Los Angeles Alliance honors alumni in entertainment industry

Members of LATA's "Hill to Hollywood" event steering committee pose with PT Barnum Award recipients (l-r) Kimber Smith, J93, Peter Gallagher, A77, David Steinberg, A00, Cary Granat, A90, Jonathan Levin, A75, Courtenay Valenti, J85, Andrea Gall Schmitt, J90, Ken Goldman, A95, and Leila Ludy, J94.

On May 12, approximately 130 alumni gathered in the screening room of the Creative Artists Agency in Beverly Hills to honor Peter Gallagher, A77, actor; Cary Granat, A90, film producer and CEO of Walden Media; and Courtenay Valenti, J85, film producer and vice president of Warner Brothers Films.

Honorary event chair Jonathan Levin, A75, set the stage for the awards by giving eloquent commentary on each graduate’s achievements, followed by film retrospectives of each honoree’s career. Tufts Alumni Association President Ann Palmieri, J78, welcomed the attendees, and Tufts Communications and Media Studies (CMS) Director Julie Dobrow contextualized the event with updates on CMS and Drama and Dance programs.

“This event surpassed all our expectations,” said event co-chair and Los Angeles Tufts Alliance President Andrea Gall Schmitt, J90. “We are going to capitalize on the energy and enthusiasm generated by continuing to work to raise the profile of Tufts alumni among the entertainment community, support creative and professional development, and promote social and career networking opportunities for our alumni.”

Co-chair Kimber Smith, J93, added, “This event showed us the enormous potential for creative professional support within the alumni community.”

Each honoree credited Tufts for providing them with invaluable background that helped to shape their professional lives. Cary Granat cited Sol and Robyn Gittleman as special influences who have guided many aspects of his career. Courtenay Valenti said her double major in English and Economics prepared her in unexpected ways for the world of film. While saying that he clearly remembered being roused from an economics class by the black smoke the day Jumbo burned, Peter Gallagher nonetheless also recalled other Tufts memories that have influenced his portrayal of many characters on the screen, stage and television.

Committee member Ken Goldman, A95, said the Hill to Hollywood network’s future plans include “finding ways to support the academic communications and media program at Tufts, which in turn will continue to strengthen and expand Tufts’ depth and reach in the entertainment industry.”