New Docuseries Project

Hello friends,

The last 4 years have been a whirlwind for me filled with ups and downs; struggles and triumphs. I didn’t anticipate being shut down mid-productions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a lesson in the TV & Film industry I didn’t think I’d experience until later in my career. However I am optimistic that with the knowledge and skills I’ve gained at Southern Connecticut State University that I am ready to bring real social change through my art.

Two years ago I had the pleasure of having April Capone as a political science professor at Gateway Community College,. Not only were our class discussions on race and social justice enlightening, she brought her personal experience as the mayor of East Haven, CT; a first hand testament to the systemic racism, abuse, and corruption inherent to the criminal justice system.

President Barack Obama illustrated this in a recent Facebook post. “It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well.”

Mayor Capone told a story of racial profiling, violence, corruption, and criminality that was shocking and heartbreaking. The abuses of the East Haven Police Department and beyond were so disturbing that her struggle brought me and my class to tears.

I knew immediately that when I was ready, I would need to tell this story.

The recent murder of George Floyd has been a tipping point for many Americans. Many who had been silent or simply unaware of the systemic racism, corruption, and police violence, are finally waking up.

As President Obama noted, “Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.”

As Mayor Capone puts it:

“It’s not just my story but the story of the community and a reformed police department.”

It is now my duty and responsibility to bear the torch of knowledge and be a warrior of social change.

With everyone’s help and support, I will produce a docuseries to bring awareness of the injustices that have occurred in our community. The only way to ensure that we as a society change, is to learn from the mistakes of the past.

My first step is to start a crowdsource campaign to fund the docuseries on the EHPD scandal. I will need a committed team to increase awareness and produce a mini-doc that can be shown to bring in further donations. Hopefully when we have enough funding and footage we can then pitch to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. If you’d like to be part of the production please email me at jason@jasoncarubia.com.

This will be a difficult summer for productions due to social distancing. This project will have much research and footage to be gathered. The struggles we will encounter as a production will pale in comparison to the issues at hand.

President Obama recently gave this advice to graduating seniors:

“As scary and uncertain as these times may be, they are also a wake-up call, and they are an incredible opportunity, for your generation. Because you don’t have to accept what was considered normal before. You don’t have to accept the world as it is. You can make it into the world as it should be and could be. You can create a new normal, one that is fairer, and gives everyone opportunity, and treats everyone equally, and builds bridges between people instead of dividing them.”

I hope you all will join me in this shared cause.

Your friend,
Jason Carubia

Masculinity Redefined Podcast

Here's my most recent podcast series Masculinity Redefined produced for Southern Connecticut State University about Toxic Masculinity. I produce/engineer/edit the series and host/moderate episode #3. It is available now via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & SoundCloud. Enjoy!

https://www.masculinityredefined.info/podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/masculinity-redefined/id1506665893

https://open.spotify.com/show/0XvUSYVg8sqUpGgTMf0Kea

https://soundcloud.com/masculinityredefined

How quickly a year goes by!

I seriously can't believe it's been almost a year since I posted on this blog. The year flies by when you're busy.

Since I posted last I performed in the Winter production of How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel Dir. Kaia Monroe Rarick. at Southern Connecticut State University. Lucy Gellman of the Art​s Council of Greater New Haven wrote a wonderful review.

"Carubia gives a terrifying, devastating performance that is wise beyond his years, less the jumper cable, and more the spark that comes flying off of it. In character, he is so convincing you have to shake it out after the play."

Click here to read the full review.

I also revived an absurdist one-act play by Stephen Starosta called The Sausage Eaters which was performed in the Southern Connecticut State University student directed one-act play festival Jack of All Trades/Master of One-Acts. Mr. Starosta was kind enough to attend the performance (pictured to the right)

Click here for pictures of the full production.

There's some fun digital production projects I submitted for my graphics and design classes shared on my YouTube channel. Feel free to check them out.

The most recent project is a new podcast titled Bring Your Own Mic. The program is hosted and produced by me and features a new guest each week who gets the opportunity to share whatever subject they wish with the world. My longtime friend Louis Gaudio became my first guest as we took a bite out of the classic film Jurassic Park. You may listen to the first episode on my Reel & Media page.

Of course more to come...

Holiday Gifts

Happy Holidays! Here's a few gifts from the end of my semester.

First up is a video from a SOTVO (sound on tape with voice over) that I produced, wrote, directed, filmed, and edited. The video is about the on-campus planetarium at Southern Connecticut State University and was used during my final COM 359 Studio Production taping of an SCSU informational TV show called The Vault.

Next is my final project for my COM 360 Field Production course. I was tasked to create a three minute narrative film which included a two person dialogue and an action sequence with continuity. While it very much was a group effort, I had a hand in producing, writing, directing, filming, and edited. In the end, I created two versions. One uses royalty free music, lacks credits, and is edited for an exact 3:00 length to be submitted for a grade, and a director's cut; which better represents my creative vision. It pays homage to a few of my favorite films. See if you can find them!

Wrapping Up the Semester

Moving into the final weeks of the Fall 2018 semester, I wanted to share the success of my academic and artistic groups.

On Monday 12/3/18 my HON 300: Intro to Service Learning class will be hosting a lunch-and-learn to promote New Haven Housing Services and their rain garden program. The event will be held at 2:00 PM in the Southern Connecticut State University Michael J. Adanti Student Center Room 301A. My group created a how-to maintenance video about basic upkeep of a rain garden where I directed, edited, and performed the cinematography.

My COM 360: Field Production class recreated a scene from the short film Ctrl Z as a two person dialogue project. Below is an example of our classwork and my work as a director.

Finally the SCSU Crescent Players had an extremely successful run of the Pulitzer Prize winning Paula Vogel play How I Learned to Drive where I performed the role of Peck. Here is a link to a review of the show.
SCSU Students Learn To Drive—And Tackle Pedophilia
On my performance:
"So too a smooth-talking and particularly unctuous Carubia as Uncle Peck, fitting so well into what theater critic Ben Brantley once called “a pedophile even a mother could love.” There’s Uncle Peck, the Southern gentleman and endearing black sheep of the family, just trying to do right by himself and his kin. Or Peck the pedophile with a hidden darkroom, priming his niece for photoshoots in Playboy. Carubia gives a terrifying, devastating performance that is wise beyond his years, less the jumper cable, and more the spark that comes flying off of it. In character, he is so convincing you have to shake it out after the play."
Congratulations to my very talented cast and crew!

Behind the scenes of The Addams Family and what's coming down the pipe

I've been extremely busy this Fall semester! After a successful run of The Addams Family: A New Musical at Southern Connecticut State University, I dove headfirst into my next project of How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel directed by Kaia Monroe-Rarick where I will be playing the role of Peck. Here's a few links of some reviews of The Addams Family, a few teaser trailers I produced/edited, and a behind the scenes Mini-Documentary that I produced. You will also find a link to a directing study I performed of Chapter 2 by Neil Simon.

Please CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to How I Learned to Drive

Tuesday, November 27 @ 8:00 pm
Wednesday, November 28 @ 8:00 pm
Thursday, November 29 @ 8:00 pm (Special symposium to follow this performance)
Friday, November 30 @ 8:00 pmSaturday, December 1 @ 8:00 pm
Sunday, December  2  @ 2:00 pm
SCSU Theatre, in collaboration with Crescent Players, presents How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel, directed by Theatre Department Chair Kaia Monroe Rarick. This Pulitzer Prize winning play tells the story of a young girl, Lil’ Bit, and the relationship she has with her Uncle Peck that spans from her pre-adolescence into adulthood.
Tickets:$15 General Public,
$10 SCSU Faculty/Staff w/Valid ID, Active Alumni, Senior Cit. (Limit 2)
$5 SCSU Students (Limit 2)
Seating: General Admission
Performed in the Kendall Drama Lab at Lyman Center
Seating is limited - Advance Purchase recommended
*Contains mature, adult themes.*
Due to the topical nature of the play, there will be an interactive mural hung outside the entrance to the stage--a place where audience members can tell their own stories with Post-It notes and markers. In addition to the mural, Drive's student dramaturg, with support from Crescent Players, will host a symposium immediately after the Thursday, November 29th performance; faculty members specializing in childhood trauma, sexual abuse, and Paula Vogel's work, among other topics, plan to discuss the play, its themes, and where you can find support on campus.

At SCSU, A Tale Of Two Families 
Review: 'The Addams Family' by The Crescent Players at SCSU 

The Addams Family: A New Musical - Teaser Trailer #1

The Addams Family: A New Musical - Teaser Trailer #1
Southern Connecticut State University Crescent Players

Oct 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th @ 8pm
Oct 6th at 11:59pm./MIDNIGHT
Oct 7th @ 3pm 
Oct 13th@ 2pm
LYMAN MAIN STAGE

For tickets Click Here

Project #2 - Basic Interview

This is my second project; a basic interview. It is my first opportunity to work with a production team.

Project #1 - 12 Shots

 

This is my first of many student films. I made this. It is flawed, emotional, and personal. It is my art; this film is me. I don't expect to impress anyone or gain anyone's attention. If you get nothing from it, that's okay. I just felt like sharing how I've learned to express myself.

Come See Lysistrata at Southern Connecticut State University

LYSISTRATA

By Aristophanes
Directed by Raphael Massie

Lyman Main Stage
Performance Dates: 

Friday, February 23 @ 8 pm

Saturday, February 24 @ 2 & 8 pm 

Sunday, February 25  @ 2 pm

Thursday, March 1 @ 8 pm

Friday, March 2 @ 8 pm

Saturday, March 3 @ 8 pm

High School Performance: Thursday, March 1 @ 10 AM

Head to SCSU’s page for more information.

I’m assistant directing. Enjoy the show!

I'm Back Baby!

I suppose I should acknowledge the lack of attention I have given this blog. I have good reason.  Like many of you, I suffer from a busy life. This blog was intended to be a mouthpiece of my professional development and serve as running commentary to a growing portfolio. That hasn't changed; but my focus has.

After much deliberation, I have decided to return to academia to pursue a degree in both Communication and Theater. Since the Fall of 2016, I've been deep in the thick of it.  My professional hiatus (sabbatical?) unfortunately meant that I haven't done much acting or directing since 2016.

I've already achieved many educational goals. This December I will be graduating Summa Cum Laude from Gateway Community College in New Haven, CT with an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and Science.  I have received Dean's List honors all three of my semesters in attendance and I was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honors Society.

I am just beginning my odyssey in higher education.  I have been accepted to Southern Connecticut State University where I will be pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication with a focus on Television, Film, and Digital Production and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater. I anticipate graduating in 2020.

In the upcoming years I will be sharing my many student activities which I invite people to join me in exploration of the arts. Please follow along with me on my exciting journey.

Growing Up Ghostbuster

Here's a quick throwback Thursday article I did in February about the passing of Harold Ramis. It was posted to my other blog but it should be listed here.

http://food-you.blogspot.com/2014/02/growing-up-ghostbuster.html

Spoilers!

Figive the lack of Editig. I'm on location.

     I'm going to quickly touch on the most controversial subject right now in the entertainment world. It's not racism, sexism, drugs, violence or Ebola. I'm going to discuss spoilers. The fact that this blog post is being made while I'm on a closed set is even considered quite taboo. Spoiler alert! You've been warned.

     I'm sure you've all heard the stories of scripts being leaked, photos secretly taken, or off-the-record interviews pulling back the curtain for major entertainment events. For most people in the entertainment industry spoilers are everywhere. You can't swing a dead cat without walking into endings, locations, or the death of major characters. With millions of dollars riding on the success or failure of a film or TV series, you'd think that keeping everything under wraps and veiled in secrecy would be priority #1 for a production. The truth behind the glitz and glamour is that it's not. Confidentiality agreemets filled with legally binding contracts, closed sets, and scrips held with iron fists are nearly an afterthought. Like an evil super-villain you could easily destroy the world and lives of fans if you wanted to. Or could you?

     Nope. Why not? The reason is quite obvious. People don't like their entertainment spoiled. This information is actually unwanted so people will generally try to avoid it. How often have you applied earmuffs when your friends discuss last nights episode of your favorite TV show before you've seen it? There isn't a market for this information. No one can really profit off of it. So just like ol' big business, if there is a low demand then there is generally little supply.

     There is a real fear that if this information got out it could really ruin it for everyone. Interestingly enough this actually isn't the case. The protection of spoilers is actually counter productive to what drives the entertainment business. This is partly because the biz is driven by buzz and hype. If people see a spoiler and it creates any interest it actually does lip service to project. It's the bad news is good publicity concept. J.J. Abrams played upon this recently with the many twitter post surrounding the release of the latest Star Wars film. Anything about the film released anywhere could be considered a spoiler. He not-so-accidentally released teaser images, props, locations etc. creating his own spoilers. It was genius marketing and sent the internet in a frenzy wanting more. Rest assured, there will always be many more things about the project that will entertain us.

     Consider your favorite films or TV shows of all time. Do you still love them? Even though you know Darth Vader is Luke's father does it devalue it? Knowing Bruce Willis was dead all along does it really ruin the ending? Was the last episode of LOST what made you love the series through 6 seasons? We get much more joy and entertainment from the other parts, Spoilers will never cause a film, television show, or book, comic book, etc. to fail. I hope spoilers never stop us from loving them.

The Legacy Theatre

Before the advent of motion pictures, small professional theatre companies were once the sole provider of the performance arts along the Connecticut shoreline. Television, the internet and other new medias have nearly made live local performance all but history.  The Legacy Theatre in the historic Stony Creek area of Branford, CT plans to revive the cultural heritage gone but not forgotten. In March of 2013 the group emerged as a not-for-profit and purchased the Stony Creek Puppet House Theatre with the purpose of realizing this dream. They regularly hold benefit events, concerts, galas and performances in order to fund the renovations and updating to theatre.


For information on the theatre's current progress and upcoming benefit events please go to:
http://www.legacytheatrect.org
on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/LegacyTheatreCT
or Twitter:
http://twitter.com/legacytheatrect

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Welcome to the official website of actor, director, and writer Jason Carubia.  This website is currently in construction. For any questions, comments, and requests please feel free to contact the administrator at jason@jasoncarubia.com.