* Message from Membership Directors Kibi & Angela
* Message from Mia
* Pencil Me In:
- Harvardwood Reunion Mixer, Sat. June 6 – Boston
- Harvardwood Spring Networking Event at the National Arts Club, June 10 – NYC
- Harvardwood Presents an Evening with Director Diane Paulus ‘88, June 17 – NYC
- Harvardwood Heads To…DEAR LEMON LIMA, June 20 – LA
- Harvardwood Screening of SECRECY and Q&A w/Director Robb Moss, June 21 – NYC
- Harvardwood / HAA Global Networking Event, June 23 – Toronto
- Harvardwood / HAA Global Networking Event, June 23 – LA
* Are you doing an internship in the Arts, Media or Entertainment?
* Industry Successes
* Member Profile: Rachel Samuels '92
Message from the Membership Directors
Happy summer!
Angela and Kibi
Message from Mia
Summer is here, so get out of the house and join us at one of the many Harvardwood events worldwide this month! I'll personally be kickin' it at the reunion mixer in Cambridge this Saturday, come by and say hello if you're in the area... Also, if anyone wants to get involved with Harvardwood Summer Internship Program events over the next three months, drop us a line: [email protected]
- Mia
Pencil Me In...
Harvardwood Reunion Mixer, Sat. June 6 – Boston
Come one, come all to the third annual Harvardwood Reunion Mixer on Sat., June 6th from 2:00 – 5:00 pm! Join Boston-based Harvardwood members, folks in town for reunion week, and current students for food, drink, and general merriment at Tommy Doyle’s, 96 Winthrop Street in Cambridge. RSVP recommended. For more info and to register, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=52342
Harvardwood Spring Networking Event at the National Arts Club, June 10 – NYC
Join fellow Harvardwood members, summer interns, and other entertainment industry professionals at our spring networking event, June 10 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Co-hosted by member Cornelia Ravenal, the event will once again be held at the National Arts Club, an elegant private club located at 15 Gramercy Park South (20th Street) off Park Avenue South. Business attire (jackets, no jeans) requested. Space is limited and Full Members of Harvardwood will be given preference. RSVP required: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=63426
Harvardwood Presents an Evening with Director Diane Paulus '88, June 17 – NYC
Join Harvardwood and the Harvard Club of NY for an evening with Diane Paulus '88. Ms. Paulus is the new Artistic Director of the American Repertory Theatre at Harvard. Also the director of the current hit revival of HAIR on Broadway, and before that at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, she is one of the most exciting and original directing talents in the American theater. Her production THE DONKEY SHOW, a disco adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, ran for six years off Broadway and toured internationally. Other productions include ELI's COMIN', THE KARAOKE SHOW, and KISS ME KATE at Glimmerglass Opera. Paulus frequently directs opera, and her production of Monteverdi's ORFEO was seen at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2002. Space is limited, advance registration is required - no one will be admitted at the door without prior registration. Please RSVP by Tues., June 16th: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=62441
Harvardwood Heads To…DEAR LEMON LIMA, June 20 - LA
Join us as Harvardwood Heads To...DEAR LEMON LIMA, produced by Melissa Lee '03! DEAR LEMON LIMA premieres this month at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival. The film is 1 of 7 films in narrative competition and stars an ensemble cast, including Melissa Leo (Academy Award nominee, Frozen River) and Beth Grant (No Country for Old Men, Little Miss Sunshine). The festival writes: "As sweet and colorful as a snow cone, this delightful happy-sad confection follows an awkward Alaskan teen as she discovers her Yup'ik heritage while rallying her fellow misfits to compete in her school's Snowstorm Survivor competition." Dear Lemon Lima, will screen on Saturday 20 June 7.15PM at the Mann Festival Theater, Westwood, as well as on Tuesday 23 June 4.30PM at the Landmark Theatre. Tickets go on sale 29 May at http://www.lafilmfest.com For more info and to register, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=62752
Harvardwood Screening of SECRECY and Q&A w/ Director Robb Moss, June 21 – NYC
At the heart of our society is a tension between secrecy and openness. Secrecy is essential to save lives in the struggle against terror. And yet, secrecy by its very nature corrupts the very core of a democratic society, the ability of citizens to make well-informed choices. Premiering at the 2008 Sundance Festival, SECRECY won Best Documentary at the Newport International Film Festival and won the Special Jury Award for Documentary Features at Boston's Independent Film Festival. The New York Times called SECRECY "equal parts history lesson, meditative essay, didactic poem, and call to arms." The San Francisco Chronicle hailed it as "a documentary that illuminates, entertains, and inspires." And the Boston Globe wrote, "You can actually feel the movie focusing your understanding of the issues as you watch." SECRECY is a documentary by two Harvard faculty members, Peter Galison, Pellegrino University Professor of the History of Science and Physics, and filmmaker Robb Moss. Moss has taught at Harvard for two decades and is the Rudof Arnheim Lecturer on Filmmaking. Moss will present the screening and discuss making the film. Advance registration required: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=62442
Harvardwood / HAA Global Networking Event, June 23 – Toronto
On June 23th, our Harvardwood Toronto Chapter is co-sponsoring a HAA networking event in downtown Toronto, at the Jump Cafe and Bar. The other co-sponsors are: Harvard Club of Toronto, HBS Club of Toronto, and The Signet Society Alumni. This is one of many such events being held in various cities and countries, as noted in the following information adapted from the Post.harvard website: Alumni and guests are welcome to attend events happening in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Lima, Montreal, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Princeton, San Francisco, Seattle, Stamford, Stockholm, Taipei, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. Join the Harvard Alumni Association, regional Harvard Clubs, and Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) worldwide for a night of global networking on Tuesday, June 23, 2009. Welcome recent graduates and meet other alumni in your city at an evening of networking in a relaxed and fun setting. The informal events, held in local establishments, are designed to allow alumni to share experiences and form connections. Whether you’re trying to explore new opportunities, make new connections, or share experiences, these events are a great way to participate in Harvard’s alumni network. Registration deadline is June 18: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=62773
Harvardwood / HAA Global Networking Event, June 23 – LA
On June 23th, Harvardwood is co-sponsoring a HAA networking event in LA, at the Thompson Hotel in Beverly Hills. The other co-sponsors are: the Harvard Club of Southern California and The Signet Society Alumni. This is one of many such events being held in various cities and countries, as noted in the following information adapted from the Post.harvard website: Alumni and guests are welcome to attend events happening in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Lima, Montreal, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Princeton, San Francisco, Seattle, Stamford, Stockholm, Taipei, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. Join the Harvard Alumni Association, regional Harvard Clubs, and Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) worldwide for a night of global networking on Tuesday, June 23, 2009. Welcome recent graduates and meet other alumni in your city at an evening of networking in a relaxed and fun setting. The informal events, held in local establishments, are designed to allow alumni to share experiences and form connections. Whether you’re trying to explore new opportunities, make new connections, or share experiences, these events are a great way to participate in Harvard’s alumni network. Registration deadline is June 18: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=62774
Are you doing an internship in the Arts, Media or Entertainment?
Are you doing an internship in the Arts, Media or Entertainment? Let Harvardwood know! If you have accepted a summer internship opportunity in the arts, media, or entertainment (through Harvardwood or otherwise), please let us know so we can include you in our summer events in LA and NYC (and potentially other cities as well): [email protected] Please include the name of the company(ies), location of the internship, and your expected arrival date in that city. If you are still looking for summer opportunities, please visit our website for more information: http://www.harvardwood.org/?page=JobsCareerCenter… To view full posting, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/news/26159/Are-you-doing-an-internship-in-the-Arts-Media-or-Entertainment.htm
Industry Successes...
Miranda Yousef ‘98 was Associate Editor on Academy Award nominee Kirby Dick's new film, OUTRAGE. This critically-acclaimed documentary (from the director of THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED) exposes the secret lives of closeted anti-gay politicians, the media's complicity in keeping their secrets, and the harm they've inflicted on millions of Americans. Miranda also was Lead Editor on the upcoming SpongeBob Squarepants documentary, to be broadcast on Nickelodeon in July 2009!
Will Bailey is a recent graduate of Harvard College (2008) and a former writer/editor for the Harvard Lampoon. He writes, “For the past 9 months, I have been working as a freelance writer in Brooklyn, NY. Projects have included screenplay editing, playwriting, and weekly contributions to Popzilla, an animated sketch comedy show picked up by MTV, set to air this Fall. On the side, I have been performing stand-up at different comedy clubs in the city, including the New Talent Showcase at Comix. This past April, I acted alongside James Franco in a web-video written and produced by fellow members of the Harvard Lampoon (look for it on Funny or Die this summer). I have also written and continue to write spec scripts, including one for television, and two full-length features. This coming June, I will be moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedic writing in any and all mediums. I will be looking for work, so any information concerning leads or job opportunities will be greatly appreciated. To get a taste of my short-form comedy pieces, please visit www.nailsbails.blogspot.com. This website also contains links to my 2008 Class Day Ivy Oration, a work of mine published on McSweeney's, and recent stand-up material. I'd love to hear anyone and everyone's take on the industry, so drop me a line at [email protected] ”.
DEAR LEMON LIMA, produced by Melissa Lee '03, premieres this month at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival. The film is 1 of 7 films in narrative competition and stars an ensemble cast, including Melissa Leo (Academy Award nominee, Frozen River) and Beth Grant (No Country for Old Men, Little Miss Sunshine). The festival writes: "As sweet and colorful as a snow cone, this delightful happy-sad confection follows an awkward Alaskan teen as she discovers her Yup'ik heritage while rallying her fellow misfits to compete in her school's Snowstorm Survivor competition." Dear Lemon Lima, will screen on Saturday, June 20 at 7.15PM at the Mann Festival Theater, Westwood, as well as on Tuesday, June 23 at 4.30PM at the Landmark Theatre. Tickets go on sale May 29 at http://www.lafilmfest.com. Check out the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veeIaVl_RC0
KILLER - a short film written & directed by Jack Pettibone Riccobono '03 & Adam Leon - has been selected to screen in competition at the 2009 Nantucket Film Festival before the acclaimed documentary feature "Facing Ali" on Friday, June 19th & Saturday, June 20th. Set in 1989 NYC, the film follows 17-year-old Jose Ortiz (Xavier Pena), a high school kid obsessed with an intense, dangerous game called KILLER. Based on a real game still played in New York today, KILLER is a glimpse into an urban rite of passage and features a young cast of newly discovered non-professional talent. Watch the trailer at http://www.KILLERSHORT.com and visit http://www.NantucketFilmFestival.org for full festival info.
Gary Negbaur ’89 writes: “I’m pleased to announce the release of my latest CD: Max’s Family Band. It marks the beginning of my latest project: a group that plays original music for children that adults will dig too. It’s appropriate for ages 2 and up. The band is led by my wife Yvette and myself and is named in honor of our (almost) 3-year old son Max. We’re having a blast! Please check out our website: www.maxsfamilyband.com And feel free to order a CD or MP3s. They are available at Amazon, iTunes and elsewhere. Our favorite retailer is CDBaby. You can order a CD or MP3 by clicking here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/maxsfamilyband ”
Theresa (Tree) Loong '94 won a grant from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council for her documentary work in progress, "Every Day Is a Holiday." After TV broadcast in the US and China, Theresa just released a film online (she is an associate producer) - "So Very Far from Home" - on SnagFilms:
http://www.snagfilms.com/films/watch/so_very_far_from_home/ The real-life story of children interned in China during WWII.
Member Profile: Rachel Samuels '92
by Sean O’Rourke MAT ‘68
Film noir – dark, moody, filled with moral ambiguity. Hollywood cranked them out in the Forties and Fifties. In “Dark Streets,” Rachel Samuels ’92 revives the genre. Shot in colors from a very dark palette, the film follows Chaz Davenport, who has to solve the mystery of his father’s death, stay ahead of the loan sharks and find someone he can trust . . . if he can trust anyone.
Chaz owns a hot, new blues club in an anonymous American city prone to power failures. The club provides the setting for elaborate musical numbers in the manner of Busby Berkeley. The blackouts provide the noir.
The soundtrack for “Dark Streets” features original songs composed for the film by blues legends Etta James, Natalie Cole, Dr. John, Aaron Neville and Solomon Burke, with a score featuring B.B. King. After winning the Special Jury Prize at Cine Vegas, “Dark Streets” was released in theaters across the U.S. by Samuel Goldwyn Films in December 2008. The DVD is being released by Sony this year.
The journey from Cambridge to “Dark Streets” has been a long one for Rachel. When she graduated, Rachel was interested in sculpture, so she apprenticed with sculptor Tom Gibbs, father of her classmate Jenny Gibbs '92. While working with him, she made a video about him and his work. Back in Boston she took film classes at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts.
Harvard astrophysics professor David Layzer '46 / GSA '50 hired Rachel to make a short film, “Inventing the Atom,” which traced the development of atomic theory from Democritus to the present. The film ran ten minutes and required a crew of six. She decided that she liked the collaborative nature of film making so much she moved to California to pursue a career as a director.
In Los Angeles, Rachel landed a job with legendary low budget producer Roger Corman. He hires people who are talented but too green to say no, then he steps back and lets them learn by doing. Rachel started as his personal assistant and after three months was promoted to director of development. During the two years she served in this capacity she supervised the development and postproduction of a dozen feature films in two years.
While working for Corman, Rachel wrote a thriller screenplay entitled “Running Woman,” and he assigned her to direct. On her first day she did not know how a set worked and was overwhelmed by the number of trucks and people, but in the course of eighteen days she learned fast. The film came in on time and on budget.
Rachel then directed “The Suicide Club,” a period piece based on a story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Because there was no money in the budget for a casting director, Corman sent her to London by herself to hire actors on her own. Jonathan Pryce accepted a part and introduced her to other actors such as Paul Bettany and David Morrissey.
It was then off to Ireland for the shoot. In the western part of the country Gaelic is still spoken, and the crew all spoke Gaelic. Whereas “Running Woman” had been a concatenation of chases in cars, in boats and even one in a helicopter, “The Suicide Club” was a drama, allowing Rachel the luxury of directing world class actors in a serious dramatic production. The film went to festivals, got great reviews, had a theatrical release and was shown on television around the world.
One of the people who saw the film was Glenn Stewart, an American banker based in Bahrain, who also writes and produces plays. He had a musical -- also a period piece -- that he wanted to turn into a film. Rachel liked the play and loved the music. Thus began a three-year odyssey.
Musicals are complicated. Set in a night club in the Thirties, “Dark Streets” combines story, music and dance. Because of the limited budget, building sets would have been too expensive, so production design became a matter of finding locations in downtown Los Angeles. Rachel spent months looking among the taco stands and T-shirt stores until she found an art deco gem, the Tower Theater, and used it as her principal location.
Sculpture involves using space to create an effect, and so does composing a shot. To create the atmosphere she wanted, Rachel shot the entire film with swing and shift lenses, which had never been done before because the focus is so tricky. The combination of lighting and lenses created a dream world and a unique look.
Not only do musicals require elaborate preproduction, they also take a long time to shoot. A single number often requires several days of shooting. With a limited budget, Rachel had only one day for each musical number. In the morning the dancers rehearsed. Then in the afternoon she shot with a crane, a dolly and a hand held camera, all moving at the same time.
Rachel enjoys creating unique visual worlds and would like to work again with music and dance or perhaps make a science fiction film. Her brother, David, writes for Harper’s and The New Yorker. She is currently working with him to develop some of his stories into film treatments as she continues to look at other material.
For more information visit http://www.rachelsamuels.com.
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