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Emerson professor releases debut feature ‘Come On In’

Emerson professor Daniel Callahan. / Beacon Archives

Abigail Lee

Beacon Staff

Emerson Business of Creative Enterprises professor Daniel Callahan’s debut feature film, Come On In, was released Feb. 8.

Come On In is a psychological thriller that delves into the inner workings of the mind. Callahan, who wrote, directed, and acted in the film, conceived the project while completing a masters’ degree in film and media art at Emerson from 2014 to 2017.

“The [Visual and Media Arts Department] doesn’t typically do feature films in the MFA program—but it was amazing,” Callahan said. “I had a lot of my classmates pitch in to help me complete it.”

The film centers on a 29-year-old artist named Leinad who feels stuck and directionless in his life. When Leinad makes an accidental phone call, an unknown voice answers and commences the film’s dive into a journey “between fantasy and reality.”

Following its completion, Come On In entered the festival circuit, screening at several during the pandemic, and eventually got picked up for distribution at the Richmond International Film Festival, the only in-person event the film was screened at.

“It was really sort of auspicious, a blessing that we were able to go to this festival in person and I was able to meet with a representative of a distributor,” said Callahan.

Callahan took inspiration from films like Michael Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Ron Howard’s A Beautiful Mind, which both explore the psyche. With this project, Callahan wanted to experiment with how perception can determine one’s reality—a compelling challenge for the medium of film.

“We can’t really picture what’s in our head, but we can at the same time, right?” Callahan said. “It’s clearly visual, and yet at the same time, it’s completely intangible.”

However, Come On In is more inclusive than its inspirations—which Callahan noted often lack people of color in lead parts.

“Very few of those films ever had a black lead—or even a person of color, period—as a lead,” he said. “There are nuances to everyone’s identity, and if we don’t see those, then we won’t know them.”

The film builds upon the idea of identity informed by reality by incorporating a practice Callahan calls ‘MassQing,’ or painting one’s face as a process of self-discovery. This technique is a signature of his, utilized in his portrait series and in museum features. The merging of painting and film in Come On In is familiar to Callahan whose work spans multiple disciplines.

Originally from Philadelphia and raised in Greater Boston, Callahan studied at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design. After graduating, he moved to California to pursue music for five years.

“It was through shooting a music video that I got intrigued by what was happening on the other side of the camera,” Callahan said.

Callahan said his experience acting in plays primed him for this starring role, even as he faced uncertainty on the shoot.

“I did the whole method thing,” he joked. “I mean, the character spends most of the time not knowing what’s going on being confused and being overwhelmed and at his wit’s end. That’s pretty much how I felt.”

Callahan’s foundation in music also informs his filmmaking. He produced electronic music for the film to complement the classical instrumentation composed by partner Castle of Our Skins.

While he is taking this semester off, Callahan is keeping busy with multiple creative projects, including a documentary about the pandemic’s impact on communities of color in Boston. After nearly five years working on Come On In, he is moving on.

“[The film] was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but also one of the most rewarding,” Callahan said.

abigail_lee@emerson.edu

‘This is a special place’: Dean reflects on time at Emerson

Cont. from Pg. 1

we all worked in the business.” According to Ruth Grossman, chair of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, Reis worked to facilitate cooperation between the school’s different departments. “It’s been a consistently communicative relationship,” Grossman said. “He’s been very supportive of new programming, new hires and new initiatives that we’ve started in the department.” Reis recalled the sense of excitement and awe he felt upon first arriving at Emerson in 2016. He moved to Boston from Miami in the summertime, before classes started. “When I came to visit, I talked to the faculty and I talked to the students, and I said, ‘This is a special place,’” Reis said. “‘This is a place that I would love to be a part of.’ I try to remember that, so that even though I’ve been here for almost six years, I try to bring that sense of excitement every day.” A third of Reis’ six-year tenure was clouded by the pandemic, but Reis said he focused on making sure students felt a sense of normalcy in the midst of such trying times. “You can’t really talk about my Emerson reported three COVID-19 tests on Wednesday of the 930 tests administered, bringing the daily positivity rate to 0.32 percent. The college also reported 10 community members in on-campus isolation. Zero were reported to be in on-campus quarantine. Those in quarantine may have been exposed to COVID-19 but aren’t experiencing symptoms. Those in isolation are symptomatic, have produced a positive test, or are “reasonably known to be infected,” according to the college. Off-campus students are not counted in the quarantine and isolation numbers. For the week of spring break, March 7 to March 13, Emerson reported three COVID-19 cases of the 648 tests administered, setting the weekly positivity rate at 0.49 percent. In regards to the returning positives and those accumulated during the break, Assistant Vice President of Campus Life and “COVID” Lead, Erik Muurisepp, spoke calmly stating that the college was expecting them. “We know some folks while they were home, tested positive, and we were aware of that,” Assistant Vice President of Campus Life and “COVID” Lead Erik Muurisepp said. “I would say, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that we were not expecting, if anything, less than what we were expecting.” However, if the college were to experience a sudden uptick in cases—like the one experienced during the week leading up to and weeks during winter break— Muurisepp and other college officials believe the college would only make minor policy readjustments to accommodate the increase. “Our wish and desire is never to go into lockdown mode or into [a stay-in-room order],” Muurisepp said. “Just because we’re following other city and state guidance for masking doesn’t mean [the mask policy] is gone,” he said. “That shift comes down to us as individuals to make sure that our community as a whole remains safe. I still have no worries about our shift to mask optional next week.” In regards to the college’s current position, Muurisepp said he is “confident and comfortable” in moving into the direction of living with the virus. As of Jan. 3, Emerson has reported 588 positive cases and administered 42,325 tests. The cumulative positivity rate sits at

last six years on this job without talking about the last two years that have been so different,” Reis said. “I think that’s an accomplishment—making sure that we keep our doors open, receiving the students and making sure they have a good experience.” Looking forward, Kolodzy said that there will probably be an interim dean in the meantime in order to keep the school moving forward and to avoid stagnation. Most likely, the replacement will be someone who currently works in the school of communication, she said. “I would be somewhat surprised if it’s not someone who’s been well-versed and has been around at Emerson for some time,” Kolodzy said. “We have a lot of people who have been chairs and who understand the demands of the curriculum and of administration in terms of managing finances and programs and working with enrollment.” College spokesperson Michelle Gaseau wrote in an email statement that in the coming weeks, the college will name an internal interim dean who will help “continue the SOC’s and college’s positive trajectory.” Moving to North Carolina, Reis reflected on the fact that he will endure milder winters than he did

“It’s one of those situations where it’s kind of bittersweet.” -Raul Reis

during his time in Boston. “I’m not going to miss the Boston winters,” Reis said. “Not only because of the cold but the fact that people kind of disappear— everybody goes indoors and you don’t see people when it gets cold and the days are short. I think I belong in warmer weather.” “I have teased the dean,” Kolodzy said. “[Reis] had the puffiest puffy coats I could possibly imagine. The man grew up in Brazil, he spent most of his time in warmer climates—California, Florida. I’m going to think that he will enjoy missing New England winters.” Beacon Archives

COVID-19 cases continue to climb on campus, semestertotal at 588 positives

Adri Pray

Beacon Staff 1.39 percent. Students are expected to continue to test once weekly, per updated COVID-19 guidance put in place Feb. 7. The state’s upwards tick of COVID-19 cases continued on Wednesday as Massachusetts reported 725 cases for Tuesday, with a daily positivity rate of 1.53 percent. The death toll rose to 14. The state updated the guidelines to qualify a COVID-related death Monday. The state now counts a COVID-related death if someone has died within 30 days of contracting the virus. The new definition decreases the death toll by 3,770 and includes 355 deaths and probable deaths not previously recorded. All newly reported deaths occurred prior to April 2021. Hospitalizations went up as reported on Wednesday as the state reported 229, with 138 of these hospitalizations occurring in those who are fully vaccinated. The state of Massachusetts also tracks two kinds of COVID-19 positivity rates—one including higher education testing and one without. The seven-day positive rate without higher education sits at 2.13 percent as of March 9. Including higher education, the rate sits at 1.53 percent as of March 15. Massachusetts reported 4,889 new vaccinations—including boosters—from Tuesday to Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to 14,030,213 doses. Wednesday’s daily vaccination update reported that 5,308,436 Mass. residents—according to Mass. Department of Health data, approximately 77 percent of the state’s population—are fully vaccinated, meaning that they have received both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Starting Mar. 21, Emerson will drop the indoor mask mandate following an update to COVID-19 protocol. Students will not have to wear a mask indoors in any college facility except for classrooms, the Center for Health and Wellness, and Emerson’s Counseling and Psychological Services offices. Mayor Wu lifted the proofof-vaccine requirement for all Boston residents citing the drop to previously established thresholds Feb. 18. Mayor Wu also dropped the masking requirement on Mar. 5 in close consultation with Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission Dr. Bisola Ojikutu.