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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18,2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
COMMENTARY
Film school dean doubles as 'Smurfs' director
PATRICK GOLDSTEIN
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
LOS ANGELES — Veteran movie producer Jordan Kerner spent nearly 10 years finding a way to make "The Smurfs", which earned $35.6 million in its opening weekend in the U.S. But it's not his long track record in Hollywood, which includes producing everything from "Less Than Zero" to "The Mighty Ducks," that interests me most. It's his other job of all.
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UNCSA are getting an education not just in theory and production but in the often less-than-glamorous aspects of life in the trenches of Hollywood.
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Kerner has recruited a host of faculty members who still have their day jobs, which helps give students a grounding in the kind of problem-solving necessary to survive on a film set. Through a shadowing program, students get to spend weeks at a time on movie sets, seeing their professor in ac
up to talk to an actor, our kids would be right there with him. They also got to spend time with our editors, visual effects supervisor, sound designers and other crew members. Sometimes the discussions were difficult, but that was the whole point — it's a way to learn the whys and why notes of filmmaking." (With it being 2011, students had to sign release forms promising not to blog about what they saw.)
From the point of view of An-
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked," which will hit theaters this Christmas. He also has his students listen in on his conversations with his agent so they can develop an understanding of the demands of the marketplace.
But the student films I watched from UNCSA were loaded with strong ideas, wit and imagination
Kerner never imagined himself being a film school dean — in fact, he never went to film school himself. But after surviving a freak staph infection and enduring the disappointing showing of a pet project. 2006's "Charlotte's Web."
My biggest concern with today's film schools is that they tend to offer students far more instruction in technique than in actual ideas.
their experiences. But Kerner felt the school needed more outside professionals on the faculty, so he recruited a host of industry pros, including producer Bob Gosse and Peter Bogdanovich, who teaches a freshman film class.
Immersion project, where students gain a deeper understanding of character and story by spending several weeks at places like the Veterans Artificial Limb Hospital in Philadelphia and Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans.
"They can't take cameras or recording devices — just a pad and pen," he says. "The whole idea is to go out and get to know people, hear their stories and get under their skin."
As much as Kerner would enjoy
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011
PAGE 6
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONEY
KU-ID gets discounts from food to technology
CHRISTY NUTT editor@kansan.com
Your KU ID might not get you VIP treatment, but it can get you great discounts or be used as a different way to pay.
With a valid KU ID, students can receive discounts from different businesses in Lawrence and on computers and software at the KU Bookstore. Students can also use their KU ID as an alternative form of payment with Beak 'Em Bucks.
Many businesses offer students discounts with a valid KU ID. Discounts include half price burgers on Tuesdays at Dempsey's Burger Pub, $1 off movie tickets at Hollywood Theaters South Wind 12, up to 60 percent off of ticket prices at the Lied Center and a KU student discounted tanning package at Jamaica Tan.
The KU Bookstore offers discounts on Apple computers and software for KU students and faculty. KU Bookstore technology buyer Jason Coleman said the Mac Book Pro is the best seller with a $100 discount for students.
The Microsoft Campus Agreement offers students a 90 percent discount on Microsoft Office software, Coleman said.
The typical retail price of the package is $99. Students can
"This is a crazy deal with extreme discounts," Coleman said.
purchase the software for $11.99.
Coteman said at the discounted price students are only paying for the disks.
For the past year that KU Bookstore offered the Microsoft Campus Agreement, more than 85,000 students have taken advantage of the deal. Coleman said.
Students can also purchase Adobe products at 80 percent off discounts, Coleman said.
If KU students want a different way to pay, Beak 'Em Bucks could be their answer. Students can use their KU ID to print, purchase food and do laundry on campus. The Off-Campus Advantage program also allows students to use their KU ID Beak 'Em Bucks to purchase items with participating merchants around town.
6017 4303 0323 2554
STUDENT ID: 00000000
OFF-CAMPUS MERCHANTS WHO ACCEPT BEAK EM BUCKS
BAMBINO'S AT THE GROVE - 1540 Wakarusa Dr., 785-832-8800
BIGG'S BBQ - 2429 Iowa St., 785-856-2550
BUFFALO WILD WINGS - 1012 Massachusetts St., 785-841-1826
CELSIUS TANNERY - 4931 W. 6th St., 785-841-1826
CHILI'S GRILL & BAR - 2319 Iowa St., 785-331-3700
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL - 2 Lawrence locations
COLD STONE CREAMERY - 647 Massachusetts St., 785-843-0990
CUPCAKE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY - 727 Massachusetts St., 785-856-9222
CVS/PHARMACY - 2300 Iowa St., 785-832-1112
DOMINOS PIZZA (delivery) - 832 Iowa St., 785-841-8002
ENDLESS SUMMER TAN - 2223 Louisiana, Ste. A, 785-331-0900
FAT FREDDY'S PIZZA & WINGS - 1445 W. 23rd St., 785-841-5000
FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES - 2040 W 31st St., Suite B, 785-749-3400
KWIK SHOP - 6 Lawrence locations
LOCAL BURGER - 714 Vermont St., 785-856-7827
LONG JOHN SILVER'S/A&W ALL AMERICAN - 1503 W. 23rd St., 785-841-2900
NOODLES & COMPANY - 8 West 8th St., 785-841-4300
ON THE BORDER MEXICAN GRILL - 3080 Iowa St., 785-830-8291
PERKINS FAMILY RESTAURANT AND BAKERY - 1711 W. 23rd St., 785-842-9040
PITA PIT - 1011 Massachusetts St., 785-856-2500
PIZZA HUT - 3 Lawrence locations
PIZZA SHUTTLE - 1601 W. 23rd St., 785-842-1212
PYRAMID PIZZA - 1029 Massachusetts St., 785-842-3232
SPANGLES - 3420 W 6th St., 785-838-3222
SUN RESORTS TANNING SALON - 1410 Kasold Drive, Suite A14, 785-865-0009
SUNKISSED TANNING - 2540 Iowa Street, Suite M, 785-842-5096
TACO JOHN'S - 3 Lawrence locations
UNIVERSITY BOOK SHOP - 1116 W. 23rd. St., 785-749-5206
WENDY'S - 2 Lawrence locations
WHEAT STATE PIZZA - 711 W. 23rd. St., 785-865-2323
CAMPUS
You can play in the fountain, but not pollute
CHRISTY NUTT
editor@kansan.com
Students might find it funny to dye or put soap into the Chi Omega Fountain; but for facility operations faculty, the practical joke is an expensive problem.
"It happens frequently and gets costly after a while," KU Plumbing Supervisor Sam Gunther said.
Gunther said people dye and put soap into the fountain during the beginning of the fall semester more than any other time.
"For the first couple months of classes, it happens almost once a week," Gunther said. "After that, it
starts to happen less often."
Mike LaBonte, the plumbing skill trade supervisor, said it cost about $225 each time the fountain must be cleaned because of a practical jokes. That amount includes the cost of water and labor.
According to the KU website, if officials catch students vandalizing the Chi Omega Fountain, they will receive a fine of $50 for adding detergent to the fountain and $100 for dying it.
"Usually they don't catch the people, but if they are caught they have to pay a fine for the hours spent cleaning." Gunther said.
During warm weather KU crews
drain and clean the fountain three times a week to prevent algae growth. Crews also use chlorine tablets during warm weather to prevent the water from turning green, Gunther said.
The fountain holds 15,000 gallons of water, Gunther said.
According to the KU website the Chi Omega Sorority donated the fountain in 1955.
Gunther said the sorority donated the fountain under the condition that the public will have full access to it.
"There are almost always people playing in the fountain on hot days," Gunther said.
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
Students find it funny to dye or put soap into the Chi Omega fountain.
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