Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television honored director Francis Lawrence ’91 with a Distinguished Alumni Award and Imagine Television President Francie Calfo ’89 with an Outstanding Achievement in Television Award at its Film Outside the Frame festival on Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank.
The annual event spotlights the best work from LMU students working in film and television, and recognizes industry professionals for their career achievements.
“Francis Lawrence is an inspirational role model for our students. He’s not only an accomplished feature film director, Francis has mastered the music video art form and is a successful commercial director,” said Stephen Ujlaki, dean of the School of Film and Television. “We’re proud to honor his impressive body of work.”
“Great television takes great teamwork to get the best out of everyone and to create an environment where first-rate ideas flourish. Clearly, Francie has the golden touch. Just take a look at her impressive record of primetime hits: Alias, C.S.I., Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Lost and Brothers & Sisters,” says Ujlaki. “She is a great inspiration for our students and we’re proud to honor her for achievements in television.”
In addition to the distinguished alumni honors, awards were presented to student filmmakers in 11 categories: overall film, direction, producing, animation, cinematography, editing, comedy, screenwriting, documentary, production design and sound design. Additional awards at the Oct. 29 event honored outstanding achievement among senior, junior and sophomore-level student films.
The distinguished judges for this year’s student competition were Melissa Blake ’95 (writer, Ghost Whisperer), Cullen Conly (manager, feature film program, Sundance Institute), Michael F.X. Daley ’96 (writer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), Betsy Sharkey (film critic, Los Angeles Times), Stephen Ujlaki (dean, Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television),Paula Wagner (producer, Mission: Impossible II) and Bohdan Zachary (vice president,broadcasting and program development, KCET).
Francis Lawrence
Francis Lawrence is a film director and noted music video director, having won a Grammy (Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”), Latin Grammy (Shakira, “Whenever, Wherever”), and multiple MTV Video Music Awards. He has worked with artists such as Jay-Z, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez, Aerosmith, Janet Jackson and many others. He has also directed commercials for many high profile clients including The Gap, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, L’Oreal, Bacardi, McDonalds, Disneyland, Oldsmobile, CoverGirl, and Maybelline.
In 2005, Lawrence made his feature film debut with Constantine, based on the Hellblazer comic book, starring Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz. That was followed up by the 2007 hit, I Am Legend, a science fiction-horror-action-disaster film adapted from the Richard Matheson novel of the same name, starring Will Smith. Earlier this year, Francis completed Water for Elephants, based on the best-selling novel by Sara Gruen and starring Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson and Christoph Waltz.
In 2008, Lawrence was the director of the pilot and several episodes of Kings, as well as one of the executive producers of that acclaimed series. This past summer, he directed and served as executive producer on the pilot episode of Touch, featuring Kiefer Sutherland, which will be airing on Fox in the spring.
Lawrence graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in film production.
Francie Calfo
In August of 2010, Francie Calfo joined Imagine Entertainment partners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, as president of television. Previously, she had a multi-year deal as an independent producer at ABC Television Studios, where she sold and executive produced numerous network comedy and drama pilots and series.
In the years prior, Calfo served as executive vice president of development and current programming, ABC Primetime Entertainment, overseeing all scripted comedy and drama development as well as current programming for the network. In that time, she and her team shepherded some of the company’s biggest hits including Desperate Housewives, Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty and Brothers & Sisters.
Calfo’s first successful stint as a producer was in 2003, when she executive produced the ABC series Life As We Know It, which followed her work as a studio executive in drama development for Touchstone Television, first as a vice president, then as senior vice president of drama series. At the studio, she oversaw all drama development and current drama programming, including C.S.I. and the critical hit Alias. Before her move to development, Calfo had been vice president of creative affairs for Touchstone, overseeing all current programming, including Home Improvement, Boy Meets World, Felicity, Sports Night and The PJs. She first joined the Walt Disney Company in the television research department, where she rose through the ranks to vice president of research for Buena Vista Television – overseeing network television and television animation.
Calfo graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Communications and a minor in Business.
Film Outside the Frame is sponsored by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Panavision, The Dreier Family, Mary and John Cosgrove, Fotokem, Gensler and Write Bros.
Angel Sponsors are Ms. Deborah D. Charlie-Bartell; Gonwest, Inc., Robert L. Goldsborough; Mrs. Mary S. Larson; Mr. Mark T. Collins; Robin and Cliff MacGillivray.
