The Norton Herrick Center for Motion Picture Studies at the University of Miami School of Communication presents a special lecture on forgotten, controversial films with film historian Eric Schaefer, author of “'Bold! Daring! Shocking! True!': A History of Exploitation Films, 1919-1959" at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, February 16, 20121, at UM’s Bill Cosford Cinema. The discussion is free and open to all. The event features a rare look at low-budget films from the 1930s to the 1960s, including examples from the Norton Herrick Collection such as Ed Wood’s "Glen or Glenda", "The Black King", "Murder on Lenox Avenue", “The Lonely…

This past weekend, the sci-fi action film Chronicle scored big at theaters, grossing $22 million in North America and taking the top spot at the box office, edging out the highly anticipated thriller Woman in Black starring Daniel Radcliffe. Max Landis, 26, a former University of Miami School of Communication student, wrote the script. Landis was a motion pictures student from 2006 to 2008 but left to pursue filmmaking in Los Angeles. At the SoC, he wrote many short screenplays that were produced by his peers. Based on a story by Landis and director Josh Trank, Chronicle is about…

Jeffrey Stern teaches film production and sound design in the School of Communication's Motion Picture program and is credited with sound editing on popular films and television programs, including Silence of the Lambs, Boardwalk Empire, and Goodfellas. But he’s also proficient in a different form of media – photography. Stern presents new photography in "Legerdemain," an exhibit now through Feb. 24, 2012 at the University of Miami's Wynwood Project Space in downtown Miami. An Emmy-nominated filmmaker, Stern is also pursuing an M.F.A. through UM's Art & Art History program. In "Legerdemain," which means “sleight of hand” in French, viewers…

Some events should never be forgotten if only to remind us of the extraordinary strength of the human spirit. Two years ago a massive earthquake leveled the island country of Haiti, killing thousands and leaving behind a crippling aftermath Haitians are still enduring today. The University of Miami School of Communication and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting present "Voices of Haiti, A Post-Quake Odyssey in Verse," a multimedia performance showcasing the heartbreaking aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, 6:30 p.m. at the UM's Victor E. Clarke Recital Hall, 1314 Miller Dr., in Coral Gables. The event is free and…

The SXSW (South by Southwest) Interactive Awards has named the University of Miami School of Communication finalists in the student category for the website “Prescribing Addiction” which highlights the dangers of addiction to prescription medication. The web site, http://prescribingaddiction.com/, was created in Prof. Kim Grinfeder’s “Interactive Storytelling Class” and includes video testimonials of young people talking openly about their interactions and struggles with prescription drugs. Included are a 25-year-old who once visited up to 10 doctors a day to get prescriptions and a father who was a former addict, but now speaks to students about the dangers. “The fact…

University of Miami School of Communication professors created an in-depth analysis of Haitian community media in greater Miami. The study informs readers on the uses and practices of Haitian community media before and after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The findings were released to the public on Wednesday, January 18, at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. The report proposes the formation of a non-profit professional association that could develop financing and marketing mechanisms and ways to share gathering of news and information to overcome existing journalism and business challenges. “The purpose of this working paper is to make this…

Identity formation and coming of age are themes often depicted in film because they are so pervasive in real life. French director Céline Sciamma (Water Lillies) delves into these themes with grace and compassion in Tomboy, playing Thursday through Jan. 29 at the Bill Cosford Cinema as part of the Kenneth Lattman Lecture Series. Tomboy is a charming tale of childhood memories and the relationships between children and children, children and parents, and one’s own heart and body. To the neighborhood, Mikael is the new kid in town, but the new kid has a secret: Mikael is really Laure,…

For the third straight year, South Florida nonprofits can apply for free help with advertising and other creative communications at “PhilADthropy,” a 25-hour event set for Feb. 17-18, 2012, at the University of Miami School of Communication. During PhilADthropy, School of Communication students work with local nonprofits to develop and deliver advertising and other promotional materials. Hosted by the School’s Advertising program and student AD Group, and guided by faculty member Meryl Blau, PhilADthropy completes its services during a work marathon beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, and ending at noon Saturday, Feb. 18. Final projects are presented…

The past decade has seen a dramatic increase in the presence of gays in American advertising. The media has transformed the stigmatized stereotype of gays into a new, socially desirable image of stylish consumers with high-end taste. This marketing strategy affects the way gays understand themselves and influences the meaning of gayness for society in general, explains Wan-Hsiu Sunny Tsai, assistant professor of advertising at the University of Miami School of Communication, in a study recently published by the Journal of Advertising. “The findings illuminate the influential role of advertising in informing and shaping personal identities and highlights the…

When Lily O'Dare walked on stage at a masquerade ball fundraiser sponsored by the Make-a-Wish Foundation, she immediately knew that telling her story would make a difference for kids of all ages — O'Dare was a Make-A-Wish kid herself. On November 5, O'Dare, 20, a sophomore studying Public Relations, played a huge part at the Make-a-Wish Foundation’s 17th annual Southern Florida Intercontinental Ball when she stood in front of hundreds of donators, thanked them for their contributions and explained how they changed lives, including her own. At the age of 16, O'Dare, was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.…