The Confluence Issue 16

onfluence

Hipster? I Hardly Knew Her. You know those ads on the bus? Michael Brigade talks about them.

-Page 4

Gender? I Hardly Knew Zer. Jann Arsonwhore is incomprehensible.

-page 7

Pidherney? I Hardly Knew Her. Check out local bike trails

The

-page 8

November 27th 2012

November 27th 2012

Rolling Jubilee Garett Svensen, Production Editor

The New Yorker ran an article a few days ago detailing the latest campaign

by Occupy Wall Street members. It seems when they aren’t being forcibly evicted from parks or feeding the needy in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, they have been organizing a fairly brilliant charity campaign.

Job Action of the Working Class Andy Johnson, Editor-in-Chief

Page 1

The Confluence - News

Members of CUPE local 4951 took job action on 20 and 21 November 2012. “All college courses, programs A key issue to Occupy from the start has been debt. Brainchild of and services at all 6 CNC campuses, Vancouver-based culture-jammers AdBusters, Occupy Wall Street is a with the exception of essential serleaderless activist movement that takes aim at the so-called “1%” or the 1% of vices such as power plants, [were] the population who controls the majority of wealth and power in our society. suspended . . . Tuesday and WednesThe rest of us, or the 99% as OWS calls us, Occupy claims are crushed by day,” said CNC Director of Commudebt due to predatory loan practices and outright usury on behalf of the 1% nications and Development, Randall banks and corporations. The biggest sources of debt to an average American Heidt. (less so for us Canadians, but still a problem) can be uninsured medical expenses. Even minor medical procedures in American hospitals can be According to Delynda Pilon of The crippling financially and a sudden illness or injury can put a person in debt Prince George Free Press, “Contract by thousands of dollars that they can’t pay. This is where the Rolling Jubilee talks between the union and college comes in. broke off Nov. 8 after union members presented a settlement to the college The Rolling Jubilee launched November 15th with the stated goal of buying and were told there was no money for the debts of America. With an initial $5000, they bought defaulted medical a new contract.” debts for pennies on the dollar and forgave those loans to the tune of over $100,000. As of this writing the project has raised around a half-million Pilon continues, “CUPE Local 4951 dollars and forgiven about $8.5 million in medical debt. It took ten days. has been without a contract since 2010. Main issues include a fair wage increase and inflation protection inline with other recent public sector contract settlements.”

Classes and talks have resumed for the time being, but Randall Heidt “encourage[s] everyone to keep an eye on the college’s website at www. cnc.bc.ca for updates.”

Rolling Jubilee, rollingjubilee.org

Andy Johnson, Editor-in-Chief

Garett Svensen, Production Editor

Taren Johnson, Web Manager

Santa Breakfast

UNBC Gender Vigil

Trees of CNC

Last Day of Classes

ByElection

Submissions Due

Start of Exams

November 27th 2012

December 2012

Chili Blanket

Vigil Gender Violence

Last Day of Exams

Confluence Out

Submissions Due for January 8th Issue

End of the Mayan Calander

The Confluence - News

Christmas Eve Christmas Day Office Closure

Environment Canada 5-Day Weather Forecast: For Prince George, BC. 30 November-4 December 2012 Friday, November 30: -8°C, -8°C,Snow.

Saturday, December 1: -7°C, -9°C, Snow.

Sunday, December 2: -7°C, -10°C, Snow.

Monday, December 3: -6°C, -10°C, Snow.

Tuesday, December 4: 3°C, -7°C, Showers.

The Confluence is produced biweekly at the CNCSU office on CNC’s Prince George campus by Garett Svensen, Taren Johnson and Andy Johnson.

All submissions are welcome, the authors of edited works used in the confluence receive a $20 cheque upon publication. Advertisement rates are availiable upon request.

Picketers on the picket line last Wednesday

Page 2

Submissions, inqueries and requests can be made to news.cncsu.ca, in person at the CNCSU office room 1-303, or mailed to “The Confluence c/o CNCSU 3330-22nd Ave. Prince George, BC. V2N 1P8”

November 27th 2012

Check out this Fucking Hipster Michael Brigade, Contributor

The province has spent $15 million to tell me that being a “HIPSTER is not A REAL JOB” (emphasis them). $15 million to tell me that I should give up any aspirations of a career I enjoy, and go back to working a backbreaking blue collar job for the rest of my life. Because, as another sign says “There’s a reason it’s called being a ski bum” and enjoying life is right out of the equation.

the youth. Why on earth would this condescension of youthful pursuits and styles encourage kids to go into trades? The condescending “parents know best” attitude from the government might gain some votes in the boomer demographic in the coming election, but I have a feeling it will kill the youth vote.

The Confluence - Culture

The skilled worker shortage has been said (Re: MLA Roundtable What really burns my biscuit about Discussion in previous issues of The these signs, other than the waste of Confluence) to be a failure to properly taxpayer money for a sneaky retrain young workers, with industry election ad campaign, is that they and ITA believing that the other party equate lifestyle with career. To is responsible for the majority of me, being a hipster or a ski bum or apprentice training and experience. whatever is something you do outside There are young apprentices who of work. What does my taste in want to work and simply can’t find clothes and music have to do with my jobs because of a communication job? I know IT guys who listen to breakdown. Seeing an ad that blames Neutral Milk Hotel, lifeguards who the youth for their unemployment wear deep cut v-necks, and power because they’re “hipsters” or “ski engineers who enjoy complicated bums” is only rubbing salt in a raw lattes from little indie coffee shops. wound.

They’re all good, hard workers for the most part, with a range of interests that veer into ‘hipster’ territory from time to time.

Page 3

The ad campaign, like so many others, targets the youth with youthful language without really speaking to

awarrenjohnson.blogspot.com

Page 4

The Confluence - Arts

November 27th 2012

November 27th 2012

History of Energy Drinks

The Confluence - CNCSU

Patricia Obasi, CNCSU The first real drink made just for energy was in Japan in the 1960’s by Taisho Pharmaceuticals as a drink called Lipvitan-D. This drink contained a mix of essential vitamins such as B1, B2 as well as B6. It also included in its ingredients niacin and taurine which are metabolic agents proven to boost things such as energy and concentration. First introduced as a medicinal tonic drink for those suffering from lack of energy and fatigue, it grew in popularity in Asia as part of a fad that had more to do with late party hours and clubbing. From Japan and China on downward news of a tonic to help you stay up later and be more productive spread and eventually it made it out of Asia and into Europe but not before some interesting turns and twists in this energy drink filled road.

This tonic drink made its way to Thailand within the next decade and became a popular drink for rickshaw drivers in Thailand called “Krating Daeng” The main active ingredient in this drink was taurine, an amino acid that was first discovered in bulls as was later taken on by an Austrian in 1987. A Dietrich Mateschitz took this novel idea and ran with it, adding caffeine and sugar and named this drink Red Bull, after the taurine amino acid.

This was a drink that quickly became extremely popular in Europe right off. It was introduced in American a decade later in 1997 and has been rising in popularity ever sense then. In fact energy drinks when up 61% in the year 2005 alone in the U.S. Market and every year energy drinks go on to become more popular and come out with more variations.

Page 5

Energy drinks are now the latest man-made fuel of choice to keep the economic world still spinning, and may wonder what we ever did without them. With more people working more hours than ever, even they need more energy to do it. Before Red Bull, the first energy drink made its way to America, the American citizens were already beginning their frantic search for something that would help them work those longer hours as the global job market began to change and

North Roast

Jasmine Bhatti, CNCSU people in the U.S. Especially began to North Roast is a locally owned stay longer hours away from the home coffee roasting company. It has been and more hours at work. Jolt Cola founded by two young people, Steven has a short term popularity before Clarke is a founder that has started up Red Bull hit the scenes, but now it is North Roast, and he’s a student from almost impossible to find. our very own CNC. North Roast is 100% organic, as well as fair trade.

Even though other energy drinks The coffee beans are imported from later hit the market, Red Bull still other countries, and then roasted here remains the most well-known and in Prince George. top name, with annual sales around the two billion dollar mark globally.

Anyone can come to the Student Name brand Soda’s like Coca Cola Union office, and custom order coffee and Pepsi have started their own enbeans. When custom ordering coffee ergy drinks as a way to better compete beans the customer chooses how dark with this new fad in mega-caffeine the roast is and what kind of coffee filled drinks and Jolt Cola has tried they would like. There is an option of to fight it’s losing battle be re naming whole bean, or having it pre-ground as itself an energy drink and coming in well. Custom ordering makes it so you a can shaped like a battery. Hanses will always have access to your faSodas introduced some competition vorite coffee, or espresso. There are a for Red Bull with Monster Energy and few sample sizes in the office if someRockstar coming in third behind the one would like to try it before making other two energy giants. a purchase. North Roast would make a great gift for any coffee lover.

I personally have had a heavy supply of North Roast in my cupboard and I love it. It’s smooth, and very fresh.

The visible oils on the beans show the freshness of the coffee beans, which give me reassurance each time I buy a bag. Supporting a local, as well as an organic product is always good.

Custom ordering does not incur extra charges. If you have any questions about North Roast feel free to come to the student union office and ask.

Page 6

The Confluence - CNCSU

November 27th 2012

November 27th 2012

The Sound of Freedom Jann Arsonwhöre, Contributor.

Shkli should clarify the genderless terms and choice to censor any mention of gender. The terms used in this article are as follows: Shkli=I, Shklef=Myself, Kli=My, Shk=Me, Kley=You. Kli choice to censor any mention of gender is that Shkli strongly believe that notions of self and gender have contributed to the breakdown of social equality in Western culture. Shkli have also applied these terms to personal pronouns to Shklef and in direct quotes in the hopes to absolve said notions.

Shkli am a young “[censored] bodied individual” that attends UNBC. Once Shkli made the discovery of kli simulacra “[censored]” identity, Shkli knew deep in kli heart that Shkli was truly androgynous—Shkli believe this term is decorous enough, at least in kli mental state. Furthermore, Dr. Budde’s wont discussion of such taboo matters, things like “[censored] ness” and the “[censored] code,” also allows “[censored] bodied individual[s]” to appropriate a united voice that extends and encompasses other avenues of activism.

The Confluence - Culture

Dr. Budde also makes a great case against the “[censored] gaze,” as it naturally leads to “the objectification After reading Dr. Rob Budde’s latest of [censored].” Shkli have begun column, “The Northern [censored] feeling guilty during conversations [censored],” in the December/January edition of Northword, Shkli was perplexed to discover that for the 29+ years Shkli have been identifying shklef as white, [censored]sexual [censored], Shkli was incorrect in two of these claims. Shkli am not white—as being “white” appropriates privilege and Shkli am also not “[censored],” but rather a “[censored] bodied individual.” These revelations came as quite a shock to shk as Shkli felt that Shkli had no other option but to label shklef with these terms.

As Dr. Budde points out, “[Shkli] feel [Shkli] can speak with the most authenticity about [kli] [censored] ness and the pressures of [censored] behavior.” This “[censored] bodied individual” continues, “The first rule about the [censored] code is you don’t talk about it. But [Shkli] want to talk about it, and many young [censored] [Shkli] meet at UNBC want to talk about it too. . .”

Page 7

Shkli feel the same way. First, Shkli thoroughly enjoyed Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk and can appreciate the reference, but more importantly,

Next Issue -. Fritz’s Idea Box

with [censored] bodied individuals, as Shkli have no choice but to make eye contact and have been giving a tremendous amount of consideration about having kli eyes and identifiable genitalia removed.

As the late Al Purdy once wrote, “[Shkli] am drinking/[Shkli] am drinking beer with yellow flowers/ in underground sunlight/and [kley] can see that [Shkli] am a sensitive [[censored] bodied individual].”

While Pidherny is beginnerfriendly, there are some trails strictly for advanced riders; so take caution as to which ones you choose to ride down. It also helps to look at the map or website as it will show (based on ski hill difficulty ranges) either green (beginner) blue

Pidherney Trails

Being a Mountain bike park by nature, most of the trails here are “freeride” or “downhill” oriented.

These can range from North Shore style drops, skinnies and ladder bridges to more technical, fast and flowy runs. There are new features for two cross country routes branching off near the middle of the hill if that’s what you’re into. Pidherny holds something for everyone. For the best experience, the kind of bike you’ll need for these kinds of places are actual mountain bikes.

A bicycle with at least 5 inches of suspension will do. A hard-tail will also suffice. For equipment, a fullface accompanied by some knee pads is a must. Although Pidherny is beginner friendly, any fall here could potentially injure. Falling on bare knee caps is never fun, so it’s best to suit up if you don’t know what you’re doing.

A fair warning, visitors here must also watch out for local wildlife and other bikers. Never sit or stand in the middle of the trail. Don’t leave garbage around (the builders will take great offense to this), make sure

you’re aware of your surroundings and remove any foliage or debris blocking the trail. Ride with a friend or group; never ride alone. If you go down out here, it’s a long way to the hospital and the chances of you being discovered are quite slim. You ride at your own risk.

Pidherny has gone through some tough times to become what it is today. Pressure from local golf groups had almost made the land unusable for public mountain biking. Thanks to the PGCC (Prince George Cycling Club) and many others, the land has been preserved and approved for mountain bikers or other non-motorized users.

The City of Prince George has slowly been recognizing the importance of Mountain biking to the general populace since the legitimization of Pidherny; not only for fun and healthy recreation but also for tourism. I believe, with some time and support, the Mountain Biking in PG could become something much greater than it is today. To many people, biking holds something that other sports do not. It holds the perfect balance between fun and fitness. The trails here are just as important as the soccer fields and courts.

For the passer-by, Pidherny is a great example of how Mountain bike parks in the North could flourish; it’s a definite go-to if you’re a bike enthusiast.

The Confluence - Feature

Another popular entrance is through the Foothills Landfill.

Although discouraged since you usually can’t park anywhere within the landfill lands, you can still park your vehicle outside of the yellow gate that leads to the landfill and push your way up to the top. Many prefer this way since it’s much faster and every possible trail is linkable, meaning a longer, multi-trail ride to the bottom. Each trail will be marked with a sign illustrating the trail name. I recommend that you review what each trail skill level is before embarking.

(intermediate) or black (advanced).

Since it’s so varied, Pidherny is the go-to place for both adults and kids to learn proper bike skills. Near the bottom of the hill is a skills park featuring a pump track, some smaller drops and other skill testing devices.

Page 8

Evan Pavich, Contributor.

Pidherny is a vast and well known bike trail network in Prince George, BC. It’s located between Pidherny Road and the Foothills Landfill. To gain entrance to the network, most enter through the bottom of Pidherny Road. There you will be able to park your car in a parking lot. You can push up to the top thanks to markers on the trail leading you to individual trail heads.

November 27th 2012

Pidherney Guide

The Confluence - Arts

November 27th 2012

tion to obtain an Arizona substitute teacher's certificate. He was interested in the Saguaro and ocotillo cacti he passed along the highway, and listened to radio stations from Mexicali, San Luis del Rio Colorado and points farther south to try to maintain what little he recalled of his two years of high school Spanish.

Substitution

By Paul Strickland

George's family and friends in Reno were getting on his case when, two months after having received his master's degree in English from UBC, he still hadn't found work except for one day of casual labour. His aunt in Yuma phoned to tell him he could move there, live in a housekeeping suite in the back of her place and look for work in that community.

He showed the necessary documentation to the Yuma County School District administration and was put on the list of teachers on call. The athletic teams at Yuma High School were named the Yuma High Criminals, after the nineteenth-century territorial prison that was now a tourist attraction. However, George found the team name to be an instance of truth in advertising in a way. He had to pass out textbooks at the beginning of each period to classes typically full with 33 to 35 students, and then try to collect them back at the end of class.

Invariably only 28 to 30 textbooks were actually returned. Many students would slip out the back door and hoped not to be noticed, and George had to yell loudly to call them back.

They took advantage of the fact that, over the course of one or three days, he wouldn't remember all their names and couldn't report the truants to the principal's office. Administrators thought the rarity of a male substitute teacher meant he could be assigned to a shop class. As a holder of a literary degree with few carpentry skills, he could command little authority.

Screwdrivers and other small tools regularly went missing.

Page 9

George got an average of three calls per week, and, at $27 per day, he He packed up his nine-year-old Chevelle and drove the 700 miles down there earned $54 to $81 per week – enough in late October. It was still 98 as he drove south through the Mojave Desert to pay rent to his aunt, buy grocerand encountered the occasional sandstorm. Anne Murray's song, “Son of a ies and purchase gas for a thirty-mile Rotten Gambler” and Harry Chapin's hit, “Cat's in the Cradle”, were frequent- weekend side trip to the Mexican ly on the radio, and the radio news reports carried predictions of a Demoborder town of San Luis del Rio Colocratic landslide in the congressional elections in November following Nixon's rado to shop and practise his Spanish. resignation and President Gerald Ford's unpopular pardon of his lawbreaking predecessor. There was also radio commentary about rising inflation and Some Mexican-American students increasing unemployment. in a class at Yuma High School assumed George's blond hair meant he George was unsuccessful applying for jobs in Yuma supermarkets and disspoke no Spanish. They would precount stores. One day about a week after his arrival, a friend of his aunt's sug- tend to not understand his instructions gested he try substitute teaching. The school district, he learned, would allow and then carry on disrupting the class a person with an academic master of arts in English to be a substitute teacher with loud conversation. When George without having taken any education courses. If he succeeded, he would only commanded, “Calla te! (Be quiet!)”, have to take one course in educational psychology within a year. one of them responded, “Que verga!

(What a pr---!)”

He drove his Chevelle to Phoenix to show officials the required documenta-

He was pleased to be called to teach more classes at what seemed to be the more civilized Yuma High School.

One day an English class was trying to suppress titters over a student's use of the word “puto”. In Spanish, that word meant a sodomite. George decided this was an occasion to give the students a lesson in Latin grammar. “Puto” in Latin means “I think”.

George conjugated the verb -- “Puto.

Putas. Putat. Putamus. Putatis. Putant.” -- on the blackboard as the amused students' tittering almost erupted into open full laughter.

One day in late November, again because he was that rare commodity, a male substitute teacher, he was called to Yuma High School to fill in for the teacher of refrigeration shop, who was ill. He was warned by teachers in nearby classrooms that the class was full of unruly mean students and toughs. In the past they had succeeded in driving out other substitute teachers, including a former Social Security administrator and a retired agricultural

After two days of these kinds of experiences, when he received a call from the principal's secretary to come in and teach the Grade 8 band class a third day, he refused. A compromise was reached that the Grade 8 English teacher would cover the band class while George taught English. On the blackboard a list for the spelling lesson one day included “Great Britian” and “committment”. The compromise of assigning George Grade 8 English while the English teacher covered band worked for a day or two, but it was clear that no one was really satisfied.

One evening in mid-December, his nerves very frayed, George read the Yuma daily paper and focused on a front-page story about a riot in Vienna. A wire photo showed hapless riot police hiding behind barricades as rioters threw vegetables, bottles and even paving stones at the officers.

George thought to himself, “This is the truth. What I'm providing now in Yuma is riot control, not education.”

He decided it was about time to go. He was called in the next day to cover a shop class at Crestview. There George had made the mistake of tell- were more scenes of having to yell at ing some teachers in a staff room at students trying to slip out side doors, Crestview Middle School that he had and more indications of tools having played the piano in the past. Adminis- been stolen. The following day, he actrators in their turn made the mistake cepted a call but told the secretary that of assuming that, because he had had would be the last one before he left lessons in one instrument, he could for Christmas holidays in Reno. teach all instruments. One morning in early December he received a call Once back in Reno, he wrote the from Crestview Middle School askprincipal's secretary and teachers at ing him to come in and cover for Crestview Middle School a letter in an absent teacher of Grade 8 band. early January thanking them for their He found a whistle in the top drawer kindness and support while he was of the teacher's desk. Pandemonium teaching at their school but adding he quickly arose as he prepared to adhad “found a better situation”. This dress the class, and noise grew ever ambiguous language allowed the perlouder. The whistle was useless in sonnel at Crestview Middle School, getting the students to pay attention. who had been very helpful while he Students began wildly waving band was in Yuma, to think he had landed instruments about in an entirely care- a full-time job in Reno. “Congratulaless manner, clarinets being nearly tions on your getting a contract in smashed against tubas and other inReno,” the secretary wrote back. “We struments being treated as if they were were very pleased to have you teach bats in batting practice. This went on for us here.” in every period of band he taught that day. He could foresee two thousand But in actuality he had embarked dollars of damage to valuable, delicate upon seven months of unemployment. instruments under his watch and the

November 27th 2012

cost of the damage coming out of his paycheque.

The Confluence - Arts

extension agent, who refused subsequent calls to come and instruct them.

George decided he would make no attempt to teach them, but instead to keep them entertained with jokes he'd heard in UBC and downtown VanThat's enough,” the teacher introduc- couver pubs while he was a graduate ing him responded. student. He used occasional excremental language in telling these jokes, Things were getting off to a bad such as the S-word, but said nothing start. suggesting sexual immorality. The students were also very interested in In another class, as some students his stories about study and travel in created a distraction by slipping out Canada. One teacher from an adjointhe open side door into the hallway, ing classroom looked in to see if he others pushed paper into a heat regis- was safe, noted the comparative quiet, ter and smoke from a small fire soon and told him, “You're pretty good if arose. George sent the offending stu- you can control them.” dents to the principal's office. Another student tried to take lunch money out However, he did not receive any of the teaher's desk while George was more calls to teach at Yuma High distracted in dealing with these stuSchool. After couple of weeks, when dents. it was obvious he was not going to be invited to teach at that school any At the end of the school day, the more, he visited the school secretary principal called him into his office to ask what was going on. She said and advised, “George. You don't eed she wasn't at liberty to say. However, to send students to my office. If you he later learned he was viewed as go along with the students, they'll go having used inappropriate language along with you.” in the school. His weekly income fell to $27 to $54 a week because he had George wasn't impressed with this only Kofa High and Crestview Middle level of back-up and administrative School still giving him calls, Kofa support.

High only very occasionally.

Page 10

When George was introduced to his first class at Kofa High School across town, made up of Grade 9 students, one called out, “Does teacher have to go to potty?”

Cinema CNC presents...

Four for Fall

NOV 10 : BEASTS Of THE SOUTHERN WIlD

NOV 17 : mOOnRiSE KinGDOm

Dir: Benh Zeitlin USA 91 mins.

WITH: Quvenzhane Wallis, Dwight Henry

DIR: Wes Anderson USA, 94 mins WITH: Bill murray, Edward norton, frances mcDormand, Tilda Swinton and Bruce Willis

This stunning debut from first-time film- maker Benh Zeitlin alludes to a number of artistic masterpieces, paying homage to great works of literature, painting, and cinema. At home in The Bathtub, a marshland cut off from the Louisiana coast, an unapologetically uncivilized band of humans live alongside the animals that sustain them, blissfully disconnected from their resource-burning neighbours to the north.

Among them, six-year-old Hushpuppy already fends well for herself, sharing a trailer with her father, Wink, who hasn't been the same since Hushpuppy's mother left them years earlier. Beasts of the Southern Wild is equal parts mythological, anthropological, folkloric, and apocalyptic. An emotionally wrenching and heartfelt portrayal of the bond between a father and his daughter, it is not to be missed.

NOV 24 : the queen of versailles DIR: Lauren Greenfield USA, 100 mins documentary. WITH: David and Jackie Siegel

This real-life riches-to-rags story follows billionaire David Siegel and his wife Jackie as they embark on the construction of their dream home: a sprawling, 90,0000-square-foot mansion inspired by the palace of Versailles, designed to be the largest private residence in the USA. But when the economic crisis hits and the real-estate bubble bursts, progress grinds to a halt and seals the Siegels' fate.

Chronicling the decline in the Siegels' fortunes over the course of two years, Greenfield's riveting documentary explores both the virtues and tragic flaws of the American Dream. "A gaudy guilty pleasure that is also a piece of trenchant social criticism; a sprawling, richly detailed study of ambition, desire and the wild swings of fortune that are included in the price of the capitalist ticket.” –A.O. Scott New York Times.

This is the eagerly-anticipated new film from director Wes Anderson, and features his unique brand of quirky humour, an iconic soundtrack and distinctive visual style. On the fictional New England island of New Penzance in 1965, lovestruck twelve-year-olds Sam and Suzy have decided to run away together. Both are isolated children and their romance is ridiculous yet touching — a pre-teen fantasy of grown-up love. Their escape triggers a humourously hapless search party; the dramatic absurdity of the situation is heightened by the violent storm on course for New Penzance. Youʼll find yourself nostalgic for this magical, largely fictional time. Moonrise Kingdom is sure to be a joyful experience for Anderson fans, and a treat for the uninitiated.

dec 1: BOy Dir: Taika Waititi nEW ZEAlAnD, 87 mins maori with subtitles with: James Rolleston, Te Aho Aho Eke tone-Whitu and Taika Waititi

Itʼs 1984. Michael Jacksonʼs Thriller rules the airwaves and 11-yearold Boy dreams of the day when his absentee father will return to whisk him and his younger brother, Rocky, away from their home in New Zealandʼs Bay of Plenty to see his one-gloved idol in concert.

One-time comedian Waititiʼs refreshing direction and funny script imbues the story with magic, from its hand-drawn flip-book animations and Michael Jackson dance fantasies, to its bleeding sunsets, sweeping coastline vistas, and unforgettably colourful characters. As Boy, Rolleston — initially an extra who replaced the original actor at the last minute — turns in a remarkably unaffected, seemingly effortless performance.

All shows in room 1-306 at the college of new caledonia showtimes: 7 + 9:30 pm seasons passes: $24: available: Books and Co. and CNC Bookstore Single tickets: $8, regular;

$7, student, senior, unemployed