Washington Square Arts & Films

BRADEN KING

Braden King just wrapped his first feature film Here, a dramatic, landscape-obsessed road movie that chronicles a brief but intense romantic relationship between an American satellite-mapping engineer and an expatriate Armenian art photographer. The film stars Ben Foster (3:10 TO YUMA) and Lubna Azabal (Paradise Lost) and was co-written by King and Dani Valent. In addition to being the first feature length, English-language, American film shot entirely in Armenia, Here has garnered a number of high-profile grants, awards and honors, including: Cannes Film Festival Atelier (2008), Sundance / NHK International Filmmakers Award (2008), Rockefeller / Renew Media / Tribeca Film Institute Fellowship (2008) and both the Sundance Institutes Screenwriters and Directors Labs (2007).

This year, King will reside on a Sundance panel entitled The Discovery Process, which will bring together filmmakers and scientists to discuss the trajectories that their natural curiosities have taken throughout their careers. Driven by mystery and intrigue, the researchers and storytellers will examine how the discovery process begins, how breakthroughs occur, and how the evolution of discovery can take years or decades, yet still remain fascinating.

TOM SCHILLER

Tom Schiller just completed a humorous spot starring famed basketball star Julius Erving, which uses comical elements to encourage people to donate to Project Share and the Salvation Army. Having signed innumerable autographs throughout his career and, as seen in the spot, on increasingly stranger objects, Dr. J is now asking the public for their autograph in order to help the needy. By checking a box on the Georgia Power bill people can contribute to Project Share.

TIM GREENBERG

Tim Greenberg continues at “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” directing segments about everything from the Democratic and Republican conventions, to the presumed excitement over the release of Sarah Palin’s autobiography. Most notably, Greenberg produced and directed a series of spots filmed entirely in Iran with comedian Jason Jones. They include a parody of the Jay Walk called “Jihad Walking,” interviews with Iranian journalists, clerics, private persons and even rappers, and footage from a campaign rally with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The show recently won a record-setting 6th consecutive Emmy Award, and lately received its highest ratings in its history.

SANTIAGO

One of tabletop directing’s most eminent talents, Santiago Suarez, is known for his cinematic style and vivid color palette. Recently, he demonstrated his breadth as a director by expanding to live action in a 30-second spot for Eggland’s Best that features food, people and dialogue.

PETER SILLEN

Peter Sillen recently teamed up with Cronin & Co on a heartwarming film for The Jimmy Fund called “Strong As Iron Revisited”. This new documentary style short film profiles Dan, who was once a patient at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and whose touching story shows his development into a healthy young man who volunteers his time at the Cancer Institute, helping other children battling cancer. The film, which aired in movie theaters nationwide, is intended to elicit generous donations from the public to help the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute help more children and adults than ever before.

Sillen also continues to shoot extensively for Apple, including the introduction film for the new MacBook Pro; Apple Store openings in Paris, New York City and Zurich; and more recent spots like the one he just completed for the Apple Education group. Sillen is also in production on an Apple spot filming in Shanghai.

BRIAN AND MELANIE

Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky’s, WSF’s newest directing duo recently completed a multi-spot campaign for Liveperson.com, an online hub of everyday experts whom the public can consult for information and advice. Taking a documentary approach to the campaign, Brian and Melanie gave the service a human face by portraying experts from different walks of life. Currently, Brian and Melanie are in post-production on a multi-spot Ad Council campaign promoting men’s health awareness for Grey, New York.

“Sunset Daze” in the Papers

Our reality TV show, “Sunset Daze,” is featured in the New York Times. Read the article

Lush Life wins the Emmy Award for Best Documentary

Director Robert Levi and Producer Joshua Blum were honored with the 2008 Best Documentary Emmy Award for Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life, an expansive portrait of Duke Ellington’s musical collaborator. The award is a crowning achievement for the critically heralded documentary, which previously won the 2008 Peabody Award.

KERRY WASHINGTON

Lakeview Terrace, starring Kerry Washington alongside Samuel Jackson and Patrick Wilson, was the number one movie for its debut week. Next up for Washington is A Thousand Words, opposite Eddie Murphy.

VICTOR RASUK

Victor Rasuk has been cast as a lead in the new HBO’s single-camera comedy pilot, “How to Make It in America.”

The project, from Executive Producer Mark Wahlberg and the producing team behind “Entourage,” revolves around two enterprising twentysomethings who hustle their way through New York determined to achieve the American dream.

Rasuk also has a reoccurring role on the final season of “ER.”

JENNIFER ESPOSITO

In its second season debut, “Samantha Who?” won its time slot in total viewers, helping ABC secure a ratings win for the night.

DULÉ HILL

USA Network recently announced that it will be picking up “Psych,” one of the network’s most popular series, for a fourth season. In his announcement, Jeff Wachtel, USA’s executive Vice President, Original Programming, lauded “Psych” as a key component of the network’s success.

RICHARD GRAY

The musical adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Flea and the Professor (with Jordan Harrison) will be presented at the Kennedy Center’s New Vision/New Voices Festival, May 2010. The musical, presented by the Arden Theater Company, is aiming for a full production at the Philadelphia based company during the 2010/2011 season. Additionally, with writer Kevin Kling, Gray is writing the musical adaptation of Lyle Lyle Crocodile for a production at Seattle Children’s Theatre, currently scheduled to run November 18 through January 9, 2011.

ISRAEL HOROVITZ

Israel Horovitz’s Sins of the Mother opened to critical and audience acclaim at Florida Stage, following a Summer 2009 run at Gloucester Stage. Additional productions will be announced soon. Select productions as part of the 70/70 Project (celebrating Horovitz’s 70th birthday with 70 world-wide productions) include Lebensraum in Perth, Australia, and Line presented by the National Theatres of Ghana and Nigeria.

WALTER MOSLEY

Walter Mosley’s The Fall of Heaven opened to rave reviews at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park on January 28. With notices such as “The Fall of Heaven could mark the rise of Walter Mosley as a powerful contemporary voice on the American stage” (City Beat) and “It looks like a play that can have a healthy life on regional stages across the U.S.” (Cincinnati Enquirer), additional production opportunities are being explored throughout the U.S. and abroad.

JEREMY SCHONFELD

Jeremy Schonfeld’s Drift, under Lauren Kennedy’s direction, garnered several Best of 2009 awards, including Best Show of 2009 by Triangle Arts & Entertainment, and four “Best of” awards by Indy Week, including Best Original Music. “The clear winner: Schonfeld’s courageous rock and soulful song-cycle sensitively articulated a series of moments in a divorce, largely from the husband’s point of view … a prismatic set of rocking, thoughtful, raging, aching—but ultimately joyous—confessions.”

KELLY YOUNGER

Kelly Younger’s Banished Children of Eve, commissioned by New York’s Irish Repertory Theatre, will receive its off-Broadway World Premiere during the Summer/Fall of 2010. In the interim, Younger’s Tender will be presented March 1 as part of New Rep’s “New Voices” series; and Once a Marine will be presented in early April as part of the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre’s “PlayFest.”