Alumni News - June 2009

Alan Baker's News Wire

SCA joined the schools of Theatre and Music with the USC Alumni Club of New York to honor and showcase a number of alumni on June 29 in New York. Among the alumni that received an award of recognition for contributions to the creative, philanthropic and business communities of New York is filmmaker Andy Tennant. There was a VIP reception after the show. For more information or to make a donation, go to http://alumni.usc.edu/firstannualnyctommyawards. The program is sponsored by the USC Alumni Association, School of Cinematic Arts, School of Theatre, the Thornton School of Music and the Marshall Business School.

The USC First Team, comprised of SCA alumni writers, directors and producers who together form creative teams around film and new media projects, will launch its new program on July 18 and will work with emerging graduates to help launch their projects.  Created by producer Henry Lowenfels (Stark '06), writer Kam Miller (she initiated the First Pitch program) and director Barbara Stepansky (Production '02), the Team takes advantage of SCA's existing alumni talent pool. Their industry affiliates include William Morris Endeavor Independent, CAA, Film Nation and 3 Arts among several others. For more details, go to uscfirstteam.com.   

Three hundred and ninety-four SCA undergraduates, graduates and Ph.D. candidates received their degrees before hundreds of family and family at the May 15 commencement ceremony in the Shrine Auditorium. Producer and alumna Laura Ziskin ('73) gave the keynote address and told the graduates that even though entertainment delivery methods may change and grow, "The power of the medium will remain unassailable because you all will make it so." Graduate Screenwriting alumna Shonda Rhimes ('94) received the Mary Pickford Alumni Award from endowed chair holder Doe Mayer and she encouraged students to enjoy the moment, every moment, and "whatever you do, be original." Dean Elizabeth Daley presented the second-ever SCA Honorary Alumnus award in recognition of his contributions to the school and the film/television industry to a surprised Frank Price, a USC trustee and chairman of the SCA Board of Councilors. Associate Dean Michael Renov presented the Staff Recognition Award to Facilities and Operations director Doug Wellman for his work on the new complex. Dean Daley reminded the newly minted graduates that there was a tradition of following closely in the footsteps of those who came before and it was now their responsibility to be the next leaders. Following the commencement, there was a reception for the graduates, families, friends and faculty in the SCA courtyard.

An article in The Seattle Times featured Pete Chiarelli (Stark '99), writer of the movie, The Proposal. Chiarelli said that he knew nothing about screenplays before he attended the School of Cinematic Arts' Peter Stark Producing Program. He said, "I remember sitting in a class in the Stark program and having a professor explain that a screenplay has three acts and thinking, 'Oh, my God, [screenplays] do have three acts.' "

Charlotte Koh (Stark '02) was named VP of Business Development at Marvel Studios.

Josh Goldsmith (Stark '95) signed a two year overall deal with Sony Pictures TV after getting all four of his pilots created with partner Cathy Yuspa picked up so far: CBS's Stroller Wars (2005), Fox's Til Death (2006), ABC's Big Day (2006) and CBS's The Fish Tank this past development season.

Polly Cohen Johnsen (Stark '95) is producing Ceremony, a comedy about a young man who falls hard for an older woman about to be married.