Harvardwood HIGHLIGHTS - February 2026
- 7 hours ago
- 18 min read
In this issue:
MESSAGE FROM HARVARDWOOD
NEWS
Seeking Submissions for the Harvardwood Actors Collective
Featured Job: Creative Services Coordinator
FEATURES
Harvardwood Profile: Jordana Lewis Jaffe AB '02 (writer, producer)
Industry News
Exclusive Q&A with Annabel O'Hagan AB '19 (actor)
CALENDAR & NOTES
Weekly Freewriting Sessions (Virtual)
SIG Showcase: Harvardwood (Virtual)
Harvardwood Creative Salon - March (Virtual)
Oscars Watch Party LA (Los Angeles, CA)
Oscars Watch Party NYC (New York, NY)
Last Month at Harvardwood
Want to submit your success(es) to Harvardwood HIGHLIGHTS? Do so by posting here!
February in Los Angeles marks, that's right, the beginning of the 10-month summer that goes until early December!
Also, it marks the beginning of our long search for Submissions for the Harvardwood Actors Collective! Submit, thespians.
Do Weekly Freewriting Sessions sound appealing to you? Does SIG Showcase: Harvardwood?? Does an Oscars Watch Party LA/NYC??? Well, we're doing them regardless.
As always, if you have an idea for an event or programming, please tell us about it here. If you have an announcement about your work or someone else's, please share it here (members) and it will appear in our Weekly and/or next HIGHLIGHTS issue.
Best wishes,
Grace Shi
Operations and Communications
Seeking Submissions for the Harvardwood Actors Collective
A gathering of supportive actors looking to exercise their craft and keep their instruments limber, the Harvardwood Actors Collective holds monthly play reading events, celebrating works both old and new! Join us, and get back to why you love doing this in the first place… bringing great texts to life.
This program is open to professional working actors and MFA actors who are Full Harvardwood Members (Friends of Harvardwood are ineligible).
If interested, please submit the following by Tuesday, February 10, to programs@harvardwood.org:
Your headshot
Your acting resume
Your reel (if you have one)
Availability to meet on Thursday, February 26th from 7:30-9:00pm PT
A list of plays you’d love to read out loud (optional)
Featured Job: Creative Services Coordinator
Job Description:
This new role is part of the Integrated Marketing Services team within the Global Marketing, which focuses on the organization and delivery of creator and digital community marketing campaigns. You'll be working with marketing teams around the world to deliver cutting-edge creator marketing campaigns and building direct relationships with a global network of creators and talent agents.
Alumni Profile: Jordana Lewis Jaffe AB '02 (writer, producer)
by Laura Frustaci AB '21
Jordana Lewis Jaffe is a seasoned television writer and producer who has written for NCIS: LOS ANGELES, HIGH POTENTIAL, and CSI: VEGAS, among others. She's developed TV projects for Netflix, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Hallmark, and has a romantic comedy screenplay in development with R/K Films. Before segueing into entertainment, she was a journalist for THE NEW YORK TIMES and NEWSWEEK. Jordana earned her Bachelor's degree from Harvard University, where she studied History and Literature and was Editorial Chair of THE HARVARD CRIMSON. She also holds a JD from UCLA School of Law. Originally from Orange County, California, she and her husband Mark have two children.
While at Harvard, Jordana Lewis Jaffe spent her free time writing for THE HARVARD CRIMSON and every summer working in print or broadcast journalism. But her plans to move to New York City and become a journalist were postponed after 9/11 happened during her senior year of college. “I panicked. And I thought maybe there was a different city for me out there,” Jordana recalls. “I went through on-campus recruiting, and I got a job working in Disney's Strategic Planning Department.”
In her heart, though, Jordana knew she wanted to write, even after she’d signed the contract with Disney. This was confirmed later in her senior year when she wrote a column in THE CRIMSON about procrastination. Evan Thomas, an editor at NEWSWEEK, happened to read it and sent her a (real, handwritten) letter saying that if she had any interest in pursuing writing, he thought she could make a career of it. “It was so huge to have this external voice validate what I knew I loved to do,” Jordana smiles.
She still went on to fulfill her promise to Disney and worked there until attending law school at UCLA—the age-old story for creatives seeking job security. Jordana described law school as the “safe path” and she maintains her bar license to this day, just in case. But she would rather not have to ever practice law. In fact, she says, “I knew two weeks into school that I had made a terrible life decision once again, so I started freelancing and writing journalism articles the whole time I was in school.” After completing classes in the morning, Jordana covered Hollywood parties, red carpet events, and movie premieres for the Boldface Names column in THE NEW YORK TIMES. Then, in her third and final year of law school, the column was unceremoniously canceled, and the journalism industry started to shift in a way that ultimately pushed Jordana towards her true calling: writing for TV.
While she was still in her last year of law school, Jordana landed an internship at HBO working for Francesca Orsi (as Jordana calls her, “my fairy angel”). At Francesca’s urging, Jordana wrote her first script, and then when Francesca saw something in it, she helped Jordana get an agent. That agent got Jordana her first job on THE WHOLE TRUTH, an ABC legal drama, followed by (shockingly) another legal drama: THE DEFENDERS, on CBS. After that show was cancelled, Jordana joined NCIS: LOS ANGELES and wrote and produced the show for the next 10 years.
“It was the most wonderful education I could have asked for,” Jordana says fondly. “I worked for Shane Brennan, and then Scott Gemmill, and they were just the greatest showrunners.” The entire time she worked on NCIS: LA, an “elder statesman” kept telling her that she would never be on a show like this again. And he was right. “I knew I would never be on a show that lasted that long again,” she explains. But Jordana also initially chose TV over movies in part because she’s a social extrovert. “I really love collaborating with other people and being a part of something, and writing is such a solitary existence that I thought that would be a nice counter to it.” But after COVID, Jordana spent the next four years in Zoom rooms and “all the joy I got from working with other people really changed.”
Being home alone was the reason Jordana turned to writing film in addition to TV, which (naturally) she has been very successful at as well. “I've been able to write rom-coms and romance movies, which has brought me endless joy. I feel like I’m eating dessert the whole time I’m writing,” Jordana smiles. Her background in journalism gave her a respect for tight deadlines, so she turned her first feature script around incredibly quickly (in three months!) and her TV agent got it to a film agent. The script is now in development at a production company, and she’s already finished a second feature. “I love a writing day when I am just so excited to get to those next scenes,” Jordana says. “I know what I want to do with them. And they just work. I’m lucky enough to have a beautiful home office, and when I finally sit down in my chair, I'm just ready to go… I plan out my weeks meticulously, and so if I have a writing day, I'm ready for it, and really grateful for the space to do it.”
Jordana says all aspiring writers (and employed writers!) should be writing all the time. “They should be reading scripts as well. I never went to film school, and I never really worked on anyone's desk except for my internship at HBO. But I read all of the scripts that came in, and I read the coverage,” Jordana remembers. “Within a couple of months, I was reading scripts and anticipating what the coverage would say, and that really helped me.” Jordana also recommends reading the script of your favorite TV show or movie. “Find out how the writer’s vision was conveyed on the page, and then compare the text to what it eventually became.”
In terms of other advice, Jordana has three more things to say: First, “to be a TV writer or a movie writer, you need to treat it like a profession. If no one is going to give you a deadline, it’s really important that you create self-imposed deadlines.” Second, “I'm very realistic that I work for corporations. These corporations have become quite complicated, and there are expectations, and in exchange, I'm able to do this thing I love… People bemoan notes, but the truth is that's part of the job. And I respect that that's what the job is.” Finally, the third piece of advice came to her by way of her old boss, Scott Gemmill. He told her, “Never make the story so complicated that it gets in the way of the characters.” Audiences fall in love with the characters, not necessarily the plot, and the characters are what keep them paying attention. Plus, it tightens the story when you’re forced to consider if those three additional beats are really necessary, or if you could cut them and use that time for character development instead, Jordana explains.
The skills that are important to being a writer not only include professionalism and understanding what the job is, but also knowing how to read a room. “There's a lot of social intelligence involved… The tricky thing about writing for TV is that being able to write a script is probably less than 30% of the job. So much of it is your ability to contribute to the room, to interact with the actors, to get all of the department heads to deliver your exact vision… It's all about being helpful and participating for the common good. We're all in this together to create the best show.”
As for what’s on the horizon, Jordana says proudly, “I just wrote a pilot for ABC, and I'm waiting to hear what happens. We’re casting this rom-com movie, and I'm taking out this other movie. I love the hustle of this job… I have the rights to a book series that I really want to develop into a film. I have an idea for a spy show. I always have a lot of things in the pipeline.” Jordana is happier when she’s working on “10 projects versus 5 projects.” She adds, “Because nothing is for sure. So what a happy, happy circumstance it is to have too much work to do…. I love coming up with ideas and seeing what I can do with them… and I'm so happy to be able to do this.”
Industry News
Damien Chazelle’s AB '07 next feature is rounding out its cast with Michelle Williams set to join Cillian Murphy and Daniel Craig in the untitled drama, which is reportedly set in a prison and will begin production later this year. Chazelle is writing and directing the project for Paramount under his Wild Chickens banner, reuniting him with Oscar-caliber actors in a high-profile follow-up to his previous work. (Deadline)
Rivers Cuomo AB '06 reflected on Weezer’s long career and the persistent “conflict” between how longtime fans and casual listeners perceive the band, acknowledging that while some still lean into the band’s quirky “Revenge of the Nerds” image, core fans recognize deeper emotional and musical layers in their work. Cuomo said he feels “pretty satisfied” as long as the band maintains a strong connection with its audience, even as perceptions shift over time. (Vice)
Dan Goor AB '97 is set to executive produce a special STUMBLE episode for NBC tied to the 2026 Winter Olympics, reuniting the creative team behind the popular comedy series. The hour-long installment will air during the Games and aims to bring the show’s signature humor to the Olympic spotlight, with Goor and his collaborators developing original content specifically for the event. (Deadline)
Dan Goor AB '97 is set to co-write and executive produce PI, a new comedy pilot ordered by NBC alongside longtime collaborator Luke Del Tredici. The single-camera series, inspired by Goor’s real-life friendship with Del Tredici, follows an improv troupe’s chaotic attempts to make it in New York comedy. The pilot order marks the latest TV project from Goor’s production company, with the duo both attached as writers and executive producers. (Deadline)
Hill Harper JD '92 MPA '92 has joined Starz’s POWER: ORIGINS, the upcoming prequel series expanding the POWER universe, alongside Kelly McCreary and Nadia Dajani. Harper will play a key role in the drama, which explores the early years of the Saxe and McKay families and hails from creator Courtney A. Kemp and executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. (Deadline)
Helen Estabrook AB '03 is executive producing FEAR NOT, a six-part limited true-crime series ordered by Paramount+ that stars and is also executive produced by Anne Hathaway. Based on a real-life story adapted from a VANITY FAIR article, the drama delves into a chilling serial killer case with a complex emotional core, marking another high-profile genre project for Estabrook’s Vanity Fair Studios banner. (Bloody Disgusting)
Lisa Henson AB '82 is executive producing LORE OLYMPUS, an animated series adaptation of Rachel Smythe’s bestselling Webtoon, which has been ordered to series at Prime Video. Produced by Webtoon Productions and The Jim Henson Company, the project marks the company’s first adult animated series under Henson’s leadership as CEO. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Join author and art historian Sarah Elizabeth Lewis AB '01 in Los Angeles this Sunday, February 8, at 2pm for a keynote presentation that will examine the MONUMENTS exhibition through the lens of cultural equity and social justice. (MOCA)
John Lithgow AB '67 arrived at the Music Box Theatre for the opening night of GIANT, the new Broadway musical adaptation of Edna Ferber’s classic novel, where he stars in the production alongside a cast of theater luminaries. Photos from the arrival capture Lithgow and the company in full Broadway-ready style as anticipation builds for the show’s official debut. (BroadwayWorld)
Mira Nair AB '79 is set to direct a biopic on celebrated Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil, with production expected to begin soon in Amritsar. The film marks a new project for the A SUITABLE BOY director as she explores the life and legacy of one of India’s most influential modern artists. (Times of India)
Steven Schneider PHD '06 AM '06 is producing PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 8 for Paramount, with the supernatural franchise returning to theaters in early summer 2027. The next installment continues the long-running horror series that Schneider has helped shepherd since its inception, promising to expand the mythology with new scares. (Deadline)
Sam Shaw AB '99 is showrunner and executive producer on KENNEDY, Netflix’s upcoming eight-episode historical drama about the rise of the Kennedy family, which stars Michael Fassbender as Joe Kennedy Sr. and features Laura Donnelly, Nick Robinson, and Joshuah Melnick among its cast. (The Hill / Netflix Tudum)
Wallace Shawn AB '65 is bringing his Obie Award–winning solo play THE FEVER back Off Broadway, performing it in repertory with his new full-cast work WHAT WE DID BEFORE OUR MOTH DAYS at Greenwich House Theater beginning Feb. 16. Shawn will star in THE FEVER on Sundays and Mondays, with the ensemble piece directed by longtime collaborator André Gregory running the remainder of the week. (Deadline) The wedding and love story of Jason Kim Vaughn MAR ’17 and Patrick Vaughn DMD '17 is featured in Vogue as well as a short documentary film, “Celebrating Gay Marriage". (Vogue)
Exclusive Q&A with Annabel O'Hagan AB '19 (actor)
Annabel O'Hagan is known for her acclaimed role as Steph Harper in Amazon Prime's hit series FALLOUT. She is a Harvard graduate who broke barriers as one of the first women cast in Harvard's historic Hasty Pudding Theatricals before making her television debut on LAW & ORDER: SVU. Previous credits include A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN (Dir: Denzel Washington) and DEAR EDWARD for Apple TV+. She will soon be seen in two independent films: INTO THE SKY opposite Sam Richardson and David Cross, written and directed by Evan Buxbaum and Drew Mulrea, and ECHO LAKE, directed by Lindsey Ruggles. She is represented by MJ Management and Stewart Talent.
Watch FALLOUT Season 2 on Amazon Prime!
Q: Congratulations on Season 2 of FALLOUT! What has been your favorite part of the filming process? What’s been the most difficult?
Thank you so much! My favorite part of filming is [craft services]. My second favorite part is getting to fake murder people. And my third favorite part of filming is the moment when you forget all the chaos around you and melt into your character and just for a few minutes or seconds you feel totally at home there. When they yell “cut” and you and your scene partner know you found a version of the scene that totally works and get big dumb smiles on your face. It’s so silly and fun and powerful. It’s truly an honor to get to be a part of this show where I get to work with a cast and crew who are not only wickedly talented but also just really great human beings.
Q: What was the casting process like for landing this incredible role? Was there a moment you knew you’d gotten it, or were you really not sure how things were going to play out?
When I was first submitted for the audition by my managers, casting didn’t want to see me! I had only done a few small guest stars at this point. My managers had a feeling the show was a good fit for me, so they said 'fuck it' and sent me the audition materials and script anyway. I’m grateful to have reps that go to bat for me! I read the script and immediately had that feeling of, “I have to be a part of this.” It was just so epic and camp and new. The audition was only one scene (the scene where Lucy and I walk down the hall of the vault talking about sex in 101), and there was no indication that the character was a recurring role. I taped the scene over and over until 2AM, and my managers sent it off. I never feel awesome after auditions, but I made my reader laugh so that felt good? I didn’t hear anything for two weeks so I figured it didn’t work out. My partner and I went on a trip to Italy, and I got a call while I was there that I was going to start work on Monday as Steph, and that it was a recurring character! I flew home as fast as I could and started filming just a few days later.
Q: FALLOUT is based on a popular video game. Is it stressful being part of an adaptation in that way, knowing fans might be expecting certain things? Have there been any favorite fan reactions to your character or the show in general?
We were given a gift, which was that FALLOUT's writers and showrunners, Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet (who is also a Harvard grad!), wrote the show to fit within the FALLOUT “canon” without replicating one of the stories featured in the games. So instead of recreating existing lore, they are adding to it! Honestly, their writing was just so good I couldn’t imagine people not enjoying it, whether they were gamers or not. But yes, I learned that the gaming community is very protective of the games, and it was a huge relief to see how much they love the show.
I loved how much people freaked out over the fork going into my eye. To this day, that fight scene might have been my favorite thing ever to film. For Season 2, I have recently loved reading reviews and comments saying that I’m scary. If you know me, I kind of have golden retriever energy in real life, so it feels good to slither around as Steph.
Q: Did you play any of the video game in preparation for immersing yourself in the world? Do you feel like the post-apocalyptic setting speaks to where we are as a society right now at all?
I tried to! I was ultimately not good enough at gaming to get past the first few levels, so instead I watched a lot of pro gamers play FALLOUT on Twitch and YouTube, which is actually very entertaining and helped me understand the humor, tone, and stakes of the world. FALLOUT can be interpreted as a cautionary tale, and there were many moments when I would read a script (particularly in S2) and feel shaken to my core because it felt like only a slightly more sarcastic and hyperbolic telling of a story I was reading in the news that morning. I think the show marries heavier themes of the corruption of centralized power, the illusion of safety and control, and the capacity for human survival with a wink, a smile, and an exploding head. I just feel lucky to be a part of FALLOUT’s universe
Q: According to Amazon, FALLOUT was the second most-watched title in the history of the platform when it premiered. How did it feel knowing so many people were watching? Do you ever get recognized on the street?
That was crazy. The day it aired, I didn’t have any clue how to conceptualize millions of people watching. I still don’t. I made some boundaries for myself around interacting with fans and strangers on the internet that have been helpful. Being on FALLOUT has both totally changed my life and also not at all. I get recognized very rarely (I think the eyepatch helps!), but I’m starting to experience it a bit more now that Season 2 is out, which is kind of cool but I have mixed feelings about. All in all, the fans have been so amazing and positive, and I’m really grateful.
Q: The Season 2 premiere just aired on Wednesday. FALLOUT has already been renewed for Season 3. What does this mean for Steph?
I can’t say anything about my potential involvement in Season 3 yet without giving spoilers (ask me again on Feb 4th once the last episode of Season 2 airs!), but I am so beyond excited that the show has been renewed. I’m also really anxious for people to see the last few episodes of Season 2. Episode 7 was my favorite to film and has some exciting developments for Steph.
Q: Pivoting a little, how did your time at Harvard prepare you for what you’re doing today?
More than anything, I fell in love with acting at Harvard. Getting to be in plays and musicals with your friends is just the best, and I really needed that time to grow in confidence and learn how to be a human being. Remo Airaldi was a big part of my growth in the ways that he pushed me to learn about my peaks and valleys. Scott Zigler’s comedy class was also a big one for me. I really liked college for the most part, and having the freedom to try new things and fail was really good for me.
Q: Are there particular acting craft books you recommend or methodologies that you utilize in your work?
I still use the PRACTICAL HANDBOOK FOR THE ACTOR (Practical Aesthetics Method), which was introduced to me by Scott Zigler at Harvard. I like the focus on being present and identifying achievable actions in a scene. I also recently started working with an on-camera teacher in NYC (Jon Shear, another Harvard grad!) who encourages doing only flat-reads during rehearsals and using two “contrasting energies” to discover a scene. That’s been pretty effortless to implement on set and is another great addition to the toolkit.
Q: Looking to the future, are you working on anything else? What’s on the horizon post-FALLOUT? Is there a dream role, project, or collaborator?
Nope, so whoever is reading this, please cast me in something!! I’m only kind of kidding… I do have a movie coming out in 2026 called INTO THE SKY that we shot last year that is really fun, and it's having a festival premiere that will hopefully be announced soon. There’s another indie feature that we are hoping to shoot this year as well, but I’m really just going into 2026 open-minded and open-handed. I would love to do a play in NYC. I would really enjoy working on a period piece, maybe something with pirates? I dream of working with Chloé Zhao - HAMNET tore me to pieces. I also want to find a way to keep making art with friends and people I love, because that really fills me up.
Q: Finally, was there a piece of advice a mentor gave you that has stayed with you to this day?
You are interesting enough.
Weekly Freewriting Sessions (Virtual)
Weekly on Thursdays
Kick off the new year by committing to your creative goals! Join our weekly online sessions to make real progress on your writing. Whether you’re starting a new project or advancing ongoing work, this is your dedicated space to write consistently and build momentum.
One hour, zero distractions, and 100% writing. Perfect for Harvardwood members looking to make steady progress.
Will be held Thursdays, 8am-9am PT (11am-12pm ET).
After RSVPing and membership status is confirmed, participants will receive Zoom to join.
SIG Showcase: Harvardwood (Virtual)
Tuesday 02/24
Explore the SIG Showcase and connect with Harvard alumni who share your interests and passions. Join virtual events hosted by Shared Interest Groups from February 24–26 and discover opportunities to network, engage, and get involved.
Harvardwood Creative Salon - March (Virtual)
Friday 03/13
Come and showcase your work to the Harvardwood community! Our goal with this salon is to provide a space where creatives can come together and showcase ten minutes of their work—whether a performance, reading, an idea, short film, music video, or any other creative outlet! The group can help workshop and provide feedback, or merely provide an attentive audience.
Oscars Watch Party LA (Los Angeles, CA)
Sunday 03/15
Join us for an in-person Oscars Watch Party
How accurate are your picks for Best Actress and Best Actor? Who will take home the Oscar for Best Picture this year? Watch the fashion, excitement, and drama of the 96th Academy Awards with other members of Harvardwood, LIVE AND IN-PERSON!
St. Felix is an award-winning restaurant/lounge with locations in Hollywood and West Hollywood. This event will be at the Hollywood location. At our viewing party, you can order from their delicious menu of signature cocktails and dishes, shared plates, desserts and more!
Oscars Watch Party NYC (New York, NY)
Sunday 03/15
Join us for an in-person Oscars Watch Party
How accurate are your picks for Best Actress and Best Actor? Who will take home the Oscar for Best Picture this year? Watch the fashion, excitement, and drama of the 96th Academy Awards with other members of Harvardwood, LIVE AND IN-PERSON!
Community members in NYC, RSVP below! There will be food and beverages at Manhattan Neighborhood Network!
Last Month at Harvardwood
Last Month at Harvardwood, we ran another successful Harvardwood 101 career exploration program for undergrads, met up at Sundance, hosted an exclusive Q&A with writer-producer Adam Barr AB '88 for participants of the Harvardwood Writers Program, and more!
Want to submit your success(es) to Harvardwood HIGHLIGHTS? Do so by posting here!
Become a Harvardwood member! We work hard to create programming that you, the membership, would like to be engaged with. Please consider joining Harvardwood and becoming an active member of our arts, media, and entertainment community!
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