Emersonians in the News
Alum author snags major deal for book series
Writer and alum Seth Grahame-Smith '98, the man behind theliterary mashup juggernaut Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, is going to be a busy man. A recent New York Times article noted the young alum has snagged a two-book deal to write more of his mashups, which combine period drama and horror. Grahame-Smith made it to #3 on The New York Times's paperback trade fiction best-seller list with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Quirk Books). His novel combines Jane Austen's classic novel "with scenes of bone-chomping gore." (The book's opening is, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.") The Times writes, "So of course publishers want a second and third helping: Grand Central Publishing signed Mr. Grahame-Smith to a two-book deal, starting with Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which imagines the 16th president dedicating himself to the great task of ensuring that the undead shall perish from the earth. Publishers Weekly said the two-book deal could be worth as much as $575,000, a figure that Grand Central Publishing declined to confirm."
Alum honored with Columbia Journalism School award
On the heels of being named a finalist for a Pulitzer less than five years after graduating from Emerson, alumnus Brendan McCarthy '04 has received Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism's 2009 Berger Award for Best Human-Interest Reporting. McCarthy is a reporter at New Orleans Time-Picayune. McCarthy won for his eight-part series, "Homicide 37," which chronicled the murder of 17-year-old Michael Zarders and the aftermath of this tragedy in New Orleans. McCarthy and photographer Michael DeMocker spent four months on the series, which also had a strong interactive component on nola.com. The prize, named after the late New York Times reporter Meyer "Mike" Berger, is annually conferred by the Journalism School for the best in-depth, human-interest reporting. The award was presented to McCarthy along with a $1,000 honorarium in May during the school's annual Journalism Day celebration.
According to a statement released by Columbia, "McCarthy's work stood out from the rest of this year's submissions. The series, through the strong development of scene and various characters, evoked Berger's own style of writing. Like McCarthy, Meyer Berger would have also recognized the human side of this difficult story that deeply affected the family, the investigating officers who tried so hard to solve the murder, and ultimately the city of New Orleans." Said Nicholas Lemann, dean of the Journalism School, "This award, which honors exceptional writing about the lives of everyday people, acknowledges the relevance and significance of local reporting and how that reporting affects a community." The statement went on to say, "While the judges were impressed overall with the quality and range of work submitted, they felt that Brendan McCarthy's series strongly embraced the quality and spirit of Meyer Berger's Pulitzer Prize work at The New York Times, and his devotion to the journalistic detail, description and narrative that made his human-interest reporting on the city so special."
Philanthropist alumna dedicates funds to help middle class
The Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, a Baltimore-based philanthropic organization has shifted its focus to Baltimore's struggling middle class, announced The Baltimore Sun. The organization is led by alumna Terry Meyerhoff Rubenstein '70, the funds' executive vice president and newly named director.
"The organization's disbursements - currently at $5 million a year - will soon pay for better computer access at public libraries, improvements at city parks and college tuition for students from families with good jobs," reported the article. Said Rubenstein, "We think it's terribly important to keep middle-class families living in Baltimore," she said. "Communities are fragile. There needs to be enough of a 'there' there." The paper said the groups that are expected to be helped by the funds include those working to improve schools, parks and neighborhoods.
"It's a bold move," said Trude Jacobson, with the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Associations. "She is saying something that a lot of people have been talking about. We are now recognizing that the middle class [is] its own distressed community." Jacobson also praised what she called the Meyerhoff generational change. "Terry saw a real opportunity - how can we make a difference in these times. She had the strength of conviction to realize the successes her family fund had and to say that instead of looking more globally, maybe it's better to look more locally." Timothy D. Armbruster, president of the Goldseker Foundation, another Baltimore philanthropic fund, also praised the shift in the funds' emphasis. "The best thing that could happen for Baltimore would be to attract and keep 100,000 middle-class people of all races and religions," he said.
Rubenstein earned a degree from Emerson College in Boston and taught special education in New York City before returning to Baltimore in 1972 as a director of the Maryland Special Olympics. She raised a family and worked at WCBM-FM and at The Baltimore Sun. She and her husband, James, helped develop Owings Mills New Town and McDonogh Township, among other places.
Among the causes the $100 million group of funds has supported in the past are the Holocaust Museum in Washington, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Baltimore's symphony hall, which bears the family's name. Rubenstein also said she remains "deeply committed to Israel" and that the family funds direct nearly a third of their grants annually to Israel-based charities, including libraries and day-care centers.
Alum Dana feted with 'legend' award
Distinguished alumnus and venerable comedy star Bill Dana '50 received the Comedy Legend award at last month's Great American Comedy Festival in Norfolk, Neb., hometown of the legendary Tonight Show host Johnny Carson, reported the Omaha Reader. (Last year's winner was Dick Cavett.) Dana is also one of the judges for the festival, which pits 24 stand-up comedians from around the country against each other competing for a grand prize. Fellow alum and talent coordinator for David Letterman, Eddie Brill '80, was the festival's executive producer.
The article also mentioned Emerson grad Gene Wood '50, who Dana worked with at NBC. The two developed the Dana and Wood comedy act, and "Wood went on to write for Captain Kangaroo before turning into TV's preeminent game show announcer."
In other comedy news, Bill Burr '93 was the first comedian to perform on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, the re-launch of The Tonight Show after another Emerson alumnus, Jay Leno '73, departed after 17 years. Although Burr is currently based in Los Angeles, he returned to Boston a few months ago to play a capacity show at the Wilbur Theatre and is currently the celebrity blogger for the Boston Bruins on the NHL.com website. His latest comedy special is called Why Do I Do This?
Emersonian is named creative director
Alex Chouls '97 has been hired as the new creative director for Blue Fang Games. His first game in the role of creative director is the recently announced World of Zoo, which was just unveiled at the E3 Expo 2009 and is scheduled for release by THQ Inc. for the holiday season this year, the company announced. Chouls will be responsible for setting the creative direction for all the company's products. Chouls leads the effort to identify and select future projects and works closely with all disciplines to shape the overall game design and artistic approach. Throughout production Chouls provides constant input. "To me, what is so unique about Alex is that he is a supremely talented and accomplished artist, can himself program when necessary, and above all has game design intuition and vision that is the equal of any in the industry today," said Hank Howie, president of Blue Fang Games. "It is a rare combination of skills resident in a single individual and we are extremely fortunate to have Alex as our creative director."
Emersonian to host innovative video-social media project
A talented Emerson student was selected by the Seattle Opera as host for its first-of-its-kind "Confessions of a First-Time Operagoer" reality-style video project. Cassidy Quinn Brettler, 19, is a broadcasting and acting double major who will be a junior at Emerson this fall. Her first opera experience will be to attend Seattle Opera's renowned production of Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen this summer.
Alumnae young adult novels showcase teen heroines
Danielle Joseph '95, MA '97, is the author of the new book for teens, Shrinking Violet (MTV). The book is about high school senior Teresa Adams, who is so painfully shy that she fears even talking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. Alone in her bedroom, however, she puts on mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. But when she actually becomes a local mystery DJ, her anonymity might not last for long. Ellen Hopkins, New York Times bestselling author of Identical, says of the book's heroine, "Tere is the girl every young woman truly wants to be." Alex Flinn, author of Breathing Underwater and A Kiss in Time, says Joseph "takes readers into the glamorous world of Top 40 radio, with a character who is both funny and relatable. Readers will cheer when Tere finds her voice!"
Erin Dionne's (MFA '99) latest book is garnering positive reviews from Booklist to School Library Journal, a novel for middle grade readers called Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies (Dial). The book tells the story of thirteen-year-old Celeste Harris who was happy in her body until her aunt entered her in the HuskyPeach Modeling Challenge. School Library Journal says, "The wry, funny tone makes this book a pleasurable read, and teens of all body types will enjoy Celeste's original voice." Kirkus Reviews says Dionne creates a "clever premise [and] engaging [scenes]" and says "readers will warm to Celeste." Booklist says, "The wry first-person narrative also provides convincing views of middle-school friendships, family dynamics, and incremental personal growth."
Alumni tour country and perform in Broadway shows
Jamie Davis '04, 26, is receiving praise for her role as Tevye's daughter Hodel in the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof. The Chicago Sun Times says she plays the role "winningly." Davis, who has been with the production since February, "has received rave reviews across the country as having 'a voice that soars,' according to a blog review from Gratuitous Violins," according to a recent article in Cleveland Jewish News.
The article noted the young actor is "well on her way to building an impressive résumé" and pointed out she holds a bachelor's degree in acting and entertainment management from Emerson College, where she performed in a variety of productions. "Since graduating, she has played lead roles in several Cleveland area musicals (Guys and Dolls and West Side Story) and has acted in New York City productions that led to her landing the role in Fiddler," said the newspaper.
In other musical theater news, Brianna Carlson '06 and Maya Sharpe '06 are also currently appearing on Broadway in the musical Hair, which just won the Tony Award for Best Revival. And Gabrielle Garza '06 (Spring Awakening) and Joseph Bwarie '99 (Jersey Boys) are appearing in national touring productions.
Alum Menounos takes on new film project
"Access Hollywood's [and alumna] Maria Menounos is adding another producing credit to her already busy schedule with the comedy Serial Buddies, starring Donnie Wahlberg (the Saw series)," reports Entertainment Weekly. "The film, which should be submitted to festivals later this year, revolves around two serial killers who embark on a pilgrimage after a chance encounter." Keven Undergaro wrote and directed and Menounos produces and stars in the comedic caper. "The film, which Undergaro hopes to have ready in time to submit to the Sundance Film Festival in October, has a tiny budget, an eclectic cast (Christopher Lloyd,David Proval, and Richard Christie), and a youthful crew, including kids from Menounos's alma mater, Emerson," The Boston Globe reported. Menounos hired Emerson students for the production, (young filmmakers she met when she served as executive director and host for Emerson's Los Angeles Film Festival this year). "There's no diva trip," one of the students, assistant director Justine Jungels Bevilacqua '08 told the Globe. "Maria's willing to get her hands dirty."
Emersonians are part of up-and-coming rock band
"With their own special brand of beer-soaked post-country jams, Gunfight! has carved out a unique niche in the current realm of indie music," declares h monthly, the online magazine. The band dropped their latest album, Hide Your Empties, this spring, and two of its members are Drew Mintz '07 (vocals and guitar) and Bill Dvorak '07 (lead guitar). "Hailing from Brooklyn, the fourtet has recently risen to the forefront of the underground New York music scene with their wailing heart wrenching tunes about the painful proddings of love and the beer it makes you drink sometimes," continued the magazine's profile. "Their hyper charged songs seem to plow through you like a steam locomotive speeding out of control, having left its tracks behind some time ago."
The article notes they began the band "back in their college days at Emerson College in Boston, and after finding some notoriety in the Boston scene playing basement shows with punk and indie bands…." Dvorak tells the magazine, "I was never really into country until Drew introduced me to some of it. From my perspective, I was always kind of into post-punk stuff…and Drew, when we started writing music together, was really getting into country, and we thought it would be interesting to marry the sort of indie, post-punk sound with the real rootsy country stuff."
Mintz talked about how their unique 'post-country' rock sound evolved: "It took six months to a year for it to really materialize. Back then it didn't really have much form, it'd be like one song sort of had a country influence, and then all the other songs sound kind of like Strokes rip offs," he laughs. "And then slowly that drifted away and we focused on this sound….Most of our songs are about Americana, the new Americana. That in turn is derived from an earlier sense of what it is to be an American, which is the country roots, and how that plays into our persona today, and whether we know where that path comes from or not."
Alumna filmmaker is semi-finalist in national contest
Cami Delavigne '97 is a semi-finalist in the Netflix Find Your Voice film competition. Delavigne and her fiancé Ivan Hurzeler wrote the script for the feature film Church. The duo were the only entrants to complete a stand-alone film rather than a trailer for their script. Church is a thriller about a pastor and a murder plot, and like their short film, Hatchet Man (about a real-life ad agency sex scandal), looks at how a lonely man who always does the right thing finds unexpected freedom after doing something wrong for the first time in his life. They were among only 10 finalists chosen from among thousands of entries. Winners receive a $350,000 production package.
Delavigne previously wrote Blue Valentine, a feature currently shooting in New York City with Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. It won the 2006 Chrysler Film Competition. Church is being produced by Alexis Fish (Shortbus) and BBH Senior Producer Julian Katz ("The Gamekillers"). Her newest screenplay, Heterophobia, stars Daniela Sea (The L Word) and is produced by Fish and Heather Rae (Frozen River). She is also the co-creator of www.owoto.com, the first ever choose-your-own adventure sitcom.
Young grad's new album could put him on the map
According to the Hartford Courant, Emerson alum Jeff Tuohy '05 "could easily heat up the competition" with chart-topping crooner John Mayer, given the chance. Tuohy's latest album, Cocoon, could be that chance. "[He] knows all about sharp melodies and well-constructed songs," says a review in the Courant. "Cocoon is a multi-dimensional work, featuring everything from the horn-laden R&B grooves of 'I Am a Fool' to the funky Dixieland vibe of 'Bourbon Street'." But what Tuohy does best is craft infectious pop tunes like "Train" and "Real Love" that have melodic stay-in-your-brain choruses. Add to that a convincing vocal style and an honest approach to songwriting and Jeff Tuohy is a young artist worth keeping your eye on."
The review also notes the talented musicians that Tuohy has working with him: "[Cocoon] was recorded at Spirit House Studios in Northampton, Mass. and his songwriting skills are aided by some of the finest musicians from that musically fertile area. Mitch Chakour adds some sturdy organ to the pop rock tune "Crucify" while Mark Mulcahy, late of the legendary Connecticut band Miracle Legion, lends backing vocals to the ballad "Slow Down, Isabella."
Alum, native of Nigeria, produces new documentary
Miguel Enwerem '93, the first son of former Nigerian Senate President Evan Enwerem, is a filmmaker/producer who has lived abroad for the greater part of his life but recently returned to the country's state of Lagos, the arts, entertainment and culture capital of Nigeria, to produce a film. He spoke to AllAfrica.com about what he wants to accomplish. "It's a documentary called Lagos Hot…because it is a hot time to be in Lagos when it comes to media, artists, fashion, musicians, filmmakers and so many other aspects…. We are having a boom in the entertainment sector and there are three theories to it." He added, "This generation grew up with Internet and media and they have actually seen that they could make something very tangible and positive from it and I am very impressed with the development and the boom."
Enwerem stressed the film is not only meant to promote the country's stars. "We are actually more interested in showing upcoming artists and upcoming filmmakers and TV people. This film will be showcased at the international film festival in the United States and Europe and we want to project young upcoming people…. We want people to know that there are a lot of young beautiful, excellent people doing amazing things."
Enwerem previously shot a 20-minute documentary called Beyond the Bridge and produced musical videos for Portuguese hip-hop artist General D.
Alum at ESPN talks to news students
Al Jaffe '68, ESPN vice president of talent negotiation and production recruitment, recently spoke to scholarship winners going to college to study journalism at the Valley Press Club scholarship ceremony in Springfield, Mass., and the city's newspaper, the Republican was on hand. As the guest speaker, he told the students about his education at Emerson and what it takes to succeed – hard work. Jaffe was the first recipient of a Valley Press Club scholarship in 1964. "The $500 helped him attend Emerson College. His father had just died, leaving the family's financial future in doubt. Jaffe said the scholarship gave him a great opportunity," reported the newspaper. "At Emerson I was determined to work hard," Jaffe said. "That continued into his professional life. Jaffe worked for television stations before going to ESPN, where he worked his way up to vice president of talent, hiring all analysts, anchors and play-by-play people," the article went on to say. "It's a great job, and I'm fortunate to have it," Jaffe said.
At least two of the scholarship winners will attend Emerson this fall–Ariana E. Sandillo, from West Springfield High School, and Frank P. Kelleher, 18, from Westfield High School. Kelleher received a scholarship named after Jaffe and he said that the distinguished alum is "an excellent role model for me."
Alum performs at Patriot Plaza Jazz Festival
Adam Goldberg '00 will bring out his third album, Delusions of Adequacy, later this year and will be the only solo rock act performing at the Patriot Place Jazz Festival this summer. "I refer to him as a Catskills Billy Joel - he has a lot of personality, can cover just about anything, writes a lot of good original songs as well, and is a great entertainer," said Rick Foster, the festival's organizer. The free festival will take place on Patriot Place Plaza, just outside Gillette Stadium and will feature a line-up of local bands and music ranging from Dixieland to swing, world, modern and early jazz, and funk.
Goldberg is a piano and vocals teacher based in Foxboro. His performance will close out Saturday with cover songs of "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin and "Breakdown" by Tom Petty, as well as original songs, including some from his soon- to-be-released album. Goldberg told the paper ideas for his music often come from personal experience and that he writes love, hate and break-up songs as well as songs about faith. "Many of these songs are on his first album Back From War, which he produced in 2000, the same year he graduated from Emerson College. He majored in visual and media arts with a concentration in audio production, and grew up in a musical family," said the article
Alumni are part of 'All American City' campaign
Somerville News columnist Jimmy Del Ponte '77 recently wrote in the paper about Somerville's successful bid to win The All America City competition, sponsored by the National Civic League for the last 60 years. "Somerville took the honor in 1972. We were finalists in 2008, and we were victorious in 2009." Del Ponte was part of the winning team. "Our presentation focused on the Green Line extension with concentrations also on other key city issues," he wrote. In thanking those who helped the city put together its proposal, Del Ponte thanked fellow alum David Breen '78, member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors for his work as president of VDA Productions. "Have you seen the State House and the gigantic Wally The Green Monster at Jordan's Furniture in Avon? Well, that's the company!," Del Ponte wrote. "These guys mounted our posters, designed stands and signs and also shipped everything down to Tampa. [where the competition finals were held]. "Little did I know [Breen] is my fraternity brother from Emerson College."
