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(03/10/11 11:59pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Since 2002, the “Little Theatre,” once abuzz with student performances, sat empty. But after a 15-month restoration project, which included hiring a new director, the IU Cinema is now home to 82,000 movie reels the University has in its archives.“I’m very excited,” said IU alumnus Drew Davdelin, who graduated in spring 2010. “It’s great for the city because there is no independent theater here. I traveled here speci?? cally from Franklin to see this.”The cinema, which is THX certified, has a 16 mm and a 35 mm projector. Located on the northeast side of the IU Auditorium, the cinema is also 3-D and reel-to-reel capable, IU Cinema Director Jon Vickers said.With state-of-the-art technology, enthusiasts of the new cinema hope it becomes one of the best cinemas in the country.“I am absolutely delighted,” IU President Michael McRobbie said. “This is a great moment in IU history. It’s a great facility, and now, like the MAC and the art museum, we have a place to see great pieces of cinematic art.”Under the guidance of former IU President Herman B Wells, the theater officially opened its doors on March 19, 1941, and was traditionally known as the “Little Theatre.”Originally used as a performance space, the building opened with an original variety show of music and comedy titled “Take the Day” and the world premiere of William Saroyan’s “Jim Dandy.” The facility included a proscenium stage, two prop rooms, a scenic design room, a Green Room, two chorus rooms, four dressing rooms and seven staff offices.Until the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center opened its doors, the “Little Theatre”was the primary theater in which IU students could act. In December 2001, the theater showed its final performance with the play “Waiting for Godot.”In 2002, the theater closed its doors. But now, the interior of the theater has been restored to its former glory. Four murals, created by Thomas Hart Benton for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair and also known as the “Indiana Murals,” have been fully restored.“I had seen when the murals were being restored at the IU Art Museum,” said Chris Meyer, art director for the Offices of Public Affairs.“I had also seen the building last summer when it was being restored, and the paintings were in boxes. It’s great to see them so opulent.” The cinema will show a variety of film series from international art house films to underground ?? lms. The cinema will also be used for academic purposes.“I’m extremely excited,” sophomore Seth Mutchler said. “I think it’s going to change the ways people will go to the movies and create a culture in film that has not been seen since the Nickelodeons.”About 40 percent of the films shown will be used in partnership with other academic departments for lectures and classes.“I’m delighted for the University and our colleagues,” McRobbie said. “This will ensure the excellence we’ve always had in film and will become one of the best cinemas in the country.”Originally published in the IDS on Jan. 14, 2011.
(03/09/11 11:41pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“Bambi” is a classic film that has been released and re-released many times in the past. However, with every new release, Disney always manages to surprise us, and this version is no different. Digitally remastered for Blu-ray, the new “Bambi” is interactive and gives a glimpse into the history of the making of the film. The film also includes a new feature, Disney’s Second Screen, which allows people to experience additional making-of content on an iPad or laptop as the film plays.The scenery of the film is breathtaking. With the clarity of Blu-ray, every scene and detail is its own piece of art, and it really gives the audience an appreciation for traditional 2-D films. Aside from the beauty of the actual film, the disc includes many interesting special features: deleted scenes, a deleted song and a recording with Walt and the creators of “Bambi” discussing the process. Although we may know what happens, “Bambi” still manages to steal our hearts. This film will always be a classic.
(03/09/11 11:29pm)
Flip books have gone from hand drawn to digital over time.
(03/04/11 5:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The screenplays have been written, the actors have been cast, and the films have been shot. Now all that’s left is the long wait. Four IU students from two different teams, Team New York and Team Chicago, have been selected to film a short movie in the Sprite Refreshing Films competition. Two of this year’s six teams featured students from IU. Team New York used brothers Tim and Paul Mattingly’s original screenplay. Team Chicago had students Greg Hunter as the staff producer and Ellen Crilly as a filmmaker and crew member. Thousands of students submit screenplays and internship applications, but only a chosen few are selected to participate. In total there are six teams: Team New York, Team Chicago, Team Dallas, Team Atlanta, Team Los Angeles and Team Miami. The entire film crew is comprised of college and high school students. The student filmmakers had seven days on set to recreate their original screenplays on film. The films last six to 12 minutes, and each city features a celebrity actor. “It was an amazing experience,” Paul Mattingly said. “I got to be a stand-in while we were filming in New York for one of the characters we wrote. I also got to talk to Chris Gorham, our celebrity actor from ‘Covert Affairs’ and ‘Ugly Betty.’ He was really great. It was really cool to follow people around on set. There was one moment myself and another person noticed some continuity errors and were able to fix them.”Paul Mattingly has experience writing other screenplays. Before he entered the competition last fall, Paul Mattingly was in a screenwriting class and also finished writing a full-length feature film. “I have a full-length sci-fi action script,” Paul Mattingly said. “Though I realize how hard it is to sell a script in Hollywood, I never thought I’d be able to say I wrote something that a celebrity starred in. Sprite Refreshing Films proved to me that anything is possible, so who knows?” This year, the competition’s theme was “Ingenuity takes the unexpected path and is rewarded for it.” For Paul and Tim Mattingly’s film, they took the theme quite literally. Team New York’s film is a comedic action film called “My Life the Video Game,” which is about a young man at an awards banquet who realizes his life has turned into a video game and he must win the game to win an award. The film for Team Chicago is called “Swift Justice,” and it focuses on a comic book illustrator who gets sucked into his comic. The love interest of the illustrator is in the comic book, and they must defeat his awful boss to make the world a better place. The chosen celebrity for Team Chicago was singer Alexis Jordan from “America’s Got Talent,” who will make her acting debut in the movie.“It was crazy. We were always busy,” Crilly said. “I was involved with some of the casting and got to audition a ton of people. I also got to do a little bit of camera work and helped pick some props. I did a little bit of everything.” Even with long working hours, Hunter said it was a great experience.“I think the thing I’ll never forget about is the shoot day,” Hunter said. “It was in the negatives, and we were outside shooting for at least six to seven hours, and no one was complaining. Not only were the actors supportive, but they were all very professional. Most were SAG (Screen Actors Guild) actors and had been in other more popular movies like ‘The Dark Knight.’” In the first round of the competition, Team Chicago and Team New York will square off head to head.“I’m sure it’s going to be a tough competition,” Hunter said. “A big part of this is marketing and promoting, getting on Facebook and really getting people to vote.” All films are in the editing process until March 31, after which they will be available online for all to watch. April 1 to May 30 is the audience voting period to choose the best, and the winners will be flown to a film festival in June, where their movie will be screened. “Being on set and seeing the script come to life is one of the best moments, but my favorite is yet to come,” Paul said. “Seeing the film online will be the most exciting thing. I’d like to make a call to action to IU to go to Sprite and vote for your favorite film from New York.”
(03/04/11 3:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The word “dummy” can evoke laughter, smiles and sarcasm, but for filmmakers and spouses Lindsay and Mark Goffman, “dummy” is a word of inspiration.When Lindsay, a 2002 graduate of the Kelley School of Business, was sitting in K201, filming a documentary was the furthest thing from her mind.After graduating, Lindsay moved to Los Angeles, where she went knocking on people’s doors and started working for various production companies. There she met her husband, who became a writer for NBC’s “The West Wing” and currently a writer and executive producer for USA Network’s “White Collar.”“There was a writers’ strike, and Lindsay and I wanted to do a project together,” Goffman said.The couple decided to make “Dumbstruck,” a documentary on the world of ventriloquism. The documentary was directed by Mark and produced by Lindsay. Lindsay said her mother inspired them to make a documentary on ventriloquism.“My mom is a second-grade teacher. Whenever her students would start to get rambunctious she would bring out a dummy and use it to calm them down,” Lindsay said. “She didn’t do a lot of hobbies, but my dad encouraged her to go to a ventriloquist convention.”Lindsay and Mark went with her mother to the convention, and Lindsay said they were fascinated by what they saw there. “There are 510 ventriloquists in one room talking to each other and their dummies,” Mark said. “We really wanted to know more about the world.”After speaking to the editor of the documentary “Wordplay,” the couple went on to do some fundraising and put a budget together to make their documentary.The Goffmans found five ventriloquists, or “vents,” that blew them away, Mark said. The Goffmans decided to follow them for their documentary.The vents are: 6-foot-5 Wilma Swartz; Dan Horn, who has been a guest on “The Late Show with David Letterman”; 13-year-old Dylan Burdette; former beauty queen Kim Yeager; and Terry Fator, winner of “America’s Got Talent.”“We love the community aspect and wanted to have information on how their family and friends reacted. That is where we got the best comedy,” Mark said.Many of the people who decide to pursue ventriloquism as a career don’t get the support of their friends and family, Mark said. The film shows the community of ventriloquists as they bond and help each other.The film focuses on personal challenges, like those of Yeager, who is trying to become a professional ventriloquist while her family struggles to understand and support her. Or 13-year-old Burdette, whose father wishes his son would play football rather than play with puppets.“The film started being about finding out more about this obscure art form of ventriloquism,” Mark said, “but instead what the film ended up being about is the American dream, to be who you want to be and be successful at it.”The film not only looks at people’s lives, but also the art of ventriloquism. Ventriloquists are comedians, Horn said. “A comedian uses the same devices as a ventriloquist; you need a good story and timing,” Horn said. “The only difference is that we have a prop.”A ventriloquist is a masked personality. A puppet can get away with things a regular person can’t, Horn said. “There is something indefinable about seeing a good ventriloquist with good technique,” Horn said. “Nothing can match the magic of watching that happen.”Thus far, the documentary has been well-received, Lindsay said. The film was voted “Best of Fest” at the 2010 Palm Springs International Film Festival. The film will be distributed by Magnolia Pictures and Truly Indie and is set for limited theatrical release March 26. “When we screen, the reception has been good. We have gotten standing ovations,” Lindsay said. “We wanted to make a film about these people. By the end, (viewers) are taken in by them and go through the journey with these people.”
(03/03/11 1:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>What is love? In the film “Hall Pass,” the filmmakers try to answer this question. Unfortunately, they fail to do so. The film was produced and directed by the Farrelly brothers, but it lacks the magic of other films of theirs, including “There’s Something About Mary.”The film centers on the marriage between Rick (Owen Wilson) and his wife Maggie (Jenna Fischer) and Fred (Jason Sudeikis) and his wife Grace (Christina Applegate). Both marriages have the men gawking at other women, missing the days when they were young and single. The wives give the men a “hall pass,” which is one week to do any act, free of consequences. For the most part, watching the men try to get women is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. What the film lacks in comedy it gains in sentimentality. It tries to address the issues of love, sex and marriage after many years of being together. However, the film is predictable, making it dull and not particularly enjoyable.
(03/02/11 4:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Just in time to prepare for the festivities of St. Patrick’s Day, Bloomington had a piece of Ireland at the IU Auditorium Tuesday night with the visit from the Celtic music group The Chieftains. The concert featured songs from the group’s new album “San Patricio.” On stage was a variety of performers, including new musicians and Chieftains’ founder Paddy Moloney.The Chieftains play traditional Irish and Celtic music. With a plethora of cultures that have influenced Irish music, the concert showcased how varied Irish culture is. Their latest album “San Patricio” was influenced by the history of the Mexican-American War, where many Irish immigrants deserted the American side to fight on the Mexican side of the war. “This is music that is from the core,” said Kevin Konetzka, pipe major for South Indiana Pipe and Drums. “It hits the core of most people’s background. Many here are Celtic. In one form or another Irish music is a part of our culture, especially in Indiana. A lot of country music is based in Celtic music.”During the opening act the familiar bluegrass and country sounds of the fiddle could be heard, as if reminding the audience of the historically Celtic roots of the fiddle. “This music transcends to all cultures and ages because it’s traditional music,” said Rex Bruce, president of the American Scotts. “It’s such a change from today’s music. A lot of people are opening their hearts to the sound, and for many it is a hereditary pride.” The night also featured traditional Irish dancing. The upbeat rhythms and rhythmic dancing had people clapping their hands and wanting to get out of their seats to dance.Along with the music and culture, the night was filled with community and laughter. Moloney welcomed the audience in Gaelic, which gave the audience permission to relax and enjoy the night. The community was also involved, as performers of the South Indiana Pipe and Drums performed during the second act, giving the auditorium a different kind of buzz. The people in the auditorium were filled with excitement and pride to see their family members on stage with The Chieftains. “We have members playing for the pipe group, that is why we are here tonight,” IU Purdue University Indianapolis student Rosanne Gordon said. “I’m really proud of them. Plus I think the ensemble music they have is fun for all ages.”The night united a community through music. Many of the people in the audience were cheering and tapping their feet, excited to see the dancers and hear the music. “Celtic music is fun and heartfelt,” University of Evansville student Maia Miller said. “It transcends generations.”
(02/28/11 4:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Kodo played its thunderous drums Friday at the IU Auditorium. The event was filled with people excited to hear the Eastern drums from Sado Island, Japan. Kodo performed with an Eastern-feeling synchronicity, solely using percussion. The performers used taiko drums of all shapes and sizes. “I think percussions are interesting to listen to because they don’t have any notes,” IU student Grace Cotton said. Before the performance, Kodo Tour Manager Jun Akimoto had a pre-show talk that was open to the public. He explained the roots of Kodo and the history and discipline it takes to be a taiko drummer and performer of Kodo. The word “kodo” means “heartbeat” or “children of the drum.” The performers of Kodo dedicate their lives to the purity and tradition of the taiko drum. According to Akimoto, in order for a person to perform for Kodo they must move away from their friends and family and move to the island of Sado.The performers spend a third of the year overseas, a third touring in Japan and a third resting and preparing new material on Sado Island.All this is done in an effort to introduce new people to an old tradition and to keep a traditional art form alive. The performers exhibited on stage the three concepts they use in their lives, which are “living, learning and creating.” “It sounds cool, and it’s cultural,” IU student Elizabeth Davis said. “It was established in religion, and they incorporate dancing. All of it is a part of a lifestyle.”Each song and performance was different and had its own pattern. Some of the performances had big explosive movements and patterns while others used more precise, intricate slow-motion movements, as if taken from a film. “It’s integrated with the right cultural flavor,” IU student Tyler Hammons said. “It breaks a lot of the norm at the IU Auditorium.”The performance showcased a variety of drums, but while performers were playing the smaller drums, the biggest drum stood on stage, taunting the audience. As the audience was introduced song after song to different taiko drums, the biggest taiko drum of all took center stage in the second act. When it was finally played, the resounding beat seemed to impact the audience as the show ended.
(02/25/11 1:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Chieftains will be appearing at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the IU Auditorium. Playing a mix of traditional Celtic and modern music, the band has become one of the best-known Irish bands in the world. Originally founded in 1962 by Paddy Moloney, the band’s roots are in traditional Celtic instrumental music. In the beginning the band only played the fiddle, flute, tin whistle and bodhran, which gave the music a rustic and traditional sound. Before becoming well-known around the world, the band’s early followers were folk audiences. Now in its 40th year, the band includes vocals and modern music. It has gained world recognition, garnering 18 Grammy nominations and six Grammy awards. “The Chieftains attract people who are interested in having a fun night,” said IU Auditorium Events Manager Maria Talbert.The Chieftains’ most recent tour is in support of their new album, “San Patricio,” which tells the story of the San Patricio Battalion, a group of Irish immigrants that deserted the U.S. army in 1846 to fight on the Mexican side in the Mexican-American war. The album is a blending of Irish, Mexican and folk styles of music. The Chieftains have strong roots in history and tradition. They were the first musical group to perform on the Great Wall of China. The band also participated in Pink Floyd’s 1990 live performance of the album “The Wall” in Berlin and was the first band to give a concert in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The Chieftains also performed at the memorial service honoring the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. “The Chieftains aspire to create a sense of community,” Talbert said. “Music and art bring people together in a way nothing else can.”The IU Auditorium also united with the Irish Lion to celebrate the upcoming event, giving audience members 10 percent off if they present their ticket stub before or after the performance Friday, Talbert said. “The Chieftains aspire to bridge gaps across all types of people and cultures,” Talbert said.— Isabel Dieppa
(02/24/11 3:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For any human, the beat of the heart signifies you are alive. For Kodo, the beat of the drum is a big part of life.Kodo will be bringing its rhythm and drums to the IU Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Friday. “It’s not only about the music, but the athleticism and physical artistry,” said IU Auditorium Events Coordinator Maria Talbert. “People will experience music from another land. It’s very exciting.”Kodo has had a long tradition with Bloomington, first appearing here in 1989 and later appearing in Bloomington during the 1990s and in 2007.Hailing from the Sado Island, Japan, the artists of Kodo believe in three things — living, learning and creating. This belief is a major part of life in Sado, tour manager Jun Akimoto said. “We live in communal lifestyles,” Akimoto said. “This is very useful and it works very well for practicing and performing onstage. This is key, that we spend so much time together, we know each other well. This is how we live.”The company has no leader or conductor, Akimoto said. Instead the company works in unison and knows how to play and complement each other together. The unison onstage is a reflection of their lives in Sado.The men and women of Kodo live together, work together and learn together. This form of communal living is bled into their work onstage. Akimoto said in order for people to become members of Kodo, they must first audition, interview and become an apprentice. Afterward they move away from their family and friends and are isolated on Sado Island for two years to learn about their craft and the people they play with. Only after three years of training and living in Sado can a person become a performer of Kodo.“This is going to be a cultural experience,” publicist for Kodo Brittany Lambertus said.The show is also a part of ArtsWeek, which has the theme of arts and education this year. Aside from the show, Kodo will have a preshow talk at 6:30 p.m. at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Bridgwaters Lounge. The event is open to the public.“Kodo is an old-fashioned group,” Akimoto said. “What people will get is pure vibrant sound, and the simple movement of performers and the simple beauty of human beings.”
(02/23/11 10:51pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Liam Neeson returns to Berlin in “Unknown,” this time as scientist Martin Harris instead of Oskar Schindler.The film is an action thriller that centers around Neeson’s character after he gets into an accident and tries to figure out why people are usurping his identity. The film uses some of the same tactics as other thrillers but has a very interesting twist that makes the film more enjoyable. Neeson gives an intriguing performance as the audience wonders whether he is who he says he is or if he’s crazy. Along with Neeson is Diane Kruger and a stellar cast of actors who help unravel the story of who the real Martin Harris is. “Unknown” is entertaining and has enough dialogue and great acting to complement the action. The film could have used some editing, especially during a 20-minute car chase that could have been much shorter. But the film did its job: to entertain and ignite curiosity in the viewer’s mind.
(02/23/11 5:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>At some point or another most young people wonder where babies come from and what is happening to their bodies. These questions were asked and answered the hard way at Tuesday’s performance of “Spring Awakening” at the IU auditorium. The musical was only here for one night and was performed for a nearly sold-out house. “Spring Awakening” is based on the play of the same title, which was written by German playwright Frank Wedekind between 1890 and 1891. The play was first performed in 1906 in Germany. After the first performance, the play was deemed too controversial, as it dealt with sex, abortion, homosexuality and suicide, and was often banned from theaters.These themes are still relevant today, IU Auditorium Events Manager Maria K. Talbert said.“That tension between what parents want to say to their children and how honest they are still exists today,” Talbert said. The original play had performances in New York in 1917 and the 1950s, but those performances were censored. In 2006 musician Duncan Sheik and lyricist Steven Sater united to write the music and lyrics to “Spring Awakening: A New Musical.”The musical won eight Tony awards in 2007, including best musical, best book and best score.The musical is structured differently than other musicals as it uses the music as inner monologues to tell the stories of the characters. “A big part of this musical is the music,” senior Chika Ike said. “We as young people can relate to this music and the story. Although I love Sondheim, this is the music of our generation, and we relate because we went through similar things.”The setting of the musicians is non-traditional. All musicians are on set and are a part of the loud world in the characters’ heads. The set is also different. The setting has a variety of neon lights, along with bright, hanging light bulbs that illuminate the stage. There is also a giant brick wall with symbols of spring and flowers symbolizing the innocence and ignorance of virginity. On the set are two different rows of chairs with students sitting on both sides of the stage. The costumes brought the modern day and the original 19th century play together as the main characters wore period pieces, while the watching students wore modern clothing. As the auditorium lights dimmed, the bright neon lights lit the simple stage. The music broke the silence through the auditorium, as the audience was brought back to a time in their lives where everything was confusing and dark. “What happens in this show still goes on today,” senior Caty Natt said. “Knowing and talking about sex still isn’t done as often as it should be today.”
(02/21/11 2:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Auditorium was filled with buzz and anticipation Saturday as guests awaited speaker Hill Harper, the keynote speaker for Black History Month at IU, presented by the Union Board. “He does motivational speeches to bring awareness to the black community,” sophomore Daisha Thomas said. “It’s really great to see when a person of such a high status comes to talk to young people.”Harper attended Harvard Law School, where he befriended President Barack Obama. Along with being a well-known actor on CSI: NY, Harper has published three books, including “Letters to a Young Brother” and “Letters to a Young Sister,” which were both popular books amongst the crowd.“He is very motivational, especially in his book ‘Letters to a Young Sister,’” visiting student ShaDé Watson said. “In the book it talks about your self-worth and is very influential for women.”His fourth and most recent book, “The Conversation,” is geared toward black couples. Harper addressed the audience with his reason for writing the book.“I wanted to know why so many African-American men and women were marrying outside of the African-American community,” Harper said to the audience. Along with talking about relationships, Harper aimed to motivate audience members to gain confidence in their dreams. Harper quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he said, “We are all tied together in a garment of mutual destiny.” From that quote Harper explained to the audience why he cared so much about their success.“I should care as much about what you are doing as someone who is a member of my family,” Harper said.Harper went on to break down the word “fear” as false evidence appearing real, and he explained to the audience members how to become architects of their lives. Harper interacted with audience members, asking questions about the process of building a building, but many of the audience members were shy to answer. Some in the audience were uncomfortable with the way Harper treated other audience members. Remarks could be heard when Harper scolded an audience member for not knowing an answer and then told her she was brilliant and should have confidence in herself.Harper also had a question-and-answer session with the audience where he spoke about his acting roles and the process of choosing roles. “I’m into the message of the project,” Harper said. “I like to do projects that have a positive and true message.”At the end of the speech Harper encouraged audience members to live their lives courageously and from the heart.“I hope that the audience left with the knowledge of how magnificent they were and are encouraged to dream bigger and live better lives,” Harper said.
(02/18/11 4:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jip Jop is fine-tuning its hip-hop while The Main Squeeze is preparing to bring the funk. Both bands will be headliners from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. at Saturday’s concert at The Bluebird Nightclub.“It’s the first time ever on the Bluebird stage there will be two bands headlining,” said Main Squeeze keyboardist Ben “Smiley” Silverstein. Both bands are originally from Bloomington and both have roots in IU.Jip Jop takes its name from hip-hop and jazz, said Jip Jop vocalist Ben “Benny Nice” Gershman. “Jip Jop is a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, with influences of classical reggae and early Motown,” Gershman said.Jip Jop first started making music in 2006 when four musicians at IU’s Jacobs School of Music converged with rapper and jazz enthusiast Gershman. After the addition of bassist Bobby Wooten III in the fall of 2007, Jip Jop began its movement by performing in fraternity houses, basements and backyards, spreading the word and building a dedicated fan base.“Jip Jop is a different thing from what I was playing at the music school,” trumpeter Ryan Imboden said. “When I play with Jip Jop we have our music morphed. It’s a party instead of a concert. People are going to have fun with their friends and dance.”Saturday’s show will mark Jip Jop’s first professional concert. “We’ve played at Jake’s before, but this is our first real show,” Gershman said. “It’s almost like a genesis of the last few years.”The concert will be different from other concerts at the Bluebird, since both bands will take turns sharing the stage. “We will be collaborating a few times with The Main Squeeze, but we won’t both be on stage at the same time,” Imboden said. “There’s going to be a lot of surprises.”Although The Main Squeeze is influenced by some of the same musical genres as Jip Jop, the band creates a different type of music. While Jip Jop is mostly influence by jazz and hip-hop, The Main Squeeze is influenced by funk, soul and jazz, Silverstein said. Like Jip Jop, many of the members of The Main Squeeze are from the Jacobs School of Music. Silverstein said 80 percent of The Main Squeeze’s music is original and 20 percent is covers. The band’s covers range from soul tracks by Stevie Wonder to more danceable songs by Michael Jackson.Saturday will be The Main Squeeze’s debut of its first album. “This is the first time we have original music for sale,” Silverstein said. “The EP has seven tracks and is called ‘First Drop.’ We are really psyched about it.”People will also be able to download some songs after the concert Saturday, Silverstein said.“It’s going to be a hell of a party,” Silverstein said. “There will be nonstop music. It’s going to be a night to remember.”
(02/17/11 3:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Peoples Park has a variety of murals on the wall, but what many might not know is the artists behind the murals are less than the age of 18.At 3 p.m. Friday, Rhino’s Youth Center will unveil its new murals at Peoples Park.The artists who participate in the murals are a part of Rhino’s after school program for students of all ages.“Rhino’s provides a really awesome resource, alternative to what is offered from their high schools,” Mural program director Liv Mershon said. “We try to make it fun and help produce awesome pieces of art that students feel good about.”Originally started in 1992, Rhino’s was known as the Harmony Education Center and started as a music club.Later the organization grew into an after school program and youth outreach. This enabled Rhino’s to become a member of the Monroe County United Way.“We have a lot of programs at Rhino’s,” said Mershon. “We do youth journalism, youth radio, youth video and youth mural projects.”Rhino’s also produces concerts nearly every weekend. Teens learn how to book bands, promote shows and operate a small performance venue.“Before I started coming here, I wasn’t involved in any art,” said Jackson Maier, mural painter and ninth grade club member. “Participating has made me want to pursue art.”Marshon said Friday’s event is a celebration and thank you to ArtsWeek.“The event is made to draw attention to the workspace and give more opportunities to the youth,” Mershon said.With a waitlist in past years, the mural paintings have gained a lot of popularity.“Before now there has only been one spot for the murals to go up,” Mershon said. “That is why there was a waiting list. We at Rhino’s don’t emphasize competition.”Aside from the many youth program participants, Rhino’s highly encourages and seeks volunteers to work with the students, Mershon said.“If people have special skills such as book binding or playing an instrument and would like to teach a workshop, that would be awesome,” Mershon said.With it’s many projects Rhino’s has become well known in the Bloomington area and around the nation. Rhino’s has had interviews with Spin magazine and participants on MTV’s “Made”.“I think it’s important because there are lots of great programs here,” said Maier. “They do things regular high schools don’t do.”
(02/17/11 2:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Love, or something like it, is explored in the film, “Tamara Drewe,” based on Posy Simmonds’s graphic novel. The film focuses on a small English town where people have nothing to do and the return of the infamous title character who shakes things up with her new sex appeal and surgically altered nose. Gemma Arterton plays a complex Tamara Drewe, a girl who grew up to be a beautiful swan but is still dealing with ugly duckling syndrome. Arterton is flanked by a stellar supporting cast.Tamsin Greig is heartbreaking and loving as the wife who is continuously cheated on by her husband, and Jessica Barden is great comic relief as the starstruck town teenager who is always in trouble. The film is smart, witty and mostly true to the graphic novel. It is well-acted and well-written, and it puts an interesting twist on the standard romantic comedy.
(02/14/11 1:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A little bit of magic came to Bloomington, when Charlyne Yi performed at the Comedy Attic. The show opened Thursday and ran through Saturday. Instead of common stand up, Yi sang songs, told some “knock, knock” jokes and did a little bit of magic. “I don’t know how to tell jokes. I tell stories,” Yi said.Yi’s show featured a type of comedy that is mostly accepted by the non-traditionalists. “Some people will not book me, because they don’t think what I do is funny,” Yi said.Shows have changed in the past few years, Yi said, to become more segregated. A person goes to a comedy club to see comedy, a magic club to see magic and a concert to hear music.“Steve Martin did song and dance. I think it’s always been there,” Yi said. “It’s usually magic, comedy and music.”With deadpan jokes and songs, Yi was set to bring back the old while ushering in a new type of comedy.“A lot of times with traditional comedy, it can feel false or staged, but with Charlyne it’s always new and fresh,” comedian Josh Arnold said.Yi improvised skits with audience members. One volunteer was a woman who Yi pretended was her mother and wrote her a song about not being there. During another skit, she sat, waiting for a person to ask her to dance. “I don’t know what funny is,” Yi said. “A lot of my songs are sad like the ‘mom song.’ But as a drama teacher once told me, there is a fine line between comedy and drama.”By involving audience members, Yi gained the trust of the audience and blurred the lines of what is staged and reality, she said during her show.“Charlyne is the most awkward cute girl I’ve ever seen in my life,” audience member Katy Rickelman said.At the end of the show, Yi urged audience members to stop thinking so much and to exercise caution when trusting the voices in our heads. She also said she wanted the audience to take a little bit of magic with them.“I like the idea of making people happy,” Yi said, “I like to make people happy or laugh — it’s an amazing job.”
(02/10/11 12:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>What would you do for your brother or sister? The movie “Conviction,” starring Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell, poses this question. The movie is based on the true story of Kenny Waters, who was falsely accused and incarcerated for murder, and his younger sister Betty Anne Waters, who went from being a high school dropout to becoming an attorney to prove her brother’s innocence. Although it has a stellar cast, the film is very long, slow and at times painful to watch. The Massachusetts dialect Swank uses feels forced at times. Swank’s performance is only saved by the sincere love Betty Anne has for her brother. Rockwell, on the other hand, plays a very honest Kenny and at times makes the viewer doubt whether or not he is innocent. The shining stars of the film are its supporting cast. Minnie Driver as Betty Anne’s no-nonsense friend gives an honest performance and some much-needed comedy. Overall the film is watchable, but it ultimately feels dry and long and has no real punch.
(02/09/11 6:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Actress, comedian, writer and musician Charlyne Yi will bring her quirky comedy show to the Comedy Attic from Thursday through Saturday. She will have two showings each night at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.Yi has been seen in movies such as “Knocked up,” “Cloverfield” and “Semi-Pro.” Yi also wrote and starred in the film “Paper Heart” alongside actor Michael Cera. The film won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Through her films and stand-up, Yi is known for her idiosyncratic humor, and she performs stand-up magic, music and games as well as jokes at her shows.“It’s refreshing to bring a different point of view of comedy,” Comedy Attic owner Jared Thompson said.Aside from film and comedy, Yi is also active on the web. From her YouTube videos with SNL actor Fred Armisen to her many comedic music videos where she sings and dances, Yi has gained popularity among other comedians. The off-the-wall humor Yi brings to online audiences is also brought to her shows.“From what I understand talking to her and her agent, I don’t think she even knows what she’s doing on the night of the show. It’s kind of a surprise,” Thompson said.It’s this sense of surprise that makes Yi different. With fewer female comedians than male comedians in the comedy world, Thompson said the obstacles women face in other industries transcend to the comedy industry.“Part of the issue for comedy clubs is just like in any other walk of life. There is an inherent sexist look in the community,” Thompson said.Thompson also notes that when a woman proves herself on the road like any other comedian, she really has an advantage.“I’m not quite sure if Yi has ever headlined a show, but I’m sure she will do a good job,” Thompson said.Yi’s youth and different approach to comedy is what attracts people to her, which Thompson said attributes to her following.“I look at this week as an opportunity for people to see another side of comedy,” Thompson said.
(02/09/11 6:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s all about family in the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” The musical, which focuses on tradition and family, opened at the IU Auditorium Tuesday with one more performance today.“It’s a classic,” sophomore Benjamin Newton said. “The themes of family, brotherhood and traditions apply to everyone.”“Fiddler” originally opened in 1964 and is one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. The show also had a film adaptation in 1971, which made the musical accessible for everyone.“As I walked through the crowd I noticed there were people who had seen the musical many times, and some that have never seen the musical before,” said Maria Talbert, IU Auditorium events manager.With popular songs such as “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Tradition” and “Matchmaker,” many people who had never seen the musical already knew the music from pop culture.The songs all deal with different aspects of life, family and love, which are the main themes of the musical.“I think there are so many endearing scenes in ‘Fiddler,’” said actress Lauren Nedelman, who plays the daughter Tzeitel. “Especially with the three different daughters.”The set of the play was very transformable, making room for big dance numbers with the entire cast possible. The play opens with the fiddler gently drawing a bow over his fiddle, allowing the audience to travel to a different time. All the while Tevye, the father, explains how their traditions are embedded in their lives. Because of tradition, everybody has a job and a place, from the butcher to the matchmaker.Tevye also explains how he doesn’t know where his traditions started, but they follow them because it’s tradition. The blind following of tradition and desire to change is what drives Tevye’s three older daughters.“This show will always be relevant to our society because it’s about change and dealing with change,” Nedelman said.This constant change is what has made the play so popular over the years, Talbert said. Talbert said the musical is specifically geared toward the Jewish community, as the musical takes place in 1901 Czar-ruled Russia, but she said it’s relevant to all cultures. As the music was playing, some were singing the tunes with the show, while others were introduced to a cultural and musical classic. “It’s so fun to see the people you know reflected in an art form,” Talbert said. “It gives you great appreciation for who you are and where you’re from.”