Established in 1987 by Founder and President Paul T. Boghosian, VEI brought the latest satellite delivery technology to college campuses to communicate public policy issues. VEI provided a series of 2 hour live via satellite broadcasts to hundreds of colleges throughout the US as the programming arm of the College Satellite Network. Uplinks from PBS station WETA (Washington, DC) included programmi
ng dealing with the 1988 presidential election (featuring both republican and democratic candidates), campus s*x & drug use, medical advancements & technology breakthroughs. Broadcast on large 20-25 foot screens at the college gymnasiums and auditoriums using state of the art audio systems, these information oriented programs were followed by live concert performances via satellite by groups including the Grateful Dead and the Who from venues like London and Miami. In the mid-80s VEI began an exclusive broadcast relationship with the Oxford Union Society at Oxford University (UK) for a series of public policy debates on the paramount national security issues of the day. Two of these debates received numerous broadcasts on PBS in the United States and wide international distribution through D.L.Taffner (DLT). The first featured then Secretary of Defense, Kasper Wineburger versus E.P. Thompson, leader of Europe's Nuclear Freeze Movement on the motion that there was "no moral difference between the foreign policy United State and the Soviet Union." Widely acclaimed, that debate was followed by another that focused on the motion that "all nuclear weapons are morally indefensible." Jerry Fallwell opposing the motion against New Zealand’s prime minister David Lange. Turning to comedy in the late 80s, VEI produced a debate featuring iconic American comedians Steve Allan and Allan King defending America’s sense of humor against two prominent British wits, Jasper Carrot and John Wells on the motion that "Englishmen are funnier than Americans." This debate was also seen by millions throughout the world, distributed internationally by DLT. The company's feature film credits include Undercurrent (1998) starring Lorenzo Lamas. Distributed on premium cable in the U.S., the film received wide international distribution. In 2008 HarborSide branched into live theater. The initial foray was According to Tip, a one-man show chronicling the life and musings of the late House Speaker Thomas P, "Tip" O.Neill. The show, written by humorist ane Emmy award-winning television commentator Dick Flavin, won the award for "Best Play" from the Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) . The 2008 New Repertory Theater run starred Ken Howard, well known for television's The White Shadow and many other roles on stage and screen. Flavin himself also took on the role in a successful production in 2011. HarborSide Films followed Tip with Tonya & Nancy: A Rock Opera. Written by Elizabeth Searle with music by Michael Teoli, this high energy show brings lots of laughs mixed with surprisingly poignant moments that earned high marks from critics on two coasts. The show is presently being readied for a national tour so expect to see Tonya & Nancy at a theater near you soon!
HarborSide Films is a DBA of Video Events International (VEI) HarborSide Films is a DBA of Video Events International (VEI). This debate featured Rev.
