Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance

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Saroyan Playwriting Prize Deadline Feb. 15, 2012!

ARMENIAN STAR

ARMENIAN STAR AWARD

The Armenian Star Award is given annually by ADAA to an individual who exemplifies two or more of the following:

1. Dedication to practicing and/or furthering the arts at a high level;

2. Professional or artistic achievement in their own field/career;

3. Committment to and advocacy on behalf of Armenian arts and artists on an international stage; and

4. Dedication to public/civic service, particularly to Armenian culture, art and causes.

2011 Armenian Star Award Recipient Arthur Sarkissian

Arthur Sarkissian’s 30 year career has established him as one of Hollywood’s most successful and prolific producers. He has developed, produced or overseen feature films that have dominated domestic and global landscapes, with box office receipts close to $1 billion. In 1998, the “Rush Hour” movie franchise was discovered and developed by Sarkissian, pairing the unlikely duo of Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. The first film grossed more than $140 million domestically and another $103 million internationally - making history as the highest grossing independent film released in September or October as well as becoming one of the highest grossing films in the history of New Line Cinema. So far, the franchise has grossed $880 million worldwide.

Throughout Sarkissian’s career, creativity, forward thinking and entrepreneurship have been the common denominator in his formula for success. It’s this approach and ability to produce big budget blockbusters that has made him one of the most sought after producers in the business.

Sarkissian began with transforming engaging stories into movie magic in the 70’s by producing films such as Beyond Reason and Wanted: Dead or Alive. In 1995, Sarkissian released While You Were Sleeping, starring Sandra Bullock, the year’s biggest hit grossing over $190 million worldwide.

This summer, Sarkissian will produce The Red Circle, which is the retelling of Jean-Pierre Melville’s classic 1970 gangster film; Le Cercle Rouge. He is also collaborating with Francis Veber to remake L’Emmedeur, as well as continuing to develop new projects including the remakes for; Back to School; The Fortune Cookie and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Additionally, Sarkissian will re-team with While You Were Sleeping writers Fred Lebow and Dan Sullivan to produce the original feature film, Starring Vic. Recently, Sarkissian executive produced Kill the Irishman; directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, starring Ray Stevenson and Val Kilmer.

2010 Armenian Star His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian

ADAA’s 2010 Armenian Star Award was presented to His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, for his dedication to supporting Armenian artists and stories.
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, named Vahram at his baptism, was born on December 1, 1957 in Beirut, Lebanon. At the age of 13, he attended the theological seminary of the Cilician Catholicosate, in Bikfaya, Lebanon and graduated from the seminary in 1975. He traveled to Etchmiadzin, Armenia to continue his theological studies at the Gevorkian seminary. He was ordained to the order of a celibate priest by His Holiness Vazgen I, Catholicos of All Armenians, and was renamed Hovnan. The Very Rev. Father Hovnan then went to Oxford University, England, to enhance his studies in the theological field and was elevated to the rank of a Vartaped (Doctor of Theology). He was later appointed pastor of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Toronto, Canada and served the Toronto community for the following 6 years. In 1990, The Very Rev. Father Hovnan Derderian was elected Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada. On October 7, in the Cathedral of St. Etchmiadzin, he was ordained by His Holiness Vazken I to the level of Bishop and later elevated to the rank of Archbishop by His Holiness Vazken I. He served three total terms as the Primate of the Armenian Church of Canada.On May 3, 2003, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian was elected as the primate of the Armenian Church of North America Western Diocese by the 76th Annual Assembly. Since his election, His Eminence has revitalized the Diocese by reorganizing its structure. He has created several new committees. The construction project of the Western Diocese Mother Cathedral also took new flight with the election of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. He has worked diligently for the implementation of the Cathedral project by securing new donors and Godfathers, as well as the assignment of two committees, the fundraising and construction committees, to oversee the planning and implementation of the project.

2009 Armenian Star ROBERT PAPAZIAN

Robert A. Papazian, an Emmy Award winner for his critically acclaimed production of Inherit the Wind on NBC, is recognized as one of television's most successful and creative producers. In 1988, Papazian partnered with writer-producer James G. Hirsch to create one of the industry's most respected independent production companies, Papazian-Hirsch Entertainment. Papazian's body of work includes producing more than 80 television movies as well as miniseries and t.v. series which have garnered a total of 27 Emmy nominations and 9 Emmys in various categorizes. The partners went on and co-founded Ray-Art Studios in 1997. They sold the studio in 2005 and Robert then became CEO and partner of Sunset Gower Studios. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Sandy and four sons.

2008 Armenian Star MICHAEL PERETZIAN

Michael was born in New York City to Harry and Mary Peretzian, immigrants who had fled the horrors of the Ottoman empire. His early years were spent in a series of seashore towns in New Jersey. Following his father?s sudden death, the family moved to Hollywood, California. Here he was free to pursue his dream of attending UCLA and becoming a stage actor. It was there after earning his Master of Fine Arts Degree that Michael discovered his passion for directing. Michael?s career as an Hollywood agent has spanned over 30 years. The majority of that time was spent at the William Morris Agency, thanks in part to the patronage of agent Ron Mardigian. Beginning in the 1970s, Peretzian was the film and television agent for a growing list of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning clients including Medoff (CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD) and Beth Henley (CRIMES OF THE HEART), Terrence McNally (MASTER CLASS). In 2000, Michael joined the Creative Artists Agency, where he added several top writers and directors, including Joe Mantello (WICKED), Zach Helm (STRANGER THAN FICTION), John Madden (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE), and Anthony Minghella (Academy Award winner for directing THE ENGLISH PATIENT). He is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Over the years Michael made time to moonlight locally as a stage director, staying true to his passion for the theater. He has worked with the Los Angeles Actors? Theatre on PHIL AND MAC by David Briggs, directing the West Coast Premiere of TALKING WITH by Jane Martin for the Mark Taper Forum Taper Too (for which he won a Dramalogue Award for Outstanding Direction). At Theatre 40, he directed productions of Michael Cristofer?s THE SHADOW BOX, James Prideaux?s THE ORPHANS, David Storey?s HOME, and productions of Hugh Leonard?s SUMMER and A LIFE (for which he won the Los Angeles Drama Critics? Circle Award for Best Director). A true believer in the notion ?life is not a dress rehearsal,? Michael left the motion picture business early in 2008 to return to his first love - the theatre. His initial effort was the world premier of RED DOG HOWLS which starred Kathleen Chalfant and was written by Alexander Dinelaris.

2007 Armenian Star ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

On Aug. 19th, at the Second Annual ADAA Gala, which took place at the Star's Palace Theater in Glendale, CA, The Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance was pleased to award it's first ever Armenian Star Award, 2007, to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for his service to the Armenian community. Chief Deputy Director, Lisa Kalustian, from the Governor's office was on hand to accept the award on his behalf.

LETTER TO ADAA FROM CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

The Governor's office presented ADAA with a letter of congratulations

Chief Deputy Director from the Governor's office Lisa Kalustian	Fox TV News Reporter, Anita Vogel, presenting the ADAA Armenian Star Award

Chief Deputy Director Lisa Kalustian along with ADAA Board of Directors Alfred Demirjian, Bianca Bagatourian amd Anita Vogel

Board members Alfred Demirjian, Bianca Bagatourian, Anita Vogel and Karen Kondazian

2006 Armenian Star BERGE ZEITUNTSYAN

Berge Zeytuntsian was born on July 18, 1938, in Alexandria, Egypt. In 1948, he repatriated to Armenia. Zeytuntsian graduated from the Pyatigorsk Institute of Foreign Languages in Russia. He went on to also graduate from the Advanced Courses for Screenwriters in Moscow. In 1956, his inaugural collection of works, His First Friend, was published. From 1966-68, Zeytuntsian worked as a script editor at Armenfilm, and then from 1968-75 he was the chief editor at the Yerevan Studio of TV films. He served as secretary of the Writer's Union of Armenia from 1975-86 and from 1990-91 as the acting Minister of Culture in Armenia. Berge Zeytuntsian is the author of many plays, some of which have been translated into different languages and staged in countries around the world.