Smithie '89 Up for an Oscar

Cynthia Wade, class of 1989, is nominated for an Oscar in the short documentary category for her film Freeheld. The film follows NJ policewoman Laurel Hester's fight to have her pension transfered to her partner while dying from cancer.

Wade says, “Our film is the story of a dying police officer who wants to give her pension to her partner. She died and never got to see the film. I spoke to her surviving partner today, and she was very emotional. Her case changed the law in parts of New Jersey and the elected official who was against it is now running for Congress, so it’s still very much in the press. Our hope is we can make a difference in the elections. We have to tell this story. Hopefully the Oscar nomination will bring more awareness to couples around the country.”

A '99 Showing at Cannes Short Film Corner

Francesca Nadel (1999) writes that after completing her Master 1 in Political Science at the Sorbonne last year, she decided to remain in Paris and return to cinema. She recently produced her first short film, Dans les règles de l'art, which was presented at the 2007 Cannes Short Film Corner.

Summary of the Film from the Cannes Short Film Corner:
Joshua Sylla, young artist in the underground parisian scene, entertains an adulterous relationship with the wife of an afluent business man. She, on the other hand, flaunts him right under the nose of her unknowning husband by organizing his art exhibit.

Maxime, able and sly accountant, attempts to convince his employer to launder stolen company money.

But, beware as not all will be winners in the end...

A few stills from the movie below:


Congrats on the success Francesca!!!

Malian's Song

Marge Bruchac (Ada '99) recently published her newest children's book, "Malian's Song", which illustrates the experience of two young Abenaki girls during Robert Roger's 1759 raid. The book was selected as an "Editor's Choice" by the New York Times Book Review. Congratulations Marge!


The Vermont Folklife Center describes the story in the following way:
In the words of a young Abenaki girl, Malian’s Song tells the true story of the deliberate English attack by British Major Robert Rogers on the St. Francis Abenaki community near Montréal in 1759. Jeanne Brink, a descendant of Malian living in Vermont, told the little-known Abenaki version of the brutal attack--which stands in direct contrast to Rogers’ surviving journal records--to the Vermont Folklife Center. The only picture book to present this key piece of North American history from the Native American perspective, Malian’s Song underscores the Abenaki people’s strength and fortitude in the face of unspeakable loss.

Congrats to Chris Gajilan

Chris Gajilan ('99) won an emmy last September at the 27th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Feature Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast" for her work as producer on Anderson Cooper 360. The feature story was Charity Hospital.

Congrats Chris!!!!!

Who You Know

So this is a little behind, but it is still very exciting. Earlier this summer Ernessa Carter co-wrote and co-produced a promo for a series called Who You Know. She and her co-writers/producers entered the promo into a FX Channel competition to find the best pitch for a new series. Back in June they found out they were in the top 20. (YAY!) Result of the contest were announced on FX at the end of June (sorry about being so behind Ernessa). While they did not win, Ernessa's promo placed in the top 5. Congratulations Ernessa!!!!!!

Check out Ernessa's blog to see what she is working on next... I love the the movie reviews.