Campus Circle Newspaper Volume 18 Issue 23

2 | Campus Circle

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

May 21 - May 27, 2008 • Vol. 18 Issue 20

Editor-in-Chief Jessica Koslow editor.chief@campuscircle.net

6

Managing Editor Yuri Shimoda

ALL OF THE COLLEGE EDUCATION. NONE OF THE COLLEGE TUITION.

managing.editor@campuscircle.net

Film Editor Jessica Koslow film.editor@campuscircle.net

Art Director Alance Ward Editorial Interns Jeff Bachman, Danielle Charbonneau, Michael Lee, Lauren Rosenblum

21 22 INSIDE

16

Contributing Writers Elsy Benitez, Sarah Bennett, China Bialos, Bourbon With Brendan, Michael Buzzelli,

4 CAMPUS NEWS 4 WOODEN NICKELS

Alexander L. Carpenter, Erica Carter, Richard Castaneda, Natasha Desianto, Sheila Dichoso, James Dusenberry, James Famera, Sandra Fernando, Mari Fong,

Earn an associate’s degree from the Community College of the Air Force. Registration is free, and the college offers more than 80 fields of study. The Air Force also offers up to 100% tuition assistance at hundreds of colleges and universities. Visit our Web site at AIRFORCE.COM or give us a call at 1-800-423-USAF.

Josh Herman, Zach Hines, Joe Horton, Sophia Kidd, Matthew Kitchen, Jonathan Knell, Megan Krizmanich, Emmanuelle Lee, Lucia, Laren Mahoney, Ebony March, Angela Matano, Anthony Miller, Ryan McWhorter, John Ochoa, Brien Overly, Sasha Perl-Raver, Keyvon Pierre,

CROSS INTO THE BLUE

contents

Robert Axelrod, Leslie Barrie, Lori Bartlett,

SPECIAL FEATURES

5 FATHER’S DAY GIFTS 12 THEATRE ROW

FILM

6 THE HAPPENING

M. Night Shyamalan’s First R-Rated Thriller

J. Poakwa, Dov Rudnick, Sean Schlemmer,

7 AMERICAN TEEN

Mike Sebastian, Henry Senecal,

Megan’s Pre-Med Calling

Doug Simpson, David Tobin, Mike Venezia, Kevin Wierzbicki

Contributing Artists & Photographers Doria Anselmo, Elsy Benitez, Emmanuelle Lee, David Tobin

ADVERTISING Sean Bello sean.bello@campuscircle.net

7 SERGIO LEONE

Tribute to the Great Filmmaker

6 6 8 8 9

OLD SCHOOL DVDS PROJECTIONS SCREEN SHOTS REVIEWS DVD REVIEWS

MUSIC

16 PHANTOM PLANET

Cruise Across the States on the Honda Civic Tour Joy Calisoff joy.calisoff@campuscircle.net

Ronit Guedalia ronit.guedalia@campuscircle.net

Assistants to the Publishers Sandra Fernando, Frederick Mintchell

Campus Circle newspaper is published 47 times a year and is available free at 40 schools and over 800 retail locations throughout Los Angeles. Circulation: 30,000. Readership: 90,000.

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PUBLISHED BY CAMPUS CIRCLE, INC. 5042 Wilshire Blvd., PMB 600 Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 939-8477 (323) 939-8656 Fax info@campuscircle.net www.campuscircle.com Š 2008 Campus Circle, Inc. All rights reserved.

16 CD REVIEWS 16 FREQUENCY 17 MUSIC REPORT 17 L.A. UNDERGROUND 18 LIVE SHOW REVIEWS 19 SPIN CYCLE

INNER CIRCLE

5 GAME ON 5 TECH BYTES 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS 13 CURTAIN CALL 13 COMEDY 14 FASHION FOCUS 14 FASHION101 15 PHOTO FEATURE 19 L.A. MOVES 20 THE ART OF LOVE 20 PAGES 21 SPORTS 21 BOTTOMS UP 21 EXHIBITIONS 22 L.A. FACES 22 THE 10 SPOT 23 ESSENTIAL L.A.

ON THE COVER: The Happening CREDIT: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

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4 | Campus Circle

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

campus news | B Y J E F F B A C H M A N

wooden nickels | B Y

UCLA Producers Marketplace Competition

CALL ME ISHMAEL:

On June 11 at 7:30 p.m., Giacun Caduff, Andrea Johnston, May Lugemwa and Sebastian Mathews will pitch their projects to a panel of professional producers in the hopes of winning the UCLA Producers Program Marketplace Award.

Also taking place at the event is a ceremony presenting the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and PGA Vision Award to producer Steve Golin, whose credits include Babel, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Being John Malkovich. VP of Motion Pictures for the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Bruce Cohen, whose credits include Big Fish and American Beauty, will present the award.

Double Majors on the Rise A story in the Los Angeles Times recently noted that the percentage of USC graduates earning double majors has more than doubled in the past decade. The university promotes the idea that taking on multiple majors will prove helpful to their students, even if they don’t see one or more through to completion. UCLA has also seen increases in the amount of double major graduates and major-minor graduates since allowing students to take minors in 1995.

Academics agree that a double major can be a helpful resume builder, but only if the student remains successful in both fields. More work does not necessarily indicate better work, but it can signify an individual’s level of ambition.

In 2000, USC created an award for effectively combining the two, the Renaissance Prize, which is given to honor students achieving high grades in two or more disparate fields of study, whether in a double major or major-minor combination. Plenty of jobs are out there for successful, ambitious people, and acquiring good grades while managing a double major is a good way to show-off these characteristics.

USC’s Historic, New Dean of Religious Life Dr. Varun Soni will be the first Hindu Dean of Religious Life in USC’s history, but, not only that, he’s the first Hindu to hold such a position in a university in the United States. An ordained Christian has typically held the post, which has often been called “university chaplain.”

Soni had previously taught law at UC Berkeley and has a bachelor’s degree in religion from Tufts University, a master’s degree in theological studies from Harvard, a master’s degree in comparative religion from UC Santa Barbara and a law doctorate from UCLA. He will officially take over duties as the Dean of Religious Life on July 1.

CORRECTION On the cover of our June 10 issue (Vol. 18, Issue 22), we mistakenly added a Jr. to the end of Robert F. Kennedy’s name. Our apologies for this oversight.

JOE HORTON

Hillary Clinton ends her campaign.

It’s hard to let go.

We all have boxes of junk in the closet or attic; we all contemplate calling that ex in moments of weakness or inebriation. The longer the relationship, the stronger the bond and the more difficult it is to move beyond the comfort of the familiar into the dangerous beyond.

So blame Hillary Clinton if you must, but don’t feign ignorance of the gravity of her choice as she looks down into the abyss.

There was a double-dose of sadness June 3 on the final evening of primaries starring Montana and South Dakota. Sad that Clinton refused to officially concede the Democratic race to Barack Obama, to graciously step aside after a contentious but well-fought campaign. Sad also that South Dakota and Montana fell by the wayside, their results so important to the race but overshadowed by political machinations of the will she/won’t she deathwatch with superdelegate vultures circling.

Perhaps the greatest achievement of this five-month manic tour of the country was that every state (and every territory, protectorate and registered-voters-abroad amalgamation) got its say in a process too long dominated by a tradition of obtuse regionalism.

In my column here on Jan. 9, I lamented the arbitrary preeminence of first-in-the-nation Iowa and New Hampshire, bemoaning the fact that so few would speak for so many in an election of such magnitude. As fate – bound inexorably to Hillary Clinton’s refusal to retreat – would have it, everyone, including the “half ” selves of the disgraced Michigan and Florida delegations, had their day.

I had the chance to meet

Clinton ever so briefly on the trail in West Virginia, shortly before she tallied one of her largest margins of victory in the entire campaign.

By then, indeed, the cause was out of reach, but to see the faces of the townspeople of Grafton as she shook hands in the rain and was greeted with a chorus of “don’t give up!” I saw for the first time how genuinely difficult giving up or giving in would be for her.

She was, after all, only months earlier the presumptive nominee, so far ahead that she had taken to saying “when I’m president” in interviews and really meaning it.

She was to be the first female president, a history-making, barrier-shattering candidate for the ages, after whom schools across the country (though mostly in blue states, no doubt) would be named.

Add to that potent ego brew her latter-day emergence as the champion of the working classes and older women, groups who in sizeable numbers felt left out of Obama’s soaring rhetoric and latched onto Clinton with their hearts, hopes and wallets. As the citizens of Grafton so intoned, her fight was their fight and her loss would be theirs too – “don’t give up!” was the tight-throated call they had to muster.

The question has been raised ceaselessly by the punditry as to whether Obama won this nomination or Clinton lost it. Most experts wallow in the murky middle-ground or claim a fiery, partisan, always overstated slant on the whole mess – Obama as the next coming of JFK/RFK/George McGovern/Jimmy Carter and Clinton alternately as the GOP-like antichrist or the victim of a wideranging conspiracy.

Joe Horton

I’d like to think of the race in more personal terms. I see Hillary as a candidate who remembers how the paint in the White House smells and knows all of the speed-dials by heart.

She understands the power of the office and the rights, responsibilities, perks, punishments, triumphs and disasters that it holds.

Is she obsessed with returning to the Oval Office? Absolutely.

Like all obsessions, did it cloud her judgment in matters of what was best for her party and country as a whole? Probably.

But obsession is both universal and a particular hallmark of all great states(wo)men, a necessary character skew that helps shoulder the burden of leadership. Clinton, long derided as robotic and coldly calculating, has shown more humanity – for good and bad – in this campaign than any other candidate.

We all do crazy things when faced with loss, the imminent and embarrassing fall from grace and comfort. We so often are slaves to our own ends, chasing obsessions in the shadows and away from the public eye.

Of Hillary Clinton, whose quest may have cost her more than she can yet realize, let it be said that her failing is ours too, played out on the grand stage with no safety net.

Losing, as we all privately understand but must publicly embrace, is not merely the absence of winning but the presence of accountability in the face of what is lost.

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

special feature | B Y

tech bytes | reviews

MICHAEL LEE

FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Do-dads: A list of High-Tech Gadgets and Other Stuff For Pops Nikon COOLPIX S550 www.nikonusa.com; $229 The perfect gift for the father who wants to capture plenty of memories, the S550 allows for Smile Detection (The camera will only take a picture if

powerful audio while allowing for various means to listen to the music.

With a sleek CD player and iPod dock, your dad can listen to his favorite tunes, in whatever form they may come in.

Modern Marvels: Engineering Disasters

the subject is smiling – how cool is that?) and Blink Warning (alerts you when someone in the photo blinked).

The COOLPIX S550 also comes with 10 megapixels, 5x optical zoom, large LCD display, vibration reduction and is available in three colors.

iMuffs www.wi-gear.com; $179.99 If your dad ever hits the gym or goes out jogging, he needs a pair of these. iMuffs are wireless headphones – ideal for getting rid of those short ear buds that come with the iPod (or just the messiness of wires with any other headphones). Best of all, the iMuffs provide quality stereo sound in addition to convenience.

Sharp Micro-Audio Shelf System www.sharpusa.com; $159.99 The Sharp XL-DK257 provides

A&E; $39.95 Whether your dad is the handiest man around, or if he consistently wrecks everything he touches and opts for calling the repairman, he’s sure to be entertained (or at least feel better about himself) with Modern Marvels: Engineering Disasters, a look at some of history’s greatest engineering blunders and the consequences.

The Jewish Songbook Shout! Factory; $15.98 For those fathers who like to laugh, The Jewish Songbook features some of today’s top Jewish stars like Adam Sandler, Jason Alexander, Max Weinberg, Rob Schneider, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and more. This musical and comedic album will surely get your dad in a good mood before you show him your final grades.

FLO TV www.flotv.com Fathers are busy people, so they may not always be able to plop down in front of the TV to catch their favorite shows. FLO TV allows for full-

(Sony) The bundle starts with quite possibly the best game for the PSP: “God of War: Chains of Olympus.” It can be too bloody and violent for some, but the game offers the sort of high quality graphics and intriguing storyline that are hard to find in many console games. Plus, if the wait for the final chapter of the series is driving you crazy, this prequel will give you the fix you need.

The perfect companion to one of

the best games on the system is the UMD of one of the best comedies of the last year – Superbad.

Finally, to sweeten the pot and add a bit to the “God of War” lovers’ frenzy, the PSP itself is that special “God of War” blood red hue. The cherry on top is the always-cheery face of Kratos in white on the back.

Grade: A

inner circle

LIGHT3 length programming from networks such as CBS, NBC, ESPN and Comedy Central to be viewed from one’s cell phone. If your dad is on the go a lot, this is the chance to let him catch up on some of the news or sports games that he’s missed.

Kindle www.amazon.com, $399 Amazon’s Kindle is a wireless reading device that allows people to buy books online and read it on the screen. For those fathers who have studies already crammed full of books and are still yearning for more to read, the Kindle is a handy device – not only is everything in one compact space, the screen looks and reads like real paper.

With a large library, free book samples and a long battery life, the Kindle will kindle your father’s book-engulfing passion.

Steinhausen Watch $199.95-$249.95 These absolutely beautiful watches will not only help your dad keep track of the time, one will also complement his wardrobe nicely. Each movement is reproduced by hand, and it also comes with interchangeable brown and black leather wristbands.

Westchester Golf Course 6900 W. Manchester Ave., Los Angeles (310) 649-9173; westchester.americangolf.com, $8 and up If your dad’s into golf, why not take him for a day on the range?

Westchester lets you play a round of gold at affordable prices. Clubs are available to rent here if he doesn’t already have a set of his own, and there are also cart rentals, putting greens and 80 driving range stalls.

game on | BY JONATHAN KNELL ‘GOD OF WAR’ PSP BUNDLE

Campus Circle | 5

“God of War” PSP Bundle is currently available.

(Life+Gear) We are living in an age where we have to balance the unquestionable need for technology with the ever-increasing understanding that the wasteful ways of the past are not sustainable. Life+Gear seems to have really taken this to heart with the Light3.

This flashlight operates completely on winding power and, after 60 seconds of winding, stays on for an almost unsettlingly long time. The lack of batteries is definitely not evident in the strength of the super-bright LED light, regardless of whether you use the flashlight, lantern or emergency settings.

The Light3 does have another function, though, that gives it a leg up over other environmentally friendly flashlights. Once the flashlight is wound, you can plug in the special cable to charge most standard cell phones. Needless to say, this makes this flashlight a must-have for the car or for campers who have trouble completely taking themselves off of the grid.

Granted, the $25 price is a bit steep, but remember that this is a flashlight that will never need a battery change, can save your life (or your cell phone’s life) in a pinch and will never leave you high and dry without power.

Grade: B+ —Jonathan Knell Light3 is currently available.

PERSONAL MEDIA TRAVEL POUCH

(KangaRoom) The time has come to admit that, whether you are a techy or not, high-tech toys are no longer the realm of nerds alone. MP3 players and cell phones have become regular pieces of the modern social uniform and, with them, so too are we stuck with countless cords.

The KangaRoom Personal Media Pouch attempts to offer a portable solution to the clutter of multiple cords. This pouch – which looks like a flat messenger bag without any straps – has small pouches for three devices and their cords.

The biggest problem is that it doesn’t actually have a strap or any other way to carry it. While it might be a way to help organize your backpack or to keep all of your cables from getting lost in your luggage, people who do not have many portable devices or who have no need to cart cords around with them will not have much use for it. Likewise, the price is almost high enough that simply buying a messenger bag might be a better alternative.

Grade: B —Jonathan Knell Personal Media Pouch is currently available. For more information, visit www.kangaroomstorage.com.

JUNE 11 - JUNE 17, 2008 • VOL. 18

ISSUE 23 • campuscircle.com

FILM IN LOS ANGELES THE HAPPENING Qué paso in M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie?

BY EBONY MARCH FOR MANY, HE IS THE SECOND coming of Alfred Hitchcock. He can easily be considered a provocateur of suspense. His past films The Sixth Sense and The Village packed serious punch at the box office, while leaving moviegoers with an overwhelming need to sleep with the lights on.

Now auteur M. Night Shyamalan is back with a new creative endeavor sure to spook the bejesus out of all who dare to look upon it. That film is called The Happening.

From the first glance of the film’s trailer, one is left with myriad plot possibilities swirling in his or her head. Could this film be about aliens from another planet? Is it about mindcontrolling zombies that take over the big city? Is it another Cloverfield?

Actually, it’s more intense...

SPOILER: It turns out that the world is being affected by a horrible toxin given off by plants. When the toxin is inhaled by the public, it results in the victim being overcome with the need to commit suicide – by any means necessary.

And Shyamalan didn’t scrimp on the gruesome, either. Where he used to leave a lot of violence up to the imagination, he has now gone ballsto-the-wall on the scary tip for fans.

Shyamalan first got the idea for The Happening as a vision in his head while working on his last feature, Lady in the Water. Mental pictures of abandoned cars soon filled his head, and from there, he wove his creepy tale of terror.

“It ended up being about this couple played by Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel, and how they find themselves in the middle of this apocalyptic event that’s happening only in this section of the United States,” he explains. “And they can’t get out of it. They’re trying their best to stay alive and get out of this situation. They don’t even know what’s happening. Everyone’s dying from this airborne toxin. They don’t know whether it’s terrorists or a nuclear event. It’s a very, very horrific premise.”

For actress Zooey Deschanel (sister of “Bones” star Emily Deschanel), working with Shyamalan would give her the perfect opportunity to delve into a heavier character than some of her previous onscreen portrayals.

“I think it’s a more grown-up role which is nice for me because it’s good to grow up,” admits the actress.

She also enjoyed the hands-on approach that her director took with the material.

“I love working with Night because he is a real old fashioneddirector, and he knows what the shots look like. He knows what he wants.

He knows what the film’s going to be

Director M. Night Shyamalan and Zooey Deschanel on the set of The Happening

before he makes it. He knows why he writes every line, and he has a specific idea of what everything is supposed to mean in terms of the picture.”

For Wahlberg, he expresses similar feelings of warmth for his fearless leader. When describing his first meeting with Shyamalan, he speaks of a man that welcomed him with open arms into his project.

“Yeah, we had, like a three-hour dinner. Had some sushi. Drank a lot of sake and talked about how much we enjoyed each other’s company,” he jokes. “We hadn’t worked together.

He had worked with my brother and

worked with Joaquin [Phoenix] twice. I was always jealous of both of them because they had gotten to work with Night and I hadn’t.”

As for the actual on-set process?

It looks like Shyamalan has created another lifelong devotee: “Initially I didn’t know what to expect going in,” admits Wahlberg, “but now I dread working with another director because I’ve never seen somebody as prepared and as focused as him.”

The Happening releases in theaters June 13.

old school dvds | reviews

projections | essential film events

The Bette Davis Collection

CINEVEGAS X

(20th Century Fox) Bette Davis, if not the greatest American actress ever, certainly deserves a place in the top 10. By turns bitter, heartbreaking and campy, Davis’ film career spanned an unbelievable 58 years, beginning in 1931 with The Bad Sister and ending in 1989(!) with Wicked Stepmother. Her eyes alone proved compelling enough to inspire the hit song “Bette Davis Eyes” sung

by Kim Carnes in 1981.

The Bette Davis Collection does justice to the actress’s illustrious career by providing a range of her films. Included in the collection is All About Eve, probably her best film, featuring great and quotable lines like, “Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a bumpy night.”

The other four movies in the collection, Phone Call From A Stranger, The Virgin Queen, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte and The Nanny, while not quite achieving the perfection of Eve, still offer excellent bang for your buck.

Grade: A —Angela Matano The Bette Davis Collection is currently available.

James Stewart - The Western Collection (Universal) The highlight of this collection is Stewart’s collaborations with Anthony Mann in what have been called “psychological westerns.” Winchester 73, Bend of the River and The Far Country show a different side of Stewart than his earlier work.

The characters he plays here, flawed frontier men, are more complex and display Stewart’s range as an actor far better than his usual “aw, shucks” persona. Though the collection is light on extras, Winchester does include an audio interview with Stewart that runs as a commentary track.

Destry Rides Again, from Hollywood’s legendary year of 1939, is a light western/comedy with Stewart in his typical persona. The film co-stars Marlene Dietrich in a career-reviving performance as a bar singer.

Two lesser films, Night Passage and Rare Breed feel more like throw-ins to a fine collection.

Grade: A—Mike Sebastian James Stewart – The Western Collection is currently available.

excuse for an extended desert vacation.

Movies like Big Heart City and Cocaine Cowboys II: Hustlin’ with the Godmother are separated into categories like “Sure Bets,” “Vegas Uncovered,” “Area 52” and “Jackpot B Y S A R A H B E N N E T T Premiere.”

The documentary categories, however, have the most eye-catching offerings. From a ANYBODY THAT HAS SPENT MORE portrait on New York’s than 48 hours in Sin City infamous Chelsea Hotel knows that the worst thing to a world premiere look about the place is trying to at the life of Phoenix art find non Cirque du Soleil scene’s “clown prince,” and lagoon pool things to Ryan Avery, CineVegas’ do with the sweltering documentaries explore daylight hours. But starting new territories and find this week, visiting Angelstories in the unexpected. enos will have an added Fill your nights up reward for the five-hour with public intoxication, drive: the CineVegas Film but save the days for Festival. hung-over movie watchFor 10 years, CineVegas ing because even though has provided a two-week Hunter S. Thompson celebration of unique films feared and loathed in the that take risks and push the Catch Big Heart City at CineVegas. place, you’ll be loving artistic limits of filmevery second of the city of sin (straight making in the very city that invented riskthrough a documentary on Thompson that’s taking and pushing artistic limits – fabulous almost as crazed as the man himself).

Las Vegas. Held at the Palms Casino Resort, the festival is known for evocative For more information, visit documentaries, in-depth celebrity tributes www.cinevegas.com. and highlights in local film; and is a great

June 12-21 @ Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

AMERICAN TEEN’S MEGAN Pre-Med: A Mindset

In anticipation of Paramount Vantage’s July 25 release of American Teen, Campus Circle asked each of the film’s five “teens” to sound off about college life and their particular areas of expertise. Below, Megan Krizmanich shares her experience as a pre-med student embarking on her junior year at the University of Notre Dame.

Scott Coun

cil

Most five-year-olds live for the trips to the zoo, recess, their favorite afternoon cartoon; I yearned for ER pages, making rounds, trips to the doctor’s lounge – any excuse for me to tag along with my dad to the hospital. All the nurses knew my name and often provided me with a stethoscope and tongue depressor so that I could perform my weekly check ups. I fell in love with the thought of helping people and decided at a very young age that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Fast forward 15 years, I still hold tight to my dream of helping people by becoming a doctor studying medicine at the University of Notre Dame; but my happiness thatstem- Megan Krizmanich med from my stethoscope and tongue depressor has been replaced with stress from organic chemistry and MCATs.

“grading curve,” which pins one student up against the next. This system forces students to be selfish and never stop to think about classmates because when they’re doing well it means that you’re doing worse.

The classroom is no longer an atmosphere focused on learning, rather on competition. Yet there’s no time to worry about competition.

Being pre-med and having 18 to 19 credit hours each semester

requires a fair amount of time devoted to classes. However, so many pre-med students become so intent on doing well and maintaining a high GPA that they limit themselves and focus on what they need to get by, the bare minimum. Students no longer strive for understanding of a problem, but crave only the way to get the answers and their desired grade.

Do most physicians use organic chemistry during their careers? The

Campus Circle | 7

film answer is no.

Studying medicine is a test of endurance. I have my doubts, but then I picture my five-year-old self in oversized scrubs, and it reminds me that I have a passion to help people, and this reassures me that I was sent into this world to be a doctor.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/americanteen.

“GRAND-SCALE MOVIEMAKING.” -A.O. SCOTT, THE NEW YORK TIMES

“REALLY SOMETHING TO SEE.”

All pre-med students know their mandatory pre-requisites and have their college schedules mapped out by the end of freshman year, jamming as many credits into each semester. But being a pre-med student is more than just a set of courses needed to get into medical school; it takes over your life and becomes more than a classification, it’s a mindset.

During my two years on the rough premed path, I have been molded into an anal obsessive work-alcoholic.

After several breakdowns (which usually consisted of me calling my dad claiming I was dropping out of school and joining the Peace Corps), I adapted to the competition that goes beyond the normal limits and plunges into insanity.

I learned that 50-percent was an acceptable exam grade and became completely dependent on the

-KENNETH TURAN, LOS ANGELES TIMES

“A BRAWNY, OLD-SCHOOL EPIC...

IT’S GREAT FUN.”

-JIM RIDLEY, THE VILLAGE VOICE/LA WEEKLY

“SERGEI BODROV’S THRILLING STEPPE EPIC...IS HUGE AND HUGELY IMPRESSIVE.”

-JOE MORGENSTERN, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

SERGIO LEONE The Beauty Behind Ugly

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

«

IN THE FIELD OF FILMMAKING, there are directors, filmmakers and artists. Directors are generic and are simply hired to bring the film to life. If given the same script, most regular directors will probably make very similar versions.

Filmmakers have extremely unique styles and visions, so when a filmmaker is brought on and is allowed to bring their vision to life, the film will usually be better. Filmmakers are more artistic than directors, and if given the same script, two filmmakers would make two very different versions, but they’d both

likely be fantastic.

An artist has no equal. An artist will take a script and make something that’s saturated with a style that belongs to him and cannot be replicated or stolen.

Directors make movies, filmmakers make films and artists create cinema. One such artist in the field of filmmaking that I would like to address is Sergio Leone.

To say that Leone’s work is brilliant would be an offensively unacceptable understatement. Although his body of work is small, any one of his films wipes the floor with a lot of people’s

THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE RISE OF GENGHIS KHAN

«

BY ZACH HINES

SERGEI BODROV ASANO TADANOBU

A FILM BY

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film

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screen shots

BY ZACH HINES

Fitzroy Barrett/Landov/MCT

Lohan’s Labor Pains

Lindsay Lohan to experience Labor Pains

pubic radio reporter in New York, is a paraplegic who, at eight-years old was the sole survivor of a car accident that left both of his parents dead. The killer: an underage cheerleader.

He gets a tip from a source about a person who visited a hospital with a strange, possibly deranged, request:

film notes | reviews

Everyone can breath a sigh of relief because Lindsay Lohan is going to make another movie! Her next film is a comedy called Labor Pains. The film is to be directed by Lara Shapiro, making her feature directorial debut, and stars Lohan as an office assistant who pretends to be pregnant so that her boss won’t fire her.

I’m not a big fan of comedies. Anyone who has read my column for a while knows that as a screenwriter and cinema fanatic, I’m an envelope-pusher, and the reason I don’t like comedies is because they are very formulaic, generic and rarely do anything innovative that moves the craft of

filmmaking forward.

Most comedies (especially romantic comedies) also tend to skew the farthest from reality than any other genre. I don’t even bother with romantic comedies because I just can’t bare to watch a grown man stand up in front of a full room of people (usually the girl’s friends or family) and confess his undying love for someone who he hasn’t even had sex with.

And this new Lohan film follows the timeless formula of “pretending to be either pregnant/deaf/retarded/rich/poor/male/female, etc. in order to achieve whatever.” When the film begins, you already know the obligatory scene is coming where the protagonist’s plan is either revealed or backfires on them and they feel horrible for doing it.

However, I will be happy to eat my words with a big smile on my face if Labor Pains turns out to be a great and successful film.

Another … of the Dead If there’s one thing everyone needs just as much as more common sense, it’s zombie movies. Zack Snyder, director of 300 and the awesome remake of Dawn of the Dead, is producing a zombie film titled Army of the Dead. Matthijs Van Heijningen makes his directorial debut with this film that follows a father who tries to save his young daughter in a zombieinfested Las Vegas.

Resident Evil: Extinction did the “zombies in Vegas” thing, but that movie took place after the city was destroyed, and I believe this one takes place present day. The script was written by Joby Harold who wrote and directed the film Awake, starring Hayden Christensen.

One of the great things about zombies is they never get old! Zombie films are to men like romantic comedies are to women; for some reason, the same scenarios are extremely satisfying.

And evidently, if you don’t put “of the dead” in the title, people won’t get that zombies are in it. I’ve got a few titles – how about: Election of the Dead, Life Insurance of the Dead, Orgy of the Dead, Therapy of the Dead or Cavity Search of the Dead?

Gillespie & Gosling Together Again Lars and the Real Girl director Craig Gillespie and star Ryan Gosling are re-teaming to make another film together called The Dallas Buyer’s Club.

The film, set in 1986, is based on a true story and stars Gosling as an electrician named Ron Woodroof who is given six months to live after being diagnosed with AIDS. In response to the lack of treatment available for AIDS patients at the time, he not only uses alternative drugs to stay alive but smuggles them to other people with AIDS. Now that sounds like a solid movie. I don’t want to see a movie about some douche bag who’s allergic to animals and gets a job at a pet store in order to spit game at the girl behind the desk. I want to see this movie!

Lars was a spectacular film, and if that’s any indication of the collaboration between Gillespie and Gosling, this one is sure to be, at the very least, interesting. At least we have projects like these to balance the remakes, sequels, ’80s TV show adaptations and other stuff that makes our film industry look like the pharmaceutical business.

Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (Troma Entertainment) The folks at Troma Entertainment have done it again with Poultrygeist!

It would be easy to say this is a disgusting bloodbath of a film that dwells on the fact that it’s bad just for the sake of being bad. It does.

That’s what Troma is known for, and fans of the genre will not be disappointed. Lloyd Kaufman, one of Troma’s co-founders, directs this one – and it’s their best yet.

Folks that are not familiar with Troma’s unique take on filmmaking, however, may want to do a little research before tackling this flick. It is crass, vile and disgusting. It’s also hilarious.

The premise is a fast-food, chicken franchise that’s built on an Indian burial ground, which leads to the attack of zombie chicken people. This farce showcases every variation of being grossed out that you can think of and a few you wish they hadn’t!

Troma films are an acquired taste.

This one is no exception. This is not for people with weak stomachs or nonexistent senses of humor!

Grade: C —Henry Senecal Poultrygeist releases in select theaters June 13.

Quid Pro Quo (Magnolia) The underlying concept of this film is fascinating. What happens when a person feels paralyzed, not physically, but emotionally, spiritually … you get the picture.

They’re called “wannabes.” They meet in secret, able bodies perched on their wheelchairs, quietly moving their toes, and are afraid to “come out” to their loved ones about their secret obsession. Isaac Knott (Nick Stahl), a

« CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 entire careers.

I would like to specifically address his “Man with No Name” spaghetti western trilogy because not only is it one of the most flawless trilogies of all time, it culminates in one of the best films of all time. The trilogy consisted of A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965) and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) and starred Clint Eastwood in an unmatchable performance as “The Man with No Name.”

Although Eastwood’s immortally iconic character has a different name in each film (Joe, Manco and Blondie), he’s never addressed by those names more than once in each film. Eastwood’s performances as the lone gunslinger went on to become the template for just about any tough guy loner character after that point.

He’s not the typical John Wayne or

Watch out for Poultrygeist’s zombie fast-food chicken people!

asking a doctor to amputate both of their totally fine legs.

Enter wannabe Fiona (a captivating Verma Farmiga), who as Knott declares, crashes into his life twice (hmm…). As their intense relationship bounces from love to hate, we try to understand their definitions of paralysis, and discover who is and who isn’t in fact physically paralyzed.

Grade: B—Jessica Koslow Quid Pro Quo releases in select theaters June 13.

staff pick The Incredible Hulk (Paramount) OK, I’m royally about to eat it from comic book enthusiasts everywhere, but I feel we as moviegoers should all give the

James Stewart-type western character that beneath it all is a very loyal, principled and oftentimes patriotic fellow.

They would never make it in Leone’s west, which was populated by some of the most unsavory criminals you could ever meet, and it took a detached, iron-souled hero to navigate it.

What makes these films so brilliant is the way every element synergistically fits together to create each film. Leone came up with the stories for all his films and co-wrote the screenplays with different Italian screenwriters. As opposed to writing huge stories, Leone opted for smaller, more intimate storylines.

But no aspiring director’s education is complete without studying the cinematography and camera work of

Savage Grace (IFC) Based on the “real life is stranger than fiction” story of the Baekeland family, heirs to the Bakelite fortune, this elegant and understated film shows the violence and brutality simmering beneath the surface of elite society, much like an Edith Wharton or Henry James novel. With all of the sexual politics, lies, betrayal, murder and incest involved with this crazy family, the movie was too elegant and understated for my taste.

Maybe I’m a victim of the MTV/Internet age, but I was hoping Savage Grace would veer more toward Wild Things than The Remains of the Day territory.

I can definitely appreciate subtlety in movies, but some key plot points were almost too subtle to catch if you didn’t already have some knowledge of the case. Some more exposition about Barbara’s jealousy, Brooks’ motives and Tony’s mental illness might have made the story and characters more compelling.

All in all, it’s a fine movie about a messed-up family, who will probably be profiled on truTV or A&E soon. As always, Julianne Moore is excellent and I’m sure she will be listed on some critics’ lists at the end of the year. In the season of popcorn movies with no complexity, many of us will welcome a movie with some.

Grade: B—Frederick Mintchell Savage Grace releases in select theaters June 13.

newest incarnation of the Hulk a go at the box office. Sure, Ang Lee’s turn at bat was a bit … “heady” for most. But with rad stars like Edward Norton and Liv Tyler on board for the new one, it’s sure to deliver. —Ebony March The Incredible Hulk releases in theaters June 13.

Leone. Leone is infamous for cutting between different characters’ faces as if to create a collage of expressions.

Most of the time, the characters aren’t talking or reacting to anything, just watching; but the tension that this technique creates is fantastic. The final three-way showdown at the end of the uncut version of Ugly between Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach consists of a five-minute stare down before a single gun is drawn, set to the unrivaled score from the great Ennio Morricone.

In an era where mediocrity has taken over, those of you who really love film owe it to yourselves to lose yourself in Sergio Leone’s genius.

The Sergio Leone Anthology is currently available.

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

dvd dish | reviews Cassandra’s Dream (Weinstein Company) Woody Allen’s latest comes to DVD – though you’d hardly know it was Woody. It’s a stab at classical tragedy: tempting the Fates, familial loyalty, betrayal, murder, blind ambition, tragic irony. But where films like Match Point and Crimes and Misdemeanors succeeded in mixing suspense and drama, this one misses the mark.

From the flat tone, lifeless direction and tone-def dialogue, it’s the least Woody-esque film to date.

Still, there are some genuinely suspenseful moments.

And Ewan McGregor does his best to coax some life out of the rest of the cast. Unfortunately, typically stalwart pros like Tom Wilkinson just seem uncomfortable.

It’s another entry into the continually frustrating canon of perhaps the most prolific and uneven director in American film.

Grade: B—Mike Sebastian Cassandra’s Dream is currently available.

Dans Paris (Genius Products) Dans Paris is essentially a film about the complex nature of family

relationships. The despondent oldest son is broken up due to a failed relationship with a woman. A youthful and irresponsible younger sibling’s sole occupation seems to be terrorizing the lives of those around him.

Their parents add to the sadness with their disastrous marriage. The backdrop: none other than Paris.

Although some of the city’s cultural nuances have trouble transcending the material, the film evokes at times the poetic and self-aware nature of films that have come from Godard and Truffaut. The performance by Romain Duris as the oldest son and brother is the best part of the film.

Grade: B—Alexander L. Carpenter Dans Paris is currently available.

Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector’s Edition (Warner) Fans of the .44 magnum wielding, squinty-eyed vigilante cop should be feeling lucky now that all five films (Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact and The Dead Pool) are newly re-mastered for this

deluxe seven-disc set.

Warner Bros. pulled out all the stops on this one.

The set includes a two-disc special edition of the first film, plus a bonus disc of the “American Masters” profile of Clint Eastwood. Also included are all-new commentaries and featurettes on each movie, plus the new documentary, The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry.

The panoply of supplemental materials includes a 40plus page hardcover retrospective book, a poster map of San Francisco tracing the Scorpio killer’s crimes, six collectible art cards, never-before-seen production letters and, my personal favorite, Harry Callahan wallet with inspector’s badge and ID card.

The Dirty Harry aficionado should by now be foaming at the mouth. For everyone else, you might want to ease into the series and check out the thrilling original first before exploring the uneven sequels.

Grade: B+ —Mike Sebastian Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector’s Edition is currently available.

old school dvds | reviews « CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 In honor of the 10th anniversary of Frank Sinatra’s passing, Ol’ Blue Eyes is back in several new box sets, which include many previously unavailable films, and are all currently available.

The Early Years (Warner) This is a collection mostly for the die-hard Sinatra fan, as the films are a mixed bag. Highlights include: It Happened in Brooklyn, co-starring future Rat Packer Peter Lawford and fellow songster Jimmy Durante in an entertaining musical.

Dynamite, although not a terrific film, is worth the novelty of seeing Sinatra alongside costars Groucho

Marx and Jane Russell.

Step Lively is a buoyant Broadway tale with Sinatra in the lead role. The Voice also performs four songs. Also includes The Kissing Bandit, Double Dynamite and Higher and Higher.

Grade: B —Mike Sebastian

The Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly Collection (Warner) Sinatra and Kelly expertly sing and dance their way through three colorful MGM musicals from the mid-late ’40s. The real winner here is On the Town, co-directed

by Kelly and master of the musical, Stanley Donen.

Anchors Aweigh is notable for combining a live action dance scene and animation; also Take Me Out to the Ball Game.

Extra features include commentary from animation legends Hannah & Barbera, outtakes and the documentary When the Lion Roars.

Grade: B+ —Mike Sebastian

The Golden Years (Warner) This collection, covering Sinatra’s career from the mid-’50s to the early ’60s, is the real winner, featuring some of his best performances.

The Man With the Golden Arm, directed by giant Otto Preminger, was instrumental in breaking down the Production Code’s restrictions on what

Grace Is Gone (Genius Products/The Weinstein Company) I wanted to like this movie more – does that count for something?

Starring John Cusack as a father struggling to tell his two girls that their mother died in Iraq, Grace Is Gone struggles mightily for the depth and intelligence to transcend the sensibility of the Lifetime Network.

Cusack’s transformation into average joe works well enough, and I appreciate his attempt to play a real grown up, but the script and direction

by James C. Strouse falls flat short of the material. Like everyone else in Hollywood, Strouse attempts to get his two cents in about the repercussions of a misguided war, but just because you have ideas and opinions doesn’t mean they warrant a feature.

Grade: C—Angela Matano Grace Is Gone is currently available.

Steel City (Peace Arch) While we liberal-minded Southern Californians cast the ubiquitous Midwest aside as mere “flyover country,” independent filmmakers may be its only friend.

Steel City is the first film from

could be filmed. Sinatra stars alongside Kim Novak as a jazz musician and heroin addict trying to kick. Not as shocking as it was at the time, but still a fine film.

None but the Brave is notable as Sinatra’s first and only directing job, an antiwar parable from 1965 about a squad of U.S. soldiers stranded on an island who must make peace with a group of Japanese living there. Also, Some Came Running (see separate review below), The Tender Trap and Marriage on the Rocks.

Grade: A—Mike Sebastian

Some Came Running (Warner) In his letter to the editor in the inaugural issue of The Paris Review, Bill Styron held up James Jones’ characters

Campus Circle | 9

film Eleven Movies in Honor of

FATHER’S DAY: 1) The Great Santini 2) The Mosquito Coast 3) Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House 4) Father of the Bride (1950) 5) Parenthood 6) Mr. Mom 7) Pretty in Pink 8) Magnolia 9) On Golden Pond 10)) The Pursuit of Happyness 11) Kramer vs. Kramer —Angela Matano

director Brian Jun, who uses his reallife hometown of Alton, Ill. as the film’s gritty exterior, adding an additional layer of authenticity to an already faithful depiction of a crumbling family in small town America.

PJ (Thomas Guiry) is the overly confident son of Carl Lee (John Heard), who’s awaiting trial for his involvement in a fatal car accident.

Already damaged by his father’s incarceration, PJ’s life seems to spiral out of control.

The pressures of his situation nearly cause PJ to accept defeat. But like his friends and neighbors, he, too, is a fighter. The Midwest would accept nothing less.

Grade: B+ —James Famera Steel City is currently available.

(Pvt. Prewitt, Sgt. Crofts) as the kinds of vital, fullblooded creations all writers should strive to bring to life. “Otherwise he’d better pawn his Underwood, or become a critic.”

Some Came Running, Vincent Minnelli’s excellent adaptation of James Jones’ massive follow-up to From Here to Eternity, throbs with life. We care about the characters – even love them.

Frank Sinatra gives a performance that rates only just below The Manchurian Candidate, Dean Martin gives a performance easily on par with Rio Bravo and Shirley MacLaine steals the show as a soft, loving, almost angelic floozy.

Grade: A —Sean Schlemmer Some Came Running is currently available.

NOW PLAYING

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graphic novels | reviews

Batman: Joker’s Last Laugh (DC) Held prisoner in the Slab, an Alcatraz-esque island prison specially designed to hold “metahumans,” the Joker is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. So he decides to go out with a bang.

Plotting an elaborate escape in which he “Jokerizes” his fellow inmates and causes full-blown pandemonium, he is loosed on the world with nothing left to lose.

As the Justice League is off doing something somewhere, Batman takes a backseat for this one. Nightwing and Barbara “Oracle” Gordon take the reins, along with various other junior sidekicks.

The simple fact is that Nightwing has never been and never will be as interesting as Batman, and that’s very apparent here. The plot’s execution is a little too restrained, and without

the Dark Knight squaring off against his nemesis, we’re left wanting.

On the other hand, how many times can he do that? It’s a conundrum for the writers of the 60-some-year-old character, which is illustrated by the hokey concept of this story.

Grade: B—Mike Sebastian Batman: Joker’s Last Laugh is currently available.

First in Space Zebra, as well as numerous side characters – both human and animal.

Beginning as a Webcomic, Pearls currently runs in 400 newspapers worldwide. Pastis lists his influences as

The Crass Menagerie: A Pearls Before Swine Treasury (Andrews McMeel) This anthology collects Stephan Pastis’ popular comic strip, Pearls Before Swine, from January 2005 to August 2006, previously published separately in The Sopratos and Da Brudderhood of Zeeba Zeeba Eata. This funny strip follows four anthropomorphic friends: the cynical bastard Rat, his earnest lackey Pig, Goat and

“AS SAVAGE AS ‘DAWN OF THE DEAD,’ AS SLAPSTICK NUTZOID AS ‘E VIL DEAD 2’ ... AN EXPLOITATION MOVIE WITH SOUL, B+.”

- OWEN GLEIBERMAN, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“DIRECTED WITH FINGER-LICKING GUSTO BY LLOYD KAUFMAN.” -NATHAN LEE, THE NEW YORK TIMES

“DISGUSTING, DERANGED AND THOROUGHLY BRILLIANT.” CRITICS’ PICK -ANDREW O’HEHIR, SALON.COM

A LLOYD KAUFMAN / MICHAEL HERZ PRODUCTION

Funeral of the Heart Peanuts, Dilbert and Get Fuzzy. This is a nice collection, which cleverly features Pastis’ commentary between strips.

Grade: A—Mike Sebastian The Crass Menagerie: A Pearls Before Swine Treasury is currently available.

L LOYD D BY

DIRECTE L LOYD

EGG-SCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT STARTS FRIDAY, JUNE 13 TH www.troma.com

www.poultrygeistmovie.com

AN

KAUFM

AN KAUFM

WEST HOLLYWOOD Laemmle’s Sunset 5 (323) 848-3500 Tickets available @ laemmle.com

CHECK THEATRE DIRECTORIES OR CALL FOR SHOWTIMES

www.myspace.com/chickenzombie

(Fantagraphics) This book by Leah Hayes, done in the difficult medium of scratchboard – text and all – is a haunting collection of illustrated short stories.

The first issue of Christos Gage’s adaptation picks up shortly after the third film. Blondie is hunted by both the Union army (for blowing up their bridge) and the Confederates (for stealing their gold).

There are some fairly straightforward action scenes, and not much else besides this set up. Hopefully, as the series unfolds, they’ll be able to develop the more Leone-esque aspects of storytelling.

Grade: B —Mike Sebastian The Man With No Name #1 is currently available.

Faker

X-O Manowar: Birth

(Vertigo) Mike Carey (Hellblazer) and Eisner-nominated artist Jock (The Losers) tell a tale of disaffected college youth that’s equal parts Bret Easton Ellis and Philip K. Dick.

A group of housemates made up of shallow, exploitative people return from winter break and get really trashed at a party. When they wake up, suddenly they find that no one else seems to remember their roommate Nick.

(Valiant) First published in 1991, X-O Manowar is a somewhat silly comic by today’s standards. It follows a Visigoth warrior abducted by aliens and imprisoned for two thousand years, only to escape and steal their revolutionary smart armor. He subsequently declares war against their conspiracy to overthrow the Earth through an insidious corporation as he tries to return home.

Co-created by former Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter and artists Bob Layton and Jon Hartz, X-O has sold more than eight million books to date. The hokey concept is competently executed but isn’t exactly a classic.

Collected here for the first time are the first seven issues (including the prelude) in a digitally re-colored presentation. Plus, an all-new story, “The Rise of Lydia” by Layton.

Grade: B—Mike Sebastian X-O Manowar: Birth is currently available.

The narratives tell stories of outcasts in worlds that are somewhat grotesquely fantastic and unnerving, which amount to fables about our painful insecurities. The prose style piles simple, declarative sentences on top of each other, as if told by a child, creating an otherworldly tone.

Ultimately, for a graphic narrative, there’s a bit too much black dominating these pages. You find yourself wanting less of the large blocks of run-on text and more of the excellent artwork.

Grade: B+ —Mike Sebastian Funeral of the Heart is currently available.

NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN DEAD

D BY DIRECTE

(Oni Press) First-time writer/artist James Vining’s First in Space is a surprisingly touching take on the space race.

It’s 1961. The Soviets have already put a dog in space. Now the American’s are training an elite group of chimpanzees to be the first Americans in space.

Taking a cue from The Right Stuff, we follow chimp-astronaut Ham and his trainer as they compete for banana pellets, train for the dangerous big launch and form a close bond. Winner of the 2006 Xeric award for independently published comics, First in Space is an entertaining adventure for all ages.

Grade: A—Mike Sebastian First in Space is currently available.

Questions of identity and memory raise doubts of their very existence as the roommates wrestle with their unraveling lives. While not the best work of either the artist or writer, if you’re willing to go with some of the more far-fetched plot turns, there’s a core idea here that hits on very vital issues at a sometimes overwhelming time in one’s life.

Grade: B —Mike Sebastian Faker is currently available.

The Man With No Name #1 (Dynamite Entertainment) Turning Sergio Leone’s epic spaghetti western trilogy into a comic book is no easy task. The things that made Leone’s films so great – their epic scope, their operatic vendettas and ingenious use of action, their masterful drawing out of pacing – do not lend themselves to the concise form of comic panels.

From

M . N I G H T S H YA M A L A N Writer-Director of

“The Sixth Sense” & “Signs” “A Brilliant,

Nail-Bitingly Ferocious Thriller.

A Welcome Return To Form For Shyamalan.

Fantastic, Will HaveYou Hanging Off The Edge Of Your Seat.”

Dan Storey,

Starts This Friday the 13th

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outreach, working to provide food for the hungry during the holidays.

If the titles, “7 Redneck Cheerleaders” or “Underwear for Christmas,” make you giggle ’til you pee, then you probably want to check out the Elephant Theatre Company. This non-profit collective of 75 members was created back in 1995 and originally lived in a space that doubled as living quarters for its founders.

After a growth-facilitated move in 1997, this company relocated to its current home. Here, productions are put on not one, but four working stages.

As for its unusual name? Well, it turns out that Open Fist isn’t the only space inspired by Sam Shepard.

special feature

Elephant Theatre Company (6322 Santa Monica Blvd.)

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L.A.’S

THEATRE ROW Discover our city’s hippest stages.

BY EBONY MARCH

For some, L.A.’s Theatre Row is the West Coast equivalent to Broadway. This is the strip of Santa Monica Boulevard tucked away under the magnificent pomp of the Hollywood Sign. Sure, you’ve seen these colorful and oftentimes quirky little theaters a thousand times before.

But what do you really know about them? If the answer is “nothing,” then here’s a little tutorial on Los Angeles’ best kept secret.

How cool is the Lounge Theatre? One has to truly give it up to a playhouse with its own MySpace page.

Social networking aside, this 60-seater bares all the charm of a quirky ’60s variety show stage but with the most modern amenities.

It has a full kitchen and plenty of space for guests to kick back and chill between productions.

For those who are just aching to get out there with their fabulous new project, the Lounge is also

Lounge Theatre (6201 Santa Monica Blvd.)

looking for comedy shows that can be slotted into its Sunday night slot.

It’s an artsy stunner: Open Fist Theatre Company (6209 Santa Monica Blvd.) shows that Los Angeles isn’t just the home for starlets and himbos. We’ve got some talented folks here as well.

This theater company was founded in the late 1980s by several Cal State Fullerton grads.

They’ve brought the works of heralded playwright Sam Shepard and James Stock to the stage over the years.

But this is also an organization with heart. The Open Fist Theatre Company is active in community

The Complex (6476 Santa Monica Blvd.)

The folks at Elephant took cues from the writer and borrowed the name from a quote by this American talent.

The Complex is another great stop on a play-junkie’s quest for entertainment. This collective of stages is currently running everything from the irreverent to emotionally challenging works by theater’s finest. Plays like “Gonnabes and The Nothing Boys” have left

audiences raving.

Still, one of the coolest things about The Complex is that it’s accessible to all kinds of artistic media. Filmmakers can rent space for their projects. The Complex also hosts plenty of screening space for those who don’t have the bucks to shell out for a pricey movie premiere.

If you’re a young playwright looking for resources – and by resources, I mean massive ego stroking – then you will surely find birds of a feather at the Blank Theatre Company (6500 Santa Monica Blvd.). The Blank is the foremost authority on displaying the works of talented unknowns from all over the country.

Admission to its 2008 Young Playwrights festival is currently available for sale to the public. Instead of waiting until Broadway (or off-Broadway) gets a hold of tomorrow’s star, why not do a little discovery of your own? Or in the event that you believe in supporting the arts, this space is open to fans and artlovers coming on board as volunteers.

And who knows ... you just might run into someone like actor Noah Wyle (John Carter from “ER”).

He just happens to be the company’s Artistic Producer.

Artworks Theatre (6567-6583 Santa Monica Blvd.) is an 84-seat space with loads of amenities for those who really wish to get their feet wet on the grand stage. Its adjoining arts center is host to not one, but two studios available for renting. That means anyone with a story to tell now has a centrally located space in which to perform.

For plays with a cause, Celebration Theatre (7051 Santa Monica Blvd.) is the way to go. This stage prides itself on offering the finest in fair, accurate and dignified portrayals of the gay and lesbian

The Village at Ed Gould Plaza (1125 N. McCadden Place)

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curtain call

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‘KINGDOM COME, AN INCA PLAY FOR EVER’ Now-June 28 @ The Unknown Theater

BY ROBERT AXELROD

National Comedy Theatre (733 N. Seward St.)

community.

Director Michael Matthews recently won raves for the play “Stupid Kids.” So celebrated was this work that its run was extended through early April of 2008. This theatre’s vibe is edgy with just enough sex appeal in the air to keep it interesting.

The Village at Ed Gould Plaza is another spot for gay pride in the city.

The Lex (6760 Lexington Ave.)

Community activities are frequently held here. Wednesdays belong to a film series, which nets some of moviemaking’s greatest.

But it doesn’t stop there: you can take classes of all kind here.

Everything from aerobics to computer classes can be found on these grounds. And for 12-steppers, there are even support meetings to help through the rough times.

Although the National Comedy Theatre was founded in Los Angeles in 2000, this millennial stage has showcased the improv stylings of ComedySportz for humor fans throughout the area. This space has a rich history, too.

Many a famous name has come here in hopes of making it onto the roster at HBO’s U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, and it even served as a photographer’s studio. Sure, it’s not located on Santa Monica Boulevard, but it’s still a proud part of the row.

When “Inside Private Lives” debuted at the Lex, the L.A. Weekly named it “Pick of the Week!” That’s a huge distinction for Theatre Row, especially for a play that showcases controversial figures of the 20th-century such as Branch Davidian leader David Koresh and baseball’s resident bitch on wheels, Marge Schott.

What makes the Lex a blast is its friendly people and affordable concessions. As an added bonus, it offers wheelchair accessibility so that everyone can enjoy the work here.

And don’ forget the Unknown Theater (1110 Seward St., Los Angeles), which houses various unique theatrical events throughout the year. This place attracts an über cool crowd and has been known to offer free beer and comedy after paid-for performances.

While it’s true that Los Angeles is the home of film and television, those who are truly in love with acting – not fame – have made a home for themselves on Theatre Row. Now it’s up to the public to see to it that they have an everadoring audience to feed the beast.

HEAVY HANDED, OBSCURE and repetitive dialogue, coupled with bulky staging, comprise “Kingdom Come,” an overmelodramatic piece about the invasion of the Incan kingdom of Atau Wallpa by the “Red-bearded” infidels, who I always assumed were the Spanish conquistadores, but appear here to be another tribe.

The opening provides some interest; a swinging crate center stage that evokes a picture of the hold on a rocking ship. The crate crashes to the floor and breaks apart.

Several characters enter to pick up the pieces. These characters are described as “survivors from across history,” each from an era where there was war and conquering.

This is supposed to give the piece a universal message, but tends to make it a jumble. The rest of the play just plods along at an unpleasant pace.

The Unknown Theater is located at 1110 Seward St., Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.unknowntheater.com.

comedy

‘SHOWGIRLS: THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE. EVER!’ June 12, 20, 27 @ UCB Los Angeles

BY JESSICA KOSLOW I KNEW NOTHING OF 1995’S SHOWGIRLS OR ITS WRITER JOE Eszterhas before stepping into this show. Now, I’ve got to see the film ASAP. UCB proudly presents an evening with Mr. Eszterhas, as he slumps on his stool, drinking, smoking, cussing, and is interviewed by film historian and feminist, Jackie Flynn Clarke.

Clarke loves the film and is thrilled to delve into the mind of Eszterhas to reveal his motivations behind the dialogue and action in the raunchy saga. A troupe of UCB players act out the scenes as Clarke’s husband reads the staged directions.

We even get a peek at Elizabeth Berkley and Kyle MacLachlan’s wild sex-in-the-pool scene from the movie. Rob Corddry (Semi-Pro, “The Daily Show”) cameos. What I was left with: I have to rent Showgirls!

UCB Los Angeles is located at 5919 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.showgirlsthebestmovieevermadeever.com.

14 | Campus Circle

inner circle

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

fashion focus | B Y

VICTORIA MOORE

VINTAGE CLOTHES Add Old Spice To Your Look LOOKING GOOD HAS NEVER BEEN more challenging. You want to keep up with the latest looks but stay within a small clothing budget? Buy vintage and make your own statement.

You’ll get more for your money and purchase things that are flexible, attractive and well made. In today’s economy, where clothes and other necessities compete for disposable income, that’s a smart idea.

This spring, designers replaced body baring with subtlety. Shorts and short skirts show some leg but remain appropriate, and jewelry is more sporty than flashy.

To escape being a fashion victim, try mixing shorts and skirts with embroidered peasant tops from the

’60s and ’70s. If jeans are your thing, pair them with a ’60s gingham button-down Country Western shirt.

When considering vintage, it’s also wise to look at your existing wardrobe and see where something old can add something new.

Let’s say you have a lot of jeans and T-shirts. What could you buy to dress them up? If you have less than $25, you could pick up a nifty ’70s blazer or polyester shirt at a thrift store.

A whole new world will be opened for you if you find one collectible you like. When I attended the Vintage Fashion Expo at Santa Monica’s Civic Auditorium on May 10 and 11, the most versatile trends were sheer ’50s blouses, painted

Within the $50 and under price range there are plenty of thrift stores that offer both excellent name brand secondhand and vintage stock: • Council Thrift Shops, (310) 572-9158; www.ncjwla.org • Goodwill Industries of Southern California, (310) 845-9327; www.goodwillsocal.org • Out of the Closet, (877) 274-2548; www.outofthecloset.org • Ticktocker Timeless Treasures, 9441 Culver Blvd., Culver City, 310-559-8338

fashion 101 | T E X T

flower pins, belted ’70s sweaters, bowling shirts and “preppy” canvas hats.

“I love vintage clothing because the workmanship was so much better in the past,” offers Karie Bible, model and tour guide for the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Once you’ve accumulated a few vintage pieces you’ll realize why they’ve survived and appreciate their ability to class up contemporary clothing. A blouse made in the ’40s is constructed better than one made of a comparable price today because the standards were stricter then.

Of course, it’s possible to find items made just as well today. You just have to be selective, so you don’t end up with a closet full of costly mistakes.

Designers often look to other eras for inspiration, and you can do the same when coordinating with your vintage finds. Marc Jacobs and Paulo Melim Anderson (Chloe’s designer) were so influenced by German auteur Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s 1970s and 1980s films in Fall 2007 that they recreated them on the runway. Mysteriously alluring, their models looked like they’d stepped out of The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant and The Marriage of Maria Braun in face-framing hats and over-the-knee skirts.

While Jacobs and Anderson

& PHOTOS BY EMMANUELLE LEE

INTO THE GREEN WIDE OPEN Summer’s here, and with the help of A.J. Morgan Eyewear and Ultra Vintage Clothing, we’re going to let ourselves go … green!

Models: Lacey and Aly. All eyewear by A.J. Morgan; www.ajmorganeyewear.com. For more information, e-mail campuscfashion101@yahoo.com.

Vintage L.A.: Eats, Boutiques, Decor, Landmarks, Markets & More (Collins) Whether you’re a professed vintage junkie or simply someone who’s interested in the history of Los Angeles in general, Jennifer Brandt Taylor’s Vintage L.A. is worth your perusal. This gal’s got the goods on everything vintage, from where to find fantastic French antiques to Hollywood history to delectable eats at restored classic diners to where to acquire those much in demand vintage duds.

This book is useful for everyone on the L.A. spectrum, from the tourist to those who have lived here for decades, with exciting insider information and the dish on tucked away little treasures that only those in the know would be privy to. The most magical features of L.A. living are revealed for the curious in a no-nonsense and concise manner that will leave even the most hardened L.A. native seeing their turf with new eyes.

Vintage L.A. also peppers its prose with interviews with some of the city’s quirky vintage enthusiast personalities like radio icon Rodney Bingenheimer, the honorary mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant and psych-pop rock band Irving. Too often L.A. history is wiped out in favor of the shiny and new, but a history as rich and vibrant as ours deserves to be celebrated and preserved. Vintage L.A. excels at paying homage to the delights of living in Los Angeles.

Grade: B+ —Natasha Desianto Vintage L.A. will be available June 24.

chose film, you might be inspired to create your own style from a book, TV show, celebrity or other source.

My favorite is the Japanese fashion magazine Fruits, where all of the models are photographed as quirky individuals reinterpreting various

looks.

Whichever route you take to adding extra verve to your wardrobe with vintage, remember that continuity and convenience are your goals. You may spend less, but you don’t have to dress like it.

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

photo feature | B Y

Campus Circle | 15

inner circle

HANS EIJKELBOOM

PARIS • NEW YORK • SHANGHAI A book about the past, present and (possibly) future capital of the world Summer lovin’ ... In this photo book, we see people, places and things represented from three worlds: the old (Paris), developing (Shanghai) and in between (New York). Photographer Hans Eijkelboom is on a quest to showcase the modern metropolis. And so … we start our journey with images of couples, but there’s many more pages to explore.

All photos credit: Hans Eijkelboom, from the book Paris • New York • Shanghai (Aperture, 2007).

PARIS, June 14, 2006, Rue Berger

NEW YORK, April 1, 2006, West Thirty-fourth Street

SHANGHAI, Sept. 28, 2005, Nanjing Dong Lu

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

music

cd reviews MAKING THE GRADE: A EXCEPTIONAL B WORTHWH I LE | C MEDIOCRE D SAVE YOUR MONEY F WILL BE ON HELL’S JUKEBOX

music 101 | artist feature

PHANTOM PLANET Do the Monster Mash

BY MARI FONG

Vice (Anodyne) There’s no smoke and mirrors with the Architects. This Midwestern indie band speciaizes in raw, play-it-like-theymean-it rock. And if you don’t like what you hear, they don’t care.

The decade-old band, previously known as the Gadjits, has played Warped Tour, opened for Rancid and has headlined venues across the country with its energized stage show. They’ve been successful because they know their strengths: gritty vocals, punk-esque rock with an unfinished yet seemingly refined sound and an alluring garage rocker attitude.

These traits still reign true on Vice, the band’s third album, which overflows with creative baselines and striking guitar riffs that collectively become a throwback to the ’70s. After all, the album draws heavy influences from Cheap Trick (“Mrs. Doyle”) and Kiss’ “Detroit Rock City” (“Jersey Shore”).

Grade: A—Laren Mahoney Vice is currently available.

The Cool Kids The Bake Sale (Chocolate Industries) The Cool Kids, Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish, have finally released their long-awaited EP, and despite being barely old enough to buy cigarettes, they’ve made the most authentic debut hip-hop album in years. The Cool Kids’ sound is a mixture of upbeat grime and ’80s party rap.

They keep it entertaining with their lyrics about bikes, shoes and how “cool” they are; things Kanye West would probably rap about if he were still a teenager. The beats are reminiscent of select Neptunes tracks with their simplicity and hard hitting bass lines.

Most impressive is their appreciation for the greats that

Phantom Planet fans know them to be light years beyond the song, with lyrics that run deep, music that is raw and, dare it be said, slightly ahead of its time.

“First and foremost, he doesn’t condone cults at all, it has nothing to do with that,” as bassist Sam Farrar chimes in on Greenwald’s defense.

“He was fascinated with the contrast of it. A lot of the lyrics he wrote for this album he designed so when you listen to it one time, you think one thing and then you go back, [listen again] and get a different point of view. He loves double and triple entendres.”

“I tried to force the listener to interpret them as saccharine on one listen and sinister the next,” says Greenwald with a devilish grin.

Such is the bipolar nature of the album, going from the danceable “Do the Panic,” and the upbeat melodies of “Leave Yourself for Somebody Else,” swinging to the melancholy “Quarantine” and haunting air of

frequency | essential concerts | B Y The Matches June 12 @ Knitting Factory Matches frontman Shawn Harris reads books, does graphic design and looks like a European runway model even while wearing head to toe thrift store purchases. And he’s in the process of curing cancer as we speak.

Needless to say, Harris and his band are what dreams are made of.

Polished and progressive while remaining gritty and raw, the biting and sardonic Oakland-bred rockers still effortlessly walk the tightrope of pop infectiousness. And for as hard as it is to do that effectively, they might as well be mastering biotechnology.

Panic at the Disco June 14 @ Honda Center Honestly, I can’t even begin to imagine how a now un-punctuated

came before them, even though most were rocking before these two were even born. Though I’m still skeptical of their self-proclaimed title as “the black version of Beastie Boys,” the Cool Kids’ first outing is gold, filled with plenty of club bangers (“Black Mags”).

Grade: A

B R I E N O V E R LY

Panic would top the last many tours The Fratellis they did, each one successively more June 15 @ KeyClub over the top than the previous one.

Usually I would take issue with a Will Brendan Urie ride onstage on an band when the chorus of their lead elephant? Will they shoot Spencer single doesn’t contain actual words, Smith out of a cannon into a Slipknotbecause it’s not OK when Soulja Boy esque 30-foot upside-down drum does it and adding a guitar riff doesn’t riser? Will Ryan Ross reveal that Pete Wentz has also impregnated him? All of the above?

Who knows?

That is why, loathe as I am to admit it, I’m terribly curious to see what tricks they’ve got up their sleeve this time out.

Or maybe they’ll just come out sans makeup, in dirty hoodies and torn jeans, to cover Dinosaur The Fratellis bring bara bap bara ra ra bap to KeyClub.

Jr. songs for the night.

Scarlet Page

Architects

GIVEN THE WORDS “RAISE THE Dead,” thoughts of ghostly cemeteries and zombies cracking from their tombs come to mind, which just may be the atmosphere Phantom Planet intends for their latest release of the same name. Alex Greenwald, lead singer and songwriter, found unexpected inspiration from a scary group of fiends.

“I studied a lot of the 20th century cults and their music – from Charles Manson, David Koresh and Jim Jones,” says the frontman. “What I realized was that if you listen to the songs apart from the circumstances that surrounded their eventually horrific outcomes, their music takes on a completely different, and actually hopeful, joyful meaning.”

Could this be the same band that brought us the snappy, can’t-help-butsing-to pop ditty “California,” the theme song from Fox’s “The O.C.”?

The popular teen drama couldn’t help but introduce some of their fans to the band’s music; however, long-standing

“Demon Daughters.” All in all, the band continues to bring their rough-around-theedges rock to the public, with Greenwald’s loose vocals that hit from high to low to screams, wrapped in a blanket of juicy melodies.

It took four years for the band, with guitarist Darren Robinson and (l to r) Jeff Conrad, Alex Greenwald, Darren Robinson and Sam Farrar of Phantom Planet drummer Jeff Conrad completing the fourMotion City Soundtrack and the some, to release their fourth album, Hush Sound, Farrar adds parting Raise the Dead. Greenwald admits to words about being the opening band writing more than 120 songs for the for the tour. disc, eventually paring down to the “We play at 7 p.m. everyday! It’s final 12, hoping the proverb “good still light outside, which is so not things come to those who wait” rings rock ’n’ roll,” he says with a laugh. true for their latest collection.

“But the kids show up at 6 p.m., and And was it just a creepy the whole place is packed by the time coincidence that their former tour we play. They’re listening with open mates the Zombies were a major ears, screaming and having a good influence for their latest cauldron of time. tunes?

“The crowds have been “It’s good songwriting more than ridiculous. This is all we do, and it’s anything, classic songwriting,” exthe most important thing in our lives. plains Farrar.

The nature of our job is to connect For those who haven’t dug deep with people, and if people can get into their parent’s record collection, what we’re trying to do, that’s the most the Zombies’ biggest hits include important thing.”

“Time of the Season” and “She’s Not That doesn’t sound so scary, does There.” it?

“They were just super melodic,” he continues, “they wrote very beautiful, Raise the Dead is currently available. slightly spooky ’60s rock ’n’ roll.”

Phantom Planet will perform June 14 Currently on the 2008 Honda at the Honda Center, Anaheim.

Civic Tour with Panic at the Disco,

—Keyvon Pierre The Bake Sale is currently available.

Griffin House Flying Upside Down (Nettwerk) It doesn’t take long to focus on the lyrics throughout Griffin House’s new CD, Flying Upside Down. House

make it any closer to OK. I mean, if I slammed my hands down on my keyboard, would you take the resultant mid-article gibberish seriously? But that’s neither here nor there.

The subjects at hand are the Glasgow natives of the Fratellis, who, believe it or not, do in fact have other songs in their repertoire than that earlier-referenced “Flathead” – songs that are in fact quite good. While current American bands seem prone to epic failure when channeling the fun side of anthemic classic rock in combination with modern indie, somehow three Scots have managed to show us how a successful combo of these styles is done.

I don’t understand it either, but if they’re good enough for both Kasabian and the Police to take out on the road with them, I suppose they’re good enough for me.

combines sweet melodies and an engaging voice to lure listeners into paying attention to his songs, allowing them to find truth in his words. And, that’s exactly Griffin’s goal is with this CD. Whether or not you agree with CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

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16 | Campus Circle

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

music report | B Y

Campus Circle | 17

AMOEBA

KEVIN WIERZBICKI

music

BESTSELLERS

6400 SUNSET BLVD. (323) 245-6400

Free Your Mind and Win a Pony Before you start building a corral in your back yard, you should know that Free Your Mind and Win a Pony is just the name of the upcoming album from Golden Animals. Tommy Eisner and Linda Beecroft are Golden Animals, and the duo wrote the songs for their new one out in the desert near the Salton Sea. “We were in a place that was dead as far as society was concerned and tremendously alive as far as pure nature was concerned,” says Eisner. “We saw Golden Animals release Free Your Mind and Win a Pony. boiling rivers, rainbow mounbe created on stage by acts like tains, screaming red sunsets and holes Armand Van Helden, Todd Terry, Paul in the ground puking up mud – all Van Dyk, Moby, Rabbit in the Moon, that naturally transpires when nature DJ Hype and Dieselboy. Om Records thinks no one is looking.” is bringing their stars including Mark Free Your Mind and Win a Pony Farina, Collette and Fred Everything, won’t hit the streets until Aug. 25, but while upcoming label So Sweet you can check out the folksy psychrepresent with Z-Trip. rock of Golden Animals at the Echo General admission and several June 16. types of V.I.P. passes are now on sale through Ticketmaster. More info and Electric Daisy Carnival the complete talent line-up can be If you like dance music, you’ll find found at electricdaisycarnival.com. about 50,000 like-minded souls at this year’s Electric Daisy Carnival taking place at the L.A. Coliseum and So You Want to Be a DJ? Exposition Park on Saturday, June 28.

Whether you want to DJ as a Yes, there really will be carnival hobby or hone your skills to a attractions, but the real thrill ride will professional level, it’s not as difficult as

you might think to get started. The Stanton DJ-T90 USB turntable, for example, is a pro-quality device with a high-torque directdrive motor that has a suggested retail price of $399.

The T-90 plugs into your home computer and comes with software that allows you to convert records into digital recordings or CDs and edit MP3 and WAV audio files. Read all about the rest of the T-90’s features at stantondj.com.

Your next step up would be to add a mixing deck, and the Hercules DJ-Rmx might be just the ticket. It too plugs right into your computer and has all the bells and whistles you’ll need: two ultraprecise jog wheels, 12 rotary switches, 46 push-buttons, six faders including pitch and general volume and on and on.

You can also get it bundled with a carrying bag so you can take your show on the road, all for about $349 at Guitar Center, Sam Ash or pssl.com.

Don’t forget you’ll need a good pair of headphones, too.

So You Really Want to Be a DJ! Well, then it’s in the pocket.

Literally. Weighing in at a mere seven ounces, the brand new Tonium

1) Portishead — Third 2) Death Cab for Cutie — Narrow Stairs 3) Santogold — Self-Titled 4) Duffy — Rockferry 5) MGMT — Oracular Spectacular 6) Bonnie “Prince” Billy — Lie Down in the Light 7) No Age — Nouns 8) Flight of the Conchords — Self-Titled 9) The Black Keys — Attack & Release 10) The National — Skin a Night & The Virginia EP 11) The Raconteurs — Consolers of the Lonely 12) Cut Copy — In Ghost Colours 13) The Roots — Rising Down 14) Islands — Arm’s Way 15) Madonna — Hard Candy 16) Vampire Weekend — Self-Titled 17) Radiohead — In Rainbows 18) Mates of State — Re-Arrange Us 19) M83 — Saturdays=Youth 20) The Dresden Dolls — No Virginia

Pacemaker is the world’s first pocketsized DJ system.

The Pacemaker is a superior digital music player that’s equipped with everything you need to manipulate and mix two independent audio channels: DJ pause, bend, crossfade and filter. It holds 120 GB of memory, and the battery will give you about 18 hours of playback or about five hours of DJ playing. The Pacemaker will set you back about $700.

Tonium says the idea behind the Pacemaker is to give people a chance to share their musical tastes with anyone anywhere at any time, and they’ve even launched an online community for Pacemaker users and other deck-heads. For more information, visit pacemaker.net.

They clearly draw their songwriting prowess from their sited influences, which include artists like Bruce Cockburn and Bob Dylan, but I can hear much that transcends genre, although pieces here and there draw comparisons from a wide variety of artists, from Snow Patrol to Silverchair to Jeff Buckley.

“Are We Brothers?” offers up indie rock, while the swaying folk of “Cassandra” recalls hazy and reflective afternoons, and “Weak Sister” completes the album on a dreamy note, with singer Jake Rolleson demonstrating the broad range of his crooning capabilities.

Grade: B+ —Natasha Desianto Dialog is currently available.

Genji Siraisi

BY DAVID TOBIN

CARLOTTA Repeat Play

YOU CAN FIND AT LEAST 100 new bands on the Internet in one day.

So, how does a group stand out?

Most try flashy pictures and tons of graphics, but that slows the page down and looks cluttered. Worst of all, the music is always the last thing to load. So, how can you get the one thing that matters – the music – to the people if they don’t even stay for that long on your page?

In researching Carlotta, I got to know the band based on their online presence. Within a few hours I knew where the band is from, their influences, their habits. They have

songs – a dream a lot of songwriters wish to achieve.

Singer-songwriters tend to have a story behind each song. But artists such as House don’t have to preface their songs with long narratives. His stories come out the first time you listen.

Grade: B+

By being in touch with their fans, they let people really feel the music. A fan can understand why they’re screaming about love and catch the inside jokes in the videos.

Carlotta aren’t the only guys to do it, but they’re doing it right.

Keeping their image clean and fun, just making music and playing shows – it doesn’t need to be more complicated than that.

And what about the live show?

That’s a huge component of the band as well.

They’re all over the stage, dancing and belting out songs that sound just as good as the recorded versions. Their energy is contagious as they throw mic stands to the ground and get the

—Laren Mahoney Flying Upside Down is currently available.

Paper Rival Dialog (Photo Finish) Marked by lush layers, catchy tunes, soaring harmonies and

crowd to sing along with them.

This band has something special.

They really connect with fans when they hit the stage. They make you want to go home and find out more about them. Most important, they make you want to listen to their songs again and again.

For more information, visit www.carlottatheband.com.

thoughtful lyrics, Paper Rival’s first full-length release finds them tackling broad-ranging subjects like same-sex marriage (“Keep Us In”), the aftermath of violent crime (“Bluebird”) and ages old letters between warseparated lovers (“The Kettle Black”).

CONTINUED

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his messages about war in context to current conflicts overseas (“I Remember”), discovering that love that is more than sex (“Better than Love”) and being the eccentric one in a relationship (“The Guy that Says Goodbye to You Is Out of His Mind”), House’s words help shape opinions around the topics of his

more media available than most big bands.

And the music is pretty good. Not because it’s catchy and fun, but because the arrangement of the songs have substantial depth.

For a band just out of high school, they really grasp the concept of making good music fun. Their songs range from dance-y jams that combine the sounds of Hot Hot Heat and the Killers to slow ballads that layer piano over guitar with subtle lyrics and a great voice.

Their two music videos are fairly entertaining, as are their video blogs from the road touring with Saving Abel. The band gives you a chance to see them on their own terms, not as a marketing package that a company put together.

Surviving Freedom: Uncensored Remixes & Naughty Bits (Expansion Team) Siraisi is a New York-based artist who is the drummer for Groove Collective, and he also performs on laptop as pushtobreak. Between the three identities he covers lots of different facets of electronic music, and many varieties of the genre are on display here on this album of mash-ups and beatcrazy remixes.

“Ring Free Baby” is an exercise in experimental electronica that begins as ambient music, but halfway through, it demands a little more participation from the listener as the pace picks up and layers of squeaking and squawking effects wash over the track.

Later cuts like “Life as a Bird” and the heavy-bottomed “Wishing in Solitude” are more attuned to the dance floor, and a remake of “Surviving Freedom,” originally heard on Siraisi’s Censorsh!t album, rocks the house with Kraftwerk finesse.

Grade: B —Kevin Wierzbicki Surviving Freedom is currently CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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l.a. underground |

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

UPCOMING IN-STORES at AMOEBA! All shows are FREE and ALL AGES! For full calendar of events visit: AMOEBA.COM

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DEVON WILLIAMS

Performing a special live set (w/ string quartet!).

His new CD, Carefree is out now on Ba Da Bing Records! “...Williams is unique in that he refuses to be another psychfolk-blues musician in Los Angeles. He’s just not having it.

Instead, Williams writes refreshingly light tunes tinged with Westerberg-like self deprecation that could have been fitting on the soundtrack of any My So Called Life episode: songs for being distraught, but laughing about it.”— LA Weekly

M[Zd[iZWo @kd[ '. ,fc WEBCAST LIVE ON AMOEBA.COM

EB: /-ÊI

Celebrating their new CD Blame it on Gravity — out now on New West Records.

Playing live at the Crash Mansion, June 19th.

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MARTHAWAINWRIGHT

Singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright performs songs from her new album I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too — out now on Zoe Records.

Playing June 19th at the Troubadour.!

Jk[iZWo @kd[ (* -fc

THE WATSON TWINS

Celebrating the release date of their new album Fire Songs on Vanguard Records.

“The Watson Twins live and breathe ochre-tinged folk-rock, each track sinking into the twilight — most often drowsily but with a thunderous undercurrent...”

— Filter Magazine

M[Zd[iZWo @kd[ (+ -fc

AMOS LEE

Amos Lee seamlessly glides between blues, soul, gospel and folk with straightforward yet graceful songwriting on his latest release. His new album Last Days at the Lodge comes out June 24th on Blue Note.

M;;ABO :@ I;JI C7D:7B7 M;:D;I:7OI -#'&FC H;IED7D9; <H?:7OI .#/0)&FC DJ adventures curated by DJ JUN!

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AMOEBA TOP 10

live show reviews

David Tobin

music

Good musicians get better with time: Lonnie Jordan of War.

War May 25 @ the Greek For most of the crowd, tequila and beer took care of the chill that lingered in the air.

And the power coming off the stage during War’s set was enough to fill all of Los Angeles.

With classics like “Spill the Wine,” “Low Rider” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” the vibe was nothing less than perfect. The band of men in their 50s and 60s played better than most groups in their prime. Good musicians get better with time.

Changing up rhythms, goofing off with the crowd and having fun onstage is what made this show great.

—David Tobin

Ladytron May 29 @ the Fonda One of the best electronica bands of the millennium, Ladytron started the show by playing a few new tracks from their latest album, Velocifero. The crowd was probably not too familiar with the fresh stuff, but they were ready to rock out anyway.

The real excitement came in the middle of the hour-and-a-half set when Ladytron played one of their most notable tunes, “Seventeen.” It

Independent Local Artist Releases

The Conchords do have a serious side; they spent about 10 minutes professing their dedication to issues like “War, poverty, whale saving … anything Bono is into, really” before launching into “Think About It.” They also unveiled a new song, “I Told You I was Freaky.”

The duo concluded the evening with two encores that included “Bret, You Got It Going On” and “Angels.” “There are angels in the clouds … Doin’ it.”

—Yuri Shimoda

Flight of the Conchords

The Cure

May 30 @ The Orpheum Theatre You may know Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie from their “Flight of the Conchords” series on HBO, but you may not know that the Conchords are an actual band, a Grammy-winning band, no less. Having sold out the El Rey less than a year ago, this time the New Zealanders graduate to two sold-out nights at the Orpheum.

Following a set by fellow Kiwi Bic Runga and comedian Aziz Ansari, the Conchords took the stage with “Robots,” complete with binary solo.

After Clements confirmed that they really are a band because they partake in offstage antics like “drugs and blow jobs,” they played several other tunes from their recently released self-titled album – “The Most Beautiful Girl (in the Room),” “Mutha’uckas” and “Foux du Fafa” – as well as “Jenny” from their HBO “One Night Stand” special and “If You’re Into It” and “Crying” from The Distant Future.

May 31 @ Hollywood Bowl Regardless of what many youngsters may think about aging rock stars, they can jam out harder than most of today’s up ’n’ coming baby artists, as proved by Robert Smith and his legendary the Cure.

Despite a somewhat recent line-up change, the Cure brought an unmatched aura to the stage, even without an over-the-top multimedia production. Still, the missing keyboards proved hurtful on a number of Cure classics, including “Just Like Heaven” and “Friday I’m In Love.”

Nevertheless, the highlight of the night goes to the darker-era Cure cuts, including a creepy rendition of “Lullaby” and “A Forest.”

With an extensive discography that spans across almost three decades, the Cure is definitely a band various generations can enjoy – from the post-punk fanatics of their late ’70s debut, Three Imaginary Boys, to the teenage lovers making out to ’80s hits like “Love Song” and “In Between Days.”

—John Ochoa

cd reviews « CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 available.

The Slackers Self Medication (Indication) “Every day is Sunday when you’re unemployed.” What a great line to start off a song and an album when your band’s name is the Slackers.

Singer Vic Ruggiero makes it clear on “Every Day is Sunday” that sitting around is no fun, a little boring even, a fact belied by the carefree ska melody the rest of the Slackers wrap the song in. Most of Self Medication strikes a similar chord; the lyrics are moody but the music is upbeat and very danceable.

Perfect examples are “Don’t You Want a Man Anymore,” a reggae tune about broken love that’s impossible not to sing along to and “Don’t Forget the Streets,” a “Pressure Drop”like reggae rocker that sounds like something the Rolling Stones might have cranked out in a

6400 SUNSET BLVD. (323) 245-6400

was perfect, watching the LED screen behind them flash “17” as everyone sang along.

As I watched the two hot singers lay those sexy vocals over this great electronic music, I thought to myself, “Oh, I get it! LADY-TRON.” I could almost see the ladies wearing the glowing uniforms from the ’80s movie.

Only took me seven years.

My only complaint of the night was that I wished they actually looked like they were having a good time.

Though the stage was close to pitch black, I could still see the girls’ stone-faced expressions. I guess that’s the sexy-Posh, British way.

—Keyvon Pierre

smoky Kingston studio, Ruggiero drawling out his lines like a young Mick Jagger.

The Slackers are not as boisterous as many groups that work the Jamaican sound, possibly because they’ve kicked the gong around with the best, having been mentored by Jamaican greats the Upsetters and the Skatalites.

Grade: A —Kevin Wierzbicki Self Medication is currently available.

Thomas Function Celebration (Alive) It’s a fitting name for Thomas Function’s first full length, which follows a string of well-regarded 7-inch singles.

Who releases 7-inch singles anymore, you ask?

1) Black Tales — Black Tales 2) Devil Doll — The Return of Eve 3) Eric Roberson — Left 4) Psycho Realm — War Story Book 2 5) Jack Bond — Dali in New York 6) Patti Smith & Lenny Kaye — February 10 1971 7) Beggars Ball — 1321 8) Omar Rodriguez — Omar Rodriguez 9) Lizz Fields — Pleasantville 10) Dirt Nasty — Dirt Nasty

One listen to this band and it makes sense.

This Alabama quartet, who clearly snubs their nose at modern advances, has cultivated a romping batch of garage-rock party songs that bring to mind drunken summer hooligan antics. With a sound that harkens back to the ’70s, their creations are stompy, bright and energetic with detectable traces of glam, blues, ’60s R&B and punk.

They’ve even garnered many a comparison to Television thanks to Joshua Macero’s vocals, which squeal and sneer in opposition to the lazy southern drawl that might be expected.

Grade: A—Natasha Desianto Celebration is currently available.

Travel By Sea Days of My Escape (Autumn Tone) The post-folk duo Travel

By Sea have crafted an acoustic album of quiet devastation on their CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

«

18 | Campus Circle

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

spin cycle | l.a. dj culture

LESLIE BARRIE

music

CHUCK MALDONADO

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11

Choreographer, Dancer and …

Spanish Teacher? Eventually he

Flying Lotus @ The Airliner 2419 N. Broadway, Los Angeles; myspace.com/lowendtheoryclub 18+/10 p.m./$10 guests, $5 members Timothy Saccenti

An event so big that the outdoor stage that’s been closed for months will be re-opened, Low End Theory presents the record release party for Los Angeles from Flying Lotus, on Warp Records.

Flying Lotus lands at the Airliner June 11.

Performing alongside him will be fellow L.A. beatmakers Ras G and Samiyam, with support from the resident DJ crew: Nobody, Gaslamp Killer, D-Styles and Daddy Kev. If you’ve never been before, let me be the first to warn you: bring your earplugs.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13 California Soul @ Grand Star 943 N. Broadway, Chinatown; soulsessionslive.com 21+/ 9 p.m./$15 Celebrate the soul of summer at Grand Star with three soundsystems (the jazz lounge, an upstairs dancefloor and an outdoor stage) of jazz, funk, hip-hop, soul and electronic tunes from a ton of guests, including Red Astaire, Mad Mats and Pure P of the Raw Fusion label/club based out of Sweden, DJ Numark (Jurassic 5), J*Davey, Dam-Funk and Slang. The festival vibe is complete with live art, vendors, food and refreshments. This is definitely one not to miss.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 Club Soulside @ Fais Do-Do 5257 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles; myspace.com/clubsoulside 18+/9:30 p.m./$10 It’s a weekend of soul! If going out dancing in Hollywood on a Saturday night sounds dreadful, head on over to club Soulside at the historic Fais Do-Do and groove to soul, funk, reggae, mod, ska and Motown from DJs Mr. Soul Satisfaction, Chris Griffiths, Tim Loungway, DJ Minh and DJ Al G. And to keep the true spirit of soul alive, vinyl 45s are their weapons of choice.

SUNDAY, JUNE 15 Sonido @ Little Temple 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., Silver Lake; myspace.com/sonidosunday 21+/9:30 p.m./$5 Every Sunday, get your fill of reggae, reggaeton, dancehall, lovers rock and a taste of Latin and Caribbean rhythms from DJs Sloe Poke, Higher, Expo and Yayo. They often have special guest live performances, and you can even save a little cash with their weekly drink specials and a midnight bottle giveaway – so, bring your friends or make new ones. —Sandra Fernando

sophomore outing, Days of My Escape, released via Los Angeles-based blog-label Autumn Tone.

Kyle Kersten (vocals/guitar/banjo) and Brian Kraft (guitars/drums/bass/keys/flute/noises) may tap into rural alt country and Americana influences, but the two are technology savvy as well, having created this song set of confident melancholia, via shared Internet files, in bedroom studios several states apart.

Days of My Escape is a small-scale triumph readymade for those who have discovered Sam Beam, Shearwater and other artists who mix darkness with a singular perception.

Grade: B —Doug Simpson Days of My Escape is currently available.

l.a. moves | B Y

Campus Circle | 19

staff pick Al Green Lay It Down (Blue Note) So here he is again, the Roots’ Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson appearing on our pages. This time he co-produces Al Green’s newest release with James Poyser.

In addition to being utterly groovy, hear Green dueting with John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae and Anthony Hamilton. Talk about the best of both music generations.

—Jessica Koslow Lay It Down is currently available.

CHUCK MALDONADO COULD BE THE man of the night at the second annual Choreography Media Honors, which celebrates the creators of memorable dance routines in film, television, commercials and video. He has most of the categories covered, with nominations for his ad with the Brighthouse Network, the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, the 2007 NAACP Image Awards and, of course, his breakthrough choreography for Stomp the Yard.

Fifteen years ago, however, Maldonado would’ve never believed he’d be one of America’s premier choreographers.

After graduating from North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelor in Marketing and a Masters in Education, he taught high school Spanish in Atlanta. But he always loved to dance.

When the Olympics came to ATL in 1996, he auditioned to be a dancer for the opening ceremonies. When they called back, instead of simply offering him the dancing job, they said, “I want you to choreograph a routine for 400 people.”

“This was my first major choreography job,” he says,“but I thought it was a one-time deal.”

decided to host a dance show and invite local celebrities to judge, including TLC’s Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.

“After the show, Lisa was impressed,” he relays. “She pulled me aside and said, ‘if you can do this with young people with no formal training, imagine what you can do with professionals. Maybe you should be a choreographer,’” Maldonado remembers.

And so he did, and finally made the move to Los Angeles in 2001.

Maldonado is currently on tour, teaching step routines like the one he choreographed for the season finale of “America’s Best Dance Crew.” He was also featured in the most recent Indiana Jones installment and was the silhouette in those memorable psychedelic iPod commercials.

The 2nd Annual Choreography Media Honors will be awarded June 13 at The Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.dancecamerawest.org.

20 | Campus Circle

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

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FpsWAUN2/08

inner circle

the art of love |

I have been seeing a man who I think has an authority complex. He loves to dominate me and play little power games in bed.

These turn me on sexually, but sometimes I feel like his ideal relationship with a woman is one where he is in total control of everything and gets away with treating a woman however he pleases. He doesn’t always return phone calls because will not be put “on a leash.”

His last relationship ended when he “lost the power.” I have also seen a creepy poster he created and left in his closet with phrases like “Be masculine, be in control.”

Overall I really like this man and love the rest of his personality. Do you think I can help him get over his insecurity?

—Alle Why, oh why do women insist on playing Florence Nightingale with the men they’re dating.

Do you have a PhD? Are you a therapist? Then why do you need to help him?

Since when is returning phone calls equivalent to being on a leash? This guy has major issues.

You have two choices. Accept him as he is with all his power plays or move on. Frankly, if I were you, I would head for the hills!

Dear Lucia, I have been talking to a woman on the phone for one year. We met through AOL. We have some of the best and funniest conversations.

It took her a while to trust me before we could meet, however, when we were about to, she decided not to. I admit it was my fault because I didn’t trust her. However, how could I when she said she would get so drunk that her guy friends would have to carry her to bed?

We hardly talk on weekends.Why do females like talking during the weekdays but not on the weekends? It is as if you’re second best because their friends seem to come first.

How should I handle this? Can a hot female who says she loves a guy be faithful? When she is out with her friends, every guy wants to date her.

She says she wants to spend her birthday with me,but right now I am just keeping an open mind because I am unsure what will happen.

—Andy Dear Andy, Wow! You sure are patient. Talking for a year, what’s up with that?

You two haven’t even met and there are already trust issues. Not a good way to start any type of relationship.

I suspect she has a boyfriend, if she isn’t available to talk on the weekends. A woman who is interested and available has no problem talking any day of the week.

A female, hot or not, will stay faithful if she loves her boyfriend and is happy with the sex and

pages | book review True Norwegian Black Metal (Vice) Peter Beste’s photographic journey into the very disturbing depths of Norway’s prevalent black metal scene, and its enthusiasts, is captivating if only for the photographs alone.

Extremely graphic images of

BY LUCIA

how he treats her. I suggest you meet sooner rather than later, whether it’s for her birthday or whatever. If she flakes out, move on.

Who knows if it’s even her in the pictures? It may be a woman with a good imagination and plenty of time to waste on the phone with a stranger.

Dear Lucia, I’m 21-years-old. I’ve recently fallen for an older woman I work with; she’s 28.

I find it so hard because I can’t be myself around her. I let myself fall knowing that it would be a mistake. She has a boyfriend who lives overseas which makes things so difficult.

I just need tips on how to get over her. I can’t stop thinking about her, and it’s really driving me nuts!

—T.J. Hi T.J., Well, this is a fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into, young man! Just kidding!

Since you work together, it’s going to be difficult to avoid her, but try to stay away from her as much as you can. Only interact with her if you absolutely have to.

As for constantly thinking about her, that will be more difficult to deal with. She’s currently residing in your head.

Whenever you find yourself thinking about her (I know, it’s probably every five minutes), think of something you don’t like – a food, place, whatever. Eventually there will be a negative association when she comes to mind, and you will begin to think about her less and less.

Remember: Love inspires, empowers, uplifts and enlightens.

Write to Lucia at www.theartoflove.net.

Read an excerpt from Lucia’s Lessons of Love at www.lessonsoflove.net.

Listen to Lucia live every Sunday at 3 p.m. PST on www.bbstalkradio.com.

people who have taken their love for Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth too far adorn the book’s 208 pages.

In an attempt to bring a redeeming value to the subculture, much information is left vague and with loose ends. The pictures, however, say it all. Plus, narrative by Johan Kugelberg.

Grade: B —Richard Castañeda True Norwegian Black Metal is currently available.

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

M AT T H E W K I T C H E N

MICHAEL BAZE 21-Year-Old Riding Phenom During his training at Del Mar, Ward and former jockey Jose Corrales would often sneak the underage Baze on to the track in order to get in time teaching him how to tame the large animal. Two weeks after his 16th

Benoit Photo

bottoms up | B Y

birthday, his first ride to the winner’s circle proved that the time had paid off.

From there Baze spent almost a full year on the New Jersey racing circuit, learning all he could about what it took to be successful rider. He returned to the California circuit the following year and quickly became one of the rising stars of the sport, ranking 17th in national earnings last season as he lead the way at Del Mar,

DANIELLE CHARBONNEAU

HANSEN’S NATURAL SPARKLING

Summer’s Must-Have Accessory

AH … SUMMER. IT’S HERE – THE scorching days of baking in the sun at the beach, late night barbecues and vibrant sunsets. Along with its arrival comes the need for cold, crisp beverages to refresh and quench your urgent thirst.

Hansen’s new, all natural, fruitflavored sparkling drinks hope to be the beverage of choice.

The new product, which blends pure triple-filtered carbonated water with fruit extracts will hit stores this summer and is available in four flavors: blueberry pomegranate, dragon fruit, Valencia orange and cranberry grapefruit.

The blueberry pomegranate, made with extracts from Washington blueberries and Italian pomegranates is slightly sweet with a noticeable flavor of berries. The cranberry grapefruit has a subtle tartness, grapefruit being the dominant flavor.

The Valencia orange is similarly packed with a citrus punch, but without the tartness of the cranberry grapefruit. It’s reminiscent of juicy Mandarins and is made with California-grown oranges.

The dragon fruit, made with the exotic pink and green cactus-like dragon fruit of Asia, is slightly sweet and sour like a star fruit.

exhibitions

inner circle

museums • art galleries

Standing Archer, Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

TERRA COTTA WARRIORS: GUARDIANS OF CHINA’S FIRST EMPEROR Now-Oct. 12 @ The Bowers Museum

BY JOSH HERMAN NOTE TO ALL ASPIRING SCREENWRITERS OUT THERE (AND IF you’re reading this in Los Angeles, that’s you): this is a wonderful idea for a script that, as of publication, hasn’t sold. So get to the Bowers Museum before Jerry Bruckheimer does and get writing.

After uniting his empire in 221 BC, China’s first emperor, Qin, commenced construction on the first Great Wall to keep his enemies out, which also included Death.

Obsessed about his mortality, the Emperor experimented with potions to prolong his life. None seemed to work.

But if he were to die, it would be on his own terms: he would rule the afterlife with the army of 7,000 warriors buried beside him.

Armored General, Qin dynasty (221-206 BC) For 38 years, 700,000 laborers toiled to construct a mammoth mausoleum fit for an emperor and his life-sized terra cotta warriors.

These clay statues remained hidden until 1974, when several local farmers near Xi’an, Shaanxi province, digging a well, stumbled across a carved head. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Eighth Wonder of the World includes warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians varying in height according to their role (e.g., the tallest are generals.)

Even though John Edwards apparently doesn’t have to go through an army of warriors before contacting dead loved ones, might as well hedge your bets and see the warriors now, just in case, so you have something to talk about post-death should Qin have succeeded. © Wang Da-Gang

WHILE HORSERACING HAS OFTEN been referred to as the “Sport of Kings,” it is probably known more simply as the sport of horses.

However, it is rarely, if ever, considered the sport of jockeys. While most people can name at least one, if not a number of the Triple Crown winners over the years (War Admiral, Secretariat and most recently Affirmed in 1978…) what they can rarely tell you is the names of the jockeys that were riding those horses as they came across the finish line (…).

After meeting 21 year-old jockey Michael Baze at the Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, I have no idea why that is.

Whether you know it or not, in the world of riding the family name Baze is synonymous with winning. While Michael continues to add to that tradition with his recent riding title at his home track of Hollywood Park, he didn’t grow up hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps.

In fact, he didn’t grow up around horses at all. But when Dennis Ward, an old friend of his mother, called him on his 15th birthday and asked him if he wanted to come down to California and go for a ride, Michael quickly took him up on the offer.

“When you first start, the more horses you ride the better it is because you just keep learning and learning.”

Hollywood Park and Santa Anita alongside cousin Tyler.

However, his triumph has not come without tragedy. Last summer Michael was thrown from his horse as it broke down at Del Mar following a strongly contested final turn during the first race of the day.

Though Michael was carried off on a stretcher and sustained minor injuries, he returned to the track later that day to ride three more races. His horse, Lyrical Sound, had to be euthanized on the track.

Along with the fear of injury often comes the fear of a sport that is disappearing from view. While access and interest to the sport has grown with the new age of satellite television and Internet betting, fewer people are being drawn to the track because of it.

Smaller crowds are making it harder for the jockeys to get fired up for the races they take part in.

“Back 20 years ago they didn’t have Internet betting where you don’t even have to come to the track. It’s like having a baseball game, but everyone is watching on TV. You don’t have a crowd.”

After becoming the youngest jockey in 50 years to win the riding crown at Hollywood Park, Michael is hoping that his success, along with the success of this year’s Triple Crown will be able to reinvigorate the Sport of Kings.

With the Breeder’s Cup being held in California the next two years, Michael should have no problem making a name for himself as one of the best jockeys in the country.

Though he says it’s “mostly the horse,” it takes a special rider to be as successful as he has been.

“I make my own way. Some people might have expectations, but I just live up to my own.”

© Wang Da-Gang

sports | B Y

Campus Circle | 21

All four bubbly drinks have no high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, artificial colors, sodium or caffeine.

For those looking to avoid sugar entirely, the beverages are also offered in a sugar-free, Splenda-sweetened version.

For more information, visit www.hansens.com.

The Bowers Museum is located at 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. For more information, visit www.bowers.org.

22 | Campus Circle

inner circle

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

l.a. faces | B Y

DOV RUDNICK

SARITA LOUISE MOORE Promoting Public Dance

Robert Sturman

site pick

Keep the Beet Alive

June 12 @ Brew-Co, UCLA UCLA student run independent record label Beet Music presents live music and DJs to promote their main live event, the Beet Records Album Release Party June 17 at the Troubadour, West Hollywood.

BY FREDERICK MINTCHELL

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 Pasadena Chalk Festival

community organizing through dance. She “WE DANCE IN THE PARK FOR GOD’S speaks about finding the “ultimate vitality” in sake,” exclaims choreographer Sarita Louise her dancers and the battle against drudgery in Moore. “It’s stupidly fun.” everyday life. Moore’s enthusiasm is infectious The 27-year old dance artist appears and her defense of dance amazed it’s not obvious to unapologetic: “We need everyone the purpose of to make dancing (in parks. She and her public) OK again.” devoted following of Moore’s vision for dance artists have been the future involves a spotted in parks around worldwide tour of the city enraptured by the dancing-in-the-park muse. events with free workThe collective, known shops. A signature informally as “The Barecharacteristic of Moore’s foot Underground,” emerchoreography is a sense ged spontaneously from of playfulness and Moore’s Saturday morn- See Sarita Louise Moore at “Dance Picnic.” humor. ing Roots Modern dance Of her work she offers,“It is a personal goal class at Shakti’s Elements in Santa Monica. The of mine to get people to laugh their asses off.” class, which Moore developed after her Moore and dancers can be seen this graduation from UCLA’s World Arts and Sunday at Ozone Park for “Dance Picnic.”

Cultures program, combines a variety of dance There will be seven pieces of original influences including modern, ballet, jazz, West choreography, hula hoop contests, acrobatic African, Afro-Brazilian, yoga and capoeira. yoga, piñatas, catering by Green Truck, a “I am passionate about bringing dance into capoeira roda and whatever else may everyone’s life,” Moore explains. “We need to spontaneously occur. get people moving, to be excited about helping other people and to reclaim the idea of “Dance Picnic” will take place June 15 from 2 youthfulness throughout life.” p.m.-5 p.m. at Ozone Park, corner of Ozone and Moore’s vision of dance ventures into the 7th Avenues, in Venice. political. Her work at UCLA focused on

event pick

10 spot |

Paseo Colorado, 280 E. Colorado Blvd.; www.pasadenachalkfestival.com

Let your inner artist shine at the world’s largest street painting festival where you can win some great prizes. Or just view original art created over two city blocks. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. FREE. Also Sunday.

Chalk on the wild side at Pasdena Chalk Festival.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 Israeli Film Festival www.israelfilmfestival.com The Israel Film Festival commemorates Israel’s historic 60th celebration with 60 films ranging from cinéma vérité to comedies to thought provoking, powerful dramas. Through June 26.

Writers’ Program Publication Party Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda, Los Angeles (310) 794-1846 Come out to mix, mingle and enjoy spirited readings, book signings, free coffee and desserts while meeting fellow writers. Writers’ Program instructors will read from their works that have been published in the past year. 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m. FREE. RSVP to writers@uclaextension.edu.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12

Exposure LA Film School Main Theater, 6363 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; www.lafilm.com Attention all young future cinephiles, the Los Angeles Film School will be screening their finest student short films of 2007. 7:30 p.m. FREE. RSVP to prmarketing@lafilm.com.

Flight Attendants Opening Reception Stephen Cohen Gallery, 7358 Beverly Blvd., Park La Brea www.stephencohengallery.com Co-sponsored by Anthem Magazine, see Brian Finke’s pictures taken of flight attendants from around the world over the past two years. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Exhibit runs through Aug. 2. FREE.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14

www.realitywanted.com There’s a new way to make the big break into show business.

RealityWanted.com is a great source for reality TV casting call information, reality news, interviews and more.

Members can register for a free account, create a personal profile and post photos to promote themselves to casting professionals.

Sushi & Sake Festival

—Lauren Rosenblum

Tiny Ninja “Macbeth”

Queen Mary, Long Beach; www.queenmaryfestivals.com What a combination! This festival features music, food, sumo and sushi making demonstrations, sake and beer tasting, a tea ceremony, taiko and more! 10 a.m.-8 p.m. FREE.

SUNDAY, JUNE 15 Ice Cream Sundays Scene Bar, 806 E. Colorado, Glendale; icecreamsundays.net $3 drinks, a variety of dance music, pool, darts, vintage video games and, yes, free ice cream. What else could you want from a lazy Sunday? 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Free before 10 p.m., $3 after.

Shula’s 347 Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles, 6101 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles (310) 642-1111; www.sheratonlosangeles.com For the dad who loves sports (especially watching them), honor your pops with a five-course prix fixe menu at the winningest coach in NFL history’s first West Coast eatery. Plus, there’s a chance to score two signed footballs by the legendary Don Shula. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. $65 per person.

MONDAY, JUNE 16 Fake Gallery, 4319 Melrose, Hollywood; www.cabaretvoltaire.org Here’s something unique and eccentric you’ll want to see: Shakespeare, as it is meant to be seen, performed by tiny plastic ninjas on a briefcase sized stage. 8 p.m. Also Tuesday. $10.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 17 Taste of Tuesdays Viceroy Santa Monica, 1819 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica; www.viceroysantamonica.com Mouthwatering “tastes” of signature food and cocktail offerings are available for only $5 each. The sounds of live DJs set the relaxing mood at this luxury seaside hotel while guests lounge poolside enjoying food and drink menus changed weekly based on seasonal ingredients available at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. every Tuesday through Labor Day.

[JUNE 11 - JUNE 17 ’08]

essential l.a. | cool hot spots

DOWNTOWN L.A. For the Young, Frisky and Fun

BY LAUREN ROSENBLUM PHOTOS BY DORIA ANSELMO

sushi-related dishes, but also a number of tasty small-portioned Japanese specialties.

BAR HOPPIN’ Finding a cool bar to have a drink in the City of Angels can be a surprisingly challenging experience.

But I’ve discovered a bar with “coolness” cred to ease your bar hopping experience.

Bordello When people think of Downtown Los Angeles, they think of a bustling business center by day and empty hub by night. It’s a common misconception. Downtown is quickly becoming a cultural, social and entertainment hot spot.

We’ve uncovered some of the top places to go when you have some time to kill or want to keep yourself busy for a day. You can go the shopping route, the partying route or my personal favorite, the eating route.

OLDIES BUT GOODIES These places are old. They look old. They smell old. But the food is oh-so-good.

Take a trip down memory lane and check out these legendary food joints. If you want a good ol’ fashion “Food Network recommend” type of restaurant, these are the places.

Philippe the Original Restaurant 1001 N. Alameda St. (213) 628-3781; www.philippes.com For nearly a century, this landmark eatery has been serving up an original French dip sandwich. It has sawdust on the floor and long tables for communal dining. There’s

901 E. First St., Los Angeles (213) 687-3766; www.bordellobar.com This very cool bar is nestled in the Artist District of Downtown. It was originally a brothel and still has a Moulin Rouge feel to it.

with anything on the menu. The portions are huge, and the food is pretty greasy, but what do you expect?

It’s “comfort” food. Unless you eat too much … then it starts to feel a little uncomfortable.

DIVERSIFY YOUR APPETITE Looking for a great place to eat that’s not your regular Applebee’s or Chili’s? Check out some of these great restaurants that will introduce you to cuisine from around the world.

Embrace Los Angeles’ diverse culture and broaden your horizons.

Gill’s Cuisine of India

(213) 892-8080; www.standardhotels.com The Restaurant at the Standard is a California brasserie that serves classic American cuisine 24/7. They have everything from salads and sandwiches to steak and eggs.

The outrageously bright interior features yellow booths and a dinerstyle counter. But ask to be seated on the outdoor patio so you can schmooze alongside a flaming water fountain.

It’s cool, I promise.

Campus Circle | 23

inner circle

Los Angeles Flower District 766 Wall St., Los Angeles www.laflowerdistrict.com It’s like spring all-year-round in the Flower District. For a small $2 fee,

Pete’s 400 S. Main St., Los Angeles (213) 617-1000; www.petescafe.com This funky little Blue cheese fries at Pete's are a must-taste. restaurant nestled into the corner of 4th Street you can check out the largest selection and Main is truly an enigma in the of floral supplies on the West Coast.

Downtown dining scene. There are Not to mention, you can sift only three things that you need to through hundreds of beautiful know about Pete’s food. arrangements in the air conditioned First and foremost, Pete’s blue facility (so L.A.). The Flower District cheese fries are the landmark of the also has a complete design school and establishment. The perfect shoestring French bakery, pastry and café, oh French fries, covered in crumbled and my! melting blue cheese, are downright inspiring.

If that doesn’t satisfy your late night munchies, try the grilled cheese and tomato soup. It’s a sure winner.

The Rumble Kings perform at Bordello.

FREAKY, FUN AND FREE

The lady bartenders are dressed in black corsets, fish net stockings and short shorts. The whole place is covered in black lace curtains, crushed red velvet, red lacquered walls and dim red lighting. The scene is interesting, to say the least, full of artsy fartsy people with tattoos.

Sick of doing the same old thing every night? Step out of the box a little bit and It’s spring all year ‘round at Los Angeles Flower District. have a great time at this L.A. hotspot. This places is new, exciting and perfect for your next birthday Downtown Art Walk celebration or group get-together.

Gallery Row on Spring St., Los Angeles www.downtownartwalk.com Shatto 39 Lanes The Downtown Art Walk 3255 W. 4th St., Los Angeles showcases the many art exhibition (213) 385-9475; shatto39lanes.com venues in Downtown Los Angeles – There are no flashing lights, glowin-the-dark balls or karaoke machines at this massive 39lane treasure. However, there is plenty of beer, balls, pins and fun.

Don’t be intimidated by the intense old-timers in the fancy league uniforms. They don’t judge! But if you start to feel self-conscious in those goofy bowling shoes, there’s a cozy Shatto 39 Lanes - beer, balls, pins and fun! cocktail lounge to retreat to and play a few rounds of pool. commercial art galleries, museums and non-profit arts venues. It’s SO YOU WANNA BE absolutely free and, best of all, selfCULTURED? guided so you only have to see what you’re interested in.

No problem! Los Angeles is Everyone knows about the fancy the cultural capital for music, film, art museums around town, but this theater, dance and visual art. There’s experience is much more casual and the Fashion District, Toy District, personal. The art walk is held the Jewelry District, Historic Theatre second Thursday of every month (the District, You-Name-It District. Just next one is June 12) from noon-9 walk down the streets and find what p.m. tickles your fancy!

838 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles (213) 623-1050 Where can you get an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet lunch you ask? Well, Gill’s Cuisine of India should do the trick. The LATE NIGHT DINERS décor is neat: light pink booths, tablecloths and The benefit of the late night carpet are accentuated with diner: late night studying? Can’t get to Indian artifacts that bed? Your friends are zombies? suspend above the tables.

It’s located in the Take a French dip at Philippe the Original Restaurant. back of the seedy Stillwell Hotel, but don’t let that stop you from standard deli fare – soups, sandtasting the finest Indian food wiches, salads, plus a slew of pies. around. They are one of the only The signature sandwich is a Indian restaurants that deliver. masterpiece. Meat (beef, pork, lamb, ham or turkey) is dunked in au jus and layered in a perfect French roll – Izakaya Haru Ulala soft inside, with a light, crispy crust.

368 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles Yumm!

(213) 620-0977; www.haruulala.com Located in Little Tokyo, The Original Pantry Café there’s a fun restaurant spot 877 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles called Haru Ulala. It’s a sort of (213( 972-9279); Izakaya Haru Ulala: After-work hang out spot in Little Tokyo. hang out spot, a place you might www.pantrycafe.com head to after work for a small bite The Pantry is another 24-hour to eat and a drink to unwind from the joint that opened in 1924. SupDrunk? Nothing’s better than cheese day. posedly, the place has never ever fries at 4 a.m. Indulge. All the bars What’s ideal about Haru Ulala is closed. close at 2 a.m. anyways. that there’s something on their menu Something about the pancakes for just about anyone. They have a here is special. Maybe it’s the syrup.

Standard Downtown large selection of excellent sushi and But you really can’t go wrong 550 S. Flower St., Los Angeles

YOU’RE GONNA LIKE IT WHEN HE’S ANGRY

A MARVEL STUDIOS PRODUCTION A VALHALLA MOTION PICTURES PRODUCTION EDWARD NORTON “THE INCREDIBLE HULK” LIV TYLER TIM ROTH UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT MUSIC MUSIC CASTING VISUAL EFFECTS

BY LARAY MAYFIELD BY CRAIG ARMSTRONG SUPERVISOR DAVE JORDAN SUPERVISOR KURT WILLIAMS EDITORS JOHN WRIGHT ACE RICK SHAINE ACE TIPRODUCTION M BLAKENELSON TY BURRELL ANDDIRECTORWILLIAM HURT SCREEN STORY OF EXECUTIVE PRODUCED DESIGNER KIRK M. PETRUCCELLI PHOTOGRAPHY PETER MENZIES, JR. , ACS PRODUCERS STAN LEE DAVID MAISEL JIM VAN WYCK

BY AVI ARAD GALE ANNE HURD KEVIN FEIGE AND SCREENPLAY BY ZAK PENN DIRECTED SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE AT

BY LOUIS LETERRIER A UNIVERSALRELEASE THIS FILM CONTAINS DEPICTIONS OF TOBACCO CONSUMPTION

THE INCREDIBLE HULK, THE MOVIE © 2008 MVL FILM FINANCE LLC. THE HULK CHARACTER TM & © 2008 MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT.

ARTWORK & DESIGN © 2008 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.

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