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GRCC students participate in TV series If you have seen and are a fan of the shows “Mad TV” or “Saturday Night Live”, then this is something worth checking out. The name of the show is “You Got to Be Kidding Me, America. “I found out about the show through craigslist.org.” said Darius Colquitt, recent Grand Award winner and GRCC student. “It’s a great source for acting and performance gigs. I play a number of characters on the show.I also write tons of sketches that we pick apart at writers meetings.” Just like the comedy shows on television, this show makes fun of advertisements for big name businesses, real life situations, celebrity icons in the news as well as all of the political coverage of the upcoming elections. “Anything is fair game,” Colquitt said. “There is no political correctness otherwise nothing would be funny. Everyone has to be made fun of at some point because if you do one person or group and not the other then it causes problems.” Many of the students involved with the production work of the show are not just performers but script writers as well. Colquitt is one of the few writers, alongside students Kirk Jorgenson, David Hoffman, Chris Lock and Carl Bolthouse. “I really enjoy writing the comedic scripts for the performers to act out,” Jorgenson said. “It’s always entertaining to watch your work come to life before you.” The members, who work on the production, come together for meetings three to four times a week to evaluate the scripts, watch performers act them out, cast specific performers in the roles, film the final products and then view them when finished. “Usually there's a sense of pride or a sense of accomplishment.” Colquitt said. “However, if it's just not that funny as we had thought, then we feel like we wasted our time. But, that hardly ever happens.” At this point time the production company has a deal with a cable access station for thirteen episodes to air. However, at this time they are not aloud to release the station until further notice. If you are interested in checking out the students work, it is posted on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/user/larswan. It also appears on WKTV at 1 AM and GRTV at 11 PM. This Providence hits Grand Rapids Imagine looking out into a crowd of silhouettes. The bright, white lights beaming down are hot causing droplets of sweat to emerge on your brow, and every move you make is watched with scrutiny as the audience yearns for pure perfection. Within a series of sound adjustments, mic checks, and the cheers from anxious fans, you find yourself set apart from all the rest of the world, standing upon a stage. Wailing guitars and driving rock riffs take the wheel and steer music throughout the entire venue and back stirring about your ears. The crowd in a beautiful unison echoes every word that leaves your mouth. On the last note, the constant applause of approval leaves the hands of the spectators, while you take in a moment of satisfaction much like the feeling felt the night before in another city. Remember, this is only a dream and it’s all too surreal, but for the members of This Providence, they are living fully in that fantasy. Originating in Seattle, Washington, This Providence is a band trying to make a name for themselves. Signed to Fueled by Ramen, the record label of popular artists such as Paramore, Gym Class Heroes, and Panic At The Disco, This Providence has something different to offer with their unique indie-rock flair. Made up of members Dan Young, lead vocals and guitar, Gavin Phillips, guitar and back-up vocals, David Blaise, bass and Andy Horst on drums, this four-piece will have you dancing and singing in no time. Front man, Dan Young, 24, offers a look inside his life on the road and his style of songwriting. Inspirations and moments in time, all influence the creative mind of the man behind the mic. Moving from Australia to Seattle when he was sixteen, Young had a taste for music. Influences like The Beatles, The Cure, and Oasis have played a vast role influencing the sound This Providence has perfected to a tee. “I liked how music could help people,” said Young. “It really takes you to a deeper level, and I wanted to be a part of that.” Sure enough, when he was eighteen, Young started a band known as T Minus 1 at the time, but who later renamed themselves This Providence. Once the name change had occurred, they began taking their music much more seriously. After the commitment level was raised and the bar was set, Phillips and Young became the only remaining original members to stay along for the ride. Songwriting for Young varies from what is affecting him at the time to finding an inspiration that reminds him of something of the past. On their new record scheduled for release in early 2009, he took experiences from earlier in life, even at ten or eleven years old, and told stories about those events he had experienced. “I try to approach every album alittle differently,” said Young. Strong songs and regular touring led This Providence in the right direction. They started attracting attention in the music scene, and began making valuable friends. “A friend of a friend” in the band Gatsby’s American Dream got the word over to record label Fueled By Ramen and shortly after they were signed. Signing to a major label meant more and more touring, although being on the road is sort of a love-hate thing for Young. “I love being on the road, but I also like being at home with my wife, living somewhat of a normal life,” said Young. Nonetheless, the van is what he has to call home for countless days of the year. Out on the road, the van gets pretty filthy, according to Young. Between the their tour manager and the band, there’s a perfect formula for a trashed vehicle. Hygiene, also comes into play and despite what you might think, they stay fairly clean. “Usually, we stay in a hotel or at a friends every night, so I shower once a day or sometimes twice,” said Young. “We can stay in hotels and not make any money on tour. Or we can stay with friends and not go home with empty pockets.” Either way, the guys stay clean, and still walk away with some spare cash. Out on tour, the rock star diet comes into play, beer and fast food comes to mind, but free food is definitely the best option. Some beer on the side doesn’t hurt. “We mostly eat stuff in the green room,” said Young. “On this tour, there are vegetable trays, pita and humus, bread, peanut butter and jelly, beer, water, and we always have chips and salsa. I try to get my vegetable intake.” Through the endless nights on the road, Young’s heart-felt lyrics are felt by hundreds of people every night across the country. Although he may be missing the one’s he loves and missing home, home is right above the spinning wheels of their big, red van. Check out This Providence’s new 4-song EP “The Bright Lights EP” which features a few renovated songs and some brand new ones. Also, keep your eyes open for their new album early in 2009. Visit their website for more details: www.thisprovidence.com. How not to make a porno Whether you are a hardcore fan and watched the original Clerks, or you have caught his more recent movies like Clerks 2 or Dogma, you have seen a Kevin Smith movie. Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a very real attempt by Kevin Smith to make a mainstream raunchy comedy, but the question is, did it work? Seth Rogen (of Knocked Up and Superbad fame) plays Zack, who is living with his best friend Miri (Elizabeth Banks). They have a wonderful friendship but barely afford the apartment they rent while working dead end jobs. Things grow more complicated when Zack blows off paying the bills, letting electricity and water to be shut off. While at their high school reunion Zack meets a new friend who happens to make gay porn. The plan lingers in his head until Zack finally decides to tell Miri. They should make a porno and sell it to all their graduating class in order to get out of debt. Be forewarned, Kevin Smith has always been raunchy, but he has pulled out all the stops. If you are faint of heart then this movie may not be for you. The raunchiness comes off effortlessly, it does not seem like it is a gimmick that Kevin Smith is trying to use. The biggest flaw in this movie is that it is in fact two movies. It is a wonderful story of Zack and Miri's relationship, and a story of a group of friends getting together and trying to film a porno. Both movies would work well separately but put together their are some noticeable plot holes. I was personally left wondering if the whole idea of filming a porno was a comedic backdrop to a pretty serious film. Zack and Miri have great chemistry when they are on the screen together. You can actually see that they are great friends and you can imagine them being good friends off screen. Though when the film has plot holes you will not notice while watching it. If you do not mind the raunchiness then you will be too busy laughing to notice any plot holes. This has to be one of the funniest movies that has been released in years. One of the shining stars of this movie has to be Seth Rogen. He has been in a few movies in the past few years but this is a very nuanced role. It is not him playing the same role as his past few movies but him actually acting and he does a great job. The other shining star of the movie is Jason Mewes, most recognizable for his role as Jay (the comedic partner of Silent Bob in many of Kevin Smiths movies). Mewes will be barely recognizable to many fans. Though Mewes is playing another bit part if he is in a scene he will be doing or saying something funny. This movie is rated R for language, raunchiness and nudity. The movie gets four out of five stars. Can Changeling continue Eastwood's success? Clint Eastwood has directed some great movies in the past few years, movies like Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby and Letters from Iwo Jima. Needless to say his latest film, Changeling, is expected to be nothing but pure gold. Set in 1920's Los Angeles, Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) returns home one day to find her nine year old son missing. Several long months later Christine is told her son Walter, is alive and found in Ohio. When she goes to the train station to meet her newly returned son (with a full entourage of press) she immediately denies that the boy who is returned is her son. When Christine is repeatedly assured by Captain J. J. Jones (Burn Notice's Jeffrey Donovan) that it is her son, and she takes him home, she is met by undeniable proof that it isn't her child. As Christine finds more overwhelming evidence, the Captain keeps referring to his own experts. Everything spins out of control when he uses his near absolute authority to send Christine into a mental institution. The story is a constant source of surprise, both with the shocking details of Christine's struggle for justice and the unexpected twists it takes. It is even more shocking that this is based closely on real events. The acting in the movie is nothing short than brilliant. Jeffrey Donovan plays the role of Captain J. J. Jones with absolute ambition and resolve. Angelina Jolie plays her part with raw intensity and power. Both Donovan and Jolie deserve a lot of recognition for the power behind their roles. The script is wonderfully written by J. Michael Straczynski (the long time writer and creator of Babylon 5) who claims to have spent years researching the actual case that Changeling is based off of. It is hard to believe but even a bit of research reveals that most the details from Changeling match the details of the actual case. The script is utterly perfect. Yet almost the entire cast deserves recognition because the acting is pitch perfect. Everyone seemed to have effortlessly taken on their role. Even the few (but major) scenes with child actors are done extremely well. This movie has few flaws, but the flaws may be insurmountable for some. This is a strict dramatic period piece, so many will find this film boring. You either love period movies or you hate them. I have not seen much evidence for a middle ground on this point. The film is over two hours long and it is hardly an action flick. If you are not pulled into the movie within the first fifteen minutes, you will find this movie far too long. I found that it ended on a perfect note and the length was needed. The film seems to use Jolie's unearthly beauty and strong emotions too much. We often are plagued with close ups of her tear stained face. No one can ignore the sense of tragedy in this movie, but it can be a bit oppressive to see it constantly. Over all I think this is another great Clint Eastwood movie. I think in a year of great movies this may be passed over at the Oscars, but I think it stands up well with his past classics Million Dollar Baby and Mystic River. I give this film four and a half stars out of five.
A&E Briefs for November 12, 2008 Unique European varietal wine dinner The world’s biggest group hug Van Andel Show Tree Lighting Ceremony
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