“What do we want America to be?” This is the question asked of first- and second-generation immigrant storytellers in the new anthology The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America. Join contributors Jade Chang (The Wangs vs. The World), Nicole Dennis-Benn (whose sophomore novel, Patsy, debuts this June), and Dani Fernandez (Ralph Breaks the Internet, “Nerdificent”) for readings and conversation in honor of Immigrant Heritage Month and to consider how Angelenos fit into the national conversation on American identity.

Pack a blanket and picnic on the lawn (no alcohol permitted), or for purchase from local food trucks. Book sales courtesy of Vroman’s Bookstore.

This program is presented in partnership with The Music Center, PEN America, and Scripps Presents.

Jade Chang is the author of The Wangs vs. the World, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The Wangs has been named a New York Times Editors’ Choice as well as a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, Buzzfeed, Elle, and NPR, and was awarded the VCU/Cabell First Novelist prize. The novel will be published in 12 countries. “Her book is unrelentingly fun, but it is also raw and profane—a story of fierce pride, fierce anger, and even fiercer love.” (NPR)

Nicole Dennis-Benn is the author of the novels Patsy(Liveright, 2019) and Here Comes the Sun(Liveright, 2016), which won the Lambda Literary Award, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Award, the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Fiction Award, and the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize, and was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award.

Dani Fernandez is an LA based writer, comedian, and actress. She is a host at Nerdist, has a wizarding comedy show “Live from WZRD” on VRV, and hosts a popular podcast on iHeartMedia called “Nerdificent.” She can also be seen in animated form, playing herself, in Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Elaine Welteroth has climbed the ranks of media, fashion, and storytelling. She was the youngest person ever appointed editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, and in 2012 had been the first African American ever to hold the post of beauty and health director at a Condé Nast publication. To celebrate the release of her timely memoir, More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say), Welteroth discusses her personal experiences as a barrier breaker and advocates for next-gen trailblazers to know they are #morethanenough. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Eso Won Books.

Presented in partnership with the California African American Museum.

Elaine Welteroth is an award-winning journalist and judge on the new Project Runway, and was most recently editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue. She was the youngest person ever appointed editor-in-chief in 2017 and the first African American to ever hold the post of beauty and health director at a Condé Nast publication in 2012. Prior to Teen Vogue, she was the senior beauty editor at Glamour and the beauty and style editor at Ebony.

One of Hollywood's great actresses, Carroll Baker starred in Baby Doll (Academy Award nomination), Giant, How the West Was Won, Harlow, The Carpetbaggers, The Big Country, Cheyenne Autumn, Ironweed, Star 80, Native Son, Andy Warhol's Bad, andKindergarten Cop, among many others.  And she has just published a murder mystery, Who Killed Big Al?, filled with colorful characters and amusing twists and turns--and a surprise ending!  The mystery is in the Agatha Christie tradition, but Ms Baker has a voice of her own.

Film historian Foster Hirsch will interview Carroll Baker about her long and distinguished career and her new novel, which is her fourth published book. 

Carroll Baker's book will be available for purchase at $20, and a booksigning will follow the interview.

Advance registration is REQUIRED--no tickets will be sold at the door.

DRESS CODE: Business Casual is fine for the event itself, but if you are thinking of staying for dinner (the Pub at The Lambs will accept credit cards), JACKETS & TIES will be required for men. No denim, sneakers, or such.

This is a joint event with THE LAMBS.

Special thanks to Anne Griffin.

In this masterclass, Andrew Sachs will present and demystify one of the latest and most exciting creative and technical developments in years that is shaping the visual language of filmmaking: Large Format Cinematography.

Andrew will touch on the history of motion picture image capture, with particular focus on how the “Super 35mm” standard imaging language evolved, past trends in large negative, widescreen and anamorphic imaging, and how we now find ourselves with the widest array of image choices ever available for cinematographers, directors, and producers, and what factors ought to be weighed in consideration of the shooting format.

Through this topic, Andrew will also discuss fundamentals of cinematography, including framing, focal lengths, focus, depth of field, lighting, color and contrast, and how the Large Format trend affects all of these.

Depending on the interest and experience of the audience, the masterclass will include a dialogue about various aspects of the craft techniques, specific cameras, lenses, and lighting tools. There will be an opportunity to get hands-on with some of the latest camera tech as well. If you are interested in why and how films look the way they do, there will be much for you to learn!

This masterclass is open to dues-current Harvardwood Full Members and Friends; advance registration below is required. You must be logged in to the site to access the RSVP link below. Join or renew your membership.

Andrew K. Sachs

With over 20 years of experience in physical production, Andrew Sachs AB ‘97 is a master of film and digital cinema. From Anamorphic to VR, Andrew brings hands-on creative and technical experience as a director of photography to his work as a producer. He has produced numerous documentary series, feature films, and commercial/branded content, and is currently Vice President, Head of Production, at production company Dirty Robber.

Born and raised in New York City, Andrew graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies. At Harvard, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Robb Moss and legendary director Dusan Makaveyev provided lasting inspiration.

Early in his career, Andrew produced and shot a short film starring Harvardwood CoFounder Mia Riverton Alpert AB ‘99 and Bashir Salahuddin AB ‘98, “Officer Goodnight” (2001), and continued the collaboration with Salahuddin and writing partner Diallo Riddle AB ‘97 over the next decade on several shorts including “All Access” (2010).

Andrew’s experience as director of photography has spanned music videos for the likes of will.i.am to independent feature films including “Johnny Got His Gun” (2008, starring Ben McKenzie) and stoner noir “Sunken City” (2012), and many documentaries along the way.

After being asked by clients to provide production services, Andrew founded Walking Pictures and produced corporate and branded films as well as a few experimental features, including LA Film Critics Award-winning “The David Whiting Story” (2014).

At Dirty Robber, Andrew line produced the company’s first documentary series “Religion of Sports” and helped pivot the business from branded work to docu-series.

Notable among the various shows Andrew has produced with Dirty Robber are:

• National Geographic Network’s first branded documentary feature (with NIKE) “Breaking 2”  (Line Producer)
• • Winner AdAge Best Marketing Campaign of the Year
  • Nominated for a Sports Emmy for Best Editing
  • Winner Cannes Lions GOLD and BRONZE
  • Winner One Show Golden Pencil
  • Winner Sports Clio
• Showtime’s “Shut Up and Dribble” (Docu-series) (Supervising Producer)(EMMY and NAACP AWARDS nominated)
• Apple’s “Wiz Khalifa: Behind the Cam” (Docu-series) (Producer)
• Facebook’s “Tom vs. Time” (Supervising Producer)(EMMY WINNER: Outstanding Serialized Sports Documentary)
• NIKE’s “Shoe Therapy” (Commercial) (Supervising Producer)
• A Netflix Original documentary series (in production) (Supervising  Producer)

Please join us for a discussion of “hot topics” and trends in the global music business. Our panel includes HLS alumni who are leaders of the diverse players in the music industry. HLS students in New York for the summer are especially welcome.

Panelists:

Susan Genco, HLS ’93

Co-President of The Azoff Company

Mike Huppe, HLS ’95

President and CEO, SoundExchange

Todd Larson, HLS ’04

Partner, IP/Media, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (moderator)

Tucker McCrady, Harvard ’87

EVP & General Counsel, The Orchard

Jeff Walker, HLS ’88

EVP, Business Legal Affairs, Sony Music Entertainment

You are invited to mix, mingle, and celebrate the summer at an exclusive entertainment industry professional power networking mixer. Expand your network by mixing with entertainment industry professionals from Yale, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, U. Penn, and Dartmouth. From award winning Chef David Lespron and Umbrella Hospitality Group comes a menu inspired by the glitz and glamour of Old Hollywood. Tiki-inspired cocktails pair perfectly with dishes packed with Far East flavors so intense, you'll feel like you just stepped into the Ring of Fire.... LONO Hollywood invites you to join us in our urban oasis, away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood Boulevard. A curated adventure awaits the intrepid explorer in all of us in this classy homage to the escapist drinking palaces of yesteryear.

You are invited to the IVY Entertainment Summit and Awards, an exclusive experience at AFI. The event will feature insider tools and strategies to stay viable in a changing industry, how to leverage diversity and inclusion in ways that are good for your pocketbook, and mentoring roundtables. This once-a-year one-of-its-kind exclusive and elite event is quickly becoming the pre-emmys and pre-oscars taste-making industry event of the year. The full day event will culminate with an exclusive power networking reception FREE for All Access Pass Holders.

It has been an epic year in television. Where will you be for the Emmy's? Join your friends and colleagues at IVY Entertainment for power networking at an exclusive viewing party. Play our winner prediction game for your chance to win free prizes. Our winner from this year's Oscars Viewing Party took home FREE prizes worth over $500.

Dress up (optional): black tie for guys, cocktail dress for ladies. Drink specials. Network like crazy during the commercial breaks!

Welcome to Jalapeño Pete's—a one-of a kind spot in Studio City. With plenty of your favorite tequilas and spirits, along with refreshing specialty cocktails and beer, there is everything you need behind the bar for an unforgettable night out. And while the food menu may be small, it packs a flavorful punch, with tacos and other homemade taqueria staples to snack on. Good drinks, good food, and good times.

The 1960s counterculture rises again and shines a blazing light on today's realities in UNDERGROUND 68, the new film from independent filmmaker Peter Coonradt AB '68. Watch this thought-provoking and wildly original film at a special screening on July 28th at Emerson LA, an event co-hosted by Harvardwood and the Harvard Club of Southern California. Peter Coonradt will be in attendance for a post-screening discussion. 

The late 1960s counterculture was a mass awakening. It was a renaissance of music, art, experimental films, underground comix, psychedelic drugs, Eastern philosophy and cosmic consciousness. It was the dawn of the movements for peace, civil rights, environmentalism, sexual diversity and women’s liberation.

UNDERGROUND 68 is the story of Ariel Smolik-Valles '17, a Harvard student writing her 2017 senior thesis about campus opposition to the Vietnam war fifty years ago. She digs up more than she bargains for in the unconventional lives of artists, musicians, and activists from Harvard's Class of 1968.

"A dreamlike, multilayered film... spins out different threads of the 1960s revolution and weaves together something quirky and hopeful and touching."  - Harvard Magazine

Watch the trailer and read what others have said about UNDERGROUND 68.

Doors open at 3:00pm and the film screens at 3:30pm, followed by the discussion and mixer until 6:00pm.

Members, Register Here

Purchase tickets   $10.00 Members & Friends

On the evening of June 25th, attend an intimate dinner with ABC Studios' VP of Drama Development, Cort Cass AB '03 (Blackish, American Housewife, Speechless)! 

$15/attendee
Attendees will cover their own food & drink at dinner

The Harvardwood Salon Series gives attendees the unique opportunity to engage in in-depth discussion with the featured guest in an intimate setting. Salons are only open to Harvardwood Members & Friends. Please scroll to the bottom of this page to find out how you may attend.

Cort Cass AB '03
(VP of Drama Development, ABC Studios)