February 14, 2013
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Screenwriter of ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ expounds on First Amendment Photo by Steven Douglas, Loyola Marymount University
By Gary walker Political speech, its power and importance, was the primary topic of an hourlong presentation by Hollywood screenwriter Mark Boal at Loyola Marymount University in Westchester Feb. 5. Boal wrote the screenplay for “Zero Dark Thirty,” an Oscarnominated film that generated controversy before its worldwide release late last year for its explicit scenes depicting torture as well as its subject matter: the search for terrorist Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born mastermind behind the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York and the killings of nearly 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11, 2001. Boal’s appearance coincided with the Associated Students of Loyola Marymount University’s “First Amendment Week.” At the beginning of his presentation, Boal made the distinction between films and other forms of speech. ‘“Zero Dark Thirty’ is not a documentary or a report on the 6 p.m. news,” he explained. “It’s a movie.” The screenwriter pointed out the importance of allowing artists to have the freedoms guaranteed under the Bill of Rights to be able to express their points of view – whether popular or
THE POWER OF SPEECH
Oscar-winning screenwriter Mark Boal talked about the controversy surrounding his movie “Zero Dark Thirty” and the importance of political expression at Loyola Marymount University.
unpopular – in a free society. “Art, as far as the First Amendment goes, is speech. In a democracy, political speech is essential and requires the highest protection,” said Boal, a former
•This Week•
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The second annual Venice Modern Home Tour will showcase six to 10 contemporary homes including this residence on Rose Avenue in Venice Saturday, Feb. 16.
reporter. Some members of Congress have alleged that the film’s director, Kathryn Bigelow, and Boal were given access to classified information to create their
movie, a charge they have both denied. “No classified information was used in this movie,” Boal said at the LMU event. LMU Senior Professor of
Screenwriting Marilyn Beker said it was understandable that Boal “kept a lot of things to himself” about how much and what he was told by those who (Continued on page 6)
Westchester
Homeowners near LMU predict influx of student cars, reject parking district By Gary Walker Homeowners living in the neighborhoods adjacent to Loyola Marymount University say what many consider to be a longtime irritant for them may soon become a full-blown problem due to the university’s decision to charge its students to park on campus. Last year, LMU officials announced that they would be charging students and faculty for parking as one of the approaches to offset the costs of a 20-year plan to refurbish the university’s
existing infrastructure and attract additional students. The university is embarking on an ambitious campus renovation that was approved by the Los Angeles City Council in 2011. Its master plan will update many of LMU’s laboratories, offices, sports facilities and other campus infrastructure, including the creation of additional parking. Per the master plan, at least 600 additional parking spaces will be added. Students using the nearby
neighborhoods to park and walk to class has been an ongoing problem for years due to their proximity to the university, many of the homeowners say. But they expect many more to park on their streets now that that students will be required to pay for on-campus parking, and some angry residents say the influx has already begun. Lee Rittenour says the neighborhood parking problem has been exacerbated due to the new parking fees. (Continued on page 10)