‘Lost’ with Carlton Cuse
Some people would be surprised by comparisons between the work of Charles Dickens and the time-bending, smoke monster-raging, castaway-warring, megahit TV series “Lost.” But Carlton Cuse ’81 doesn’t think it’s a stretch at all. For the show’s co-executive producer, the two share a fundamental ability to engage their audience with a key ingredient: a compelling story. In Dickens’ case it was through his weekly newspaper serials; Cuse used his weekly multimillion-dollar production. “With serialized storytelling you achieve a richness and depth,” said Cuse, adding “Storytelling, in whatever artistic form, is really the most powerful way we have of communicating our experiences with each other.” Cuse offered his perspective at a talk sponsored by Harvard’s Office for the Arts’ (OFA) Learning from Performers program on Friday (April 15) at the New College Theatre. His first foray into film came via the 1980 movie “Airplane!” When Hollywood executives arrived at Harvard to solicit feedback for the...