Andrew Elkins Day - Christine D’Souza Gelb ’02

Each year the Andrew Clayton Elkins Memorial Fund for the Creative Arts allows Newman to invite a performing artist to the school to share their creative work with our students through performance or creative workshops. This year, the School invited Newman alumna Christine D’Souza Gelb ’02 back to campus.

 

D’Souza Gelb oversees the day-to-day operations for 2AM, a Los Angeles- and New York-based production and management company that specializes in supporting work from auteur-driven filmmakers and talent. Founded in 2020 by D’Souza Gelb and two professional colleagues, 2AM was launched in strategic partnership with A24, the Oscar-winning studio behind such films as Everything, Everywhere All At Once and Moonlight, as well as the hit TV series Euphoria.

 

2AM was recently nominated for Best Picture at the 2024 Academy Awards for Celine Song’s Past Lives, which D’Souza Gelb also executive produced. The film won numerous other awards including Best Film at the Independent Spirit Awards and the Gotham Awards.

 

Prior to her venture with 2AM, D’Souza Gelb was a top agent in film financing and sales as a partner at Endeavor Content, where she served as a fixture in brokering some of the most exciting films of the past two decades. She is also a graduate of the University of Arizona.

 

Despite spending 14 years of her life on Newman’s campus, D’Souza Gelb began her remarks to Upper School students by noting how surreal it was to be back in Henson Auditorium. “I have been where you are. I have sat in this room wondering what the future holds, and I will tell you a little secret – I did not have it all figured out,” D’Souza Gelb said. “And it’s okay to not have everything figured out right now. In fact, I’m here to tell you that most of us do not. Life is not about having a perfect plan from the start. It’s about exploring new things and exploring the huge spark that is a part of you and finding where you can best utilize it. It doesn’t matter where you start. What matters is what you do with the opportunities in front of you.”

 

D’Souza Gelb, who now lives in Los Angeles with her husband David Gelb, and her two sons, Elliott and Luca, reflected fondly upon her time at Newman and gave several nods to her New Orleans upbringing in her remarks to students.

 

“Living in Los Angeles, I have learned how to be dogged about my tastes and about my convictions. Your taste and passion define you in a tough city like LA,” D’Souza Gelb said. “It takes a lot in you to leave a place like New Orleans. A place that feels like the deepest part of home. It is one of the rare cities that actually prepares you to embark out into the world; It’s a superpower. New Orleans has taught me to roll with the chaos and to enjoy the beauty all around you.”

 

“It is extremely important that you give yourself the chance to explore. So much of that has to do with connecting with people. Art is something that can challenge and bring people closer together in ways that we often do not expect. I encourage you to challenge yourself to go outside of your normal routine and to go after what you are seeking. Success will come if you put in the hard work,” D’Souza Gelb said.

 

“When Christine was a student here, I was her geometry teacher during her sophomore year. She was bright, motivated, and worked hard academically,” Head of School Dale M. Smith shared. “What I remember most is that she was modest, caring, and deeply kind. She had a strong circle of friends but was friendly to everyone. Like many high school students, she was still trying to find her way, to figure things out. Still searching for her voice and passion.”

 

As D’Souza Gelb was wrapping up her remarks, she noted that she would be remiss not to personally thank Head of School Dale M. Smith for pulling her aside while she was a student and ensuring she knew just how much she had going for her. “Mr. Smith helped me to find my voice.” D’Souza Gelb said, “You helped me to see who I was. And for all of you in the audience today, I encourage you to cherish your time in high school – it goes by so quickly.”

 

 D’Souza Gelb has two siblings who attended Newman – Lloyd ’97 and Vanessa ’99 and is now the proud aunt of two Newman Greenies, Aidan ’30 and Dylan ’32 DePetrillo.