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ARTS & CULTURE
KANSAN.COM | THURSDAY. DEC. 10. 2015
HOROSCOPES »
WHAT'S YOUR SIGN?
Arles (March 21-April 19)
Interesting and influential conversations arise over the next three weeks.
Schedule actions beyond just talk. Test theories before committing. Watch your step, and expect surprises. Communicate with your team. Secure the ground taken. Acknowledge players.
edge players.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Expand your boundaries over the next three weeks.
Meet with important and interesting people. Take action for a cause near to your heart. Family comes
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Learn economics, hands-on, over the next three weeks. Get down to practical work. Sift through the data to find the missing clues. Set up structures to build and maintain your advantage. Test a new
first, and they're your foundational support. Invent an inspiring future together
appliance or tool.
Cancer (June 21- July 22)
Communication between partners grows your
artistic promise.
partners grows your enterprise stronger over
Once price stronger over the next three weeks. Talk about financial goals, and how to reach them. Avoid risky business and distractions. Stick to solid, detailed plans. Create an inspiring tealine.
inspiring tagline.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Upgrade your tech at work. Professional communications channels thrive over the next three weeks. Find the expertise you need through friend recommendations.
Your networks have the resources you seek. Talk about what you're creating and invite participation.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Grow strategic partnerships to advance over the next three weeks.Talk about what you want to create together.Invent exciting possibilities.To build a reputation for
Build a reputation for trustworthiness, keep your promises. Speak your passion for what you love.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Enjoy time at home with family and friends. Social graces serve you well.
A three-week domestic phase keeps you buzzing close to the hive. Upgrade your household technology. Talk about dreams and desires. Reconnect with
someone you love.
It's easier to express yourself for three weeks. Start fresh with a friend. Communications are wide open. Accept advice from loved ones, and especially children. Be willing to compromise. Encourage someone to step from dreaming into action.
Sagittarius(Nov.22-Dec.21)
Financial communications turn a profit over the next three weeks. It's a good time to ask for money.
Research, study and find clever solutions. Provide
Increasing value. Be quick, but not impetuous. Slow down around sharp objects.
Capricorn (Dec.22-Jan.19) Explore and discover over the next three weeks. Learn voraciously from masters. The puzzle pieces are coming together, but not necessarily as you imagined. Abandon expectations, and go with the flow. Notice what wants to happen.
Aquarius (Jan.20-Feb.18)
Reflect on the past, before making long-term plans.
Dress up and share nostalgic moments. Glamour enhances the romance.
Dreams could seem prophetic. Hold on to what you've got, and give thanks. Share your gratitude and appreciations.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Collaboration makes things happen over the next three weeks. Coordinate efforts and delegate tasks. Talk about what's wanted and needed. Don't press a controversial point. Heed constructive criticism. Gain an advantage from an insider's tie.
Savannah Rodgers on the set of "The Generation Gap," a film she directed.
Student filmmaker shines in film festivals with her short film "Politically Correct"
BRIANNA CHILDERS @breeanuh3
When University student and filmmaker Savannah Rodgers was 12, she was inspired to become a screenwriter. It was all because of one movie; "Chasing Amy."
Rodgers, who is from Olathe,
said the film's plot and narratives drew her into the story.
"I was so inspired by it on a multitude of levels that I really wanted to become a writer." Rodgers said. "Ever since then I have just wanted to create movies that make people feel something."
Before college, Rodgers wanted to move to California to pursue a career in film but realized it wasn't financially reasonable, so she came to the University to learn as much as she could about film. Initially she wasn't going to
attend college, but now she is a junior and pursuing a degree in film and media studies.
Though Rodgers knew at an early age she wanted to be a writer, it wasn't until she was 16 that she realized her passion for filmmaking. Rodgers said she thinks film is a powerful medium that allows for a lot of creativity with dialogue and translates life's subtleties.
“[Film] is a very interesting way to connect with an audience because I think a lot of people learn through what they see and hear,” Rodgers said. “If you have a great movie, you can inspire people one way or another, not that I'm necessarily inspirational. It's just my goal to make people feel happy or sad, hopeless, or whatever.”
festivals, including Free State Festival, KC Fringe Festival and Merlinka International Queer Festival in Serbia. The film has also won a multitude of awards.
During her time at the University, Rodgers has directed seven films. One of them, "Politically Correct," has been in 15 film
"Politically Correct" is a short film about TV writers who try so hard to be respectful that they can't get any work done.
Rodgers said the film comes down to political correctness.
"I feel like we are at a time in our culture where people are very opposed to the idea of political correctness, but all it really means is being respectful of one another, so I thought it would be funny to write a short film about TV writers who try so hard to be respectful that they can't move forward with their careers," Rodgers said.
The short film is six minutes long, and Rodgers said she can't believe it's been in as many festivals as it has. She said she thinks it has been a good experience
and said she's met a lot of talented people she would have never met otherwise.
Rodgers said she keeps a running list of dialogue on her phone of things she hears and thinks would be hilarious for her screenplays.
"There is a great quote that says, 'If you are going to tell people the truth, you better damn well make them laugh.' That's pretty much how I feel," Rodgers said.
She said she bounces a lot of her ideas off of her writing partners at the University, and by the end of the week she has a script to show them. While the script may prove to be its own task, Rodgers said the process of filmmaking is a "pain in the ass."
"Making movies is a difficult process on any level, especially on a professional level, but it's very hard when you have no money." Rodgers said. "It's a lot
more time than people think, and it's very grueling at times, but if you don't love it, what's the point?"
Rodgers said that when she makes her short films, a shoot usually takes two days, but she has also shot a micro short film that only took about an hour.
The location of a film also plays a big role in films. Rodgers said she loves shooting in Lawrence because it's a "great community" that supports the arts and her fellow filmmakers.
In the future, Rodgers said she hopes to run a TV show and would like to do more directing.
"I want to work and work hard, and I want to make stuff that makes people happy." Rodgers said. "If I make the audience feel something very strongly one way or another, whether it's good or bad, I did my job."
Music in Focus: The Lawrence band La Guerre is in the studio recording an album, "Rage Etc."
RYAN MILLER
@Ryanmiller_UDK
There's a fairly new band in town, and it's already making a name for itself. The band is La Guerre, and it consists of four Lawrence residents.
Katlyn Conroy, founder of La Guerre, said she decided to create the band after leaving a previous band, Cowboy Indian Bear. After starting La Guerre, Conroy initially had a rotating cast of musicians in the band.
Members of La Guerre. They're hoping to have "Rage Etc." completed by February.
"It was just very hard to keep up because [of] having to train new people," Conroy said. "So I decided to try and get a permanent lineup."
Orion Dollar, a 2015 University graduate, and sophomore Quinlan Cartar were previously in a band together and got in contact with Conroy through a mutual friend. They joined La Guerre around April.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO leted by February
The last member to join was Brian Roberts, who moved to Lawrence with his wife in August so she could attend graduate school at the University.
"I was on Craigslist looking for a place to play my drums, and I saw their ad, and it sounded like a good fit," Roberts said. "I heard their music and was like super impressed with it. We met and really hit it off and hit the ground running."
Conroy sings, plays the keyboard and occasionally plays guitar; Dollar plays guitar; Carttar does additional vocals and plays bass; Roberts plays drums.
The group said that while they play a variety of music, the best description of their sound is avant-garde pop.
"I think the content of it is dark and haunting, but the sounds can be light and pretty as well," Conroy said. "It's dark and odd and doesn't necessarily fit into a box, but you can put it on at a party and people won't freak out."
"That always stuck with me, and a lot of the themes in the songs I write have to do with inner battles," Conroy said. "I just wanted a really strong name that didn't invoke a specific genre. I didn't want people to know what they were going to hear before they heard it."
Conroy said the name La Guerre is inspired by a 10-minute a capella song involving a war in France that she sang in French class in high school.
The band is playing different gigs and is in the process of working on an album, titled "Rage Etc." They're currently in the recording process and hope to have it completed by February.
"We're going to really focus on knocking this album out and hopefully have some new material and start playing pretty frequently in the spring," Conroy said.
So far, each band member has faced challenges, but they said they are enjoying each other's company and flexibility.
Roberts said his main challenge has been translating music.
"There's a lot of electronic stun I'm having to translate into an acoustic drum set, so there's a lot of interpretation and changes and trying to make everything similar to electronic drums," Roberts said. "That's a big challenge, but it's been great for me because the past couple of months I've played with these guys I've progressed tremendously."
"My experience with instruments has all been analog up until now, and now it's all digital," Carttar said. "And there's so much knowledge that comes with it."
Carttar said her biggest challenge has been learning to play the bass synth.
Dollar said he's worked to incorporate guitar into some of
Over all, the band members agreed they are looking forward to completing the album and continuing to play shows.
Conroy said her biggest struggle has been writing music for the band.
their songs.
"The biggest challenge is writing things that are something we can all be proud of and play and feel really confident about," she said, "and just in general like how we as musicians or us as a collective band fits into the crazy world of music. [where] there are just no rules or easy ways to get about doing anything or getting anywhere."
— like just trying to find sounds that fit basically — is a bit of a challenge, but it's also really fun to try to experiment like that," he said.
"Trying to incorporate guitar into the songs that Katlyn wrote without it being too guitar ish
"Worst case scenario is we have an album we love and are really proud of, even if we don't have a label that wants it immediately," Carttar said. "It'll be a really good thing either way."
Conroy said she's happy to be playing with a more permanent band again and is looking forward to their future.
"We all just get along so well, and it just fits really well," Conroy said. "I just feel there can only be really good things to come, and, despite what we do and what happens, I feel like we have nowhere to go but up, and that's really exciting."
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