Volume 124 Issue 84
kansan.com
Friday, January 27, 2012
the student voice since 1904
Tapas on Mass seeks to offer unique flavor on busy street
PAGE 3
ENTERTAINMENT
Q&A
Actor and model Thomas Baker
//author
You might not recognize actor and model Thomas Baker's face yet, but you will soon. His credits range from starring as the abs on Abercrombie & Fitch shopping bags to guest spots on Showtime's critically acclaimed series "The Big C" and CBS's Emmy winning drama "The Good Wife," as well as appearing in commercials with Erin Andrews and Taylor Swift. Most recently, Baker tested his acting chops by serving as the only guy (and playing 17 different parts) in the off-Broadway play "A Piece of My Heart." And later this year, you can see him on the big screen in "Men in Black 3D."
How did you get into acting?
I got into acting because a talent manager saw my Abercrombie shoots and asked if
I would be interested in acting and taking classes for free in his studio in New York. I said yes. He flew me to New York City, and I took his acting classes and I fell in love with it. Funny thing is, I think I always had the acting bug in me. I did two plays in school, Death of a Salesmen and Romeo and Juliet, and loved it then. I knew I wanted to be an actor right when I got back from visiting New York for the first time.
How was moving to New York?
The experience has been like a roller coaster. It starts out really slow, and you just get your feet wet. The pure shock of flying into the New York City skyline is enough to scare anyone. But then it starts to speed up a little after you have gotten
your name and face out there with casting directors and agents. And there are a lot of ups and downs. And I definitely haven't finished my ride yet. But I am sure, as like with any roller coaster, it will end with a lot of exhilaration and excitement.
What has been your favorite role so far? My favorite was probably "The Big C." I got to work with Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon. Plus, I got the full actors' union experience, with awesome meals and great pay.
If you could have any actor's career, whose would it be?
There isn't really anyone's career I would want to emulate, just because I want to make my career my own. But if there is an alternate universe somewhere where I could hop into the career of another, it would probably be Daniel Day Lewis. He breathes in his characters' worlds. He doesn't just act, he lives the character to an extent of alternate reality.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Any advice for young aspiring actors? Just to stay positive, no matter what. Always be yourself. Don't lose your innocence. Listen to others. Always use your imagination.
DE. ING
face.
"I wasn't meeting people," she said. "I was kind of going through people withdrawals."
Determined to overcome her situation she turned to the Internet. Jankord began to scour through blogs and websites in search of a solution to her problem. Her search first brought her to the 365 Project, an initiative in which participants take one photograph each day for an entire year.
"A lot of people I knew were doing the 365 Project so I decided to do something more original," she said.
Relentlessly, she continued to search until finally she came across something that was new to her and grabbed her attention.
Unlike the 365 Project, 100 Strangers is a project that requires socialization. The first objective of
The second half of the project is taking the photo (with permission) of the strangers who shared their story. While meeting new people and collecting the stories of strangers was appealing to Jankord, it was the second half of the project that intrigued her most of all.
class," Jankord said. "An elderly couple that I met by Potter Lake told me their life story."
She had hoped to be admitted to the School of the Arts to study photography, but was declined.100 Strangers became an opportunity for her to pursue her love of art as well as to build confidence and overcome the difficulties of meeting new people.
"This project stood out to me because I wanted to do something that involved photography," Jankord said.
Setting out and onto campus
"I think what she's doing is pretty courageous, daring." Teron Gaumer said after sharing a story with Jankord and becoming one of her strangers.
Often times it is this fear of rejection that stunts our bravery and keeps us from meeting new people. Overcoming her nerves, Jankord has continued to collect strangers and has now documented the photographs and stories of nearly twenty strangers.
"It was when I got my first rejection that I first got nervous," she said.
She remembers not being very nervous in the beginning.
"It really helped me get out there and meet people," she said.
Jankord is not the only student on campus participating in the project.
Index
CLASSIFIEDS 7
CROSSWORD 4
Collin Baffa, a senior from
"In day to day life you walk past so many people and you just have a brief encounter, you don't even notice them," he said. "Now I'm stopping people and getting to know them and it's interesting because they're often a lot more friendly than you would think."
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
Baffa, much like Jankord, began the project as a way to grow as a photographer and to break out of social timidity.
According to the 100 Strangers page on Flickr, there are currently more than 7,000 participants.
TYLER BIERWIRTH/KANSAN
For more information about 100 Strangers, including portfolios of the project's participants, you can visit www.100strangers.com and www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers
from them."
Kody Collins, a sophomore from Overland Park, enjoys a non-alcoholic White Russian while dressed in character as "The Dude" during The Big Lebowski night at Jaybowl on Thursday. Students enjoyed free popcorn and bowling while watching the movie
- Edited by Anna Allen
SPORTS 8
SUDOKU 4
all contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
They've got shoes,but if you've got your own,bring 'em.Cosmic bowling at 10 p.m. at the Jaybowl in the Union.
Forecasts done by University students. For a more detailed forecast.
see page 2A. Break out those wellies!