Arsenault '81, Devine '76, Prochnik '86 win Emmys; Arsenault to screen film

Three Brandeis alumni – Loretta Devine, M.F.A. ’76, Ethan Prochnik ’86, and Ray Arsenault, M.A.’74, Ph.D.’81 – were among the winners at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony on Sept. 10 in Los Angeles.

Devine, a veteran stage, film and television actress, won an Emmy for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for her guest role as Adele Webber in “Grey’s Anatomy.”



Prochnik was honored for his work as series producer for Discovery's “The Deadliest Catch,” which won four Emmys – outstanding reality program, outstanding cinematography for reality programming, outstanding picture editing for reality programming and outstanding sound mixing for nonfiction programming.

The PBS documentary “Freedom Riders,” which was based on a book by Arsenault, captured Emmys in three categories – exceptional merit in nonfiction filmmaking, writing for nonfiction programming and picture editing for nonfiction programming.

“Freedom Riders” tells the story of a group of civil rights activists who 50 years ago challenged segregation in the American South. The movie is based on Arsenault’s 2006 book, “Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice.”

Arsenault will visit campus on Oct. 24 to screen “Freedom Riders” and participate in a Q&A. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the Faculty Club’s main dining room. For more information, contact David Nathan (781-736-4103 or email).

The Emmys recognize outstanding work in TV, similar to the Academy Awards for film and the Grammy Awards for music. The Primetime Emmy Awards will be presented on Sept. 18.