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ARTS & CULTURE
KANSAN.COM
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University graduate pursues passion for acting after false start in engineering
▶ CAMERON MCGOUGH
@cammcgough
Those who pursue acting often take a similar route - they study acting in college or take acting lessons in conjunction with a move to Hollywood, but it isn't unheard of for entertainers to dabble in serious academics beforehand. For example, actress Mayim Bialik of "The Big Bang Theory" has a Ph.D. in neuroscience, and actor Ken Jeong of the "Hangover" films graduated from medical school.
Michael J. Claman, a 2013 graduate of the University's aerospace engineering program, has undergone a major career shift by making the move out to Los Angeles to pursue his passion for acting writing and directing. His recently released short film "Raiders In The Attic" highlights his work in all of these positions.
Claman's career shift didn't come from out of the blue, however — he caught the acting bug years ago, along with a natural aptitude for painting. He grew up in a household where creativity was highly encouraged. His father, John Claman, said he noticed his son had an inherent gift for the arts at a very young age.
"One day he was sick at home, and my wife went out and got him one of those Bob Ross painting sets. He literally watched the video and faithfully recreated a mountain scene in oil painting," John Claman said. "Then, once he got into high school, some of the art classes came around and it was clear that he really had a knack for it."
By the time Claman, a Salina native, began high school, his artistic endeavors extended to acting, and he became involved in the theater community. His junior year, he had a major role in "Noises Off," which was invited to perform at the state conference and later an international festival.
"That was probably the first time I seriously considered that acting might be something I'd like to shoot for professionally," Claman said
After graduation, he was set on attending the University to major in theater and film and media studies, but things changed when he switched his area of study to engineering.
"After my first semester, I started to have second
thoughts. I was worried that a creative major would be too risky," he said. "I hoped that a respectable job like an aerospace engineer would let me use my mathematical aptitude while providing funding for my creative interests."
Claman started his first engineering job the day after graduation. He was only at the job for three months before he left.
"For many people with my education, it might have been a perfect job, but for me, I suddenly saw myself sitting behind Microsoft Excel for the next 40 years," he said. "It was paying well, but I was really stressed out, and by the time I got home every day, I was too mentally fatigued to even think about breaking out my old oil paints, let alone auditioning for a local play or putting together an indie film."
Claman said he thought of attending graduate school at one point, having auditioned and been accepted at CalArts. Instead, he opted for a more cost-effective means to break into the entertainment industry. Before packing up his Mazda to make the long car ride across the country,
Claman formulated a plan for what he wanted in the next five to 10 years.
The basics of his plan are already completed, as he currently has a job as a waiter and a place to live in Pasadena, California. Now that he's settled in, Clamant intends on building upon his previous experience in acting by working in student films and taking acting and improvisation lessons at Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop.
Claman is a member of the Hollywood Hawks, an alumni network of University students working in the entertainment industry. After making more connections and gaining more experience, he said he wants to focus on auditioning for more high-profile roles.
"I'd love to be in 'Star Wars IX," he jokingly said. "Obviously that's not going to happen, but I do think that's the dream. [...] The realistic goal is if I could just make a living as an actor – if I could just act and do nothing else and still be able to pay my bills, that would be it."
Music's "emotional drama" drives orchestra director
- Edited by Madi Schulz
- MINSEON KIM
  @adropofsunny
When David Neely was 13, he watched the New York Philharmonic Orchestra performing on television.
David Neelv has felt an "instant connection" to orchestra and conducting since he was a teenager
He said he felt an instant connection with and passion for orchestral conducting. Later on, his middle school band director put him on the podium to lead the rehearsal, leaving him in charge for 20 minutes. From that point on, Neely said he knew he wanted to do that for the rest of his life.
coaching them.
Nely, the director of orchestral activities at the School of Music, will be conducting the Orchestraal Choir's performance Saturday night at the Lied Center.
Before coming to the University, Neely received degrees in piano and orchestral conducting at Indiana University. He also worked in Germany for 11 years in various cities such as Coburg, Stuttgart and Dortmund. Neely not only works with University students, he is also the music director at the Des Moines Metro Opera.
While teaching, Neely said he tries to give his students a feeling of investment by
“There is a certain amount of leadership involved and yet you want to invest," Neely said. "Your players aren't instruments, they are people."
During practices, Neely said he tries to infuse the background and history of music. Sometimes he talks in imagery, and asks students to share the images that come to their minds when they hear the music.
Puyin Bai, a Masters student majoring in clarinet, said Neely tries to capture the dramatic elements in music.
"It's almost like you are making up a stage for this music," Bai said. "That helps us as students to perceive the drama in music because essentially it is the emotional drama that the composer wanted to convey."
"He is really passionate about music," Bai said. "That's something that I really appreciate."
Bai had no experience in ensemble before he met Neely, but he said he has grown as a musician since he met Neely. Bai said he learned how to respond to the passion for music that Neely sends as he conducts.
Neely said he can feel the
Kelcie Matousek
connection with both the musicians and the audience. After performances are finished, he turns around towards the audience and is always humbled by the experience.
"I feel grateful that I was able to be part of what just happened."
While there have been many memorable performances throughout Neely's career, he said that connection is always present.
"It's respect and admiration for what the musicians who just played have done. It's really just that," Neely said.
"When you feel that your fellow performers and the audience members are really
there with you, living what the music has to say, that is the pinnacle," Neely said.
Neely said music is about connecting with other people. When he first hears a great piece of music,he becomes excited to perform it.
"For me, music is the art form that fills my life," he said.
Neeley and the Symphony Orchestra will perform alongside both the Wind and Jazz ensembles on Feb. 6 at the Lied Center. Tickets are available at the Lied Center's box office located at 1600 Stewart Dr. and online atliedku.edu.
- Edited by G.J. Melia
Rogers: The continued greatness of Vince Staples
▶ JARRET ROGERS
@ JarretRoaers
Long Beach rapper Vince Staples put out a critically-acclaimed album in the summer of 2015. Through social media, touring and popping up frequently on gq.com, Staples is still in the front of many minds.
On Friday, Australian producer Flume released a single from his upcoming LP "Skin," title "Smoke & Retribution," featuring Staples.
The song, which Staples seems to take on as his own, puts his flow,
lyricism and brutal honesty on full display. The MC spits "Nah, I ain't scared of six feet/Cause I ain't scared to be free/All I seen while on this earth/Know that hearse can't be too worse," showing that, more than anything else, he is true to himself. He doesn't leave what he believes to be true, no matter the gravity, out of songs.
Staples is more pure and honest than any artist going. He refuses to be anything but the Vince Staples he knows, all while having amazing quality control over what enters the world with his name on it.
Though the song isn't his, he's shown through
In a world where anticipation can stab fans in the back, it's nice to know where safety is. Kanye West, Chvrches, Beach House, Vampire Weekend, and Pusha T are a couple of artists that offer high levels of confidence for fans. It's safe to say Vince is entering into the fray and may soon be the safest of them all.
putting out an album with 20 songs that all stand on their own — a track with With You. and now this collaboration with Flume — that he doesn't hop on anything of poor quality.
The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence is searching for employees who are interested in making an impact on kids in our community!
Hours would include 3-6pm daily with some morning opportunities & NOWEEKENDS. $8.50/hr.
Please apply at: bgclk.org/career-opportunities
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