NOTICE
Creating a scene
More graduates of the University's film program are staying in Lawrence, creating steady growth of the city's film community
By Matt Bechtold mbechtold@kansan.com
"Action!"
The actor slides open the creaky window and peers inside. He looks over his shoulder at the camera and delivers his line in a hushed voice.
"I don't think anyone's in there."
But that statement is far from true. Gaffers, grips, sound engineers and makeup artists sit in hushed silence just off camera. The cast and crew are current and former KU film students working to produce director Franco Leng's first feature film since he graduated from the University in 2008. The film, tentatively titled Pwned, is about feuding hardcore video gamers, and is being filmed entirely in Lawrence.
More films are being made here every semester, and the trend only seems to be growing as students opt to stay in Lawrence to make their first movies rather than flocking to the coast to get a job in Hollywood.
"I hope part of the reason they're not leaving is that they've seen other filmmakers not do that," says Kevin Willmott, associate professor of theater and film and director of C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America and Bunker Hill.
"Lawrence is such an amazing arts town," Osbern says. "There's art everywhere. In some ways, we're almost oversaturated with art. Everywhere you go there's art on the walls or a musician playing or a poetry reading. It's a great town that supports art and all the different endeavors that people do."
"One of the things that Matt Jacobson and I have tried to stress is that you don't have to leave," Willmott continues. "You just need to make a really terrific film and that film can take you where you want to go." Matt Jacobson is another associate professor of theater and film at the University.
Willmott says it's much easier to make films at home, where there's a base of support and a film community to connect with.
Jeremy Osbern, a 2004 graduate of the University's film program, says that while there were great filmmakers in Lawrence when he graduated, there weren't very many. That's why Osbern opted to stay in Lawrence and start his company. Through A Glass Productions, where he works as a director, director of photography and gaffer on various films, music videos and television commercials in the Midwest.
Muriel Green, Arcadia senior in theater and film, co-wrote her first documentary as a
(Above) Scott Root, Abilene junior and KU Filmworks president, prepares to film Kai Winika, a 2008 film grad, for a production demo. (Right) Patrick Ross, Lawrence junior, films on stage at Music for the Masses in South Park on Sunday. Ross and other members of Filmworks intend to film more events like MFTM to raise the visibility of their group. Above: Photo by Alex Bonham-Carter Right: Photo by Chance Dibson
Above: Photo by Alex Bonham-Carter Right: Photo by Chance Dibben
student while working part-time for Through A Glass Productions.The film, titled Medicine Under Canvas, tells the stories of doctors and nurses from KU Medical Center who served together in World War II field hospitals. It will premiere in Kansas City, Mo., at the
Get involved in Lawrence film projects
KU Filmworks
Meets Sundays at 8 p.m. at Oldfather Studios, 1621 W Ninth St.
groups.ku.edu/~kufilm
Karlsas Film Commission Provides services and resources for Kansas filmmakers. kdoch.state.ks.us/kdtfilm
Wild West Film Fest
Make a film in 48 hours with secret criteria given at sign-up on Oct.24.The film is due Oct.26, and Liberty Hall will screen the films on Nov.2. For more information, visit www.wildwestfilmfest.org.
Local film screening Bunker Hill Directed by Kevin Willmott Oct. 3 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Screentland Theatre in Kansas City, Mo.
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October 9,2008