Danny Strong to receive Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square

salvetoday Posted On February 4, 2014
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Emmy-winning screenwriter, producer and actor Danny Strong will be honored April 11 when he receives the second annual Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square, an award recognizing a contemporary storyteller whose work has had a significant impact on the public dialogue.

Strong – whose screenwriting credits include “Recount,” “Game Change,” “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” and “Mockingjay,” the two-part “Hunger Games” finale – will also be the keynote speaker during the second Story in the Public Square conference, a partnership of Salve Regina’s Pell Center and The Providence Journal.

“I am delighted to be receiving the 2014 Pell Center Prize,” Strong said. “I think it’s wonderful that Story in the Public Square recognizes storytelling that explores public policy and social justice. It’s never easy getting this kind of material produced, so honoring it is a public service of its own as it will hopefully lead to more films and TV shows that examine the pressing social issues facing our country today.”

“Game Change,” the 2012 HBO production about the 2008 presidential election, won a Golden Globe, a primetime Emmy, a Writers Guild of America Award and a Producers Guild of America Award. The 2008 HBO film “Recount,” about the 2000 presidential election, won a primetime Emmy.

Strong is also an accomplished actor, having played roles in the TV series “Mad Men,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Seinfeld,” “Gilmore Girls” and, early in his career, the character Jonathan Levinson in the hit show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” He also acted as a producer on many of his projects.

“Moving Images” is the theme of the April 11 conference. The day will include screenings and discussions by four local storytellers from the worlds of TV, animation, feature-length documentary filmmaking and short documentary/video. The audience will also have the chance to make short films of their own. The day will conclude with an evening screening of “Game Change” at the Jane Pickens Theater.

Early registration for this year’s conference is recommended. Register through the link at www.publicstory.org. The $25 fee includes lunch and the evening screening.