5th Annual Conference on the Status of Armenians in U.S. Focuses on Armenians Portrayed on Screen

By Sona Zeitlian

The 5th conference on the Status of Armenian Communities Living in the United States took place on March 13, 2010, in the Grand Salon of the Student Union at California State University, Northridge. The conference was organized by AGBU Hye Geen-Young Circle, AGBU Hye Geen, AGBU Forum for Armenian Cultural and Social Studies, in partnership with California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Departments of Gender and Women's Studies, Cinema and Television Arts, Armenian Studies, as well as the CSUN Alpha Epsilon Omega Fraternity.

As in previous years, the conference brought together researchers, educators, professionals and community groups to explore issues related to Armenians in the U.S. This year's theme, "The Power of Broadcast Media," was most relevant for the large Armenian communities of Hollywood, Glendale, and greater Los Angeles, the heartland of the entertainment industry. In her opening remarks, Nellie Yacoubian of AGBU Hye Geen-Young Circle emphasized the need "to give more support in the future either in terms of time, positive public relations and/or money to the individuals in the industry, so future programming and talent includes Armenians and includes Armenians in the way we want."

Moderator Jill Simonian, co-host of a Travel Channel reality series, introduced the conference speakers.

Eric Sherman, an award-winning director, producer, and professor at Art Center College of Design and the California Institute of the Arts, spoke about his experiences with Armenian students at the Art Center, among them Vahe Babaian, a screenwriter who in the early 80s wrote a script about Armenians in California called "After Freedom." Sherman agreed to produce the film but they were unable to secure financial backing from the Armenian community. The producer appealed to Harvey Weinstein of Miramax Studios, who had previously sponsored films about ethnic groups. Having obtained half of the funding needed, the Armenian community raised the rest, and the film was produced and then released commercially. Based on the experience, Sherman exhorted the Armenian community to encourage Armenians with film or television projects and to support films depicting their stories.

Screen and theater actor Ludwig Manukian, who gained notoriety as an Armenian mob boss on FX Channel's "The Shield," said that the Armenian community has a responsibility to diversify the representations of their ethnicity in the media. "Ethnic actors rarely get cast in mainstream plays, movies and TV except in ethnic roles that are generally demeaning or damaging stereotypes," he said. "Armenians are mechanics, jewelry store-owners, criminals, drug dealers, shady individuals, mafia characters importing illegal goods ... characterized by their love of money and display of gold chains."

Other speakers were Roger Kupelian, a visual effects artist who has worked on many prominent films, including "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Anoush NeVart, a prolific actress and musician, and Terry Phillips, a TV reporter and author. NeVart urged Armenians to follow the example that African-Americans have set in the entertainment industry, by producing their own content. Phillips, who lived and worked in Armenia following the 1988 earthquake and covered the Karabakh war, pressed the audience not to be passive viewers, but counteract negative influences through "active and constructive dialogue with the content providers."

Sona Yacoubian, founder and chairperson of AGBU Hye Geen, an NGO that operates women's centers to improve maternal health and reduce infant mortality in Armenia, also addressed the conference. "The new generation, that is you, come from more established and prosperous Armenian families than any time in history," she told young professionals in the audience. "You are talented and hard workers. I believe it is time to venture into new fields where national and international recognition awaits you."

The moderator fielded probing questions and appreciative comments from the audience, which underscored an interest aroused by the conference speakers to prevent negative stereotypes about Armenians in the broadcast media.