Emerson College's student newspaper

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College's student newspaper

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College's student newspaper

The Berkeley Beacon

‘Subject’ is a thoughtful meta-examination of the documentary genre

‘Subject’ is a thoughtful meta-examination of the documentary genre

By Abigail Lee, Magazine Editor
October 19, 2022

A documentary recently shown as part of the Bright Lights line up interrogates the ethics of the documentary genre itself.  Directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Camilla Hall, “Subject” follows the...

‘Fly So Far reminds us to think about the injustices in foreign countries

‘Fly So Far’ reminds us to think about the injustices in foreign countries

By Samantha Deras, Correspondent
October 6, 2022

“We are guilty of the simple fact of being women.”  This quote makes up just one of the many emotional scenes in the 2021 documentary about El Salvador’s strict abortion laws.  Directed by...

Bright Lights releases fall 2022 program

By Alison Sincebaugh
September 21, 2022

The Bright Lights film series, presented by Emerson’s visual and media arts department, recently announced its fall 2022 lineup, with the first screenings taking place on Sept. 22.  The chosen films...

Sounds of the City. Courtesy of Bright Lights.

Emerson Film Festival returns in person Mar. 30

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
March 30, 2022

From narratives and documentaries, to experimental and animation, Emerson returns for its 21st annual Film Festival on Mar. 30, featuring 10 films from undergraduate and graduate students alike.  Showcased...

Anna Feder at the Bright Lights Film Series in 2019.

Bright Lights Film Series kicks off with ‘On These Grounds,’ exposing over-policing in schools

By Dionna Santucci
October 14, 2021

Bright Lights Film kicked off its fall 2021 series on Wednesday, Sept. 22 with the documentary “On These Grounds.” The film was created by three alumni, Garret Zevgetis ‘05, Kevin Bright ‘76,...

Anna Feder at the Bright Lights Film Series in 2019.

Bright Lights Film Series releases their fall 2021 program

By Mariyam Quaisar, Editor-at-large
September 21, 2021

The college’s Bright Lights Film Series announced their fall 2021 lineup on Sept. 7, featuring 12 documentary films that highlight social justice issues.  The series is curated by VMA Professor Anna...

Helen Keller, with her secretary and close friend, Polly Thompson.

Bright Lights’ screening ‘Her Socialist Smile,’ shines light on Helen Keller’s activism

By Lucia Thorne
April 14, 2021

In Emerson’s latest Bright Lights film screening on April 7 and 8, “Her Socialist Smile” delves into Helen Keller’s affinity for the implementation of socialism, ending the exploitation of the...

The Big Scary S Word post-screening virtual discussion and Q&A

‘The Big Scary ‘S’ Word’ documents American socialism at Bright Lights Emerson film series

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
February 7, 2021

A public school teacher and a former Marine turned to socialism due to their financial struggles in a documentary directed by Yael Bridge. The Big Scary “S” Word documents the American socialist movement...

Director Sam Feder and actress-writer Jen Richards discussed trans representation in Hollywood in their documentary Disclosure

VMA and SEAL hosts Q&A Panel with director and subject of “Disclosure”

By Lucia Thorne, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
November 8, 2020

Disclosure director Sam Feder and actress-writer Jen Richards discussed the documentary’s analysis of the ways trans representation in Hollywood both empowers and endangers trans lives at a Q&A panel...

Anna Feder at the Bright Lights Film Series in 2019.

Bright Lights Film Festival set to screen controversial film ‘Adam’

By Taina Millsap, Staff Writer
November 11, 2019

Emerson College plans to screen Adam at the Nov. 12 Bright Lights Film Festival—a movie that has drawn significant criticism from the LGBTQ community and is the subject of a petition advocating for...

Anna Feder, the Director of Programming at Emerson’s VMA department, speaks at the Bright Lights premiere. Montse Landeros / Beacon Corespondent

Bright Lights to introduce film content warnings

By Laurel Booth
September 18, 2019

The Bright Lights Film Series began posting content advisories on its website this fall to warn students about graphic and upsetting material in screenings.  Students responded to a survey last spring...

Jim Cummings 09 behind the scenes of Thunder Road. The 92 minute feature was filmed over 14 days in Austin, Texas. - Photo Courtesy of Jim Cummings

Alum’s Sundance-winning short makes it to the big screen

By Zenebou Sylla
November 13, 2018

After the success of a Kickstarter campaign that raised $36,829, Jim Cummings’ ‘09 Sundance-winning short film, “Thunder Road,” is now a feature film. The feature launched online Oct. 30. Cummings...

Kyra Power is the A24 Campus Intern

A24 boosts Bright Lights screenings

By Annika Hom
September 6, 2018

After Anna Feder, director of programming for the visual and media arts department, screened Swiss Army Man for the Bright Lights Film Series, she was hooked. The film was distributed by A24, and now...

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