* Director's Notes
* Message from Mia
* Pencil Me In:
- Harvardwood & HCG present: Grammy Award winner ART ROSENBAUM & Friends, Jan. 14 – ATL
- Annual HCSF with Harvardwood Annual Holiday Reunion Party, Thurs., Jan. 14 – SF
- Harvardwood 101 Mixer, Tues., Jan. 5 – LA
- Harvardwood Heads To...the premiere of DUMBSTRUCK, Sun., Jan. 10 – LA
- HBSASC, Harvardwood, & HBS Entertainment Trek present Entertainment Panel 2010, Jan.13 - LA
- Harvardwood Heads To...Wine & Cheese at Jeremy Juuso's Book Signing, Tues., Jan. 26 – LA
- Harvardwood Heads To...WINTERMEZZO feat. the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Tues., Jan. 12 – NJ
- Harvardwood Presents: Broadway Legend, ARTHUR LAURENTS, Wed., Jan. 13 – NY
- Harvardwood Presents: Dinner, A Show, & LAUGHTER TIMES THREE!, Wed., Jan. 27 – NY
* Seeking Screenplay Judges - HWP Feature Showcase
* Harvardwood Books: Seeking Submissions for New Short Fiction Anthology
* NOW AVAILABLE: Harvardwood screenwriting lecture with Corey Mandell on Harvardwood Channel
* Seeking NYC Harvardwood 101 Hosts! - NY
* Re-launching the Harvardwood NYC Writers Program! - NYC
* Industry Successes
* Coming up...Harvardwood is proud to co-sponsor A Conversation with DREW GILPIN FAUST
* Featured Member Posting: Seeking Stage Manager for HWP Feature Showcase
* Member Profile: Jon Steinberg '97
Director's Notes
This issue of HIGHLIGHTS is especially exciting for me as it marks not only the beginning of a New Year but the beginning of an entirely new decade for Harvardwood! There are so many exciting things on the horizon I could hardly wait for 2010 to begin. Come chat with the Harvardwood 101 students as they learn the ins and outs of this crazy town at the upcoming Harvardwood 101 mixer next week. Chaps in the newly formed GA Chapter have the opportunity to enjoy a concert and talk with a Grammy award-winning musicologist in Atlanta this January. Planning for the HWP Feature Showcase is underway -- an exciting new initiative from the features writers that will launch this April. And last but certainly not least we are excited to co-host President Faust as she makes her way west this February. So much to look forward to - 2010, here we come!
-- Kelley
Message from Mia
Harvardwood is ringing in this brand-new year with a bevy of events and programs from coast to coast -- read on and make a resolution to get even more involved in Harvardwood happenings in 2010!
- Mia
Pencil Me In...
Harvardwood & HCG present: Grammy Award winner ART ROSENBAUM & Friends, Thurs., Jan. 14 – ATL
The Georgia Chapter of Harvardwood and the Harvard Club of Georgia present: GRAMMY AWARD WINNER ART ROSENBAUM & FRIENDS. Don't miss this talk by Grammy Award winning musicologist Art Rosenbaum on his field work collecting and recording American traditional folk and blues music and a concert by Art and his special guests, 92 year old fiddler Earl Murphy and old time music duo Hawkproof Rooster… Art is a painter, teacher, and collector and performer of American traditional folk music who has traveled the country making field recordings that captured the heart and soul of America. He has released two box sets of his folk music field recordings on the Dust-to-Digital record label. In 2008 he received a Grammy Award for Best Historical Recordings, as well as another Grammy nomination for Best Album Notes. He will play selections from his recordings and will tell us about his work finding and recording true American roots music…To view full posting, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/event/rosenbaumGAJan14
Annual HCSF with Harvardwood Annual Holiday Reunion Party, Thurs., Jan. 14 – SF
Please join us for our annual holiday/reunion extravaganza! This year, we hope you can all come discover the brand new home of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, as we usher in the New Year with food, boutique wines from incredible winemakers, and fabulous music and art provided by the students of The Conservatory and our own local Harvardwood community…To view full posting, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=88534
Harvardwood 101 Mixer, Tues., Jan. 5 – LA
Come mix and mingle with the next generation of Harvardwood actors, writers, agents, producers, directors and more at our annual Harvardwood 101 mixer! Welcome the 101 students and show them how to party, Hollywood style! To view full posting, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=90080
Harvardwood Heads To...the premiere of DUMBSTRUCK, Sun., Jan. 10 – LA
Please join us to celebrate the premiere of...DUMBSTRUCK, directed by Mark Goffman & produced by Lindsay Goffman, in Association with Room 9 Entertainment (producers of THANK YOU FOR SMOKING), Sunday, January 10, at the PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL…At the annual Vent Haven Convention in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, ventriloquism capital of the world, DUMBSTRUCK introduces us five extraordinary characters straight out of a Christopher Guest mockumentary. But in this delightful, it’s-all-true documentary, the characters are real, and so are the emotional attachments that they have with their "dummies.” In the vein of KING OF KONG and ANVIL, DUMBSTRUCK is a humorous and heartfelt account of five professional ventriloquists who pursue their dreams -- a former Miss Ohio aspires to perform on cruise ships; a cruise ship entertainer juggles his responsibilities at home with spending months away at sea; and one ventriloquist emerges from obscurity to land the largest deal in Las Vegas history…Reception to follow…To view more information, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=89838
HBSASC, Harvardwood, & HBS Entertainment Trek present Entertainment Panel 2010, Wed., Jan.13 - LA
The HBSASC, Harvardwood, & HBS Hollywood Trek are proud to present Entertainment Panel 2010! Hear what HBS and Harvard alums have to say about the current state of the entertainment industry. What's the significance of Comcast buying NBCU? Will digital media overhaul the entertainment industry or will the incumbents prevail? Is the DVD format dead? How is technology changing the ways movies are being made and marketed? Will there be any sports left on broadcast TV? How can I get into or get ahead in the entertainment industry? It's a period of revolution and not evolution for the industry and we've assembled a world-class panel of leaders in entertainment to tell you what's in store for the future…To view more information, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=89836
Harvardwood Heads To...Wine & Cheese at Jeremy Juuso's Book Signing, Tues., Jan. 26 – LA
Join us as Harvardwood Heads To...Wine and Cheese at Jeremy Juuso’s book signing, hosted by Samuel French Bookstore, Tuesday, January 26th from 7:00-9:00PM. The book covers a step-by-step approach to writing film business plans. To view full posting, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=90050
Harvardwood Heads To...WINTERMEZZO feat. the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Tues., Jan. 12 – NJ
Join us as Harvardwood Heads To...WINTERMEZZO feat. the Vienna Chamber Orchestra! As the Assistant Director of the Scheide Fund, Harvardwood member Mariam Nazarian is producing WINTERMEZZO, featuring the Vienna Chamber Orchestra at Princeton University this January. This event will serve as a launching point for the NJ Chapter of Harvardwood! Anyone interested in helping to develop the NJ Chapter of Harvardwood contact Mariam Nazarian at [email protected] view more information, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=90079
Harvardwood Presents: Broadway Legend, ARTHUR LAURENTS, Wed., Jan. 13 – NY
For six decades, Arthur Laurents has been one of the great figures of Broadway. His first hit came in 1952 with THE TIME OF THE CUCKOO. His long list of accomplishments since then includes writing the books for WEST SIDE STORY and GYPSY; directing the original Broadway productions of I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE (which made Barbra Streisand a star), HALLELUJAH BABY, and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES; and writing screenplays that include THE SNAKE PIT, HITCHCOCK’S ROPE, BONJOUR TRISTESSE, THE WAY WE WERE, and THE TURNING POINT… Mr. Laurents will be interviewed by Victoria Wilson, Vice President and Associate Publisher at Alfred A. Knopf…Our evening begins at 6 p.m. with a 45 minute reception, including OPEN BAR, cheeses, and light hors d'oeuvres…To view full posting, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/event/laurentsJan13
Harvardwood Presents: Dinner, A Show, & LAUGHTER TIMES THREE!, Wed., Jan. 27 – NY
Come spend an evening enjoying drinks, dinner, and some of New York’s top comedians! Our friends at the Down Town Association have offered us a fabulous night, complete with a reception with open bar and hors d’oeuvres, a superb sit-down dinner with wine, a performance starring three of the best comics anywhere, and all topped off with coffee and a buffet of scrumptious desserts. The award-winning performers for the night will include Brad Zimmerman, Jane Condon, and Karen Bergreen ’87…To view full posting, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/event/laughterJan27
Seeking Screenplay Judges - HWP Feature Showcase
On April 27, Harvardwood is excited to present its first ever showcase for members of its feature screenplay writing group! The evening will consist of four staged readings of excerpts from the best screenplays to come out of the program. These will be professionally cast and performed for an audience of industry professionals and representatives….We are currently forming a small committee of industry professionals and working writers to assist with the selection of screenplays for the showcase. As a showcase judge, we will rely on you to select the best material to represent Harvardwood writers. Each judge will receive 3 complete scripts on March 1, and be given two weeks to read them. No notes or meetings will be required - just a very short shore sheet. Judges will serve anonymously and the writers will not know who scored their work. If you are an industry professional or working writer, please email Lane Shadgett at [email protected] to volunteer your time - we will be honored to have you! To view full posting, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/news/34417/Seeking-Screenplay-Judges---HWP-Feature-Showcase-.htm
Harvardwood Books: Seeking Submissions for New Short Fiction Anthology
Currently, Harvard Square Editions (HSE), a partner of Harvardwood Books, is seeking short stories and stand-alone novel excerpts for a new fiction anthology to be called VOICE FROM THE PAST. Harvard Square Editions, a new, independent press, has been created by an international group of seasoned and award-winning writers who have collaborated via the Internet to seize control of their own publishing destinies. This upcoming fiction collection follows ABOVE GROUND, HSE's inaugural anthology. I hope you will send HSE your best short stories and/or novel excerpts for consideration in this second, globe-trotting collection. Submission deadline: January 31, 2010....To view full posting, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/news/34459/Seeking-Submissions-for-New-Short-Fiction-Anthology.htm
NOW AVAILABLE: Harvardwood screenwriting lecture with Corey Mandell on Harvardwood Channel
Enjoy Corey Mandell’s provocative lecture about the five main reasons people fail at screenwriting on the Harvardwood Channel. Mandell provides some specific tools and insights that can help you shape your ideas into the best possible scripts. Perfect for both experienced screenwriters as well as those who have never written a word, but are curious to learn more about this field. Corey Mandell is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. He has written projects for Harrison Ford, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000, Paramount, Warner Brothers, Touchstone Pictures, Trilogy, and Working Title among others…Full Members of Harvardwood may view this video here: http://www.harvardwood.org/?page=Panels
Seeking NYC Harvardwood 101 Hosts! - NYC
It's time for NYC to join in the Harvardwood 101 fun! Harvardwood is seeking a few volunteers to serve as hosts in NYC for the Harvardwood 101 program, from Jan 10 - Jan 24, 2010. A few of our interns will be heading east for their "J-term-ship" and they are in need of a place to lay their heads! If you have an extra futon, couch, guest room, etc. and are able to provide housing for any amount of time between Jan 10 - 24, please contact us ASAP at [email protected] with your contact information. Thank you in advance for your help! To view more information, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/news/33894/Seeking-Some-NYC-Harvardwood-101-Hosts---NYC.htm
Re-launching the Harvardwood NYC Writers' Program! - NYC
We're finally delighted to announce the re-launch of the NYC edition of the Harvardwood Writers' Program (HWP). We have THREE new groups, with some really great leaders, plus one returning favorite. Each of these groups will meet either once or twice a month, at Manhattan locations chosen by the group leaders. If you'd like to register for a group, just e-mail us at [email protected], and we'll forward your message to the appropriate group leader. These groups are open only to Full Members of Harvardwood and, in limited numbers, to Friends of Harvardwood…To view full posting, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/news/33005/Re-Launching-the-Harvardwood-NYC-Writers-Program.htm
Industry Successes...
Broderick Fox '06 is pleased to announce the release of his book DOCUMENTARY MEDIA: History -Theory - Practice by Pearson Press. The book offers a hands-on approach to developing critically, historically, and ethically informed documentaries that explode traditional conventions in their form, function, and distribution models.
Chinese Southern Belle, LLC, president/co-owner, Natalie Keng KSG ’96, said the Harvardwood Atlanta kickoff party was "great networking and serendipitous!" She met actress/producer, Sheri Mann-Stewart, creator of ALL THE LATEST ATL, a new, progressive TV program. As a result, Natalie was invited on as guest co-host and Chinese Southern Belle was featured as a new mother-daughter business connecting food, culture and sustainability. View episodes on Bliptv.com and check out www.chinesesouthernbelle.com.
Guitarist/bass guitarist Jerome Harris '73 continues his genre-hopping adventures in creative music-making with two notable projects appearing in Manhattan soon: On bass guitar with renowned jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette's quintet = Tuesday-Saturday, January 5-9; sets at 8:30 PM & 11:00 PM, Birdland, 315 West 44th Street (bet. 8th & 9th Avenues), New York NY 10036. On bass guitar with klezmer/funk/hip hop innovators Abraham Inc., featuring David Krakauer, Fred Wesley, and Socalled - Thursday, February 25, doors open @ 7:00 pm; show: 7:30 pm, Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street (bet. Thompson & Sullivan Sts), New York NY 10012. Details available at http://www.jeromeharris.com/thelatest/index.cfm
A CAMOUFLAGE CURRICULUM. The challenge to open the eyes of new generations to a documentary DVD inspires innovative education and marketing: a blog. The DVD is about artist Abbott Thayer, acclaimed portrait painter, naturalist, environmental activist, and the inventor of camouflage. The producer hired artist Holly Alderman to write a curriculum, re-imagined by Holly as the Camouflage Curriculum online at http://www.abbott-thayer.blogspot.com. The blog offers slide shows, pre-viewing questions, art studios as lesson plans for camouflage, portraits and landscapes, field trips with nature observation writing modeled on Thoreau, links to major museum collections, for high school and college students, teachers, and all-American art fans. Full title, INVISIBLE: Abbott Thayer and the Art of Camouflage was produced by Pamela Peabody, with co-producer Denise Couture and director Carl Colby, PRP Productions, Washington DC. Alderman also re-imagines art and photography for interior and exterior decor, foto-fashion and landscape art - profile at http://linkedin.com/in/hollyalderman.
Coming up...Harvardwood is proud to co-sponsor A Conversation with DREW GILPIN FAUST
On Thursday, February 18 Harvardwood, along with the HAA and the HCSC, is proud to co-sponsor A Conversation with Drew Gilpin Faust, President and Lincoln Professor of History, Harvard University. Full Members of Harvardwood may register at the discounted rate. To view more information, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/events/event_details.asp?id=89391
Featured Member Posting: Seeking Stage Manager for HWP Feature Showcase
On April 27th, Harvardwood is excited to present its first ever showcase for members of its feature screenplay writing group. The evening will consist of four staged readings of excerpts from the best screenplays to come out of the program. These will be professionally cast and performed for an audience of industry professionals and representatives….The producers are looking for an energetic Stage Manager to join our team - the Stage Manager’s primary responsibility will be to help the director (Andrew Burlinson ‘97) coordinate the rehearsal process and the performance. This will include scheduling casting sessions and rehearsals, ensuring that locations are arranged, and communicating with all cast and crew who need to attend. In addition, the stage manager will help run blocking rehearsals and "manage” the showcase itself…The job will begin with the casting process on March 15th, 2010 and run through the showcase on April 27. A small stipend will be provided…To view full posting, please visit: http://www.harvardwood.org/networking/opening.asp?id=73623
Member Profile: Jon Steinberg, '97
by Sean O'Rourke MAT '68
When Jon Steinberg '97 was an undergraduate in Mather House, he concentrated in government, but movies were his passion. After graduation he went to law school at the University of Pennsylvania and later practiced at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in Philadelphia for a year. But the draw to Los Angeles and the movie industry was too much to ignore. So he packed up his car and drove to California.
In Los Angeles Jon did what many people do when they set out to make it in Hollywood. He did odd jobs, lived on credit cards and slept on an air mattress. He wrote feature films on spec, and although they brought him some attention, an agent and a manager, he could not break through.
Then in the fall of 2004 Jon came up with an idea for a feature that looked as though it would work better as a television series. The only problem was that he had absolutely no experience in television. He and his partner, Josh Schaer, wrote an outline for a series called JERICHO, a post-apocalyptic drama set in an America devastated by a terrorist nuclear attack.
Neither Jon’s manager nor his agent saw much promise in the project, so he and Josh walked it around town on their own. A friend from Philadelphia, Dan Shotz, worked for Junction Entertainment and director Jon Turtletaub (COOL RUNNINGS, NATIONAL TREASURE, THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE), who was considering going into television. Dan offered to slip the outline into the pile of scripts his boss was considering. When he read the outline for JERICHO, Turtletaub decided to develop it.
The show premiered on CBS on September 20, 2006 to strong ratings, but after a long mid-season hiatus the numbers faded, and the show was canceled. Days later, fans initiated a grassroots effort to bring the show back. Networks usually ignore these campaigns, but this one continued to gain strength. For weeks the fans bombarded CBS executives with e-mails and phone calls. They even sent twenty tons of nuts – an homage to one of the storylines in the season finale.
Finally CBS could no longer ignore the campaign. The network ordered seven more episodes. The second season was critically praised, but ultimately it was the last. However, JERICHO still airs in syndication and regularly appears on lists of the biggest cult television shows of all time.
After JERICHO, Jon sold another pilot to CBS Paramount for director Curtis Hanson (L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, WONDERBOYS, 8 MILE), but it went unproduced. The following season he sold two pilots, the first to ABC for director Gary Fleder (THE EXPRESS, RUNAWAY JURY) and the second to Warner Brothers and Fox for director McG’s Wonderland Sound and Vision (THE O.C., CHARLIE'S ANGELS, TERMINATOR SALVATION). It was based on a DC Comics property called HUMAN TARGET.
HUMAN TARGET is about an undercover security expert who puts himself in danger to protect his clients. Simon West (CON-AIR, THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER) directed the pilot episode, which stars Mark Valley, Chi McBride, Jackie Earle Haley and Tricia Helfer.
On Sunday, January 17 at 8 PM, Fox will launch the show after the NFC Divisional Playoff game. The second episode will air on Wednesday, January 20 after AMERICAN IDOL. The show will then settle into its regular time slot before AMERICAN IDOL on Wednesdays at 8 PM.
Jon currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife Rebecca and their ten-month-old daughter Madelyn.
DISCLAIMER
Harvardwood does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the information, content or advertisements (collectively "Materials") contained on, distributed through, or linked, downloaded or accessed from any of the services contained in this e-mail. You hereby acknowledge that any reliance upon any Materials shall be at your sole risk. The materials are provided by Harvardwood on an "AS IS" basis, and Harvardwood expressly disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied.