THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18,2011
PAGE 12C
COMMENTARY
Film school dean doubles as 'Smurfs' director
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 dean of the school of filmmaking.
PATRICK GOLDSTEIN
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
at the On School o'
I wem Northwe we still cameras, sound re on ancisionally visiting f with tail But if yperience and find innovati
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.
COMM
But the student films I watched from UNCSA were loaded with strong ideas, wit and imagination — which may come as a bit of a
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." Kerner was looking for a new chal-
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."
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.
"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.
LOS scene in films cmakers final mo Deathly that last mark in There ons,哈 magic it's a fer between in a tra' of it all franch one pos scene. "I th
As much as Kerner would enjoy seeing his students make lofv art.
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 action. Nearly 90 students event time
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 nots of filmmaking." (With it being 2011, students had to sign release forms promising not to blog about what they saw.)
GEOFF MCCLA
From the point of view of Andrew Porter, a 2010 graduate of
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011
PAGE 4
15 things to know about KU
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BRITTANY NELSON
editor@kansan.com
Whether fresh out of high school or an adult wanting to go back to school, everyone could use a guide to help pave the way to success. Without curfews, parents or family telling you what to do, it can be hard to find guidance in college. Here are fifteen pointers from current and previous KU students.
"Get involved. It is a great way to meet people and give back to the school."
Bryan Do, junior from Wichita
"Go to class.Everything they will test over they'll tell you in class at some point."
"If you do not carry your student I.D. card with you at all times, you do not exist."
Ashley Barforoush, graduate from Shawnee
Grace Petty, senior from Overland Park
"Put yourself out there and get involved. There are so many great organizations on campus and there is an organization for anyone. This is also a great way to meet people with the same interests and likes as yourself."
"Manage your time wisely; make a schedule."
Gina Littlejohn, graduate from Lenexa
Jennifer Wink, sophomore from Barrington, Ill.
"Go to class and take notes with an audio recorder."
Daniel Knox, graduate from Leawood
"Make sure the classes you're taking fulfill a requirement. I wasted my time with classes I didn't need."
— Abigail DeClerk, senior from Tulsa, Okla.
"Pick your major by the end of the year and stick with it."
Elena Sherman, graduate from Wichita
"Do not try and put all your classes on Tuesday and Thursday to avoid three days of class; you will go crazy!"
— Katie Meserko, graduate from Overland Park
"Check all the parking rules before parking anywhere. You will get a ticket."
— Meredith Laurie, graduate from Plano, Tex.
"The best part about college is diversity. Embrace diversity, because it sets people apart but also brings people together."
Ben Ackerman, sophomore from Leawood
"Take advantage of Massachusetts Street."
- Kiley O'Connor, graduate from Omaha, Nebraska
"Don't do group advising sessions. One-on-one's are much more helpful."
"The first semester is the most important, because that's when you realize if you can handle college or not."
Chris O'Kello, senior from Hutchinson
Corey Scott, senior from Louisburg
"If you wake up next to a girl you met at The Hawk the night before, she is probably not good enough to take home to mom."
— Adam Mertz, senior from Gardner
Over $5,000 in Prizes!
- Challenge Rules -
Step 1
to pg 6 in news or pg 7 in sports, to fill out tickets from each sponsor
Step 2
Drop.off tickets at business location (map on pg.35) or scan here:
Step 3
Celebrate Back-to School with the UDK at our all-day blowout at the Legends Place and Abe & Jake's.
.