Harvard Dreamers Chase Allure of Showbiz

At a corner on South Street in downtown Boston, a faux eyebrow fluttered across the pavement. Three extras walked repeatedly in a circle, lumbering off the edge of the sidewalk as they turned.

The center of gravity was comedian Dane Cook, speaking fiercely into the camera with a former Victoria’s Secret model by his side. The 10 Harvard students standing across the street gawked at her otherworldly long legs, which gave off a plastic luster. She placed her lips near Cook’s stubbly neck. Unlike her legs, his face was clearly unshaven and unmoisturized.

Three yards away, Harvard students continued to stare, thinking of their own glittering futures.

The students are members of Harvardwood—a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that provides Harvard students, alumni, and faculty with information and resources about the arts and entertainment industry.

The visit to the set of “Bachelor No. 2,” a romantic comedy starring Dane Cook and Kate Hudson, was organized by Benjamin S. Forkner ’01 and Mia E. Riverton ’99, one of Harvardwood’s founders. Forkner works for Management 360, the company producing “Bachelor No. 2.”

Riverton said that she founded Harvardwood and helps to arrange events like yesterday’s visit in order to help students connect with entertainment professionals across the country.

Students interested in media and entertainment “are at a slight disadvantage at Harvard,” Riverton said, “because you don’t have the same set of connections.”

For Harrison R. Greenbaum ’08, one of the students at the set yesterday afternoon, the filming “reaffirmed my desire to be in the entertainment industry.”

Mariam Nazarian, a graduate student in the music department, “found it fascinating how much detail goes into one shot of film” and how “we pay only a couple of dollars to go see [the movie].”

When the shot ended, a makeup artist pounced on Cook’s forehead with a brush. Meanwhile, American Pie alum Jason Biggs leaned against the “One Way” sign and loosened his striped tie.

A Clint Eastwood look-alike in aviators parked Cook’s character’s silver convertible. Cameramen fiddled with wires, and producers gave the actors high-fives.