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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

Anna Feder at the Bright Lights Film Series in 2019.

Bright Lights Film Series releases their fall 2021 program

By Mariyam Quaisar / 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 / 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 / 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, Deputy Lifestyle 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, Deputy Arts Editor / 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, Deputy Lifestyle 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, Deputy Arts Editor / 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, Columnist / 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, Assisstant Living Arts Editor / 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...

"Cured" (2020) is an American documentary directed by Bennett Singer and Patrick Sammon.

Film review: ‘Cured’ reminds us the necessity of LGBTQ+ activism

By Joshua Sokol, Assistant Arts Editor / November 11, 2020

After four years of the Trump administration rolling back LGBTQ+ protections, particularly those protecting the trans community, documentaries like Cured,...

Griswold '10 on the set of 'Quirewood: The Musical,' which is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

Adam Griswold ’10 lands first musical on Amazon Prime

By Lucia Thorne, Assistant Lifestyle Editor / October 28, 2020

Filmmaker and alum Adam Griswold ‘10 spent years thinking about producing a musical, but he has now made his mark on the theatre world with the release...

Monika Davis - Graphic by Ally Rzesa / Beacon Staff

Motion Picture This: ‘The King’ puts Timothée Chalamet’s star power to the test

By Monika Davis / November 9, 2019

Proclaimed “white boy of the month” Timothée Chalamet has dominated the last two years in cinema. After breaking into the scene with indie classics...

Alumna Yesenia Rego created her BFA film in the Dominican Republic featuring female workers. Xinyi Xu / Beacon Correspondent

Low-budget BFA film shows working life in Dominican Republic bateyes

By Eloisa de Farias / November 8, 2019

Hunched over a jacket to protect the sound, Emerson alumna Yesenia Rego recorded herself on her iPhone, reciting powerful excerpts from letters she once...