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AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.agbu.org
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, May 6, 2010
5th Annual Conference on the Status of Armenians in U.S. Focuses on
Armenians Portrayed on Screen
By Sona Zeitlian
The 5th conference on the Status of Armenian Communities Living in the
United States took place on March 13, 2010, in the Grand Salon of the
Student Union at California State University, Northridge. The conference
was organized by AGBU Hye Geen-Young Circle, AGBU Hye Geen, AGBU Forum
for Armenian Cultural and Social Studies, in partnership with California
State University, Northridge (CSUN) Departments of Gender and Women's
Studies, Cinema and Television Arts, Armenian Studies, as well as the
CSUN Alpha Epsilon Omega Fraternity.
As in previous years, the conference brought together researchers,
educators, professionals and community groups to explore issues related
to Armenians in the U.S. This year's theme, "The Power of Broadcast
Media," was most relevant for the large Armenian communities of
Hollywood, Glendale, and greater Los Angeles, the heartland of the
entertainment industry. In her opening remarks, Nellie Yacoubian of AGBU
Hye Geen-Young Circle emphasized the need "to give more support in the
future either in terms of time, positive public relations and/or money
to the individuals in the industry, so future programming and talent
includes Armenians and includes Armenians in the way we want."
Moderator Jill Simonian, co-host of a Travel Channel reality series,
introduced the conference speakers.
Eric Sherman, an award-winning director, producer, and professor at Art
Center College of Design and the California Institute of the Arts, spoke
about his experiences with Armenian students at the Art Center, among
them Vahe Babaian, a screenwriter who in the early 80s wrote a script
about Armenians in California called "After Freedom." Sherman agreed to
produce the film but they were unable to secure financial backing from
the Armenian community. The producer appealed to Harvey Weinstein of
Miramax Studios, who had previously sponsored films about ethnic groups.
Having obtained half of the funding needed, the Armenian community
raised the rest, and the film was produced and then released
commercially. Based on the experience, Sherman exhorted the Armenian
community to encourage Armenians with film or television projects and to
support films depicting their stories.
Screen and theater actor Ludwig Manukian, who gained notoriety as an
Armenian mob boss on FX Channel's "The Shield," said that the Armenian
community has a responsibility to diversify the representations of their
ethnicity in the media. "Ethnic actors rarely get cast in mainstream
plays, movies and TV except in ethnic roles that are generally demeaning
or damaging stereotypes," he said. "Armenians are mechanics, jewelry
store-owners, criminals, drug dealers, shady individuals, mafia
characters importing illegal goods ... characterized by their love of
money and display of gold chains."
Other speakers were Roger Kupelian, a visual effects artist who has
worked on many prominent films, including "The Lord of the Rings"
trilogy, Anoush NeVart, a prolific actress and musician, and Terry
Phillips, a TV reporter and author. NeVart urged Armenians to follow the
example that African-Americans have set in the entertainment industry,
by producing their own content. Phillips, who lived and worked in
Armenia following the 1988 earthquake and covered the Karabakh war,
pressed the audience not to be passive viewers, but counteract negative
influences through "active and constructive dialogue with the content
providers."
Sona Yacoubian, founder and chairperson of AGBU Hye Geen, an NGO that
operates women's centers to improve maternal health and reduce infant
mortality in Armenia, also addressed the conference. "The new
generation, that is you, come from more established and prosperous
Armenian families than any time in history," she told young
professionals in the audience. "You are talented and hard workers. I
believe it is time to venture into new fields where national and
international recognition awaits you."
The moderator fielded probing questions and appreciative comments from
the audience, which underscored an interest aroused by the conference
speakers to prevent negative stereotypes about Armenians in the
broadcast media.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural, and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.agbu.org
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, May 6, 2010
5th Annual Conference on the Status of Armenians in U.S. Focuses on
Armenians Portrayed on Screen
By Sona Zeitlian
The 5th conference on the Status of Armenian Communities Living in the
United States took place on March 13, 2010, in the Grand Salon of the
Student Union at California State University, Northridge. The conference
was organized by AGBU Hye Geen-Young Circle, AGBU Hye Geen, AGBU Forum
for Armenian Cultural and Social Studies, in partnership with California
State University, Northridge (CSUN) Departments of Gender and Women's
Studies, Cinema and Television Arts, Armenian Studies, as well as the
CSUN Alpha Epsilon Omega Fraternity.
As in previous years, the conference brought together researchers,
educators, professionals and community groups to explore issues related
to Armenians in the U.S. This year's theme, "The Power of Broadcast
Media," was most relevant for the large Armenian communities of
Hollywood, Glendale, and greater Los Angeles, the heartland of the
entertainment industry. In her opening remarks, Nellie Yacoubian of AGBU
Hye Geen-Young Circle emphasized the need "to give more support in the
future either in terms of time, positive public relations and/or money
to the individuals in the industry, so future programming and talent
includes Armenians and includes Armenians in the way we want."
Moderator Jill Simonian, co-host of a Travel Channel reality series,
introduced the conference speakers.
Eric Sherman, an award-winning director, producer, and professor at Art
Center College of Design and the California Institute of the Arts, spoke
about his experiences with Armenian students at the Art Center, among
them Vahe Babaian, a screenwriter who in the early 80s wrote a script
about Armenians in California called "After Freedom." Sherman agreed to
produce the film but they were unable to secure financial backing from
the Armenian community. The producer appealed to Harvey Weinstein of
Miramax Studios, who had previously sponsored films about ethnic groups.
Having obtained half of the funding needed, the Armenian community
raised the rest, and the film was produced and then released
commercially. Based on the experience, Sherman exhorted the Armenian
community to encourage Armenians with film or television projects and to
support films depicting their stories.
Screen and theater actor Ludwig Manukian, who gained notoriety as an
Armenian mob boss on FX Channel's "The Shield," said that the Armenian
community has a responsibility to diversify the representations of their
ethnicity in the media. "Ethnic actors rarely get cast in mainstream
plays, movies and TV except in ethnic roles that are generally demeaning
or damaging stereotypes," he said. "Armenians are mechanics, jewelry
store-owners, criminals, drug dealers, shady individuals, mafia
characters importing illegal goods ... characterized by their love of
money and display of gold chains."
Other speakers were Roger Kupelian, a visual effects artist who has
worked on many prominent films, including "The Lord of the Rings"
trilogy, Anoush NeVart, a prolific actress and musician, and Terry
Phillips, a TV reporter and author. NeVart urged Armenians to follow the
example that African-Americans have set in the entertainment industry,
by producing their own content. Phillips, who lived and worked in
Armenia following the 1988 earthquake and covered the Karabakh war,
pressed the audience not to be passive viewers, but counteract negative
influences through "active and constructive dialogue with the content
providers."
Sona Yacoubian, founder and chairperson of AGBU Hye Geen, an NGO that
operates women's centers to improve maternal health and reduce infant
mortality in Armenia, also addressed the conference. "The new
generation, that is you, come from more established and prosperous
Armenian families than any time in history," she told young
professionals in the audience. "You are talented and hard workers. I
believe it is time to venture into new fields where national and
international recognition awaits you."
The moderator fielded probing questions and appreciative comments from
the audience, which underscored an interest aroused by the conference
speakers to prevent negative stereotypes about Armenians in the
broadcast media.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural, and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.