+
+
ARTS & CULTURE
+
KANSAN.COM | THURSDAY. OCT. 15. 2015
HOROSCOPES >>
WHAT'S YOUR SIGN?
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Keep it simple. Push for...
what you believe, with Mars
trine Pluto. Your team can
help. Consistent steady
pressure works... avoid
forcing an issue. The more
you put in, the more you
get out.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
More work leads to me
your collaboration.
benefits. Ask for what you've been promised. Try a new recipe or restaurant. Share something tasty with your partner. Eat well, rest well and pour energy into
Gemini (May 21-June 20) Massive effort pays off (especially over the long haul), with Mars trine Pluto. Now is the time for big ideas. Take advantage of a lucky break. Harness your creative fire. Get expert coaching, and keep prac-
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Give a big push. A rush job could lead to long-term benefit (with Mars trine Pluto). Build the passion level. You know what to say to motivate your crew.
Get necessary equipment.
Negotiate, rather than
demanding.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Slow and steady gets it right the first time. Abundance is available, Stick close to home. Strengthen your infrastructure for long-term support. Keep your workspace clear. Listen to family feedback. Kids have the best ideas
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Persistent communications get through. Patiently keep in action. Steady moves work better than impulsive ones. Imagine positive outcomes. Sell stuff you don't need. Engage in a conversation and energize it for a shared goal.
shared goal.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
The more you study, the more your team wins. Heed a warning. Use confidential information to advance.
Try something completely new and unexplored. Draw on resources you've been saving for a special occasion. Develop your natural talents
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Finish a job before it's due.
You're energized ... take advantage to power ahead.
Friends are there for you.
Go public with your plan.
Share your enthusiasm.
Long-term benefit comes from short-term coordinated action now.
ed action now.
Sagittarius(Nov.22-Dec.21)
Feed your inspiration by making reminders of what you love and posting them where you can see them.
Maintain optimism about a new leadership role. Friends give you heart. You're
give you a boost. You're gaining respect.
Capricorn(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Your partner can get farther than you can now. Find a safe place for your money. Offer guidance. Get your partner involved. Success is your reward. Follow the logic trail. Lively music sets
the tone.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Keep up a steady rhythm. Let a partner take the lead sometimes. Career choices expand naturally. Finish a project and devote yourself to the process. Keep an open mind. Commit to bold action, once you've chosen direction.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) our career situation takes a mega leap. Act quickly and make a good impression. Put in extra effort. Focus on your work. Your conscientiousness makes you look stronger. Pay attention.
stronger. Pay attention.
smile and give it everything
you've got.
Donning (fake) blood for Zombie Walk
SAMANTHA SEXTON
@Sambiscuit
Senior Annika Wooton in makeup for the Lawrence Zombie Walk.
In advance of Halloween, students and local residents will dress like zombies and meet at South Park on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. for the ninth annual Lawrence Zombie Walk. For one University student, the walk has become an annual tradition.
"It's just so much fun," said Annika Wooten, a senior from Richmond, Va. "This will be my third time doing the Zombie Walk, and what makes it better is that it's for a good cause."
The walk, which is sponsored by the Lawrence Humane Society, encourages participants to donate anything from canned goods to a few dollars, which will go to the Lawrence Humane Society. Though Wooten said she enjoys the charity, her real passion for the event comes from experiencing zombie culture.
"This is honestly the pinnacle of my year," Wooten said. "I plan for my costume all year long. The only downside is how much money I end up spending on my costume and makeup."
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
While trying to find the perfect outfit, Wooten was discouraged when she saw the price tags for the costume pieces she had in mind. Instead, Wooten found a blousy top from her mother, an old vest she had in her closet, and various bits and bobs to complete the look. The
hardest part, she says, is making the death wounds realistic
"I had to make my hat from scratch, but most of what I needed I got from either a thrift shop or I just had it lying around," Wooten said. "I have this vision in my head about how the Mad Hatter died, so I'm hoping to have shards of tea cups sticking out of my neck and brain."
Wooten says that her costume, with the fake blood and wounds, can cost somewhere close to $100.
Wooten is still putting the coup de grace on her costume, but says that when she's done, she'll be a terrifying Mad Hatter from Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland."
Wooten said her favorite part about making her costumes is coming up with a creative death for her character so that every wound has a story.
"If someone asks me how I died and became a zombie I want to be able to entertain them," Wooten said.
Being a participant of the zombie walk doesn't always require so much razzle dazzle, however. Wooten said a handful of people will show up with ripped jeans and T-shirts covered in ketchup.
"We're all there to be part of the charity and to be with people who find the zombie culture exciting like I do." Wooten said.
Wooten said that over the past
three years the walk has grown from a couple dozen to over a hundred "walkers"
"I love how many people are showing up," Wooten said. "I don't know if it's a raise in zombie culture appreciation or a
tighter community, but it's still my favorite time of the year."
"Walkers" don't require any special training or rehearsal. Wooten encourages anyone who may be interested to show up at South Park to walk with
the rest of the zombies.
"We show up, get bloody, and do a lot of moaning and groaning at one another," Wooten said. "I wouldn't miss it for anything."
Edited by Derek Skillett
From left, characters Blaze, Butch, Chanel and Jessie from "Hell town."
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Indie film director Steve Balderson returns to Kansas to make his latest film, "Hell Town"
CAMERON MCGOUGH
@cammcgough
Since shooting the 1998 film "Pep Squad" in his hometown of Wamego, Steve Balderson has proved to be the embodiment of an independent filmmaker.
With films shot in London, Hong Kong, Italy, and most recently Mexico for "El Ganzo," Balderson has practiced his craft all over the world, garnering numerous awards. For one of his most recent projects, "Hell Town," he decided to film where his life and his career began: Kansas.
After graduating from Manhattan High School a semester early in 1992, he headed to Los Angeles to pursue his passion for filmmaking at the California Institute of the Arts, which has produced many industry veterans like Tim Burton and John Lasseter.
One day in the spring semester of his third year, Balderson said he woke up, sat down at his computer and wrote the script for what would become his very first film, "Pep Squad." Without telling his
friends, family or professors, he dropped everything and headed back to Kansas without a diploma to start his career as a filmmaker.
After "Pep Squad" was Balderson's second film, "Firecracker," with Karen Black, an Academy Award-nominated actress. The film garnered an outstanding reaction from critics, screening to sold-out crowds during its premiere at the Raindance Film Festival in London, where it also received the Jury Prize nomination for Best Picture.
After "Firecracker," Balderson continued his work filming across the United States and eventually across the world. When it came time to begin filming "Hell Town," he decided to return to Kansas. With filming locations in Wamego and Manhattan, Balderson wanted "Hell Town"
One of the most celebrated film critics of all time, Roger Ebert, gave "Firecracker" a 3.5 out of 4 rating. He said the film was "original" and "peculiar," and described one scene as "Hitchcockian," alluding to the great filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock.
hands-on experience.
When he isn't filming in Kansas, Balderson is often attending film festivals and working on projects outside the United States. One month after finishing the rough cut of "Hell Town," Balderson headed to Mexico to begin shooting "El Ganzo," and while at a film festival in Italy a couple weeks ago, he met a filmmaker from India who wanted to collaborate.
"I thought it would be really funny to revisit the type of really sick humor that was in my first film," he said. "Only what I wanted to do is sort of take 'Pep Squad' and then give it crack. I wanted to use that small town Americana thing, which Wamego has plenty of"
Despite his success as an independent filmmaker, Balderson has also faced some difficulties. Balderson said he believes one of the biggest struggles he's encountered throughout his career takes root in Kansas soil.
to build upon the style he used in "Pep Squad."
"Being taken seriously in Kansas [is a major struggle]," he said. "For instance, the week after Roger Ebert had a huge
Aside from the critics, Balderson has successfully networked through the business, connecting with filmmakers from all over the country. Wherever his projects take him, he sees it as his duty to bring undiscovered talent on board.
Balderson said people probably spoke poorly of his film because he has rarely reached out to the Kansas independent film community.
review of my film "Firecracker" in the Chicago Sun-Times — it was basically a love letter — there were some people that were a part of the independent film world of Kansas that just completely belittled it."
"There is talent everywhere. And sometimes people, especially in the Midwest, don't have the opportunities that people on the coasts have," he said. "So if you are going to nake a movie some place, I think it's responsible to look around."
In addition to posting casting calls for his films, Balderson helps aspiring filmmakers in another way. As a former film school student, Balderson said he understands the value of
A
He added: "I don't think there's a program like that in the world that offers that exact setup, and so I started actually teaching that to people."
"When I went to film school, I sort of expected to leave with a piece of work," he said. "For some reason, I got it in my mind that they would teach me how to write a script, direct a movie, and then edit it and market it and sell it, and then I'd come home with a finished movie"
Balderson started the Maverick Filmmaking Mentorship Program in order to impart on young filmmakers the knowledge he has gained over his career. Balderson's mission is to teach filmmakers the skills they need to succeed in the business while not incurring gratuitous amounts of student debt.
For Balderson, the mindset required to achieve success is simple, and it's the mindset he teaches his students.
"Anything is possible," he said. "I simply ask myself, 'How can I do that?' There's going to be a way."
+