Oscar Nominations Announced; Expanded Field Gives Smaller Films a Chance to Shine on Oscar Night February 18, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentRoss Bonaime, Staff Writer
This year at the Oscar’s, the Davids are heading off against the Goliaths.
For the first time since 1943, the Academy Awards will have ten films nominated for best picture, double the usual number of five, after there was criticism of films like The Dark Knight being left off the list of the year’s best. But this year, while the smaller films are represented once again, with An Education, The Hurt Locker, Precious, A Serious Man and Up in the Air all nominated for best picture, so are five films which grossed over 100 million in the box office: The Blind Side, District 9, Inglorious Basterds, Up (only the second animated film ever to be nominated for best picture) and the highest grossing film of all time, Avatar.
Avatar and The Hurt Locker tied in nominations with nine apiece, with Inglorious Basterds close behind with eight. Precious and Up in the Air both garnered six nominations, Up received five and sci-fi films District 9 and Star Trek got four nominations, along with the musical Nine.
With best achievement in directing, James Cameron is nominated for Avatar against his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker.
A win for Bigelow would make her the first ever female to win the award. Also competing in the category are Lee Daniels for Precious, Jason Reitman for Up in the Air and Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds.
The best performance by an actor in a leading role nominees include Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart, George Clooney for Up in the Air, Colin Firth for A Single Man, Morgan Freeman for Invictus and Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker.
While best performance by an actress in a leading role nominees include Helen Mirren for The Last Station, Carey Mulligan for An Education and Gabourey Sidibe for Precious, the two to watch will be Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side and Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia facing off after their tie for the same award at the Critics Choice Awards.
The nominations for supporting roles have strong favorites in Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds and Mo’Nique for Precious.
Competing against Waltz for best supporting actor will be Matt Damon for Invictus, Woody Harrelson for The Messenger, Christopher Plummer in The Last Station and Stanley Tucci for The Lovely Bones.
Going against Mo’Nique in best supporting actress will be Penelope Cruz in Nine, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick, both for Up in the Air, and Maggie Gyllenhaal for Crazy Heart.
Best original screenplay nominees included The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, The Messenger, A Serious Man and Up. Best adapted screenplay nominations went to District 9, An Education, surprise nominee In the Loop, Precious and Up in the Air.
For best animated feature film, the little-known Irish film The Secret of the Kells will face off against heavy-hitters like Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Princess and the Frog and Up.
The winners will be announced for these awards and the rest of the nominees on Sunday, March 7th.
The Forgotten Gems; These Ten Films Might be Out of Theaters, But They Are Still Must-Sees for Any Movie Buff February 18, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentRoss Bonaime, Staff Writer
In the first few months of the year, film studios dump their films that may not be so great into one great heap that ends up making January and February a less than desirable time for movies. So in these winter doldrums, here are ten recent, lesser-known films to keep you entertained util the good ones start coming out.
In Bruges
After one of their jobs goes wrong, two hit men are told to lay low in the town of Bruges, Belgium and await further instructions. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson work great together as the two hit men in this darkly humorous and unpredictable film.
Whip It
Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut follows a teen (Ellen Page) in a small town who hasn’t quite figured out who she is, until she joins a roller derby league. Page is great as the newcomer to the team and this film about finding out who you really are is one of the best surprises from 2009.
Treeless Mountain
This Korean film about two little girls left with their aunt while their mother tries to find their father is a simple, yet beautiful and touching tale. The little girls, Jin and Bin, are forced to take care of each other and their performances are so nuanced and introspective that it’s hard to imagine such great performances coming from such young children.
World’s Greatest Dad
Recently, Robin Williams has been defined by his work in terrible comedies like Old Dogs as opposed to his great performances in darker films like One Hour Photo and Insomnia. However, World’s Greatest Dad is a great dark comedy where Williams is a failed writer who becomes increasingly famous after a freak accident in his family. This movie is one of Williams’ best comedies in years.
In the Loop
With the U.K. and the U.S. on the brink of going to war together against a Middle Eastern country, every little word counts. However, this mockumentary that also feels like it could be real, is one of the best comedies of last year, thanks to great writing and a hilarious performance by Peter Capaldi.
Big Fan
New York Giants superfan Paul, played by comedian Patton Oswalt, would do anything for his team. But after an altercation with his favorite player, he has to decide how far he would go for the team he loves. This incredibly dark comedy is also deeply depressing, yet Oswalt’s Paul keeps it all in balance.
Funny Games (2008)
A family goes on vacation and is terrorized by two young men. Sounds like a typical horror film, right?
Absolutely not. Michael Haneke’s “horror” film is more about how film audiences revel in violence and how horrific it truly is, as opposed to merely “scaring” the audience in this film that will make you think more than scream.
Snow Angels
Two stories intersect in Snow Angels: one of a high school boy who is just coming of age, and the story of his former babysitter, who is recently divorced and is taking care of her child while also having to deal with her ex-husband.
Anchored by great performances by Sam Rockwell and Olivia Thirby of Juno, this powerful film is one that deals with relationships in a harsh and unconventional way.
Shotgun Stories
Two sets of half-brothers become enemies when they finally meet up at their father’s funeral in this gorgeously shot, slow-moving, yet still riveting, drama.
The film seems almost Shakespearian at times and Michael Shannon’s performance shows that he is one of the best young actors of our generation.
Happy-Go-Lucky
This film about Poppy, who always looks at the bright side of life, could have easily been one of the most annoying films in recent memory.
But Sally Hawkins makes Poppy not oblivious to the negative, but rather an active participant in attempting to make people lean towards the positive.
The Led Balloon That Flew February 18, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentPearson Jones, Asst. Style Editor
Keith Moon, the legendary drummer of The Who, is infamously quoted for once saying that the up-and-coming heavy rock band formed by Jimmy Page, then known as The New Yardbirds, would go over like a led balloon with crowds.
Moon couldn’t have been more off, making one of the worst predictions about a band since Decca Recording Co. rejected The Beatles in 1962 because they thought guitar music was on its way out of being included in main stream music.
Change the word balloon to Zeppelin and you have one of the most influential bands ever, Led Zeppelin — a quartet of rock gods who became the progenitors of heavy metal, setting off trends of power chord ridden riffs, big arena rock-style songs and even bigger hairdos.
The “led” balloon flew, completely overshadowing the world of music to the point where it was almost impossible not to take a moment to look up and see how this band was re-setting the framework of rock ‘n’ roll.
Led Zeppelin IV, also known as the Four Symbols, could have been considered the most notoriously anti-Zeppelin sounding album when it originally surfaced in 1971.
Yes, it was the album that launched “Stairway to Heaven,” one of the Zeppelin’s most iconic songs, but it was also the album that preceded Led Zeppelin III, an album chastised for resonating too much of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young on the acoustic tunes and the heavier songs being nothing less than unconducted noise.
Led Zeppelin IV altered the band’s sound. Jimmy Page’s merciless riffs began to seep out even heavier than before, colliding with Robert Plant’s vocals which begin to sound more like a wailing banshee’s than a normal man’s, a formula that would gradually evolve into classic songs like “Black Dog.”
The record shoots lightning through your speakers, with an unlimited source of power fueled by tracks like “Four Sticks,” “When the Levee Breaks” and “Rock and Roll.”
The sound of Led Zeppelin IV is very much what Led Zeppelin is known for today, but not until this eight-track record had the band truly defined during their early years what their legacy was going to be.
Some of the more delicate songs like “Battle of Evermore” are carefully folded into the band’s fourth album, untouched by the fury of Page’s electric six-string assaults.
Instead, Page substituted his guitar for a mandolin, creating one of the most unique riffs by Zeppelin. John Bonham’s recognizable drums are also noticeably absent on this one as Plant sings a shameless tribute to the lore of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
“Stairway to Heaven” is easily the most recognizable songs on this album. Page’s delicately strummed intro is something every guitarist wishes they were responsible for creating.
Led Zeppelin IV will withstand time. It’s a reminder of the golden age of classic rock when music wasn’t packaged, commercialized and branded with a logo.
From initially thought as a sinking balloon to becoming one of the greatest rock bands in history, the zeppelin still floats on.
The Holiday for Lovers Isn’t Sweet for Everyone February 18, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentRamy Zabarah, Broadside Correspondent
It’s that time of the year again, so take out your wallets and get ready for some love!
Originally cherished as a day where one could express his or her love and affection toward a companion through exchanging confectionery and picking out flowers, the Valentine’s Day we know has since been remodeled.
As any holiday approaches, we’re always reminded that sentimentality might not necessarily be at the top of everyone’s priorities. And by “everyone,” I mean businesses. Honestly, how would Martin Luther King, Jr. feel if he knew that we were using his birthday as an excuse to buy cheap furniture?
Valentine’s Day is no more innocent a holiday than any other. In fact, The United States Greeting Card Association (yes, they have an association) claims about one billion valentines are sent worldwide every year.
When Valentine’s Day was fairly young, before it met its doom in the 1800s in the form of industrialization, romantics used to write and design each other valentines and exchange baked goods.
We now have a society considerate and convenient enough to provide us with that service, so we don’t actually have to do any work.
What’s even cheesier than cutting out a paper heart, writing, “I love you,” and slipping it under her door? Buying her a heart-shaped card for $5.99 from Hallmark with the words already inscribed in it, then simply signing your name at the end.
That doesn’t say, “I love you,” it says, “I like you enough to keep you around, and the guy on the poster told me to get you this.”
Valencia Vasquez, a junior and government and international politics major here at Mason chooses to see through the commercial incentives of Valentine’s Day,
“It’s to stimulate the economy!” she says. “Valentine’s Day makes people think love is directly connected to the amount of money spent on your significant other. It’s kind of cute that there’s a day for that but I really don’t think it needs to be forced down our throats.”
Point well proven, Valencia. If I truly love my companion, why should I have to love her more one day out of the year than every other day?
Unfortunately, it’s a standard in our society for the male to spend more money than the female. The United States Greeting Card Association also states that on average, men spend twice as much money as females on Valentine’s Day.
This could be why many women enjoy this day. When asked about her feelings toward the holiday, Mason sophomore biology major Ebonie Miller simply replied, “I love the chocolate.”
While some people feel very strongly about their opinion on Valentine’s Day, others are relatively neutral. Diversity Programs and Services Program Manager Teejay Brown explains, “I don’t really think about it until someone else brings it up.
“When I do think about it though, I think it’s just another moneymaking machine in our society.” Brown says, “but I’m not all ‘bah humbug’ though. Because it is a good time to appreciate people. I will usually send cards to my mom, grandma and aunts.”
Although some people might not agree with the current intentions of this originally non-profit holiday, most people enjoy the attention, and the opportunity to express and receive love from someone else, whether it’s backed by genuine intentions or it’s society’s way of telling us to love with our hearts, and express it with cash.
Finding Humor in the Everyday; The Comedy Central Star Talks with Broadside About Inspiration, his Comedic Father and his Future February 18, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentMarine Jaouen, Broadside Correspondent
When interviewing Demetri Martin, I expected the conversation to be punctuated by a series of humorous one-liners. Like some gifted word genius, he would magically sum up questions with clever single sentences, I would be gloriously entertained listening to my favorite comedian and it would be awesome.
After reality set in, I quickly realized that Martin’s answers were elaborate and eloquently explained, fitting for a comedian whose observational comedy includes word play like palindromes and paraprosdokians.
Martin discusses his path to becoming a comedian, his television show and his ambitions. Martin studied law at Yale University and New York University, but with one year left before graduating he realized that he wanted to try something new. Growing up with comedy from Bill Cosby and Eddie Murphy’s Delirious, a major part of his comedic background came from observing his father.
“My dad was a priest, so every Sunday I’d see my dad up in front of a big crowd, and he would do these pretty funny sermons that were mostly extemporaneous,” Martin said. “He didn’t prepare and write a lot, but he’d just speak for 20 minutes in front of the congregation, and he’d get laughs. He was a funny guy. So I think that was planted in my head without realizing it.”
Martin’s comedic style is punctuated by his one-liners and his use of guitar. Learning to play the guitar was another challenge, one that he embraced.
“That was the first time I thought, ‘Oh this could really help create an emotional framework and within that framework, then maybe the joke works better, by setting it up emotionally,’” Martin said.
To Martin, jokes are everywhere, ready for the taking: “I can just go anywhere with a notebook and daydream and think of stuff. Really just walk around and look at things and pay attention and see where the jokes are. It’s just . . . finding jokes out there.”
“When I was in New York, I would just wander around and go to different coffee shops. I’d write everywhere — on the subway, at the park, it was fun,” Martin said. “Moving out here [to Los Angeles], it’s more of a challenge. You can’t wander as much in L.A. on foot without looking like a crazy person. But I did learn how to doodle and write while I drive. That doesn’t sound like the smartest thing, but I got it to where I can keep a notebook on the hump between the two front seats and doodle without looking. I always try to have a book and a notebook with me so that if I’m in line, I can either be reading or writing. So I’m doing something productive and I’m not just standing there waiting.”
Translating his stand-up to a television show is a task that requires a lot of planning, Martin says:
“I was the guy who always did my homework in homeroom, always waited to the last minute, to the point where I need to wait ‘till the last minute. It was almost a problem, like I get a certain rush off of it.”
“[Now] I just feel like I’m in exams all the time,” Martin muses. “It’s like at the end of the semester, you’ve had a good time, and now it’s like, oh crap. I really have to figure this stuff out — I have two tests next week, I’m going to be staying up really late tomorrow night. That kind of thing. Whereas with stand-up, I never ended up in that situation. If I really procrastinated, I could improvise on stage if I had to. But with a TV show, there’s a camera crew hired, there are lights, a location we rented, we had to cast the actors. It’s a really different creative process.”
Martin has many ambitions for the future: “When a lot of this stuff settles down, what I wanted to do was go on another tour. Probably build a new stand-up show, make a new special.” His dream path would be to continue touring, make more movies and write some books.
Important Things with Demetri Martin airs on Comedy Central on Thursdays at 10 p.m.
Mardi Gras Madness February 12, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , 1 comment so farPearson Jones, Asst. Style Editor
Whether you call it Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, everyone knows that the day before the Lenten season is reserved for some of the most outlandish festivities. George Mason University is looking to honor this ritual.
Homecoming Week is upon us once again and it’s bringing with it the traditions, music and spirit of Bourbon Street. This year’s theme is Mardi Gras, an idea inspired by the student Program Board’s slogan “Unmasque Your Spirit.”
Monday 2/15
Mardi Gras Madness 12:30 p.m. JC Atrium
A spinoff of Mason Madness, Mardi Gras Madness will be this year’s Homecoming Pep Rally featuring the homecoming pageant contestants, the Green Machine pep bad and Mason dignitaries.
“The Big Easy” Pageant 8 p.m. Dewberry Hall
Come check out this year’s pageant contestants as they strut their stuff to earn your vote.
Tuesday 2/16
Can-Can for Cans 3:30-4:30 p.m. SUB II Ballroom
Watch student teams construct can-structions. The event will include students who will build structures out of non-perishable cans that will later be donated to a local food bank.
Show Us Your Talent 8 p.m. Dewberry Hall
Mason’s got talent and a lot of students are willing to prove it. Come out and watch Mason’s most talented students entertain the student body.
Wednesday 2/17
Lip-Syncing on the Bayou 8 p.m. Dewberry Hall
Mason’s first ever lip-syncing competition will feature students as their favorite stars as they honor the music that they created. No singing talent required.
Thursday 2/18
Bourbon Street Komedy Jam 8 p.m. SUB II Ballroom
The Homecoming Komedy show will feature the fabulous comedic styling’s of Dan Ahdoot and Arvin Mitchell.
Friday 2/19
Canal Street Concert with Safety Suit 8 p.m. JC Atrium
This year’s homecoming concert is proving to be a huge event and it’s free. This year’s concert will be headlined by the VH-1 band The Safety Suit.
The Masquerade Affair 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sub II Ballroom (Dance Party)
This concert after-party features DJ 5’9”. There will also be casino games going all night as well.
Saturday 2/20
Homecoming Parade 5 p.m. East Side of Patriot Circle. (Parade starts from Rappahannock parking deck)
In the spirit of Mardi Gras, Mason brings the celebration of homecoming to the streets.
Block Party 5:30-7:30 p.m. Parking Lot A
Heated tents will be put up so students can wander around and hangout with friends as Mardi Gras Madness unfolds.
Valentines Day Quiz February 5, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a comment1. What do 15 percent of women do on Valentines Day?
A. Lie about having a boyfriend
B. Go on blind dates
C. Buy themselves flowers
D. Go out to dinner with their friends
2. What states produces the most roses for Valentines Day?
A. Virginia
B. California
C. Texas
D. Florida
3. How many different Valentines Day cards does Hallmark have?
A. 1330
B. 2000
C. 100
D. 10
4. What percentage of men don’t make plans in advance for Valentines Day?
A. 17
B. 42
C. 56
D. 64
5. How many Valentines Day cards are exchanged on February 14th?
A. 2 billion
B. 900 million
C. 2 million
D. 1 billion
6. What percent of pet owners will give their pets Valentines Day cards?
A. 2
B. 10
C. 25
D. 3
7. What year was Valentines Day made an official holiday?
A. 1940
B. 1881
C. 1537
D. 1400
8. Why caused a rose to be associated with Valentines Day?
A. It smells good
B. The rose is associated with the goddess Venus
C. Red is the color of love
D. Their cheap to grow
9. What country doesn’t celebrate Valentines Day?
A. Canada
B. China
C. France
D. Australia
10. Who receives the most Valentine Day cards?
A. Teachers
B. Wives
C. Boyfriends/Girlfriends
D. Family members
Apple’s Newest Gadget: iPad Hits Stores in May February 2, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , add a commentRamy Zabarah, Broadside Correspondent
Attention all Mac-heads! Like your MacBook? Can’t go an hour without playing with your iPhone? As I’m sure you’ve already heard, a new flower is emerging from the very fruitful garden of Apple, Inc.
On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Steve Jobs and the rest of the Apple crew held a conference in San Fransisco, Calif. to unveil their latest product, the iPad.
After weeks of speculation as to the actual existence of Apple’s new mysterious product, the announcement was finally made, and the iPad will be in stores toward the end of May.
Expected to kick tart the market for tablet computers, the iPad is like a supersized iPod Touch with more similarities to an actual computer.
It will be a central portable device where you can store your music, photos, videos, e-mails, read books and surf the Internet with a much more intimate interface.
Portability is huge with the iPad. Although it’s essentially a plus-size iPod Touch, it can easily slide into your backpack or purse. Weighing in at about 1.5 pounds, you don’t really have to worry about carrying any extra baggage.
Also, its width and height dimensions are about 7 ½ by 9 ½ inches. To give you an idea, a piece of printer paper is about 8 ½ by 11 inches.
George Mason University sophomore and avid Apple product user Nick Wood is ecstatic about this gadget.
“I’m pretty excited about the iPad,” he said. “I’m a big fan of Apple’s intuitive simplicity and I’d like to have one so I can use my apps, watch movies and read books in a much better format than carrying around a laptop.”
Its multi-touch screen is basically like that of the iPhone, but reengineered to accommodate a larger screen, giving the user more accuracy and freedom.
The screen has an LED backlit display, giving it better resolution and a crisper image — better for watching movies and browsing the Internet.
The iPad will also serve as an E-book device. A market that has been mostly dominated by the Amazon Kindle over the past couple years is about to be rocked. The iBookstore, very similar to the iTunes store, will have E-books that you can buy and download straight to your library.
One of the iPad’s most appealing features is its 3G capability. With a subscription to a 3G network, you will be able to browse the Internet from anywhere there is service, not just where there is a WiFi connection.
The 3G plans will be $14.99 a month for 250 MB, which is ideal if you’re only going to be using it to access your e-mail, and $29.99 a month for unlimited data.
The plans will be given through AT&T, and are offered without a contract.
Prices for the iPad without 3G capabilities will be $499 for the 16 GB model, $599 for the 32 GB model, and $699 for the 64 GB model.
The 3G iPads will be $629, $729 and $829 respectively. WiFi capability comes standard with all iPads.
Local Group Brings the Noise: I Am the Kaleidoscope Fuses Genres February 2, 2010
Posted by style in : Style , 1 comment so farDonovan Hall, Broadside Correspondent
As my journey to discover the local music scene began, I found myself at JAXX night club off of Rolling Road in Springfield. It was here that I discovered the first band I would interview, I Am the Kaleidoscope.
I planted myself at a little table towards the back of the club, illuminated by a dull yellow light. As I waited for the performance to begin, I watched the 100 or so audience members drift around the bar and dance floor, anxiously waiting for the music to begin. After a few moments, the band appeared and began prepping for the show.
The first thing I noticed about I Am the Kaleidoscope was the relationship between the band members. They joked around and showed no sign of being nervous as they tuned their instruments. When they finished, a huddle formation between the members readied them, as well as the crowd, for the show.
As the performance began, the high energy and intense sound of the band drew the audience members closer to the stage. Within seconds of the music starting, the rapid guitar riffs, heart-pounding drum beats, hypnotizing bass lines and the lead singer’s distinctive and surprisingly high-pitched voice immediately caught my attention and held it the whole time they were on stage.
The music’s unique sound mixed several genres. Each member brought a style to the group ranging from hardcore rock to alternative and even R&B-infused rhythms. It dawned on me that deeming this group a certain genre would be nearly impossible.
In fact, before starting, one member made a comment to the crowd about the genre debate. “We are I Am the Kaleidoscope. I’d tell you what genre we are but I don’t know because we don’t know,” joked Eddie Fuentes, the 21-year-old guitarist from The Art Institute of Washington.
Alongside Eddie is Dominic Dixon, a 25-year-old on the bass. Back on the drums is George Mason University’s own Carlos Cruz, a 21-year-old biology and French double major. Finally is Khalid Gharzai, the 24-year-old vocalist.
The energy from the music was contagious and spread to the crowd. I even found myself constantly moving to the beat as I tried to take down notes. The performance was clean, energized, fun and genuine. Their love for music stood out as they shined on stage, doing the thing they enjoy with close friends.
Each song was different but still contained that unique sound that could only be attributed to their band. Some songs you could boogie down to and then next thing you know, you could be head banging to the next.
My first question was naturally about the name of the band. When the band formed, they actually had another name. Sadly, they learned of another group on the West Coast with a following and the same name. When trying to think of a new one, Eddie found inspiration in one of his poems.
When he spotted the line “I am the kaleidoscope,” Eddie immediately thought of the band’s music and members.
Just like the band, kaleidoscopes are made of different pieces to create an original vision. The name stuck.
The band started playing seriously six months ago, but they had come together much earlier.
In fact, Khalid and Dominic had played in a band together before this project. Eddie and Carlos also played together, and Carlos mentioned liking Khalid and Dom’s music before they even started playing together. Through friends, the group met and sealed their fate as a band.
All of their songs are originally composed by the band members. The other members joked around and labeled Eddie the “brain child” for his imagination and power to bring all of their influences together into their own sound. They meet about two times a week to collaborate and practice.
As I wrapped up the interview, I asked the band about their intentions for the future. “We would definitely like to get our music out to much more than a local level.”
Cruz said, “We would love to travel around and play. We all take our music very seriously.”
The band currently has a four-track demo they give out at their shows. Anyone interested in finding out more about the band or their music can check out their websites online: www.facebook.com/IamtheKaleidoscope and www.myspace.com/IamtheKaleidoscope.
As for myself, my never-ending journey to help reach the masses about local music talent continues on. If you are in a band or know of a band that would be interested in doing an interview, you can reach me at my e-mail, dhall8@gmu.edu
Lights, Camera, Mason: An Inside Look at GMU’s Film Department February 2, 2010
Posted by Sonya Hudson in : Style , add a commentEvan Benton, Staff Writer
George Mason University is known for its many centers of learning: a continually growing School of Law in Arlington; a massive, world-renowned communication department featuring former journalists and reporters from News 4 and Reuters; and an economics department that touts such professors as Russ Roberts and popular conservative analyst Walter Williams — to name only the most popular fields.
It’s a testament to the university’s scholastic diversity that it can continue to be successful as a school of many thoughts, rather than just one or two — appealing to and providing for the desires and interests of all its student population.
Last year I discovered for myself one of Mason’s smallest, yet one of its most rewarding, departments: film.
Not quite its own department in name (it falls under specialized classes, under sections such as ENGL 332, RUSS 470, JAPA 320), Mason Film is taught by experienced, knowledgeable professors eager to share what they know with Mason students interested in film.
Two years ago, halfway through my college career and wanting to add something with a little spice to my bland and broad “Communication” major, I stumbled upon the Film and Media Studies (FAMS) minor, offered by the English department.
After some e-mail correspondence with Professor Cynthia Fuchs, director of the FAMS minor, declaring my minor via some official-looking papers and taking some preliminary core classes, I was able to sign up for ENGL 332, Introduction to Film, in my junior year.
Teaching my class was Desson Thomson, a British ex-patriot and film critic for The Washington Post from 1983 to 2008.
He remains to be rivaled as the best professor I’ve ever had, and I find myself especially lucky to have been taught by a professional public speaker and author of two books for the National Society of Film Critics.
Despite the fact that our opinions of movies were often not in agreement, Desson and I still keep up correspondence, but unfortunately for all of Mason, he isn’t teaching any more classes.
But there are plenty of other film authorities, both new additions and veterans, who are not only filling in the vacancy left by Desson, but adding their own expertise to new classes as well.
These professors include Jessica Scarlata, who holds a Ph.D in cinema studies from New York University and who teaches Film and Cultural Theory (ENGL 422) and the brand-new Indian Cinema (ENGL 490), and Carla Marcantonio, who teaches ENGL 332 along with Cynthia Fuchs, and also holds her Ph.D from NYU.
Marcantonio is a recognized expert and author on the works of Pedro Almodovar as well.
Michael Jeck, who teaches the Post-Soviet Film (RUSS 470) and Japanese Cinema (JAPA 320) classes I’m currently in, is a former program director for the American Film Institute.
An expert on Japanese film and the works of Akira Kurosawa, Jeck was selected to provide the commentary to the Criterion Collection version of Seven Samurai.
Even with film studies luminaries such as these teaching classes at Mason, many of these classes remain very under populated.
This may be due to the fact that film classes are forced to fit in strange time slots due to their lack of popularity and faculty strength. For instance, my Japanese and Soviet film classes are from 5:55 to 7:10 p.m. and 8:45 to 10:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, respectively.
These are fantastic classes, for both the self-proclaimed film buff like myself and just the casual enjoyer of the silver screen.
The professors are masterminds of critical film thought, and men like Michael Jeck, who have been in the business for decades, have a seemingly inexhaustible supply of stories and experience to share.
Whether you’re a student looking for an exciting, worthwhile minor to add to your college resume, or just a film fan like myself, give these classes a try.
Or e-mail one of the professors I’ve listed and maybe shadow a class yourself to see if they’re for you.
Watching movies and getting graded on them. What could be better?
If interested in the FAMS minor, go to their new-and-improved site, http://fams.gmu.edu. Or just check out Desson’s website, www.dessonthomson.com, featuring a complete listing of films he’s reviewed, including recent ones such as Avatar and Inglorious Basterds.