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THE COLUMBIA
The Official News Source of Columbia College Chicago
February 22, 2010
Volume 45 Number 20
WEB-EXCLUSIVE VIDEO
WEB
ColumbiaChronicle.com
Mauro Fiore’s Recent Films
ON THE
hronicle ‘Avatar’ cinematographer re-visits campus “The A-Team” (Post Production) “Avatar” (2009) “The Kingdom” (2007) “Smokin’ Aces” (2006) “Faceless” (2006) “The Island” (2005) “Tears of the Sun” (2003) “Training Day” (2001)
Mauro Fiore speaks about the technique and style he used during the filming of “Avatar.” Fiore discussed how he worked with sets built in front of green screens for most of the movie. The conversation also included information on Fiore’s other works, including some commercials he has directed. Erik Rodriguez THE CHRONICLE
Filmmaker alumnus stays true to traditional cinematography by Ciara Shook
Assistant Campus Editor MAURO FIORE sat in an armchair before
a filled auditorium at Film Row Cinema as part of the Conversations in the Arts series. He reminded students of the importance for everyone to find their own path. Students, faculty, alumni and members of the public sat in on a conversation between Bruce Sheridan, chair of the Film and Video Department, and filmmaker and alumnus Fiore on Feb. 16 at the 1104 Center, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. In a welcome speech, Columbia President Warrick L. Carter, said, that although Columbia cannot take credit for the success of an alumnus, the college can feel good about the final product. “The real icing on the cake is when we see alums rise to the top,” Carter said. Doreen Bartoni, dean of the School of Media Arts, said Fiore’s appearance was advantageous because of his recent Oscar nomination as best cinematographer in “Avatar” and his cover story in American Cinematographer in January.
“He was in the first class I taught—a film tech class in 1984,” Bartoni said. Bartoni introduced Sheridan and Fiore to the audience with a retrospective speech about Fiore’s time as a student and Sheridan’s arrival at Columbia in 2001. During the conversation with Sheridan, Fiore said he did not always know he wanted to be involved in film, but was interested in photography. In an exclusive interview with The Chronicle, Fiore said he developed an interest in photography in high school, but attended a junior college after high school because he didn’t know what he wanted to study. “Film really appealed to me because I was always interested in combining arts like photography and music,” Fiore said. “Film incorporated all those interests and I thought, ‘Why not?’” Fiore said after graduating from Columbia in 1986, he had a gradual realization of a career while working on film sets, such as the 1993 blockbuster “Schindler’s List” when he worked as a gaffer, whose job is the head of the electrical department on a set. The conversation took a series of » SEE FIORE, PG. 10
» SEE PG. 13
Bright future for exoneree Positive outcome after rape conviction expunged from record
from the Wisconsin Innocence Project, he was released from prison in 2007 when the Seventh Circuit Court overturned his second degree sexual assault conviction and claimed his attorney was negligent. by Spencer Roush Adams was convicted of the crime when Assistant Metro Editor he was 17. Now 29, he will WHILE SITTING in a segregraduate from South Suburgated cell for 23 hours a day, ban College with honors in packed between four slabs May. He said prison changed of concrete, Jarrett Adams, a his life and instead of comChicago South Side resident, plaining, he is focusing all was researching law cases of his anger toward his goal when he heard the news that of becoming a lawyer. after spending eight years in “I probably would have a Wisconsin prison, he was a fell short of my potential if I free man. wouldn’t have went through Adams worked tirelessly this,” Adams said. “At the Jarrett Adams for years, writing letters to same time, I wouldn’t have tt Adams Lenny Gilmore THE CHRONICLE law firms and innocence signed up for it either. To be projects. He requested help to get an a 29-year-old black male, the odds in the appeal on his case, which he said was deck are stacked even when you haven’t handled poorly by his attorney. been in prison.” After writing approximately 50 letHe said he wants to prevent wrongful ters a week, Adams began studying law. convictions from occurring and hopes When he became more familiar with the to fix some of the problems in the subject, the letters were replaced by briefs of his case. After receiving attention » SEE EXONERATED, PG. 34 » SEE PG. 31
» SEE PG. 22
CAMPUS
Teaching the right tune
METRO
A&C
Self-injury redefined
H&F
INDEX 2
Gays picket Catholic church H&F
13
A&C
17
COMMENTARY
28
METRO
31