AS Review - February 11, 2013

News // Events // Student Life

Review

WESTERN STUDENTS AND ALUMNI CREATE “GOTHINGHAM” A COMEDIC SHORT FILM, PAGE 8

Vol. 28 #15 2.11.13

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BELLINGHAM

HUMAN RIGHTS

FILM FESTIVAL

10 days, 25 films all free of charge

By Nick Markman When you spend so much time on campus, at work or with friends, it is sometimes easy to forget about the global issues that exist around you or in far-off places. Now in its 13th year, the Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival illuminates relevant and timely matters dealing with everything from the environment, to foreign policy, war, education and local to global issues.

The 10-day Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival will take place at various times and locations from Feb. 21 to March 2. On campus, the BHRFF will be held in the Fairhaven College Auditorium Room 300. All 25 films in the festival are free for the entire public.

In coordinating the BHRFF this year, a committee of volunteers considered over 50 films before narrowing down the final selection to 25 movies dealing with the themes of the environment, education, issues with the oppression of indigenous peoples, the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, activism and war and peace.

Professor of Anthropology James Loucky said that the committee does not intentionally select movies for the themes they represent, but rather the timeliness and availability of the films.

“In the films themselves, we see patterns and connections that are really important which then allows us and the viewers to dig deeper into the implications of those issues personally to planetary,” Loucky said.

The BHRFF will open on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Pickford Center downtown. The premiere film will be Bidder 70, a documentary about college student Tim DeChristopher who went to an auction where corporations were selling off the property rights to tracts of land in Southern Utah that were intended to be converted into mining terrain. DeChristopher illegally bided on and won the land in order to prevent the damages to the area that mining would cause. He was sent to jail when he was unable to pay his bid price.

“Some students would really be interested in Bidder 70 because they can connect with somebody like that who had the courage to do this for the sake of the environment – which is where a lot of people’s values are,” Senior Instructor at Fairhaven College Shirley Osterhaus said. “It’s inspiring for college students.”

Along with screening the films for free, the

BHRFF brings in experts on the respective subject matter of the films to facilitate a discussion after the screening. Whether they are directors, organizations or community members versed in the topic at hand, Loucky said that the after-screening discussions allow for further insights into the controversial subjects being presented.

“What we’re trying to do is to have a chance where we can learn more from people who have direct experience in these kinds of things,” Loucky said. “We can ask questions or concerns and then be able to facilitate dialogue about the next steps to take. What do we do with this? What does this really mean for us here in Bellingham, for us on campus and ultimately for humanity?”

Two new venues were added to the festival this year: Bellingham Technical College and the First Congressional Church of Bellingham.

“The idea there is that we want to spread this event throughout the community and then build links between different groups that is going to ultimately be to our benefit in terms of helping us move toward greater civic engagement and global citizenship,” Loucky said.

Osterhaus said that some people who have attended the festival in past years were opened up to problems that they had never heard about, and that the more films a person sees, the more they can see the connections between global issues.

“Maybe one film doesn’t do that, but then they see another one and they start to connect the dots,” Osterhaus said. “Whatever the thread is that helps them weave some of the subjects together – whether it’s US foreign policy or if it’s the global economic capitalist model that is impacting the situation – they start to make connections.”

Junior Allison Lee has volunteered with the BHRFF for two years. She said that she loves how the festival inspires action within the community.

“I think that’s what makes this film festival so special: the people that are going to come are the people who want to learn and the people who want to make a change. Even those people who don’t know if they want to do that, or even if they want to come just to see a free movie, we’re providing that option to the community and with Bellingham being such a special community that it is, we can do amazing things with it.”

February 11, 2013 • 11

EVENTS CALENDAR Monday, Feb. 11

Wednesday, Feb. 13

Friday, Feb. 15

Star Wars Trivia Night Where: Underground Coffeehouse When: 6:30 p.m.

Price: $1

SMA Speaker Series: Music Industry Where: Parks Hall 244 When: 6 p.m.

Price: Free

Comedy: Dead Parrots Society Where: Old Main Theater When: 7:30 p.m.

Price: $3

Tuesday, Feb. 12

Thursday, Feb. 14

Saturday, Feb. 16

Student Technology Forum Where: Viking Union 552 When: 6-8 p.m.

Price: Free

Walk of Hope: Suicide Awareness Where: Viking Union Multi-purpose Room When: 7-10 p.m.

Price: Free

Outdoor Center: Romantic Snowshoe Where: Cascade Mountains When: All day Price: $30

WALK OF HOPE Western helps raise awarness for suicide Feb. 14

By Kylie Wade According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. More than 4,000 people age 15 to 24 die by suicide every year in the U.S. and thousands more either attempt it or strongly consider it.

It’s an issue that runs deep throughout many communities and has affected thousands of college campuses.

This Thursday, the WWU Chapter of To Write Love On Her Arms is holding the Walk of Hope to raise awareness and inform the community about suicide. TWLOHA is a national nonprofit organization that works to break down the stigmas surrounding the issue and provide help to those struggling from suicide, addiction, depression and self-injury. Last year, Kayla Imrisek created a WWU Chapter of TWLOHA to bring the organization’s message to Western’s campus.

“There’s such a stigma around people admitting that they need help. A lot of times it’s seen as a weakness. We really just want to combat that and let people know that it’s okay to need help, and it’s really strong to be able to ask for help,” said Imrisek, the president of TWLOHA’s WWU chapter.

The Walk of Hope will feature stories from Western students and faculty members about how suicide has personally affected them, followed by a candlelight walk through campus. The event will conclude with various clubs and organizations tabling to present students with information about the opportunities and resources available to them.

One of the first big events for the WWU chapter of TWLOHA was last year’s version of the Walk of Hope.

Attended by over 200 people and winning two Best

Event of the Year awards, the event was a great success.

Kergie Garcia, the faculty adviser for the club this year, spoke at last year’s event about losing her daughter to suicide in 2010. Since speaking at the event, Garcia has become passionately involved with the club and its mission.

“I personally wanted to get involved because when you say that your daughter lost her life to suicide, people don’t know what to say,” Garcia said. “My empathy is very great with people who struggle with depression because now I can see some really dire consequences.

I don’t want it to happen to anybody else. I don’t want anybody else to lose somebody they love. I want them to know that there’s hope.”

This year’s event will be similar in structure to last year’s, but will feature an emphasized focus on hope.

“Last year we focused a little bit more on just the topic of suicide. This year we really want to make sure we leave people feeling hopeful,” Imrisek said. “We want to bring the Western community together and show people that we’re here for you and we care about you.”

This year’s event will also feature more speakers, a musical performance and an interactive community art project.

TWLOHA is receiving support from the newly created Resiliency Team, which is working on creating the art for the event. The Resiliency Team will be tabling for the week before the event with three posters: ‘remember’, ‘hope’ and ‘inspire’. The first is for people to pay tribute to those lost to suicide and the next two are for people to share anything that can help bring hope or inspiration to the Western community. All three posters will be framed

and displayed at the Walk of Hope.

The event’s main purpose is to break down the stigmas that keep people who need help from asking for it.

“The two most common reasons people who are considering suicide don’t ask for help is either they think people won’t understand or they don’t want to be a burden,” said Miranda Smedley, the vice president of TWLOHA’s WWU chapter. “I hope that, whether people come to this event or not, they know they can ask for help and there are people who want to help them. No problem is too small or too big to bring to somebody.”

The Walk of Hope will take place on Feb. 14 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Viking Union Multi-Purpose Room. After the event, the WWU Chapter of TWLOHA hopes every student leaves with the resources and support they need.

“There’s help here; there are people that care about you on this campus, and if we stop saying that, people will forget and think that they don’t matter,” Garcia said.

“We don’t want anybody on this campus to feel that they’re not important. Every person is valuable, unique and important.”

The Walk of Hope is one of the biggest ways the WWU Chapter of TWLOHA connects with the Western community, but the club also has weekly meetings to discuss both the issues that people may feel like they can’t talk about elsewhere and also ways of coping with and addressing those issues. They meet on every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Bond Hall 104, and meetings are open to anyone. More information about the club can be found through OrgSync or on Facebook at To Write Love On Her Arms – WWU.

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RESTAURANT REVIEW: DASHI NOODLE BAR Noodle soup with udon noodles and chicken in chicken and pork broth.

Photos by Cade Schmidt // AS Review

By Lauren Simmons From the outside, Dashi Noodle Bar on N. State Street is the epitome of a new age, minimalist café-restaurant with a more authentic take on ramen noodles. At first, this new restaurant downtown had all the appeal in the world, but soon let me down – hard.

As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of Asian cuisine, the new noodle bar intrigued my taste buds.

According to the plastic description cards on the shiny, IKEA-inspired tables, “Dashi” is the stock that forms the basis of flavor and invisibly permeates much of Japanese cuisine. Traditionally, Dashi is made by combining Konbu (seaweed) and Katsuobushi (dried tuna) with water. In essence, Dashi is the heart of the noodle soup.

Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately excited and excruciatingly hungry. Presentation is everything, and this place looks sleek, sexy and clean. The restaurant’s order format involves patrons ordering food at the front counter and choosing from three different main-course options: hot-noodle soup, chilled noodles or steamed buns. The menu hanging above the cashier had only three options, but the hot-noodle soup had the most customizable potential. For this menu option, you pick the topping (type of meat), type of noodles, type of Dashi (broth) and any add-ons.

Topping options are: pork, tofu, beef, chicken or vegetable – I chose beef; noodle options are: ramen, udon, rice noodle, whole wheat or rye ramen – I chose ramen (don’t worry, they are nothing like Top Ramen noodles); Dashi choices are: chicken and pork, mushroom, beef “pho”, and konbu-bonito (a fish stock) – I chose mushroom. For add-ons, which cost extra, the options are: egg, soy egg, ginger bacon and bonito (flakes of dried, smoked bonito fish) – I chose an egg.

After asking the cashier numerous questions about what certain options were, how they mixed with other ingredients and what her personal preferences were, I came up with my own large bowl of delicious goodies – or so I thought.

Once I paid for my meal, I turned around to a table stationed in front of the cashier with various veggies and spices that can supplement your meal. Jalapenos, basil, bean sprouts and kimchee were among the free options.

I grabbed some jalapenos, limes and bean sprouts, with hopes that my soup will be just as yummy as a bowl of pho.

When the waitress brought over my bowl, I stared at the bright colors of the stark white egg with waves of yellow yolk slowly billowing out, green scallions sprinkled in the upper left corner and a big, flat spoon darting

in the pool of dark brown broth. A glimpse of the pale brown noodles rose to the top when I moved the spoon through the soup. Seconds later, I took a picture of my meal so I could Instragram my “foodporn” later.

Unfortunately, the intrigue and excitement surrounding my noodle meal ends with the Gryffindor-colored chopsticks; I hated my whole dish from Dashi.

I would not by any means consider myself a snob when it comes to food, but my noodle bowl had more disappointing moments than satisfying ones.

My noodles took al dente’ to a whole different level; they were stiff and bland, and added almost no substance to the surrounding meat and veggies. The chunks of beef were over-cooked and occasionally hard, and as the soup cooled, the meat just glided across the bottom of my bowl. And the broth – the dashi itself – did have a decent flavor, but became luke-warm after maybe 10 minutes. I love my food uncomfortably hot, thus having cold soup not even halfway through my meal really turns me off.

In retrospect, I wish I would have tried the steamed bun. I guess my idea that a noodle bar would have decent noodles is a bit far-fetched.

And no, I did not Instagram my noodle bowl.

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Evan Kubena on the set of the comedic short film, “Gothingham.” See page 10 for the full story.

Photo by Cade Schmidt

review

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©2013. Published most Mondays during the school year by the Associated Students of Western Washington University.

We are a student-produced, alternative campus weekly covering news and events that are of interest to the Western community. We support all programs, offices and clubs affiliated with the AS. We have a direct connection to the AS board of directors, and although we report on board actions objectively, our relationship should be made clear.

Submissions: We welcome reader submissions, including news articles, literary pieces, photography, artwork or anything else physically printable. Email submissions, or send them to the mailing address above. They will be returned as long as you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Letters: We also welcome letters to the editor. Please limit your letter to 300 words and include your name and phone number. Published letters may have minor edits made to their length or grammar, if necessary.

Calendar/Ads: We don’t sell ad space. Sorry. Email as.review@ wwu.edu to have an event listed in the calendar.

Staff

Editor in Chief Assistant Editor Lead Photographer Designer Writers

Megan Thompson Spencer Pederson Cade Schmidt Bradley O’Neal Nick Markman Lauren Prater Lauren Simmons Kylie Wade Todd Wells

Adviser Jeff Bates EDITOR’S NOTE: Lead Photographer Cade Schmidt is part of Electric Shadow Films. He was not included in the writing or editoral process of the “Gothingham” story on page 6.

NEWS

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SNOWY OUTDOORS Outdoor center hosts a winter excursion series

EVENTS

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VAGINA MEMOIRS Annual Women’s Center event returns to campus

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STUDENT LIFE

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NOODLE BAR A review of Bellingham’s Dashi Noodle Bar

FEATURES

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GOTHINGHAM Electric Shadow Films bring superheros to Bellingham

Nick Offerman promised the crowd “partial nudity” during his performance in the Performing Arts Center on Feb. 7.

Photo By Cade Schmidt // AS Review

WALK OF HOPE Western’s TWLOHA hosts a walk for suicide prevention

FILM FESTIVAL Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival returns for 13th year on Feb. 21

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ROAD TO THE OSCARS A preview of Academy Award nominated films

SWEET TREATS Papa’s Sweets makes Valentine’s Day goodies

EVENTS CALENDAR See what’s happening around Bellingham this week

VAGINA MEMOIRS RETURNS FEB. 20

February 11, 2013 • 3

The 2012 cast takes a bow.

Photo by Cade Schmidt // AS Review

By Kylie Wade At the end of February, 18 members of the Western and Bellingham community will gather together onstage to bare their souls to an audience of hundreds of people.

They will read or recite monologues they have carefully crafted about deeply personal experiences that don’t normally get spoken about in intimate settings, let alone in front of a large crowd.

This is the Vagina Memoirs, an event held through the Associated Students Women’s Center designed to give people who have been marginalized a voice and to give their struggles and triumphs a platform. The memoirs will be held at 7 p.m. every night from Feb. 20 to Feb. 23.

“They each tell their own personal stories,” said Kristy Hathaway, the Coordinator of the Women’s Center. “They can be funny, they are often very sad, very touching, but it’s always beautiful and it always changes people.”

The annual event started with a Western performance of the “Vagina Monologues,” a play written by Eve Ensler that addresses topics like sex, love and rape in a series of episodic monologues. The play is popular on college campuses throughout the U.S. and received a warm welcome when it debuted several years ago at Western. However, it wasn’t long before Western students started pushing to make the monologues into an even deeper experience. The idea for an event called “Undressing the Other” was born, which was a personal version of Ensler’s monologues. It was performed as a separate event but ran during the same time as the monologues. The spin-off became so popular that it

eventually changed its name to the “Vagina Memoirs,” and the monologues were phased out entirely.

“It just became such a powerful experience for both people involved and for audience members,” said Elana Cohen, the Vagina Memoirs Coordinator/Co-Facilitator.

The Vagina Memoirs has now become one of Western’s biggest events by consistently packing the MPR and drawing crowds numbering in the thousands.

“It definitely has an impact because every year we get about 2,000 attendees,” Hathaway said. “Just having an event this big that addresses issues like this is so powerful and raises awareness about all of these issues. It’s so special to even have an event this big that has the word ‘vagina’ in it, because it seems like people are kind of afraid to say that.”

This year, the stage will be filled with the 18 cast members and two facilitators, and each night of the event they will step forward to share their stories.

“It’s pretty indescribable. The way I normally describe it is as a platform for people with marginalized gender identities to talk about the issues that are normally silenced in our communities,” Cohen said.

“But what that really means is so much more than just that little sentence. It’s really life-changing, empowering and powerful and it’s the most highly attended event on Western’s campus for a reason.”

For the first three nights they will take place in the Viking Union Multi-Purpose Room and on Feb.23, the last rendition of the memoirs will take place in the Performing Arts Center. Admittance is free, but merchandise will be sold and all profits will be donated. Items

for sale include T-shirts, underwear and boxer briefs, all with a unique logo that is chosen each year by the cast members. The event will also feature a silent auction to auction off two exclusive Vagina Memoirs sweatshirts.

“The only other people who have the sweatshirts are the members of the cast and the Women’s Center, so you get to be part of the inside club,” Cohen said.

Cohen said she hopes that people who feel like they have a story to tell but may be too afraid to share it will come to the event to feel the encouragement and support that define the event. However, she said she truly believes the event can offer something to everyone.

“It really is open to everyone,” Cohen said. “I think it should be mandatory. If you don’t understand why it’s important, you should come. If you’re like, ‘I don’t get it, what’s the big deal, I don’t understand why this would even be an issue’, come, this is for you.”

The event will also feature resources, tables and booths dedicated to providing support to audience members struggling with some of the issues typically discussed at the memoirs. Casey Branson, who is serving as a facilitator this year, but participated in the event last year as a cast member, said the facilitators are dedicated to having the resources on hand to make sure audience members feel safe and can fully experience the power of the event.

“It’s something that you will carry with you forever,” Branson said. “In one night, it can potentially change your entire perspective of the world.”

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WINTER WONDERLAND The Outdoor Center teaches students climbing, snowshoeing, avalanche safety, backcountry skiing and more

By Todd Wells

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or many, winter is the time of year to bundle up, turn up the heat, grab a cup of hot chocolate and pop in a movie. For others though, the cold air and blankets of snow are all the more reason to get outside and enjoy the amazing winter wonderland that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. From skiing to snowshoeing, ice climbing to winter camping, there’s an array of activities to take part in. But the best aspect of all of these activities is that they are all offered to every student at Western.

This winter the AS Outdoor Center is offering a number of excursions, clinics and classes to help students get outside. Almost all of the activities offered by the Outdoor Center are tailored for beginners and provide a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy the outdoors.

For students who want to ease into winter activities, a simple snowshoe day on Feb. 10 or 24 is a great way to experience the mountains and get into the snow. Also, with Valentine’s day nearing, there’s a special romantic snowshoe excursion that will be happening on Feb. 16.

Both events will cost $35.

“The romantic snowshoe excursion is an Outdoor Center classic,” said Assistant Excursions Coordinator Jake Merril. “It’s a great opportunity to take a significant-other out with you, learn how to snowshoe and spend some time together in a beautiful place.”

Sometimes winter can bring a chill that penetrates to the bone. Luckily, on March 10 students are invited to go for a scenic cross-country ski through snow covered woods to the steaming and secluded Baker Hot Springs; this excursion costs $35.

Many students are comfortable downhill skiing or snowboarding but want to get away from the ski resort and into the backcountry. For such students there are a

number of backcountry options. Students can go out for a single day to learn the basic snow-travel techniques, hazard recognition and how to use backcountry tools like beacons, shovels and probes on Feb. 9 and March 9 for $40.

To get an all-encompassing backcountry experience there is an option to participate in a weekend-long skiing and snowboarding trip. Expert guides will take students into the backcountry, teach them valuable snow camping techniques and show them some good lines along the way. This excursion, offered on the weekend of Feb. 16 and 17, will cost $75.

“You go out on Saturday, learn how to snow camp, do some skiing, learn how to use your beacon, your shovel, your probe, set up camp, spend the night, wake up and go touring again,” Merril said.

For students who are looking for a fun way to step out of their normal routine or gain outdoor skills but aren’t quite ready to get out into the elements, the Outdoor Center is offering some additional opportunities.

“Typically our wintertime programing focuses on snow, but sometimes we try to throw in other stuff that provides opportunities to stay warm and dry,” Merril said.

One such excursion will be taking students to the Vancouver Aquarium on Feb. 23. The Vancouver Aquarium is a remarkable facility with a variety of aquatic critters including belugas, penguins and clownfish. This excursion, which includes transportation, entry fees and trip leaders, will cost $36.

In addition to the numerous excursions this winter, the Outdoor Center is also hosting a number of classes and clinics.

“There will be clinics on avalanche beacon 101, the

basics of avalanche safety and lead climbing throughout the winter term,” Merril said.

The first two clinics, Avalanche Beacon 101 and Basics of Avalanche Safety, will be held in Higginson Hall on North Campus at 5 p.m. on Feb. 13 and Feb. 27.

The Learn to Lead Climb class will be held at the climbing wall in the Outdoor Center at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20 and March 13.

There will also be a professional Avalanche safety Level 1 Class starting Feb. 26. This class, put on by the American Alpine Institute, provides participants with an Avalanche 1 certification and will utilize both class time and field experience. It will cost $275 for students.

Another valuable class for any outdoorsman is the Wilderness First Responder Course. This week-long course, put on by the Remote Medical Institute, is an 80 wilderness medicine class that is offered over Spring Break from March 22 to March 31. This class will provide participants with a Wilderness First Responder Certification and American Heart CPR Certification. It will cost $625.

The Outdoor Center will also have some weekly events to participate in. Every Tuesday at 8 p.m. through March 12 there will be Kayak Roll Lessons at the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center for $4.50. Students should reserve a spot ahead of time and meet at the Outdoor Center at 7:30 p.m. if they need a ride to the Aquatic Center. There are also weekly yoga sessions at 4 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room.

A number of additional outdoor excursions, classes and clinics will be offered throughout the winter.

For more information visit as.wwu.edu/outdoor or stop by the Outdoor Center at VU 150.

February 11, 2013 • 5

WWU Outdoor Center takes nine students on a trip to Lillooet, BC to ice climb. Temperatures dropped at low as 10 F.

Photos by Brooke Warren

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February 11, 2013 • 7 Photos by Cade Schmidt

GOTHINGHAM Western students and alum team up to make super-hero short film in the City of Subdued Excitment

Director Robort Bojorquez captures a scene in which Batman and Spiderman arrive at the Bellingham Community Food Co-Op where a young boy has been abandoned while his parents shop inside. Writer and actor Evan Kubena tries to keep warm with humor and “vogueing” on the set of Gothingham on Feb. 1.

By Nick Markman

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haracter is defined not only by the internal traits of an individual, but by the situations that individuals find themselves in. So what happens when you take the characters of Batman and Spiderman, strip them of the hectic, crime-infested cities they call home, and place them in the City of Subdued Excitement? What you are left with is “Gothingham,” a comedic short film created by, directed by, filmed by and starring Western students and alumni.

Western Alumni Evan Kuneba originally came up with the concept of “Gothingham” while writing a comedy skit for the Upfront Theater’s show, “Thursday Night Live.”

“The premise of ‘Gothingham’ is effectively about how Batman and Spiderman are kind of coping with being in Bellingham,” Director and Producer Robert Bojorquez said. “There’s a lot of humor based around Bellingham culture, but it’s these two strong personalities of Batman and Spiderman playing off each other and this sort of reactionary humor to the really laid back culture that Bellingham is known for.”

“The initial joke for the sketch was, ‘what would the major superheroes do here in Bellingham? Nothing. What would two of them do? Double nothing,’” Kuneba said. “That’s where those jokes came from and the jokes are rooted in how they adapt to the situation.”

Kuneba said that he chose the heroes of Spiderman and Batman because they seemed to be the most popular and most attainable. He also said that the two heroes’ differing personali-

ties were perfect for comedic exploration.

“Peter is much more happy-go-lucky. Batman is constantly trying to put on the demeanor of knowing what he’s doing and being the adult. Peter Parker is just kind of going with the flow and making fun of Batman,” Kuneba said. “We thought that would be a pseudo realistic relationship that they would have in the DC/Marvel world, but also as us making fun of them goes, that relationship would be highlighted.”

Eventually, Kuneba decided to flesh out the concept from a sketch comedy piece to a short film.

“When we started to focus on it as its own project, Evan really saw the potential in it being a much longer film with more depth in the characters, which only excited me more,” Western Alumni James Tweedale, who plays Batman, said. “Then he created the grandiose script that it is.”

In order to produce “Gothingham,” Kuneba needed funding.

He set up a campaign through the website Indiegogo, a crowdsourcing site which allows creators in need of funding to post their projects online for the public to donate money toward. In about two months, the “Gothingham” campaign raised $906, $56 more than the $850 goal stated in the campaign.

“I think that it’s a really cool place for people to go who are trying to start something and be independent but don’t know how to find funding,” Kuneba said. “Being able to reach out to your community, your family and friends: I think that is really beneficial.”

In producing the film, Kuneba teamed up with Electric

Shadow Films, a production company ran by Bojorquez and Western Alums Gabe Conroy and Nick Nielsen. The film was shot over the course of three days in various locations in Bellingham including the Co Op, a downtown parking structure and the arboretum.

“In downtown Bellingham with everyone there, people see Batman and Spiderman and everybody shouts and screams, and that can get frustrating,” Kuneba said. “That being said, it was great because that definitely gave us a lot of notoriety with everybody.”

“Gothingham” is currently in post-production. Bojorquez and Kuneba said that there is not a set release date. They are exploring the possibilities of submitting the finished piece to a film festival, premiering it at the Pickford Center in downtown, or releasing it online. Kuneba said that “Gothingham” will definitely be posted on Youtube, but that when that happens depends on if the film makes it into a film festival or not.

Kuneba said that he hopes “Gothingham” will show people what kind of films can be made using the resources and locations in Bellingham. He said the city has a lot of potential to make excellent films, but that the scene needs more exposure.

“So much can be done up here. I like doing these kinds of things to highlight that more and more, and so that more people are aware that we have everything you need here,” Kuneba said. “You could make a substantial indie film here. You could make a feature film here. I really like doing this kind of stuff to promote that.”

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PAPA’S SWEETS

Bellingham’s one-stop-shop for Valentines Day treats Sea-salt milk chocolates

David Starr mixes an Authentic New York Egg Cream.

Story and photos by Todd Wells Visiting Papa’s Sweets Candy shop in Fairhaven will provide you with an experience unlike that of any other sweets shop in Whatcom County. You may be drawn in by the smell of fresh ground coffee or enticed by the sound of a soprano saxophone just outside, but as soon as you step foot in the store your senses are sent on an extravagant adventure.

Owner David Starr started Papa’s Sweets less than two years ago when, after 20 years of working with corporate companies, he was ready for a change.

“I opened up a place where there could be good hospitality and where there could be really good quality stuff at a reasonable price. You can have some fun while you’re in the shop too,” Starr said.

As soon as you open the door, rows of truffles, premium chocolates and racks of candy from around the world await. Further into the store there is a coffee and milkshake bar with an assortment of ice creams to choose from.

The majority of chocolates and truffles you will find in the store are made by Kevin Buck of Chocolate Necessities, a Bellingham-based chocolate company.

Such truffles from Chocolate Necessities include, but are certainly not limited to, flavors such as apricot, exotic vanilla, montigo rum and nut crunch. These can be found in a couple different stores throughout Bellingham, but Papa’s Sweets has one incredible chocolate you won’t

find anywhere else: Papa’s Coffee Bark.

To make this one of a kind treat, Starr brings his personal blend of roasted coffee in from Cle-Elum, Wash. to Chocolate Necessities. The ground and crushed beans are then infused into the highest grade chocolate blend. The final product is an exotic chocolate with an incredibly unique taste. It comes as either a dark or milk chocolate. “[Papa’s Coffee Bark’s] success is based on fresh ingredients, good ingredients and a ‘Chocolateer’ who really knows what he is doing,” Starr said.

Another must-have product that is featured at Papa’s Sweets are the authentic New York Egg Creams. These beverages find themselves somewhere on a spectrum between milkshakes and Italian sodas but have a taste that is extremely unique and individual. After spending time studying various techniques to create this concoction from professionals in New York, Starr feels he has developed something pretty close to perfection. He now uses Fox’s U-Bet Chocolate Syrup and his own hand made seltzer.

Another unique aspect of Starr’s store is his inclusion of and appreciation for live music. Near the back of the store, a couple guitars, a stand-up acoustic bass and a piano await interested musicians.

“People come in and bring their instruments and their voices and sing and play all the time. It’s a really fun

time,” Starr said.

Starr invites anyone to walk in and start playing. All he asks is that musicians refrain from using explicit language or sending political messages.

“I stand outside and play too just to let people know that we’re here. It also kind of adds to the ambiance of the historic district we have down here,” he said.

Western Junior Alexandra Doumas recalls her first time visiting Papa’s Sweets as bit of an adventure.

“I was at Village Books then walked outside and heard sax music. Since I play the sax, too; I was interested. I followed the sound and found a man outside playing a soprano sax,” Doumas said.

As Valentine’s Day is nearing, Papa’s Sweets is offering a number of specialty items, including Starr’s personal recommendation, The Love Story, an exquisite piece made by Buck at Chocolate Necessities.

“The Love Story is a seven piece chocolate made with dark chocolate or milk chocolate. This shows that you’ve spent some effort, through your love of chocolate, finding something special for that special someone,” Starr said.

Papa’s Sweets is an incredible store for anyone with a sweet tooth and an inviting venue for every musician.

For more information visit the store in Fairhaven at 1102 Harris Ave, call in at 360-778-3366, visit GoPapasSweets on Facebook or email info@PapasSweet.com.

February 11, 2013 • 9 Poster by Tiffany Hsu // AS Publicity Center

PREVIEW: ACADEMY AWARDS

By Lauren Simmons

What do President Abraham Lincoln, a 5-year-old girl named Hushpuppy and a CIA operative have in common? They are all being recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year with Oscar nominations.

The Academy Awards will be televised live at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24, and will be hosted by the hilariously inappropriate Seth McFarlane.

While some award seasons showcase a single movie sweeping the award shows, this year’s nominees have proven themselves to be dark horses, letdowns and incredibly grateful for the recognition from the Academy.

Best picture can be considered the highest honor given out at the Academy Awards each year that represents the films with the best directing, acting, music composing, writing and editing, among other efforts. Winners over the years include The Artist (2011), Titanic (1997), The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975).

This year’s Best Picture race is a tough one. The nine films nominated are all winners in their own right and bring something unique to the film industry as a whole.

At the beginning of the 2013 award season, representing what film, television and music came out in 2012, the frontrunners to take the Best Picture Award at the

”

Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and Academy Awards were Les Miserables, Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty. But as the award shows came and went, Argo was coming out on top – not just in the Best Picture category, but also the Best Director category, honoring Ben Affleck. Some critics say that the smaller awards like the Golden Globes and the SAGs are an indicator to the winners of the Academy Awards, but for a few categories – like Best Picture – it is still up in the air.

Another twist in Argo’s award-season quest is that Affleck is not nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards; maybe The Academy wants to emphasize that just because you have a “big name” or a resume with multiple award wins, you’re not guaranteed a nomination. Affleck, along with “Zero Dark Thirty” director Kathryn Bigelow and “Django Unchained” director Quentin Tarantino, were all nominated at the Golden Globes for Best Director but were not recognized in the category at the Academy Awards.

On the other hand, there are two categories at the Academy Awards this year whose winners will be no surprise. Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Best Actor in a Leading Role have been consistent this award season – Anne Hathaway has won the Golden Globe and the SAG award for her role as Fantine in Les Miserables,

and Daniel Day-Lewis won the Golden Globe and SAG award for his portrayal of President Abraham Lincoln in “Lincoln.” It would be a major upset if anyone else won these awards on Oscar night.

Though the Academy Awards showcases Hollywood’s most talented people, there is one category that may end in a catfight: Best Actress. The two frontrunners for this award are Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence.

The saga surrounding this category began at the Golden Globes. Unlike the Academy Awards and the SAGs, the Golden Globes separates comedy and musical movies, like “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Les Miserables”, from drama movies, like “Lincoln” and “Zero Dark Thirty.” With this separation, Chastain won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama for her portrayal of a young CIA officer who has spent her entire career pursuing Osama Bin Laden; and Lawrence won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her role as a young widow and recovering sex addict. At the SAGs, the actresses were nominated against each other for Best Actress, and Lawrence came out on top in what say was an upset. This category will definitely be one to look out for during the Academy Awards – may the best woman win.

And the nominees for Best Picture are...

AMOUR

DJANGO UNCHAINED

In the final months of her life, a retired music teacher and her husband of 60 years struggle with the debilitating effects of two strokes on both her health and her quality of life. As Georges cares for the increasingly unhappy Anne, the pair finds the nature of their life together irrevocably changed.

German bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz buys a slave named Django and promises him his freedom once he has helped Schultz track down the criminals he is seeking. But Django has a wife who was sold off years ago, and his partnership with Schultz may offer him a chance to find her.

ARGO

LIFE OF PI Young Pi, the son of zookeepers in Pondicherry, India, finds the world he knows swept away when his family sells the zoo and sets sail for Canada with a few of its remaining animals. A storm capsizes the ship and only Pi escapes, set adrift in a lifeboat that is also the refuge of an enormous Bengal tiger.

When six Americans take refuge in the Canadian embassy in Tehran during the 1979 hostage crisis, U.S. government agent Tony Mendez turns to Hollywood for help. Working with a producer and a makeup artist, he devises a rescue mission that centers on the creation of a fake film production company scouting locations in Iran.

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

In an isolated Louisiana swampland known as the Bathtub, young Hushpuppy and her father are part of a community that lives outside of the structure of modern society. When rising floodwaters threaten the area, the young girl’s resourcefulness and lively imagination are called into play as the region’s residents face the approaching disaster.

LES MISERABLES

In early 19th century France, Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned years earlier for stealing a loaf of bread, decides to break his parole following his release and assume a new identity. Although he succeeds in building a new life for himself, the relentless pursuit of Inspector Javert threatens the security of Valjean and his adopted daughter, Cosette.

LINCOLN

With the Civil War coming to a close and the freedom granted to the slaves by the Emancipation Proclamation called into question, Abraham Lincoln seeks to pass a thirteenth amendment to the Constitution that will outlaw slavery everywhere in the United States.

Facing opposition from many quarters in Congress, Lincoln uses his vast political powers to gain allies in his fight.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

Pat Solatano is released into his parents’ care after eight months of treatment for a bipolar disorder. His recovery seems far from certain, however, when he stops taking his medication and becomes increasingly obsessed with winning back his estranged wife, a plan that leads him to embark on a complicated relationship with a troubled young woman whose husband has died.

ZERO DARK THIRTY

In the aftermath of 9/11, as the trail in the hunt for Osama bin Laden seems to grow cold, a determined CIA agent begins a painstaking, decade-long search for the Al Qaeda leader. For Maya, direct experience of terrorism steels her resolve to find bin Laden and leads her to trust her own instincts regarding the best course of investigation to pursue.