This post was updated Oct. 2 at 2:42 p.m. “Unbroken, / Almost forgotten— / Yet, stronger than ever.” Alyssa Griego’s lyrics are a part of her newest project that combines poetry and film to comment on social issues associated with her identity as a queer Chicana woman. The alumna will release her latest self-directed video […]
Category Archives: Film & TV
Second Take: Fans protest casting of Korean actress for problematic role in ‘Fantastic Beasts’
Typically, the news that a woman of color has been cast in a film franchise with historically limited representation of people of color would lead to praise. However, last week’s trailer for “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” revealed that Voldemort’s pet Nagini is actually a woman trapped as a snake. Moreover, the human version […]
MFA student’s controversial film faces censorship in her home country
Farah Shaer’s undergraduate thesis film was banned in her home country of Lebanon. The MFA student recently acted in and produced “Heaven Without People,” which also faced censorship. The feature film, shot in Lebanon, was screened Sept. 22 at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Shaer said it follows a Lebanese family who reunites at an […]
Alumna uses costume design to craft characters’ auras in ‘American Horror Story’
Alumna Rebecca Guzzi spends her days aging T-shirts, dyeing costumes and searching for vintage Victorian-looking attire. Guzzi’s ventures are part of her role as assistant costume designer for “American Horror Story: Apocalypse,” which premiered Sept. 12. The show explores a different horror scenario each season while maintaining a semiconsistent ensemble cast. The current season tackles […]
Alum travels back to his hometown for short film about childhood, trauma
The lead actor in Kris Wilson’s film wanted to know more about the backstory of his character. Wilson explained that his character Prince’s life was difficult in part because his father was in jail. The 9-year-old actor was quickly able to relate – his own father was in jail. “It was a sad moment but […]
Alumna brings reality to 3D worlds with live-action cinematography
Arem Kim’s interest in animated films was sparked after she watched Disney Pixar’s “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille.” The UCLA alumna said she was particularly inspired by the different camera perspectives in “Ratatouille,” enabling her to travel with Remy around the kitchen floor, sewer and streets of Paris, seeing the world through the rat’s eyes. Kim […]
Q&A: Professor discusses involvement in philosophical aspects of ‘The Good Place’
Sharp-eyed fans of “The Good Place” might notice the name of UCLA philosophy professor Pamela Hieronymi listed as “further reading” on a whiteboard in the episode “The Trolley Problem.” It’s not just a coincidence or a reference to her academic work – Hieronymi consulted on the show. Hieronymi helped the show’s creator Michael Schur explore […]