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KANSAN.COM
ARTS & CULTURE
Alumna brings major film TV projects to the Midwest
Contributed Photo
Contributed Photo Kansas City Film Commissioner Stephane Sequim, a 1999 graduate of the University, worked with the crew of "American Honey" for the duration of its stay in Kansas City.
▶ COURTNEY BIERMAN
@courtbierman
audiences all over the world saw the Kansas City skyline last year in "American Honey." The film, which received six nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards — including Best Feature and Female Lead, stars actor Shia LaBeuf. It was filmed in Kansas City, mostly on the Missouri side, in 2015.
Kansas City Film Commissioner Stephane Scupham, a 1999 graduate and University alumna, worked with the crew of "American Honey" for the duration of its stay in Kansas City. As film commissioner, Scupham said she ensures that productions that choose to film in one of the office's municipalities run smoothly. The production may need a hotel recommendation, information on state child labor laws or film permits, or help finding a location to film. Location scouting was most of Scupham's job when "American Honey" was in town.
sas City economy and bring the region recognition in the entertainment industry.
Scupham said a large part of her job now in Kansas City is simply showing filmmakers what the region has to offer in terms of location, budget and hospitality.
Scupham graduated from the University with a communications degree and an emphasis in film. During her time in Lawrence, she helped found video production club KU Filmworks, along with several original members of the entertainment business networking group called the Hollywood Hawks.
Kansas City's proximity to a variety of landscapes including suburbs, metropolitan areas, rivers, forests, farmland etc. is a great place for filming, according to Scupham. The city doesn't require any filming permits she added, and filmmakers have access to all sorts of architectural styles and ways to entertain themselves while in town.
need.
"The fact that [filmmakers] have a place to go, whether it's my office or Steph's office, where they can sort of navigate state or local governments or get in touch with crew, in touch with equipment — It just makes it really easy to shoot in the area, and it just kind of lets them know what this region has to offer." Jasso said.
"American Honey" is likely one of the film office's most recognizable titles, but 251 productions received assistance from the office in 2016. 18 films that played at the Sundance and Slamdance film festivals had connections to Kansas City, Scupham said. Other titles associated with the film office include NBC's "American Ninja Warrior," the MTV reality show "Unlocking the Truth," and various independent films that Scupham said film fans should watch out for during festival season: "Different Flowers," "Found Wandering Lost," "Cool Spirits," "Paradox City," and others.
JAPAN FROM PAGE 4
by time. She traveled to Japan many times to find these religious icons, but said she had difficulty finding a complete set.
Because of this, Fowler launched an investigation. Her favorite way of describing her research method is by comparing it to detective work, she said.
"Over the centuries, [some will] disappear, some will be broken, some will be reconfigured," Fowler said. "I had to look for the patterns to figure out what's missing."
Fortunately, various temples across Japan still house sculptures and paintings of the Six Kannon. At the temple of Daih oonji in Kyoto, Japan, for example, a complete set of full-size wooden sculptures remain in exceptional condition.
Contributed Photo
Nyoirin Kannon. 14th century. Color on silk. Hosomi Museum, Kyoto.
Ideal as this discovery was, the Kyoto temple was not the original home of the sculptures. Fowler said she had to track down the sculptures' place of origin to begin breaking down their significance.
The process is kind of like tracking down a missing person."
Art history graduate student Mary Frances said that the study of art history requires this, that a work be "contextualized."
Sherry Fowler Japanese Art History
It's a process where art historians have to find out as much as possible about the historical, religious or cultural context of the piece.
"Art historians are trying to understand something about the broader culture that the artist was working in," Frances said. "The artist wasn't working in a vacuum."
For Fowler, the Daiahoonji sculptures couldn't be put in historical context without a confident understanding of when and where they originated.
"The process is kind of like tracking down a missing person," Fowler said. "I have to build a case and find out what information is missing."
Fowler's next projects include Japanese prints and temple bells, the latter of which she will be studying in Korea this summer. Her excitement for the art of the Six Kannon, she said, remains strong.
"[Sculptures of the Six Kannon] are still working in their religious purpose, and that's something I really love about them," she said.
- Edited by Paola Alor