David Frankel, a producer, director and screenwriter of hit movies and television shows including The Devil Wears Prada, Band of Brothers, Marley & Me, Hope Springs and Sex and the City, will work with School of Communication students on an upcoming HIV outreach project.
Alex Moreno, director of P2P HIV/AIDS Adolescent Outreach & Education at Miller School of Medicine, announced Thursday that Frankel will direct a student-written and produced short narrative film about women at-risk for HIV.
Frankel, who won an Oscar for his short film Dear Diary, also discussed his experiences in film and television and offered tips for students on breaking into the industry. “At every step of the way, people had something to judge me by. The most important thing is to do the work,” he said. “If you create something of value, people will want it.”
Frankel worked his way up on Hollywood writing and producing television sitcoms before directing his first film, Miami Rhapsody, starring Sarah Jessica Parker. His most recent film, One Chance, is based on the true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied worker whose hidden talent for opera singing led him to win Britain’s Got Talent.
