Daily Titan: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 by Daily Titan

Wednesday September 16, 2009

Since 1960 Volume 85, Issue 8

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Funeral held for former professor

Conference combines film, music

Daily Titan Staff Writer

news@dailytitan.com

Dr. Robert E. Rayfield, a retired Cal State Fullerton professor, died of natural causes on Sept. 10, Dr. Anthony Fellow, professor and chair of the Department of Communications stated in an e-mail. Rayfield taught public relations in the school’s Communications Department between 1983 and 1993. “When he first started,” said Ed Trotter, who was the department chair at the time, “he was in his midfifties, probably about 55. But he was as energetic as a 35-year-old.” Rayfield was born in Fayetteville, N.C., in 1929, and he grew up in Miami, Fellow stated. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Florida, Gainesfield, and his doctorate in journalism from the University of Texas, Austin. Rayfield was a retired colonel in the Air Force, where he had had a 30-year career as an aircraft navigator. He also served at HQ Strategic Air Command before completing his career as director of public affairs, 5th Air Force and U.S. Forces in Japan, Fellow stated. “My fondest memory of him was his saying: ‘Tony, we need to bend some tin,’” said Tony Rimmer, professor of communications and director of the Faculty Development Center. Rimmer says that this catchphrase was what Rayfield would say whenever they needed to get something done. “He had a lot of military expressions,” Rimmer added. “At the end of the day when he was leaving, he would knock on my door and say, ‘Tony, you’re in charge.’” When he retired, Rayfield moved with his wife, Ann, to San Antonio. Fellow stated, “He is survived by his wife, Ann B.; his children, Ellen, Lorrie Ellstrom, Robin Richter, Thomas, Peggy, Beth and Pamela; grandchildren, Jennifer, John Paul and Matthew Richter, Sonya and Jodi Ragland; nephews, Mark and Glen.” The e-mail also states that Rayfield’s passion was flying, and he “owned and operated a Piper Cherokee well into his seventies.” “He used to get anxious about getting his hours in flying,” said Rimmer. “If he didn’t get in a certain number of hours, he would lose his pilot’s license. I used to think, here I am at my desk all day, and he has time to be out flying. This guy was like Superman; he could do so much.” Rayfield is fondly remembered by his colleagues. “He was known for being very gregarious, very kind, very helpful. He was very collegial,” said Fellow. “He loved being in the classroom, and he loved his students.” Rimmer said that he recalls sitting with Rayfield on many committees. “He was just a wonderful guy,” added Rimmer. “I never saw him angry, never saw him frustrated. He just wanted to do good work.” The CSUF chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, for which Rayfield served as adviser, is named in honor of him. “He was a good fellow who loved flying,” said Trotter. “He loved life, and we’ll miss him.” Rimmer called it a “privileged to work with this man.” “Simply, Bob was the grandest of men, the most wonderful colleague and friend one could have,” said Fellow. Even after he retired, Rayfield would sometimes check-in on the professors at the university, said Rimmer. “He’d e-mail me from time to time,” Rimmer added, “and every time he would say, ‘Keep bending that tin. Keep bending that stuff until it breaks.’” Rayfield was laid to rest yesterday at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

The Film Music Guild (FMG) Conference 2009, a one-day conference that will gather all the big names in the film industry, is specially designed to foster collaboration between student filmmakers and composers. This event will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, at Biola University. Five sessions of workshops will be arranged from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all based on “real world” experience, such as the specific details of how music functions in film, the business aspects of using original music, or the relationships between the director, producer, and composer. The FMG’s Web site states that the Director of “Up,” composer of “Spiderman 3” and composer of “Wall-E” will bring new subjects professors won’t cover in the class and that this activity will not only teach you how to tell better stories with music, but how to tell better stories overall. “We are offering a variety of lectures for students to attend, this is the best way to benefit themselves and discover the beauty of film and music,” said Danielle Howe, director of communications of the FMG Conference 2009. Three years ago, Dave Martina, a music composition student at Biola University established a student club, trying to figure out and solve a serious disconnection between filmmakers and composers. This club taught filmmaking students how to create a better film with music; at the same time, it lets the composers be aware of how to use the music as a storytelling tool, Martina said. Three years later, as the executive coordinator of the FMG Conference 2009, Martina and nine other students brought a solution to the boundary between music and film, shaping the future industry with what they called “the new way of making a film,” Martina added. People recognize music as a vital part to a film, even silent movies cannot ignore it. The problem is composers are often asked to make the music when a product is almost done instead of having them in the film-creating team, Martina said. “People have a misunderstanding of the concept of being creative. They assume the solo act is the best way to create,” Martina said. “However, film making is inherently collaborative. A smart studio like Pixar has a lot of creative people working together and knows how to manage them, which is why they always come out with these genius movies.” Currently confirmed speakers include Pete Docter (director, “Up,” “Monsters Inc.”), John Ottman (editor and composer, “Valkyrie,” “Superman Returns,” “X-Men 2”), Christopher Young (composer, “Spiderman 3,” “The Grudge,” “Ghostrider”), and many more. “It’s not all about what you know in the industry. It’s generally about who you know,” said Brandon Collins, who is now pursuing his master’s in composition from CSUF and also serves as the speaker coordinator of FMG. “The goal of this innovative project is to bring students from LA’s finest film and music schools together to meet and learn from top industry professionals before they step out of college.” Not only are the professionals worth the visit, students from USC, Chapman, Cal Sate Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton will attend the conference as well, which can be another great learning opportunity. The registration fee for students is $65 until Sept. 18, after that, students will be charged $85. General admission is $100 before the deadline and $125 after. “As an all-student organization, we ask for nothing, the registration fees are used for Web site building as well as other printing work. These high profile directors and composers also don’t ask anything, not a penny,” Collins said. “They are firmly committed to the belief that interacting with students can really help change the future of the industry.” For more information or to register, please go to the Web site: filmmusicguild.com.

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Orange County’s Great Park ballon offers free rides and an opportunity to get a birds-eye view the new park in Irvine from 400 feet in the air. See Features, page 4

Pondering the power of poetry By Greg Lehman

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Does poetry matter? Is there any poetry being written, read, or performed in our area? If someone wants to write a poem, where do they begin? These are questions which everyone from the beginner to the published author asks themselves when entering into the rich tradition of poetry. After talking with people who believe and practice the craft, one finds that poetry is alive, evolving, and affecting lives every day. In a time when satisfaction and sensational gratuity are so prevalent, people still have the desire and discipline to examine moments and themselves in the medium of poetry. “I say poetry is relevant because it is exactly the thing we’re going to look to when we need guidance in our life,” said professor Irena Praitis, professor of English

and creative writing. She has published two books of poetry with another book of nonfiction prose poems forthcoming. “Poetry is what makes us stop in the moment,” Praitis added. “Those moments that are going to be things that affect us in a very deep way. Those are the poetic moments, and that’s why it’s vital to our existence.” JD Isip, a graduate student at Cal State Fullerton who is currently teaching English classes on campus, said the poet stands as both prophet and recorder for his or her respective time. “A poet is a very important person,” he said. For Isip, poetry has “always been a voice for what’s happening from the people who are a first hand account of it. To me, it’s like a more honest report of what’s going on, whether it’s about the war or politics or relationships between people.” Professor Stephen Westbrook, an associate professor of English at CSUF, spoke on the deep appreciation See POETRY, Page 2

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