Join Harvardwood and the Harvard Graduate School of Education for our Speaker Series: Entertainment for Educators
Hear from renowned media industry professionals every day during the week of March 27th-31st.
Schedule below:
Monday, 3/27 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET: Producer, Director, and Writer Bennett Singer
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Bennett Singer is an award-winning producer/director/writer whose films have been screened at The Smithsonian, The United Nations, The British Museum, and the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. His latest documentary, CURED, directed with Patrick Sammon, opened the 2021–22 season of PBS' acclaimed documentary showcase Independent Lens and has garnered more than 20 awards and accolades. A feature film based on CURED is currently in development, and a classroom edition is being produced in partnership with History UnErased. Learn more about his work HERE.
Tuesday, 3/28 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET: Documentarian Dan Sturman
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Dan’s work includes the Sundance, Peabody, and Emmy-winning documentary Nanking, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award, released theatrically, and then sold to HBO Documentary Films: Soundtrack for a Revolution, which was also shortlisted for an Academy Award, released theatrically, and broadcast on PBS; and the 9/11 documentary Twin Towers, which won an Oscar in 2003. His films have shown at festivals around the world, including Cannes, Sundance, Hong Kong, Hot Docs, and Tribeca, and have received special screenings at the White House, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.
Wednesday, 3/29 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET: Golden Globe and Emmy nominated Filmmaker, Playwright and Actor Mark Kassen
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Mark Kassen is the founder of Like Minded Media Ventures and co-founder of the civic engagement platform A Starting Point (ASP). He is a Golden Globe and Emmy nominated filmmaker, playwright and actor. Mark has a history of cultivating new filmmaking technology, utilizing it to create the Trigger Street Independent film fund with Dana Brunetti. In four years, TSI’s films garnered 11 Emmys and 4 Golden Globes.
Thursday, 3/30 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET: Executive Vice President Naia Cucukov
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Naia Cucukov is a dynamic, innovative and conscientious executive with over sixteen years of experience in the entertainment business. Since her start at Walden Media in 2013, Naia has cultivated a diverse slate of films and television projects. On behalf of Walden, she has overseen development and production for The Giver, Universal and Working Title’s Everest, Disney’s The BFG, A Dog’s Purpose and A Dog's Journey, Sony Animation’s The Star, Lionsgate’s Wonder, Paramount's live action Dora the Explorer and Playing with Fire starring John Cena. Naia has executive produced the critically and commercially acclaimed series, The Baby-Sitters Club, for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's and Family Viewing Series.
Friday, 3/31 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET: Producer, Director, and Documentarian Danielle Parsons
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Danielle Parsons specializes in making small subjects larger than life. She creates documentary and video art using microscopes and macro setups. Whether it be floating through lightscapes inside a precious gem, surfing sound waves, or swimming with microbes, her directing work transports audiences to immersive worlds of pure beauty and wonder. She has produced and directed content for TV and digital outlets such as The History Channel, Disney, WIRED, NPR, BBC, and Slate. Danielle's video art has exhibited at museums and galleries including SLOMA, IFP New Media Center, and the SPRING/BREAK art show, as well as on the blockchain as NFTs.
If you are not a Harvardwood Member or current HGSE student, purchase our all-in ticket pass HERE and gain access to all events for less than the price of 3!
Speaker Series Goals:
The power of a great story to educate, shed light on rarely discussed topics, and change hearts and minds draws millions of learners and storytellers to entertainment.
Produced in partnership with students from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Educators for Entertainment Speaker Series highlights leaders working at the intersection of education and entertainment who are using storytelling, media, and the arts to create educational impact around the world.
Through this series, we hope to bring together Harvard students passionate about the magic that happens at the intersection of education and entertainment and strengthen the bridge between the two industries within the broader Harvard community.