FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 11, 2008

For More Information:
Kashae Foster or
Melissa Rubi Falcón
305.284.6748
mrubi@miami.edu

CORAL GABLES, FL – The University of Miami will be treated with a “Thriller” this week when award-winning film writer, director and producer John Landis joins other special guests at the School of Communication’s Ninth Annual Communication Week Feb. 15-22.

Landis will discuss his work in a session at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, in the Cosford Cinema, during which “An American Werewolf in London” and “Animal House” will be screened.

A high school dropout, Landis began at 20th-Century Fox as a mail boy and then a “spaghetti Western” stuntman. His best-known films also include “Trading Places,” “The Blues Brothers,” “Coming to America” – and the groundbreaking “Thriller” music video with Michael Jackson.

“An American Werewolf” will be shown at 7 p.m.; Landis will speak at 8:45, and “Animal House” will begin at 9:30.

He will be joined at Communication Week by his wife, Academy Award-nominated costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis, who created the memorable costume for Indiana Jones in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and has worked on many of Landis’ projects (she created the trademark red jacket Jackson sported in “Thriller”).

Nadoolman Landis’ presentation will be at 1:25-2:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, in Shojaee Hall (Room 3053) of the International Building wing of the SoC.  She will talk about her new book, “Dressed: A Century of Hollywood Costume Design,” and of her experiences in the motion picture business. 

President of the Costume Designers Guild, Nadoolman Landis holds a Ph.D. degree in the history of design from the Royal College of Art in London.

Communication Week will offer exhibitions, screenings, forums, panels, and other special events to faculty, students, alumni, and special guests on topics exploring all aspects of the field of communication. For a complete schedule and more information on Communication Week, visit http://com.miami.edu/comweek.