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Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

The flyer for "The Beta Test."

Two alumni direct and star in new film ‘The Beta Test’

By Sophia Pargas, Editor-in-Chief / November 4, 2021

Twelve years after they graduated in the same class, two Emerson alumni and self-proclaimed “college drinking buddies” directed and starred in the...

Still from Sky Hopinka's “Maɬni–towards the ocean, towards the shore.”

‘Bright Lights Film Series’ hosts first in person event since pandemic

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts / October 14, 2021

After 18 months of Zoom screenings and discussions, Emerson’s “Bright Lights Film Series” hosted its first in-person event since Mar. 12, 2020 on...

Titian’s ‘Women, Myth, and Power’ at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum pits classical art versus modern morality

Titian’s ‘Women, Myth, and Power’ at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum pits classical art versus modern morality

By Jt Breaux / October 7, 2021

TW: mentions of sexual assault and abuse A new exhibition at The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, which opened on Aug. 12 and runs until Jan. 2, entitled...

Amanda Richards '10 and Dawn Steinberg '82 worked on the "Fantasy Island Reboot."

Emerson alums help create “Fantasy Island” reboot

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts / September 23, 2021

Two Emerson alumni—who graduated the college nearly 30 years apart—found themselves collaborating in Sony’s casting department to bring Fox’s reboot...

Anna Feder at the Bright Lights Film Series in 2019.

Bright Lights Film Series releases their fall 2021 program

By Mariyam Quaisar, Managing Editor / 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...

Alum wins first Oscar for Best Cinematography in ‘Mank’

Alum wins first Oscar for Best Cinematography in ‘Mank’

By Mariyam Quaisar, Managing Editor / April 28, 2021

Alum Erik Messerschmidt ‘02 won his first Oscar for Best Cinematography for Mank, directed by David Fincher, at the 93rd Academy Awards this past Sunday.  Mank,...

A woman speaks to filmmaker Ralph Celestin in the aftermath of the Capitol insurrection.

Local filmmaker releases trailer ahead of documentary ‘Capitol Riots’

By Madison E. Goldberg, Managing Editor / April 14, 2021

Independent filmmaker Ralph Celestin said he will always be haunted by the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when just six days into the new year, a group of Trump...

Students working on a film set.

Productions amid a Pandemic: how student films are being affected by COVID-19

By Margarita Ivanova, Correspondent / April 1, 2021

Visual media arts majors involved in creative projects outside of school have had numerous opportunities taken away from them during the pandemic. Despite...

Still from 'A Quiet Place: Part II'.

Fifteen movies that COVID took from us by postponing their release

By Mariyam Quaisar, Managing Editor / March 17, 2021

The coronavirus pandemic delayed more than 100 movies from being released in theaters in the past year, and pushed several straight to streaming platforms....

AMC Boston Common 19

Movie theaters are becoming a thing of the past, for better or for worse

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts / March 9, 2021

With the COVID-19 pandemic came the closing of movie theaters everywhere. This changed the way people consume movies, going from sitting in front of the...

Still from the film "MINARI"

‘MINARI’ highlights the many difficulties immigrant families in America face

By Mariyam Quaisar, Managing Editor / March 5, 2021

Director Lee Isaac Chung’s eye-opening film “MINARI'' left me teary-eyed. The film illustrates the struggles of a Korean American family as they are...

Algorithm bias researcher Joy Buolamwini showing the racist faults in the "Aspire Mirror."

‘Coded Bias’ latest screening from Bright Lights Film Series, highlights racial bias in AI

By Lucia Thorne, Living Arts Editor / March 2, 2021

Artificial intelligence, defined as “the development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence,” has the potential...

Still from Disney's "Raya and the Last Dragon"

Ryn Soorholtz ’16 serves as production coordinator on Disney’s ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts / February 23, 2021

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon” takes viewers on an epic journey through the eyes of lone warrior, Raya, as she tracks...

Noah Centineo as Peter and Lana Condor as Lara Jean in "To All the Boys I've Loved Before."

To All the Books I’ve Loved Before: What Happened to Netflix’s Top Teen Franchise

By Shawna Konieczny, Staff Writer / February 17, 2021

For Valentine’s Day, Netflix gifted its subscribers with the third and final installment of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movie series based...

Still from Machine Gun Kelly's film "Downfalls High"

Emo Never Dies: Machine Gun Kelly’s directorial debut

By Kaitlyn Fehr, Chief Copyeditor / February 16, 2021

If you’re anything like me, you love a cheesy high school romance where the outcast loner gets the popular girl despite all the odds against him. Cliche...

Still from "Down a Dark Stairwell"

ArtsEmerson screens film ‘Down a Dark Stairwell,’ hosts post-film discussion

By Lucia Thorne, Living Arts Editor / February 10, 2021

During a post-screening chat about her new documentary “Down a Dark Stairwell” hosted by ArtsEmerson, journalist-turned-director Ursula Liang said...

'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...

A still shot from the California-based feature film, 'Tom and Charlie's Road Trip,' written and directed by junior Alex Hrisanthopoulos.

Junior releases feature film debut ‘Tom and Charlie’s Road Trip’ on Amazon Prime

By Shawna Konieczny, Staff Writer / December 24, 2020

After nearly two years in the making, junior Alex Hrisanthopoulos released Tom and Charlie’s Road Trip, his first feature film, on Amazon Prime Video...

Alumnus and comedian Bill Burr '93 received his first Grammy nomination for his new comedy album, Paper Tiger.

Bill Burr ‘93 receives first Grammy nomination for comedy album ‘Paper Tiger’

By Lucia Thorne, Assistant Lifestyle Editor / December 14, 2020

Emerson alumnus Bill Burr ‘93 will have his first ever shot at a Grammy early next year after his newest Netflix comedy special, Paper Tiger, received...

Jacob Warman, the first-place winner of the 24 hour screenplay competition for his screenplay 'Glue Boards.'

Mouse traps and sports drafts: Here are the winners of the 24 hour screenplay competition

By Lucia Thorne, Assistant Lifestyle Editor / November 16, 2020

When first-year Jacob Warman’s girlfriend suggested he write about a woman who regretted using mice glue traps, he did not think the idea would lead...