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FILMMAKER AND ACTIVIST ARA SOUDJIAN TO BE HONORED AT ANCA-WR BANQUET
http://asbarez.com/115385/filmmaker-and-activist-ara-soudjian-to-be-honored-at-anca-wr-banquet/
Thursday, October 24th, 2013
Ara Soudjian
GLENDALE-The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
announced on Friday that it will honor filmmaker and activist Ara
Soudjian with the "Vahan Cardashian" Award at its annual banquet,
taking place on Saturday, November 30 in Hollywood, California.
"You Reap What You Sow." It's an idiom most widely used to describe
the basic nature of God's justice, but equally applicable when used
to assess the abundant contributions of innovative individuals
who have been educated, cultivated, and empowered by the vibrant
Armenian community within which they were brought up. Ara Soudjian
is a shining example of a product of the community in which he was
raised; a diasporan-born who attended Armenian schools throughout
his life and was actively involved as a young boy and teenager in
the Armenian Youth Federation's Roupen Chapter in Glendale. What's
most commendable about his journey is that despite his success and
personal ambitions, Ara never hesitated to assist his community and
serve its needs whenever they called upon him - all in the name of
further advancing the Armenian Cause. As fate would have it, it was
through his involvement in AYF as a teenager that Ara met his wife
Garinee Soudjian.
Ara was born in Los Angeles on December 17, 1976 to Maurice and Ruth
Soudjian. His parents, understanding well the importance of instilling
in their children the experience of a "second Armenian family" that
only an Armenian school could provide, enrolled Ara in Mekhitarian
Armenian School, Vahan & Anoush Chamlian, and Rose and Alex Pilibos
Armenian School, from which he graduated high school in 1994.
Thereafter, Ara went on to major in Radio, Television and Film
Production at California State University Northridge, earning his
degree in 1999. Although he earned his formal education in film and
media in university, Ara credits his vast knowledge and hands-on
training in film to his involvement with then-ANC TV's weekly news
show, which he helped establish and run from its inception. Through
his work at ANC TV, the community was kept up to date on a diverse
range of topics, including current events and news from the homeland
and Diaspora, as well as the various outreach and advocacy work of
the ANC on both national and international levels.
After garnering firsthand experience at ANC TV, Ara went on to build a
vibrant career for himself in Hollywood specializing in digital media.
He participated in the making of such films as "13 Going on 30,"
"Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," "Intolerable Cruelty," and "The Ring
2." His talent as a director is evident in his creative vision, which
has earned him several awards and a reputable role in the commercial
and music video industry. His clientele includes Sony Music, Warner
Bros. Records, Gatorade, Ralph's, Expo Line, Metro and Rock the Vote,
to name a few. He has also directed reality TV pilots for Fox and Sony
Television. His music videos for hip hop artist Wiz Khalifa and Grammy
award winning singer Serj Tankian of System of a Down earned him two
MVPA awards. In 2010, he directed and produced a short film, "A Nice
Old-Fashioned Romance" based on William Saroyan's short story with
the same title, which premiered at the prestigious LA Shorts Festival.
In addition to being a rising star in cinema, television, and film
in his professional career, Ara has never passed up an opportunity to
lend his talents to further enhance the Armenian community's objectives
through such organizations as the ANCA. It is through Ara's work in
film and media over the past decade that the ANCA-WR's projects,
branding, messaging, internship programs, as well as the national
office's Capital Gateway Program and Leo Sarkissian Internship
program have been widely exposed to ANCA supporters and to outside
constituents. Much of his work on film has lent itself to be packaged
and produced in the form of DVD's, videos, and You Tube segments,
which are marketed and disseminated throughout the world.
Ara has also been crucial in directing and filming ANCA's "Get
Out The Vote" videos. He has consistently worked hard to produce
campaign videos for political candidates which the ANCA has endorsed
or supported, including Mayors Antonio Villaraigosa and Eric
Garcetti, Councilman Paul Krekorian, Rafi Manoukian, and Ardashes
Ardy Kassakhian, to name a few. Through his work on such campaigns,
he has assisted the ANCA in disseminating its political voice. Year
after year, Ara produces and films the ANCA-WR's Annual Banquet video,
which summarizes the year of accomplishments for the region's active
involvement in the global struggle for Armenian Genocide recognition.
Several years ago, Ara assisted in digitally documenting and archiving
the testimony of Armenian Genocide survivors with his work on the
"Genocide Project." Through such projects, Ara helped educate the
generations past, present, and future about the history of the Armenian
Genocide. Ara's activism has not gone unnoticed. In 2012, Los Angeles
City Councilmember Paul Krekorian recognized the contributions of Ara's
community activism, as well as others, during the Commemoration of
the 97th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at Los Angeles City Hall.
"The Vahan Cardashian award is given to an activist who unrelentingly
strives for the advancement of Hye Tahd," stated Aida Dimejian,
co-chair of the ANCA-WR's 2013 Annual Banquet. "Ara is a true example
of what Vahan Cardashian stood for. Through his creative work, he has
been and continues to be one of the champions of our cause. His video
productions have educated, activated, and motivated our activists
both young and old in the spirit of his first film company's name
'Treaty of Sevres'," concluded Dimejian.
"Ara has made great strides and contributions to Hye Tahd through his
work in the entertainment and media industry," added Sareen Bezdikian,
Esq., co-chair of the banquet. She continued, "As one of our very own
activists, he has used his creativity and talent to capture the ANCA's
accomplishments on the local, state, and national levels and projected
those accolades into the mass media for global consumption, playing
a pivotal role in placing the ANCA brand on the public's agenda."
The ANCA-WR banquet will take place on November 30 at The Ray Dolby
Ballroom, the site of the Oscar's Governors' Ball. Legendary chef
Wolfgang Puck will be catering a special menu for the ANCA-WR Banquet.
Individuals interested in attending the banquet and Grassroots
Conference are encouraged to contact the ANCA-WR office at (818)
500-1918 or purchase tickets online at ItsMySeat.com/ANCAWR.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
http://asbarez.com/115385/filmmaker-and-activist-ara-soudjian-to-be-honored-at-anca-wr-banquet/
Thursday, October 24th, 2013
Ara Soudjian
GLENDALE-The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
announced on Friday that it will honor filmmaker and activist Ara
Soudjian with the "Vahan Cardashian" Award at its annual banquet,
taking place on Saturday, November 30 in Hollywood, California.
"You Reap What You Sow." It's an idiom most widely used to describe
the basic nature of God's justice, but equally applicable when used
to assess the abundant contributions of innovative individuals
who have been educated, cultivated, and empowered by the vibrant
Armenian community within which they were brought up. Ara Soudjian
is a shining example of a product of the community in which he was
raised; a diasporan-born who attended Armenian schools throughout
his life and was actively involved as a young boy and teenager in
the Armenian Youth Federation's Roupen Chapter in Glendale. What's
most commendable about his journey is that despite his success and
personal ambitions, Ara never hesitated to assist his community and
serve its needs whenever they called upon him - all in the name of
further advancing the Armenian Cause. As fate would have it, it was
through his involvement in AYF as a teenager that Ara met his wife
Garinee Soudjian.
Ara was born in Los Angeles on December 17, 1976 to Maurice and Ruth
Soudjian. His parents, understanding well the importance of instilling
in their children the experience of a "second Armenian family" that
only an Armenian school could provide, enrolled Ara in Mekhitarian
Armenian School, Vahan & Anoush Chamlian, and Rose and Alex Pilibos
Armenian School, from which he graduated high school in 1994.
Thereafter, Ara went on to major in Radio, Television and Film
Production at California State University Northridge, earning his
degree in 1999. Although he earned his formal education in film and
media in university, Ara credits his vast knowledge and hands-on
training in film to his involvement with then-ANC TV's weekly news
show, which he helped establish and run from its inception. Through
his work at ANC TV, the community was kept up to date on a diverse
range of topics, including current events and news from the homeland
and Diaspora, as well as the various outreach and advocacy work of
the ANC on both national and international levels.
After garnering firsthand experience at ANC TV, Ara went on to build a
vibrant career for himself in Hollywood specializing in digital media.
He participated in the making of such films as "13 Going on 30,"
"Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," "Intolerable Cruelty," and "The Ring
2." His talent as a director is evident in his creative vision, which
has earned him several awards and a reputable role in the commercial
and music video industry. His clientele includes Sony Music, Warner
Bros. Records, Gatorade, Ralph's, Expo Line, Metro and Rock the Vote,
to name a few. He has also directed reality TV pilots for Fox and Sony
Television. His music videos for hip hop artist Wiz Khalifa and Grammy
award winning singer Serj Tankian of System of a Down earned him two
MVPA awards. In 2010, he directed and produced a short film, "A Nice
Old-Fashioned Romance" based on William Saroyan's short story with
the same title, which premiered at the prestigious LA Shorts Festival.
In addition to being a rising star in cinema, television, and film
in his professional career, Ara has never passed up an opportunity to
lend his talents to further enhance the Armenian community's objectives
through such organizations as the ANCA. It is through Ara's work in
film and media over the past decade that the ANCA-WR's projects,
branding, messaging, internship programs, as well as the national
office's Capital Gateway Program and Leo Sarkissian Internship
program have been widely exposed to ANCA supporters and to outside
constituents. Much of his work on film has lent itself to be packaged
and produced in the form of DVD's, videos, and You Tube segments,
which are marketed and disseminated throughout the world.
Ara has also been crucial in directing and filming ANCA's "Get
Out The Vote" videos. He has consistently worked hard to produce
campaign videos for political candidates which the ANCA has endorsed
or supported, including Mayors Antonio Villaraigosa and Eric
Garcetti, Councilman Paul Krekorian, Rafi Manoukian, and Ardashes
Ardy Kassakhian, to name a few. Through his work on such campaigns,
he has assisted the ANCA in disseminating its political voice. Year
after year, Ara produces and films the ANCA-WR's Annual Banquet video,
which summarizes the year of accomplishments for the region's active
involvement in the global struggle for Armenian Genocide recognition.
Several years ago, Ara assisted in digitally documenting and archiving
the testimony of Armenian Genocide survivors with his work on the
"Genocide Project." Through such projects, Ara helped educate the
generations past, present, and future about the history of the Armenian
Genocide. Ara's activism has not gone unnoticed. In 2012, Los Angeles
City Councilmember Paul Krekorian recognized the contributions of Ara's
community activism, as well as others, during the Commemoration of
the 97th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at Los Angeles City Hall.
"The Vahan Cardashian award is given to an activist who unrelentingly
strives for the advancement of Hye Tahd," stated Aida Dimejian,
co-chair of the ANCA-WR's 2013 Annual Banquet. "Ara is a true example
of what Vahan Cardashian stood for. Through his creative work, he has
been and continues to be one of the champions of our cause. His video
productions have educated, activated, and motivated our activists
both young and old in the spirit of his first film company's name
'Treaty of Sevres'," concluded Dimejian.
"Ara has made great strides and contributions to Hye Tahd through his
work in the entertainment and media industry," added Sareen Bezdikian,
Esq., co-chair of the banquet. She continued, "As one of our very own
activists, he has used his creativity and talent to capture the ANCA's
accomplishments on the local, state, and national levels and projected
those accolades into the mass media for global consumption, playing
a pivotal role in placing the ANCA brand on the public's agenda."
The ANCA-WR banquet will take place on November 30 at The Ray Dolby
Ballroom, the site of the Oscar's Governors' Ball. Legendary chef
Wolfgang Puck will be catering a special menu for the ANCA-WR Banquet.
Individuals interested in attending the banquet and Grassroots
Conference are encouraged to contact the ANCA-WR office at (818)
500-1918 or purchase tickets online at ItsMySeat.com/ANCAWR.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.