It dawned on me, as I navigated my undergraduate years at Harvard, that I very unfortunately had no interest in being an investment banker, a corporate lawyer, or a medical student. While I chose Economics as a major my freshman year, basically as a default, I found that my most fulfilling moments during school were in choir rehearsals, on tour buses, organizing arts festivals, concerts, and pretty much anything else artistic in which I could dip my toes. But I thought once college was over those fun and fulling moments would be forever lost as I charged ahead into my “real” life.
Harvardwood helped me realize that did not have to be my reality. There was a whole community of others…JUST LIKE ME. We are all fascinated and infatuated with the arts and all of its potential to make the world a better place. Harvardwood is uniquely positioned to inspire and support some of the brightest minds in the world as they apply their skills and talents to the business of generating one of the main things that defines and uplifts humanity - our culture.
-- Kelley Johnson Purcell '02 (Harvardwood Executive Director, 2009-2014)
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For LA transplants, Harvardwood is an ideal place to land - it's an warm community of hardworking, creative people who love to collaborate, to help each other towards success. And for those same reasons, it's an incredible launch pad for one's career in entertainment, too.
-- Michael
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Harvardwood has fostered the formation of a supportive and committed community of writers in Boston. The screenwriting workshop provides an environment for writers to try out ideas in a safe space and receive the encouragement to get started on a project -- or to finally finish one. Writers of all levels of experience have shown improvement in the quality of their work as a result of their participation. Notably, one writer used his experience in the group to cut down and polish a script that went on to earn him representation and the interest of a major director. It is currently in production.
-- Amy Roeder (Harvardwood Boston Chapter Head)
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Harvardwood has provided an excellent network for artists, writers, filmmakers in Atlanta to connect with one another, share interests and ideas, collaborate, and generate support for their work. Georgia Harvardwood activities have included meet-and-greet parties where creative individuals can share ideas about their work and network, attendance at film screenings of films by up-and-coming directors (both Harvard alumni and non-Harvard alumni), and attendance at musicals and theater events. The Harvardwood website has also provided an important medium for alumni involved in the film industry in Georgia (which is growing very quickly) to let other local alumni know about upcoming events. Events planned for 2014 and 2015 include a "storytelling" series that will offer participants the chance to discuss songwriting, prose writing, and the generation of other creative ideas.
-- Ashley Filip Hoffman (Harvardwood Georgia Chapter Head)
Review from Guidestar
