TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2006 NEWS THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3A FILM Bringing it all back home Willmott celebrates local 'CSA' premiere David Noffsinger/KANSAN BY MIKE MOSTAFFA mmostaffa@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WRITER An enthusiastic crowd gathered at Liberty Hall Friday to see the Lawrence debut of renowned filmmaker Kevin Willmott's film "CSA: The Confederate States of America." Kevin Willmott, assistant professor of film, talks with friends and fans at the premiere of his film "CSA: The Confederate States of America" Friday at Liberty Hall. Willmott, KU assistant professor of film, and a group of family and friends arrived in an SUV limousine to the pre-screening reception sponsored by the KU department of theatre and film. Since IFC Films began showing the film last month, Willmott has attended premieres in cities ranging from New York to Memphis, Tenn., with cinema big shots such as Spike Lee. But he said that this premiere "was far more important." "The entire cast is local. It really was a homegrown affair," Willmott said. Ryan Carroll, Noel, Mo., senior, is one of the many local actors who volunteered their services for the film. Carroll had been eagerly waiting for this night since the day his scene was shot from inside Oldfather Studios in 2002. "When I was a kid I saw the movie 'Jurassic Park,' and ever Sean Blake, CSA's co-producer, editor and actor, said he felt a little bit like a movie star Friday night. since then I've wanted to be an actor." Carroll said. Blake said that he enjoyed the film's New York premiere but said it was special to come back home and see the movie with friends and family. "In New York you're a little fish in a big pond. Here you're a big fish in a smaller pond," he said. When the film was over, the audience gave the cast and crew a thunderous round of applause. Entertainment Weekly, People Magazine, The Boston Globe and other media. It's being shown in Willmott held a question-and-answer session with members of the audience. One man told Willmott he was "blown away" by certain parts of the movie, particularly a scene in which a family of slaves is sold on a slave shopping network. Willmott told the audience that one of the greatest things about CSA's success is that "it puts a spotlight on the Lawrence film scene." He said the local film scene promotes creativity, unlike Hollywood, which "always follows and never leads." 50 markets nationwide. — Edited by Frank Tankard CSA has gained critical acclaim from The Los Angeles Times, The lecture will be followed by a reception and signing of her latest book "Thanks for the Memories, Mr. President: Wit and Wisdom from the Front Row at the White House." known for closing residential press conferences with the tag line "Thank you, Mr. President" Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award and was honored by President Clinton and Mrs. Clinton as the first recipient of the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award. deliver her lecture "Covering the White House from Kennedy to Bush."The Hall Center for the Humanities is sponsoring the event, which is free to the public. Thomas, a Hearst Newpaper columnist, has covered every president since John F. Kennedy during her 57 years as a correspondent for United Press International and as White House bureau chief. During the Kennedy years, Thomas became Thomas was the first woman officer of the National Press Club after it opened its doors to women members, the first woman member and the president of the White House Correspondents Association and the first woman member of the Gridiron Club. In 1998, she received the International Women's Media Thomas, often referred to as "The First Lady of the Press" will Helen Thomas, former White House bureau chief, is scheduled to speak at the 2006 Emily Taylor & Marilyn Stokstad Women's Leadership Lecture at 7:30 tonight at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. -Kansan Staff Reports COURTS CAMPUS Former White House chief to speak tonight THE ASSOCIATED PRESS With press cameras reflected in the glass of his car, author Dan Brown leaves London's High Court Monday, where he gave evidence at the start of the case's third week. He is being sued by Richard Leigh and Michael Baigent, who claim he stole ideas from their book, "The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail" for his bestselling "The Da Vinci Code." 'Da Vinci Code' author testifies BY JILL LAWLESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON — In a rare and undesired appearance, "The Da Vinci Code" novelist Dan Brown dismissed claims that he stole the ideas of two authors as "completely fanciful," saying he read their book only after the structure of his theological thriller was in place. In a witness statement, Brown said he was "shocked at their reaction" to his book. Under questioning by the plaintiffs' lawyer, however, Brown acknowledged that he could not always recall exact dates of milestones in the creation of his novel. Both books explore theories — dismissed by theologians — that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute but Jesus' wife and that the couple had a child and their bloodline survived. On Monday, the multimillionaire writer found himself on the witness stand at London's High Court, denying accusations of copyright infringement from Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh. "It's as if you've asked me to go back five years or 10 years and asked me not only what I got for Christmas, but what order I opened the presents," he told Jonathan Rayner James, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. Baigent and Leigh are suing "The Da Vinci Code" publisher Random House for copyright infringement, claiming Brown "appropriated the architecture" of their 1982 nonfiction book "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail." If Baigent and Leigh succeed in securing an injunction to bar the use of their material, they could hold up the scheduled May 19 film release of "The Da Vinci Code," starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou. THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS Filmworks Film Festival April 25rd at 7:50 PM March 14,2006 THEME: THIS IS THE END Held At: GLITHER STUDIES (Located at 6th and Avalon, right off of Love) Guidelines: 1) Marten be 10 minutes or less 2) Marten concentrate both the theme and subject of the festival. Rules: NO DRESS Films Due By: Friday April 14th by 4:00 PM in GLITHER STUDIES at the front Seek (NDM, MINIV, UVB) Awards: "Engagements are given to merit original, visions" * Shoots and Orbits will be provided at the screening - Samples and details will be provided at the percpective For questions contact Terry Slaney (sales@inmeregmail.com) Jaywalk is a free service funded by KU's Student Senate, Jaywalk provides volunteers who escort any KU student to any on-campus location between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. Contact Jaywalk at Anschutz Library or by calling (785) 864-3222 KJaywalk Contest! How much wood would a woodchuck chuck If a woodchuck could chuck wood? All throughout March, students who use Jaywalk will be entered into a drawing for prizes donated by KJHK. Winners of the drawing will be announced on April 1, 2006. The grand prize winner will receive a Marantz PMD-325 CD player. Two runners up will receive a Timex Ironman watch and a third runner up will receive a KJHK care package that includes Roasterie coffee and KJHK t-shirts. See for your self at STUDENT SENATE Wednesday's at 6:30 in the Kansas Union Full Senate March 15 Open Committees March 29 For more information, visit the KJHK Web site at www.kjhk.org 907 funded by: SENATE Program and Politics in Serving the Homeless in a Tough Environment At the ECM, across from the Kansas Union Parking Garage March 15th; 12-1pm is the lecture with a $3 lunch served at 11:30 or brownbag. Loring Henderson, Director of the Lawrence Community Shelter, will present the issues surrounding homelessness in Lawrence and how progress has been supported and/or impeded by political processes. PAID FOR BY KU FREE ADVERTISING!? IN THIS SPACE?! WOW!! WHAT DO I DO!? I JUST E-MAIL ALL THE INFORMATION FOR THE ADVERTISEMENT TO THE STUDENT SENATE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, NOLAN J. TONES! AT NULX13@KU.EDU ?! I WILL DO THIS, BECAUSE FREE IS GOOD!! PATH WAYS animal assisted therapy, inc Love animals? Those interested in volunteering should either call or email for more information (785)764-1557 pathwaysaat@yahoo.com Pathways is a non profit therapeutic riding center dedicated to helping others through interaction with animals. Pathways provides therapy programs for people with physical and cognitive disorders as well as those with social, emotional, or behavioral issues. Center for Community Outreach researching community engagement ★★★ Lynn Jenkins, State Treasurer 7:00pm, Kansas Room, Kansas Union Alternative Weekend Break Interested in doing some community service? Try out an Alternative Weekend Break and you'll have the opportunity to plant an on-site garden in Edwardsville Applications are available online at www.ku.edu/~albreaks Applications are due Friday March 31st by 5pm COME SAIL AWAY Wednesday the15th 7:00 PM ALCOVE G in Kansas Uni on KU Sailing Club