public, which will include numerous benefits, including 50% or more off film ticket prices, with nearly 250 films to choose from each year. Archive membership, which launches Sept. 1, will help safeguard precious moving images for future generations. Keep checking the Archive website for more information.
SEARCHING FOR SHERLOCK: THE GAME’S AFOOT
UCLA Film & Television Archive and The Baker Street Irregulars are leading an international search to find and restore missing films featuring Sherlock Holmes. Actor Robert Downey Jr., who has portrayed Sherlock Holmes on-screen twice, is the Honorary Project Chair. Barbara Roisman, Archive Board and BSI member, spearheads the effort. For more information, contact peninc1@aol.com.
