Newspaper Page Text
Arts&entertainment
'Dan in Real Life' delivers a clever comedy for all audiences
By Grant Wallace
Staff Writer
Gwallac2@gmail.com
DAN
M REAL LIFE
After Steve
Carell’s latest flop with
“Evan Almighty", 1 was
skeptical with his newest
family comedy “Dan In
Real Life”. Luckily, Steve
decided to drop the fiction
and go for a more real
approach.
Dan (Steve Carell) is
an advice columnist for his
local newspaper, lending
out help to anyone who
asks.
Throughout the movie,
Local film 'Conjurer' set to play at Fox Theatre; UWG interns discuss
By Kristian Alicia Barfield
Staff Writer
kbarfie 7 @ my.westga .edit
Several mass
communications students
here at the University of
West Georgia got the chance
to work on a real movie set
last spring when the film
“Conjurer” was shot in
nearby Whitesburg.
Freya Cole and John
Anderson were just two of
the students involved with
“Conjurer” and they both
agree that this experience
was one they couldn’t pass
up.
Q: What exactly was
your part in making
“Conjurer”?
Freya Cole: I was an intern
for “Conjurer.” I worked
under the Art Department as
a “Set Dresser.” I am on the
IMDB website as well under
that title. Pretty awesome! I
basically helped clean/set
up the movie set before
shooting started. Most of
'The Shape of Things' shaping up for for Townsend
By Yen Nguyen
Staff Writer
Ynguyen 1 @my.westga .edu
Art is not just an
imitation of life. Life
imitates art, possibly
more so. Yet, how do we
define art —or anything?
Neil Labute’s “The Shape
of Things” explores the
subjectivity of art, beauty,
love, relationships—life.
The West Georgia Theatre
Company is excited
to present the brilliant
workings of Laßute in
“The Shape of Things.”
The New Yorker
magazine has called Laßute
“an original voice - the best
playwright to emerge in the
past decade -a genius.”
Graduate art student
Evelyn (Yen Nguyen of
Cochran) meets geeky
and socially awkward
Adam (Matt Hambrick of
Marietta) at the museum
where he works. Following
the initial encounter, a
romance rapidly begins,
and Adam transforms into
an attractive and interesting
individual. Jenny (Katie
the morals of his job are
put to the test, making for
the climax of the film. A
recent widower, Dan takes
his three teenage girls on
their annual family trip to
his family’s cottage, where
he unknowingly meets the
girl of his dreams.
Shortly thereafter,
Dan finds out that his
brother, Mitch (Dane
Cook), is dating the same
girl. Although slightly
predictable to the very tact
observer, my guesses are
about half the audience
saw' this coming. The
rest of the movie plays
it very safe, leaving a
“Family Stone” type feel
to the film. Director Peter
Hedges (“Pieces of April”,
“About A Boy”) does a
good job keeping Dan on
his toes, making sure not
to get caught with Marie
(Juliette Binoche), but
his tactics never branch
the filming is at a house in
Whitesburg, so 1 would go
there and help clean/paint/
get the house ready for when
filming started. 1 was also an
extra in the movie. 1 don’t
know if 1 made the cut but
we will see at the premiere.
It’s one of the scenes at an
art gallery in Atlanta. So not
only was I an intern, but 1
had my 15 seconds of fame
as well!
John Anderson: I worked
as an intern with the Art
Deptartment, building
and dressing the sets.
After production, 1 helped
put together a packet for
investors to review for Red
5 Production’s next feature
length film.
Q: Why should people see
“Conjurer”?
Freya Cole: I think people
should see “Conjurer”
because the fact it was filmed
locally here in this state. The
directors even came to our
school to ask for help. They
Watkins of Lawrenceville)
and her fiance Phillip
(Reginald Leach of Atlanta)
are witnesses to their
friend, Adam’s change in
more ways than expected.
Is who we think we are
how people perceive us?
Truth is only an opinion.
There are many truths to
believe but can you identify
the lies? A cutting truth
is in store. “The Shape
of Things” will leave the
audience pondering over
what is false in their lives.
The show is directed by
Shelly Elman with Shelley
Hubbard (Dallas, Ga.) as
Stage Manager and Arielle
Korsgaard (Villa Rica)
as Asst. Stage Manager.
Costumes are designed by
Alan Yeong and properties
provided by Daniel Barnes
(Villa Rica). The scenic
design is conceptualized
by lan Rowswell (Adel,
Ga.) and sound is supplied
by Greg Hurd (Augusta).
Don’t miss out
on Laßute’s theatrical
maturity with “The Shape
of Things.” The West
Georgia Theatre company
out much from the norm
like Ray Ramano did in
“Eulogy”.
Steve’s humor is often
subtle and very toned down
compared to his frantic
behavior most notably seen
in his hit TV show, “The
Office”. So if you’re a fan
of his corky and out-loud
sense of humor seen there,
this might come off a bit
too bland for your tastes.
But like I said earlier, this
is a very family focused
movie, noted in the very
appropriate PG-13 rating
for innuendo.
Dane Cook's humor
is also extremely toned
down, compared to his
explicit jokes that he is
specifically known for. Not
to mention, if anyone has
been to a movie in the last
year or so, you’ve more
than likely noticed his
acting career is starting to
build up quite the resume
wanted students interested
in this field to get as much
experience as possible.
Carroll County gave their all
in helping this movie get to
where it’s at today. We owe
it to the cast/erew to see this
movie!
John Anderson: “Conjurer”
is an excellent example of a
film that rooted its production
in the local community, as
well as UWG. Much of the
cast and crew are residents
of Georgia, and the final
product is something that
everyone involved can be
proud of.
Q: How did you get
involved with the film?
Freya Cole: How 1 got
involved in the movie was
from hearing all about the
movie in my mass comm,
classes, the teachers were
passing out forms to sign
if we were interested in
interning with them. 1 got
the form, turned it in and not
even a day later, I got a call
H
Photo courtesy of UWG Theatre
Characters Evelyn (left) and Adam (right) star
in ‘The Shape of Things’ in the Dangle Black
Box Threatre inside the Townsend Center.
will offer a special preview
to the community on
Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at
the special rate of $3. The
show will run in the Black
Box Theatre from Nov. 14-
Photo by Rottentomatoes com
(“Good Luck Chuck”,
“Mr. Brooks”).
Aside from a few
heartfelt laughs here
and there, the film was
relatively mild in the
humor department. It does
however receive major
kudos for the Sondre
from the production office
manager’ They were quick!
John Anderson: I heard
rumors about a movie
coming to Carrollton,
and eventually the rumor
materialized. Dr. Yates
told me it would be a great
opportunity to work with the
film, and the rest is history!
Q: What was your
favorite/least favorite part
of making this movie?
Freya Cole: My favorite
part of making the movie
was being able to see what
it’s like actually making a
movie, meeting all the cast/
crew and hearing how they
got in this industry. Everyone
was so down to earth. The
least favorite part was the
long hours...you work like
12 to 14 hour days. Six days
a week.
John Anderson: The best
part about working on this
film was the connections I
made. Everyday 1 met new
17 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 18
at 2:30 p.m. The show does
contain adult language and
content. For more ticket
information call 678-839-
4722.
Lerche soundtrack, which
includes all new songs by
the upcoming artist,adding
great flow and substance to
the film. In the end, I will
say it was a very enjoyable
movie to watch, with of
course, a happy ending.
So if you’re in the mood
people who have worked on
other exciting projects such
as ‘Lost’, ‘Stomp the Yard’,
and 'October Road’. 1 now
hope to one day follow in
their footsteps. The worst part
about working on the movie
was the time dedication. 1
worked nearly full-time on
the set in Whitesburg, and
spent a lot of time driving
from legation to location
for the movie. As an unpaid
intern, it really hurt filling up
my tank with no paycheck
(but the experience was
worth every penny).
Q: What makes
“Conjurer” unique?
Freya Cole: The unique
thing about “Conjurer’ is
that they have some famous
people in it...like John
Schneider from the original
“Dukes of Hazzard” and
most famously as being
the father in ‘Smallville.”
Andrew Bowen also stars
in it, and he is well known
from Mad TV.
Has Britney blacked out?
By Brandi Harris
Guest Writer
Bharris 7 @ my.westga .edu
From losing custody
of her two children to her
crash and bum on MTV’s
2007 Video Music Awards,
many Britney Spears fans
and critics expected no
better from her new album
Blackout. To all of our
surprise, Britney Spears has
not totally lost her “artistic”
touch.
Although her personal
life may not be in order, her
music career is far from over.
On Oct. 30, Spears dropped
her first album in four years.
And in my opinion, it’s the
best album she has ever
released. With all of the
negative publicity she has
been tagged with in the last
year or so, and no promoting
of the album, how could her
record even sell?
Apparently, bad
publicity is better than
nothing at all, because in
the first day of sales, the
album sold 124,000 copies,
according to eFluxMedia.
tit
to give Mr. Carell another
shot, this would be the
movie to see. But if you’re
looking for something
classic like Hedge’s last
film, “Pieces of April”,
the film doesn’t quite live
up to the director’s finest
hour.
John Anderson: Conjurer
is unique simply because
it is the first major movie
production associated with
the Carrollton and UWG
communities.
Q: Give a short synopsis
of “Conjurer.”
John Anderson: Art
photographer Shaw n Burnett
reluctantly agrees to move to
a rural farmhouse to help his
wife .Helen, recover from the
loss of their stillborn baby.
Shawn begins experiencing
unsettling events, but keeps
the strange occurrences to
himself to protect Helen’s
emotional balance. As he
investigates the property’s
history, Shawn encounters
disturbing echoes from his
own troubled past (Imdb.
com).
“Conjurer” will premier
at the Fox Theatre on Nov.
12 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are
$lO and the cast and crew
will be there.
com. Britney is predicted to
take the number one spot on
The Billboard 200 this week,
a much better direction than
the one she has been heading
down.
The album is full of
punches at her real-life
drama, including songs like
“Piece of Me” and “Why
Should I Be Sad,” a tune
about her ex-husband Kevin
Federline. I was very excited
and anxious to hear the
new album, and wasted no
time purchasing the CD last
Tuesday.
I was extremely pleased
after listening to the album,
because Britney is back. The
songs are up beat and great to
dance to. She could not have
picked a better time to show
the world that she might be
able to come back around.
The album is not a flop like
everyone predicted, and $lO
for the CD is a steal for the
great hits she produced.
Hopefully, now' that she
has anew record and fans are
coming back to her, she can
turn her personal life around
and become a better mother.