SXSW Programmer Lya Guerra

SXSW Programmer Lya Guerra (BA, Media Arts & BA, Art History 2000) spoke to BFA students and the public about aspects of festival programming. Guerra became a screener and programmer for The Arizona International Film Festival in 2002 and worked for the festival until 2004, when she moved to Austin, Texas. She interned for Richard Linklater’s indie production company, Detour Film Production, and the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in early 2005 and by May of that year, was offered the post of Film Festival Coordinator for SXSW. During the next few years, Lya expanded her position to include shorts and international programming. She currently lives in Bergen, Norway.

Wes Dixon

Wes Dixon graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Arts and French. He is currently working as a production assistant in television production in Los Angeles. His television credits include:

"Welcome to the Captain" (2008)
"Andy Barker, P.I." (5 episodes, 2007)
- The Big No Sleep
- The Lady Varnishes
- Dial M for Laptop
- Three Days of the Chicken
- Fairway, My Lovely
"This Is Culdesac" (2007)
"Aliens in America" (2007)

In addition, for the past year, he has been working as a production assistant on the TV series Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter. And most recently, he was just hired to work on a TV pilot for NBC-TV. Wes is currently working as a production assistant on a pilot for NBC-TV called The Karenskis, and he will be back working on Saving Grace for the new season in March. In addition to the shows listed above, Wes has also worked as a PA on Talk Show with Spike Feresten for Fox TV and the pilot of Welcome to the Captain for CBS.

Stephanie Brown

Stephanie Brown (BFA Musical Theatre '08) will be joining the national tour of the highly acclaimed Broadway musical Wicked in two short weeks. Brown was chosen to serve as standby for the role of Glinda, a very demanding part both vocally and as an actor. In addition, Brown will be a member of the ensemble, performing in every show.

Brown, who graduated from the University of Arizona with a BFA in Musical Theatre in the spring of 2008, didn't expect to garner such a coveted role so quickly. "After graduation, my main goal was just to work as a professional actor, and eventually I would make it into a Broadway show or national tour," says Brown. "This is all such a dream come true for me." Brown's participation in the UA School of Theatre Arts unique auditions program, the Showcase of Talent, provided the connection that eventually led to her selection for Wicked.

Brown's roles at the School of Theatre Arts included Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Cunegonde in Candide, and Hope Cladwell in Urinetown. She is currently part of the tribe, as well as understudy for the role of Sheila, in Arizona Theatre Company's production of the musical HAIR.

Derek Granger

Derek Granger, a junior in the School of Music, recently won both the Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Concerto Competition and the Music Teachers National Association Southwest Young Artist Solo Competition. He will perform Jacques Ibert’s "Concertino Da Camera" with the TSO on May 1. In March of 2009, Derek will travel to Atlanta to represent the UA School of Music as well as the Southwest region at the MTNA National Conference, competing in the national round of the Young Artist Solo Competition. Derek is working towards his Bachelor of Music Degree in Saxophone Performance and Music Education under the tutelage of Dr. Timothy McAllister.

School of Media Arts Group Attend NATPE 2009

Six undergraduate students, two graduate students, and three Producing faculty attended the 2009 convention of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE). Christina Oh, Producing Senior: “NATPE 2009 was definitely going to be one of the highlights of my college experience. Being surrounded by professionals gave me a first-hand look into the business of media distribution. I had the chance to speak with producers from all over the United States and other countries. One of my favorite panels was the discussion with Tim Kring, creator of Heroes. He talked about reaching people on a whole new level through advances in digital technology. He spoke about new philanthropic efforts that would commend everyday, real-life heroes. He was down to earth and very passionate and thoughtful about his work. NATPE 2009 was awesome. Not only did I learn a lot about the media industry, I also made new friends and shared unforgettable moments with my peers and professors.”

Margarita Brosova and Özlem Silverstein

Visual Communications major Margarita Brosova and Philosophy and Studio Art major Özlem Silverstein were featured in the The Spirit of Inquiry 2008-2009. This publication highlights students with unique and creative research ideas and with faculty support, they are given the opportunity to make these projects come alive.

Brosova’s project, titled "Stop Motion Animation on WWII Blockade in Russia, St. Petersburg" (Brosova’s hometown), will depict her family’s WWII experience in Russia. “AS an illustration major, the driving force behind my idea of creating a stop motion animation originally was to incorporate my visual aesthetic into a narrative using digital film medium,” says Brosova.

Silverstein's project was titled "The Relationship Between the Self and the Work of Art in Contemporary Turkish Art." “The complexity of identity and the relationship between identity and a piece of art work is complicated in itself, and when we look at it from the perspective of Turkish artists--who are considered to be neither “Eastern” nor “Western”--the questions gets even more complicated.” Her hometown of Istanbul, Turkey inspired this project.

Paintings by Professor Moira Marti Geoffrion

Four of Professor Moira Marti Geoffrion's recent Floral paintings were selected as the art to be featured in the TV program "EXTREME MAKEOVER" for the house being built in Tucson. The TV filming of the hanging of the artworks took place on February 2nd and the TV program will be aired on March 22nd. Six of Moira Marti Geoffrion's small oil paintings are featured in the Tucson Museum of Art's Designer Show House. Geoffrin also won another Public Art contract for her transit shelter proposal titled "Connections: Taking Flight" in the Town of Oro Valley. She is collaborating with architect Rosemary Latshaw, and the work must be completed by May of this year.

Trent Othick and Chazz Palminteri

In January, the School of Media Arts, School of Theatre Arts, and Hanson Film Institute welcomed back to campus film and stage producer and UA alumnus Trent Othick (May ’95 POL) and Oscar nominated actor and writer Chazz Palminteri for “A Conversation with Chazz Palminteri.” Both were in Tucson for the Broadway in Tucson production of Chazz Palminetri’s play, "A Bronx Tale," which Trent produced. The event was arranged through UA Theatre Arts alumnus Marc Viscardi (BA '05 Journalism), Marketing and Sales Manager for Broadway in Tucson. Othick and Palimentari talked to students about their careers and graciously answered students’ questions about acting methods and the writing process.

Mr. Palimentari called Theatre Arts student Claire Buchignani on stage to present a monologue after which the noted actor praised not only her performance but her readiness. He did this to illustrate his primary message to students that one should be prepared for opportunity. Mr. Palminteri also shared with students his strong belief that his father passed on to him that “the saddest thing is wasted talent.” The event was a successful cross College collaboration, and we look forward to such future opportunities.

Fine Arts Technology has released CFA Ready Sites, a templated system of websites that can be customized and updated by users. The system is available to CFA faculty and program administrators at no cost. Ready Sites advanced features include searchability, blogging, widgets, tags, stats, and more. There are over 100 design options to choose from, ranging from the general to the specific. The entire site look can be swapped out with the click of a button. Users can act as their own web site administrators, adding and modifying pages, images, videos and more.

For implementation and training, contact CFA Webmaster Matt Munsey at: munsey@email.arizona.edu.

Shirley & Maurice Sevigny, Peter & Carmen McAllister, and Robert & Adrian Shelton

UA President Robert Shelton and his wife Adrian were honored guests at the 14th annual School of Music Advisory Board Scholarship Luncheon held on January 25 at the Arizona Inn in Tucson. Other guests included Dr. Thomas Cockrell, two inaugural fellows of the James E. Rogers Institute for Orchestral and Opera Conducting and winners of the Concerto Competition who performed with the Arizona Symphony Orchestra at the 36th annual President’s Concert on February 7 & 8.