After graduating in 2009, UCLA alumnus Matt Soson and his prospective acting career suffered from a string of rejections and one-dimensional roles. Disappointed by the quality of material he encountered, Soson drained the entirety of his savings and recruited fellow UCLA alumni for his play “The Lights Are Off.” Written and directed by Soson, the […]
Author Archives: Natalie Green
Q&A: UCLA alumna, artist Betye Saar talks everyday inspiration
Through her work composing multidimensional pieces of recycled objects, Betye Saar, an L.A. artist and UCLA alumna, is heralded by the Museum of Contemporary Art as one of today’s greatest assemblage artists. Inspired by everyday materials that most people see for their functionality, Saar employs commonplace objects and images into artwork that ranges from autobiographical […]
UCLA’s Chinese a cappella ensemble SouLA works in harmony
The sound of chugging workout equipment fills a silent room, soon to be covered up by a layer of harmonious voices. While workout equipment and a cappella do not usually go hand-in-hand, the Hedrick Recreation Room became home to SouLA, UCLA’s Chinese a cappella ensemble. The group was rehearsing for their 2014 debut on Sunday, […]
Theater Review: “Penny Plain”
Dim blue lighting barely filters through tiled paneling, illuminating ever so slightly the miniature faces of half-seen marionettes. A platform, reminiscent of a structurally sound tree house, fills center stage. Two lone armchairs sit in front. Soon, eerily futuristic music – a combination of electronic pitches and disco beats – begins to play, and various […]
Q&A: Victoria Lyall discusses Chupícuaro pottery, upcoming Fowler lecture
The original version of this article contained an error and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information. Victoria Lyall, the Associate Curator of Art of the Ancient Americas at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, returns to her alma mater to speak in a gallery talk on the Fowler […]
Alumni film on JFK seeks to inspire youth
After reading over 50 books and spending hours interviewing scholars, two UCLA alumni devoted years to making a documentary on one revered American leader: President John F. Kennedy. Executive producer Darin Nellis, who received his bachelor’s degree from UCLA in political science in 1991, and writer and director Cory Taylor, who graduated from UCLA’s School […]
Best actress proves to be a woman of many talents
At a hospital bedside comes a myriad of reactions – tears, hand holding, denial and for some, music. The Campus MovieFest dramatic film entry “The Violinist” placed in the top 16 shorts at UCLA and screened in Ackerman last week. The story follows a young woman dealing with the failing health of her estranged mother […]