SFTV has launched a new video series, Widen the Lens, featuring recent alumni and students. For our first video interview, we spoke to comedian and writer John Pickhaver (WPTV – M.F.A. ’16) about his start in comedy, and how LMU’s spirit of collaboration has influenced him in his career.
“We were mirroring life,” said groundbreaking Emmy and Peabody award-winning writer, producer and social activist Norman Lear. The 93-year-old creator of All in the Family and The Jeffersons stopped by SFTV for the fifth season of the Hollywood Masters to talk about his exceptional life and career, and how television mirrors life – all with a Lear-esque sense of humor, of course.
“I just say whatever you are already making, you’re leaving out half of the population. Even in the crowd scenes. And people are absolutely shocked,” said the Academy Award-winning actor, activist and founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. Davis stopped by The Hollywood Masters to talk about her roles in such films as Thelma & Louise, which celebrates its 25th year anniversary this year, and how women are portrayed (or not) in Hollywood.
Solomon Onita Jr. (PROD – M.F.A. ’16) has worked diligently to bring often unseen stories to the screen. His award-winning short film, JOY, about a Nigerian woman living in America who struggles to convince her traditionalist husband not to circumcise their ten-year-old daughter, will air on HBO beginning next week for Black History Month.
“I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to go to college,” said high school senior Larissa Ramirez as she tearfully accepted a full-ride, four year scholarship to Loyola Marymount University at The Hollywood Reporter’s 24th Annual Power 100 Breakfast. The scholarship was awarded as part of THR’s Women In Entertainment Mentorship Program, a competitive joint venture with the national non-profit Big Brothers Big Sisters that pairs inner-city schoolgirls with top-level women in the entertainment business.
Whether you know her as Princess Giselle from Enchanted, Sydney Prosser from American Hustle, or one of her many other roles, you know Amy Adams can do no wrong. The five-time Academy Award nominated actress stopped by SFTV for the fourth season of The Hollywood Masters.
The two-time Academy Award winning actress, writer and political activist stopped by for what turned out to be one of The Hollywood Masters’ best-ever guest appearances.
Award-winning film and television producer Effie Brown will be honored at the 11th annual FOF student awards and film festival at Paramount Pictures. She has produced 17 feature films including Real Women Have Curves and But I’m a Cheerleader, has taught producing courses at the film school, and sits on the board of Film Independent.
The Emmy-nominated television writer talks about writing his first novel “Second Street Station,” which centers on fictional character Mary Handley, the first female detective in Brooklyn and will be released June 9.
Hollywood’s living legend Clint Eastwood stopped by SFTV for a special edition of The Hollywood Masters series. Eastwood sat down with Stephen Galloway, executive features editor at The Hollywood Reporter, to talk about his extensive career in film.
Alum Charles Dewey, who currently works at Burns’ production house Florentine Films, sat down with the documentary filmmaker to discuss his process of screening rough cuts. Join us at Mayer Theater on March 18 when Burns will be interviewed for The Hollywood Masters!