On October 15, a group of Columbia and Tufts University Alumni gathered at the Kirk Douglas Theatre to view fellow Alumnus Robert O'Hara's premiere of yet another successful show, "Eclipsed."  Going to the theatre in Los Angeles can be a little unnerving because one never really knows what to expect.  "Will I be entertained? Should I have stayed at home and watched TiVo?  Or, better yet, watched a movie on the treadmill?" As soon as the lights dimmed, however, I was reminded why I continue to go to the theatre, despite the occasional blunder: I might just buy a ticket for a show like Robert's, one of power, intrigue, and age-defying laughter.

I have known Robert for many years, as we both went to Tufts University for our undergraduate degrees, where I had heard about this mysterious up-and-coming director.  Nonetheless, my first time actually meeting him was in New York City while I was still at Columbia, where he had already cemented himself in the theatre world directing critically acclaimed shows like "Insurrection" at the Public Theatre.  

At that moment, I realized "this guy is special.  This guy needs to be followed."  And at that time, being a young actor as I was, this was an important epiphany; it was, and still is, important to create alliances with strong directors, writers, and producers.

So after all of these years, after accepting his Obie and traveling the world, it was reassuring to see this very unassuming young man mount a larger-than-life show.  It made me think, yes we can.  And he continues to do so.

CM: Robert, you are working a lot these days?  Did you anticipate that your life would be like this upon graduating from Columbia's MFA Directing program?
RO: Yes, I am working a lot these day, and I'm grateful for the work, but it does take its toll on the body and mind, though I always hoped that I would be able to make a living as a writer and director. So to answer your question, I hoped for this, but of course, no one knows what a theatrical career will be like, because there are so many outside forces involved.

Kathryn Bigelow SOA Film '79 is the recipient of Columbia University's 2009 Andrew Sarris award for alumni achievement. As a conceptual artist turned filmmaker, Kathryn studied at The San Francisco Art Institute and The Whitney Museum Independent Study Program before entering the graduate film program. In her multi-genred career, Kathryn has brought to the screen society's outcast bikers in THE LOVELESS (1982); vampires in a wild wild west in NEAR DARK (1987); Jamie Lee Curtis as a tough cop in BLUE STEEL (1990); Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze in the mother of all undercover FBI agent infiltrating surfing bank robbers flicks POINT BREAK (1991); STRANGE DAYS (1995) written and co-produced by James Cameron featuring a kick-ass Angela Bassett protecting Ralph Fiennes; THE WEIGHT OF WATER about complicated families (2000) and K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER (2002) starring Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson. In her own words, Kathryn's experience at Columbia wasn't the actual set up for her film career even though her thesis film ironically was titled THE SET-UP. "I transitioned from art to film while at Columbia, completing my first film, THE SET-UP, with voiceover commentary by cultural theorists Syslvere Lotringer and Marshall Blonsky."

I asked Kathryn if being a pioneering female action director in Hollywood was difficult and if looking back, she would have done anything differently. While she chose not to answer that question, she did say, "I choose projects that are artistically interesting and possess challenging subject matter." The statement is succinct and liberating. Any filmmaker, regardless of gender, race or creed, ought to have the freedom to speak about and interpret whatever subject matter they wish. Just so long as they accept the responsibility of having taken whatever that particular point of view is as an individual.

SOA Film alumni now have their own writing groups focused exclusively on developing original feature screenplays and television pilots meeting in Los Angeles. Attendance is free, but each writing group has its own meeting and participation policies.

CU Eastside Writers meets every 3 weeks in Eagle Rock. Members are Ricardo Acuna, Danielle Beeber, Charity Bustamante, Mitchell Gutman, Micky Hohl, Matt Nasatir and David Olcott. To join please email Ricardo Acuna at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CU Westside Writers meets every other week in Santa Monica at homes TBD and members are Odin Ozdil, Daniel Housman, Mike Stone, Michael R. Moore and Chanan Beizer. To join please email Daniel Housman at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CU Greater Los Angeles Writers meets every other week Wednesdays at 7:30pm in West Hollywood. Members are NaRhee Ahn, Jessiline Berry, Ben Hayflick, Ted Kim and Alison McKenzie. To join please email NaRhee Ahn at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .