In this issue:
MESSAGE FROM HARVARDWOOD
NEWS
Fire Resources Update and Fire Recovery 101 Virtual Event Tuesday, February 4th
VANAS Digital Arts Contest due Friday, February 14th
Featured Job: Director to Consumer Strategy Analyst Intern
FEATURES
Industry News
Welcome New Members
CALENDAR & NOTES
Presents: Fire Recovery 101: Overview and Resources (Virtual)
Presents: Oscars Watch Party (LA)
Last Month at Harvardwood
Want to submit your success(es) to Harvardwood HIGHLIGHTS? Do so by posting here!
We at Harvardwood know it’s been a difficult time in Los Angeles with the recent fires and ongoing challenges, and we’re here to support our impacted community members—check out our Fire Resources Update and join us for Fire Recovery 101: Overview and Resources to get the latest info on recovery efforts.
For something a little more fun, our Oscars Watch Party in LA is the perfect place to guess this year's winners and tell everyone how many movies you watched this year. And for the digital artists, don’t forget—the VANAS Digital Arts Contest deadline is Friday, February 14th.
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
Fire Resources Update and Virtual Event Feb. 4th
We hope everyone has stayed safe amidst the fires and everything that's been going on in Los Angeles these past few weeks. It has been an incredibly challenging time for our community, and if there's anything we can do to help support you, please reach out and let us know your needs.
We've put together this resources document and have been collaborating with the Harvard Club of Southern California and the HAA Disaster Preparedness and Response Team Shared Interest Group in order to coordinate efforts to assist our community members that have been affected.
We will be hosting a Fire Recovery 101 virtual event on Tuesday, February 4th at 2pm PT with some experts from the HAA Disaster Preparedness and Response Team SIG — they have a myriad of backgrounds including in EMT services, trauma/mental health counseling, firefighting, recovery and planning/rebuilding and will be available for the hour to answer your questions.
This event is open to both members and non-members of Harvardwood at no cost. Please RSVP below to receive the Zoom link. We will also be recording, so if you cannot join us on Tuesday, please RSVP anyway if you'd like to receive the recording footage.
VANAS Digital Arts Contest due February 14th
Are you ready to unleash your creativity and show off your artistic talent? Vancouver Animation School (VANAS) is excited to announce a contest for aspiring digital artists!
Your artwork must include a minimum of 2 characters in specific themes (on the VANAS Website), and as a creative, you decide the medium. It can be a sketch, painting, CGI, 3D, 2D, Cosplay; it's up to you! There are certain requirements to be eligible for this contest.
PRIZES
First Place: Free enrollment in our Introduction to Digital Arts Online Course
Second Place: 75% discount on the course
Third Place: 50% discount on the course
Submission Deadline: February 14th
Course Start Date: March 31st
Featured Job: Director to Consumer Strategy Analyst Intern
Job Description:
Disney Entertainment’s Direct to Consumer (DTC) team oversees the Hulu and Disney+ streaming businesses, helping to bring The Walt Disney Company’s best-in-class storytelling to fans and families everywhere! The DTC Strategy team shapes business plans and delivers market intelligence to Disney+ and Hulu's leaders, collaborating across the company to spark innovation and fuel profitable growth.
Industry News
Glen Powell’s Barnstorm Banner signs a first-look deal with Universal Pictures, with former 21 Laps veteran Dan Cohen set to join Barnstorm as a partner. Peter Cramer AB '89, president of Universal Pictures, could not be more excited to collaborate with Glen, Dan, and the Barnstorm team to create compelling new stories. (The Wrap)
NPR’s Michel Martin AB '80 asks Kuno Fencker, a member of Greenland’s Parliament, about Donald Trump, Jr.'s visit and his father’s desire for the U.S. to buy the territory. (NPR)
THE LAST OF US Season 2, which will have seven episodes, will debut in April on HBO. Based on the iconic video game franchise, the series is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin, Druckmann, Sony Pictures Television, Carolyn Strauss AB '85, and many others. (Blavity)
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM “No Lessons Learned” episode, written by Jeff Schaffer AB '91, was nominated for the 2025 DGA Awards for Comedy Series. (Deadline)
A brand-new season of GOOSEBUMPS is bringing a new story, cast, and, of course, a new level of terror. Developed by Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller AB '98, GOOSEBUMPS Season 2 features a new mystery, where two teenage siblings try to investigate a mysterious force in their home, setting off a chain of events that lead them to a case of missing teenagers who mysteriously vanished in 1994. (Collider)
Emmy-winning comedian, writer, producer, and former late-night host Conan O’Brien AB '85 has been tapped to host the 97th Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Friday. (Variety)
Comedian Conan O’Brien AB '85 will receive the 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. As a recipient of The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, O’Brien joins a who’s who of American comedy that includes Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Lily Tomlin, Whoopi Goldberg, and Kevin Hart. (NPR)
CAA has signed the three-time Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning SUCCESSION composer Nicholas Britell AB '03. The composer, pianist, and producer counts several Emmy noms, not just for SUCCESSION, but also the Disney+ / Lucasfilm series, ANDOR as well as Barry Jenkins’s UNDERGROUND RAILROAD for Amazon Studios. (MSN)
Netflix’s ZERO DAY stars Robert De Niro in a high-stakes cyber thriller set to premiere in February. It was penned and executive produced by Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim AB '00, and Michael S. Schmidt. (The Upcoming)
Industry veterans Lloyd Braun, Sarah Bremner, and Noah Oppenheim AB '00 are launching their own independent production studio, Prologue Entertainment, with backing from Jeff Zucker AB '86 and RedBird Capital. (MSN)
The Advanced Imaging Society has announced that producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher AB '71 will receive the 2025 Harold Lloyd Award in recognition of their work on GLADIATOR II at the 15th annual Lumiere Awards luncheon on February 7, 2025, at the Beverly Hills Hotel. (AWN)
Alan Yang’s AB '02 Netflix film TIGERTAIL promises a heartfelt story of love and family. The trailer has been released, and it will premiere on the streaming service on April 10. (IMDB)
As per the latest reports, BABYLON helmer, Damien Chazelle AB '07, will soon start the production of a biographical film on Evel Knievel, the late American stunt performer. Academy Award-winning star, Leonardo DiCaprio, will also reportedly be a part of the upcoming biopic, EVEL KNIEVEL ON TOUR. (Soap Central)
Terrence Malick AB '65 has completed editing THE WAY OF THE WIND. In addition, Géza Röhrig, who plays Jesus in Malick’s biblical epic, hinted that the film would premiere at Cannes 2025. (World of Reel)
Disney’s MUFASA has achieved a huge hit from their soundtrack, which was penned almost entirely by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The HAMILTON creator worked with composer Nicholas Britell AB '03 on the breakout tune "I Always Wanted a Brother". (Forbes)
The Writers Guild of America has nominated THE DIPLOMAT for the 2025 Drama Series award. The writing team for the series includes Peter Ackerman, Eli Attie AB '89, Debora Cahn, Anna Hagen, Julianna Dudley Meagher, and Peter Noah. (Awards Daily)
CARSICK, a gripping thriller feature about two social media personalities who kidnap a man to become insta-famous, is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. It stars Harvardwood’s very own Laura Yumi-Snell ART '18. (Amazon Prime)
Welcome New Members
Harvardwood warmly welcomes all members who joined the organization last month (or those who migrated their membership over):
Kayla Bey
Benjamin Pearson
Cory Beizer
Arik Katz
Madi Fabber
Tiffani-Amber Torres
Krystle-Mei Chow
Gabriel Brady
Veronica Bruno
Matthew Cole
Cole Cleary
Adrienne Chan
Jaeschel Acheampong
Josh Ng Kamstra
Jason Lajoie
Fire Recovery 101: Overview and Resources (Virtual)
Tuesday, Feb 4, 2 PM – 3 PM PT Free
Come join Board Members from the HAA Disaster Preparedness and Response Team Shared Interest Group, including Team VP / Co-founder and firefighter Philip Koch '78 as well as speakers with backgrounds including in EMT services, trauma/mental health counseling, firefighting, recovery, and planning/rebuilding.
Oscars Watch Party (LA)
Sunday, Mar 2, 4 PM – 7 PM PT Free for members
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!
Last Month at Harvardwood
Last Month at Harvardwood, we completed another Harvardwood 101, hung with Harvardwood at Sundance, did a Harvardwood Lowdown, 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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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.