January 24, 2013

TODAY’S FORECAST HI: 76o LOW: 60o

George Mattingly| The Houstonian

Houston film maker, Michelle Mowers, stresses the importance of building connections and finding your nitsche in the film industry.

Chance of Rain:

Green: Encourages readers to expand their cultural awareness

20%

Volume 123 / Issue 3

P2

The Taylor brothers talk about their childhood and future.

www.HoustonianOnline.com

P4 P4

Thursday, January 24, 2013

SHSU to receive increase in new 2014-2015 budget

SOPHIE NELSON Senior Reporter Sam Houston State University may have its public funding increased about three percent in 2014-2015, according to the Texas state budget filed in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Most other four-year universities will also have their funding increased, however other educational bodies will have their funds cut.

According the 2012-2013 budget available on the Legislative Budget Board website, SHSU received more than $72,560,000 in 2012, which was raised by more than $200,000 to equal $72,770,000 that is to be distributed in 2013.

The 2014-2015 first drafts, also found on the LBB website, estimate that SHSU will receive between $74,250,000 and a $74,740,000 in state funding for 2014, with a raise of $308,085 for 2015.

According to Al Hooten,

NATION & WORLD Man banned from D.C. after heckling president at inauguration Rives Miller Grogan, an antiabortion activist, climbed a tree during the inauguration and heckled President Obama.

Grogan evaded police by climbing higher into the tree.

Police could not get to him because of traffic on the streets.

This is Grogans fifth time to be convicted in D.C. Chandra Levy case reexamined with new details Federal prosecuters and lawyers for the man accused of killing Levy have met twice since December in secret court hearings. They believe they have information that could undercut the testimony of the prosecutions witness. There will be a court hearing on Feb. 7.

vice president for finance and operations, the decision about exactly how much funding will be distributed will have to be decided among the Texas House of Representatives and Senate before the final budget is approved.

Hooten said SHSU is relying more upon tuition for funding.

Unlike the general increases in the public higher education, the rest of education can expect a reduction in funding, according to the proposed first drafts.

Areas to receive cuts include the schools for those with special needs, health-related institutions, funds for two-year institutions, facilities for state obligations, agency administration and others.

Areas that will receive an increase in funding include the Teacher Retirement System, the Texas Education Agency, general academic institutions (such as SHSU), the Higher Education Coordinating Board, and others.

For more information, visit the Legislative Budget Board website at www.lbb.state.tx.us

Reproductive coercian occurs whenever a partner doesn’t allow their partner to make their own decisions about reproducing. Doctors are unsure how ofen this occurs but say women should be on the look-out for it

$72,770,560 $72,568,313

2012

2013

2014

2015

MOLLY WADDELL News Editor CONNOR HYDE Sports Reporter

A 22-year-old student was charged in the shooting at Lone Star College North Harris County location, that left him and two others wounded Tuesday, according to North Harris County police.

Carlton Berry has been charged with aggravated assault according to a statement from the Harris County Sheriff ’s Office. Berry is still in the hospital with wounds from the shooting.

Berry allegedly opened fire as a result of a fight between him and another student, according to CBS. Student Terrance Smith, 23, was walking out of the computer lab to his car when the shooting occurred.

“I wasn’t thinking anything of it and I just left and when I was going to my car,” Smith said.”I

Defense Secretary opens combat roles to women

Obstetricians and gynecologists say that women should screen for ‘reproductive coercion.’

$74,249,155$74,737,088

$74,557,240$75,045,173

Lone Star shooting suspect charged

Follow us today! @TheHoustonian

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has lifted a military ban that kept women from fighting in combat.

This lift will allow women into hundreds of thousands front line positions. The move comes as Panetta prepares to leave office. President Obama has nominated Republican former senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a Vietnam combat veteran, to take his place.

Proposed SHSU Budget

AP Photo/Harris County Sheriff’s Office

HORROR. Ana Leal, left, embraces Lone Star College student Sabrina Cuellar.

AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Brett Coomer

heard pop pop pop pop pop and everyone started running.”

Smith has been a part time student seeking an associate degree in art at the North Harris County location for several of years, and said that there has never been a shooting before.

“I didn’t see anything, I just heard five or three shots,” Smith said. “I saw people running and I started running too. I just ran out and I just heard shots and I seen people running.”

Smith said he did not feel right being there.

“When I heard the shots my mind didn’t go immediately to gun. When I seen people running I thought I need to save my own life,” Smith said. “I drove quick

trying to get home…I never experienced anything like that before and I hope I never do again.”

Berry, one of the students believed to be involved, and a maintenance worker caught in the crossfire were hospitalized, according to a Harris County official.

“I was watching the news and I seen where people were on stretchers... it could have been me,” Smith said. “I’m praying for everyone that got hurt and I’m thankful for God looking after me and I’m thankful for everyone who ran with me…I pray for people who were wounded from this.”

According to Nicole Romero, admissions office specialist for the

North Harris county location, the faculty and staff attended training a week before dealing with shooters on campus.

“They said it doesn’t happen very often and they told us what to do if it did happen as staff and faculty,” Romero said.

According to Romero, faculty watched a YouTube video made by the Department of Defense.

“They told us the key things are, if it’s in our area, to hide and get away if we can,” Romero said.

According to CBS, Richard Carpenter, chancellor of the Lone Star College System, the campus is a gun-free zone that “has been safe for 40 years…we think it’s still safe.”

faculty computers every four years.

“It’s our responsibility to track a computers’ age,” said Adams. “IT now keeps up with the computer equipment and recycles them when the cycle is due.”

The new program gives IT the responsibility to make sure that computer equipment on campus is up to date. This duty was previously up to each department.

“There are a lot of questions about how the program works,”

said Adams. “There’s a sense that they’ve lost some control and they want to know how the process works.”

Adams hopes to respond to grievances the faculty has with the new program. According to Faculty Senate minutes from October 2011, “There is … concern because faculty have been turned down in their requests for equipment because they were told it was redundant (when in fact it was not).”

Adams thinks that the expertise of the IT crew is better suited for the discernment of replacing old computers, rather than the heads of departments.

“The intention of the program is to be more efficient on expenditures and for people to have up-to-date equipment for their job,” said Adams.

The Faculty Senate will meet today at 3:30 p.m. in Austin Hall.

VP of IT to discuss computer replacement program JAY R. JORDAN Senior Reporter Sam Houston State University’s Vice President of IT Mark Adams was invited to speak at today’s faculty senate meeting. He plans on discussing the grievances from faculty members about the new centralized computer replacement program.

The new program gives IT the task of replacing university-issued

Page 2

Viewpoints

Thursday, January 24, 2013 houstonianonline.com/viewpoints

Letter to the editor

New you, New year

We need to talk Richard McKinney offers readers steps to keeping The headline in The Houstonian of Jan. 21, 2013 about the proposed law to allow guns on campus could not have had better timing given the frightening incident at Lone Star College.

Before we allow Senator Birdwell to arm our campuses, we need to have an informed campus-wide debate that includes above all the University Police Department.

Already people are saying on the late-night radio talk shows that they would seriously consider taking their children out of Texas colleges or not sending them to Texas colleges at all if the law passes. Let me conclude by saying that almost everyone I know in Canada uses guns for hunting, yet their homicide rate is minuscule in compared to ours. And don’t say it’s racial. Montreal, in Quebec Province, is a huge multiracial city infinitely safer than even small U.S. cities.

Why are we so prone to gun violence and our Canadian sisters and brothers are not?

-- David-Ross Gerling, Ph.D. Dept. of Foreign Languages

New Year’s resolutions and achieving their goals

I

did not make New Year’s resolutions this year. It’s not because I think I am perfect or that I don’t need to change.

On the contrary, there is vast improvement I can make in my life. It is also not because I think it’s somehow more achievable to call it a ‘life change.’ It’s because, quite simply, they don’t work.

Too often I fall off the bandwagon of dieting, exercising, being on top of schoolwork (which I’m already behind and it’s only been a week!), or whatever that New Year might have had me doing.

Statistic Brain, an online research organization, released a study which shows that only about eight percent of the U.S. population upholds their New Year’s resolutions.

So, why bother? What’s the use if it’s not going to matter?

Well, I have scavenged through the Internet to find some steps to keep your New Year’s resolution(s) not only alive in February, but throughout the year – after all, if something is worth doing, it’s

worth doing often. us. Psychologist John First, decide what Norcross has depicted your goal is. Sure, we that specificity in all have many things resolution change that we would like to results in 10 times accomplish this year. greater chance of However, it is best to success. find that one thing Second, decide that matters most. the motivation for How many of us can your resolution. For focus on taking a full most people, simply set of classes, much making a resolution less four or five life- RICHARD MCKINNEY is not enough. There changing resolutions needs to be a reason, Staff Reporter on top of that? which often becomes “Inventory all possible goals a wedding you’re going to in through brainstorming,” author March and looking good in your of Family Skulls and speaker Luc dress. However, this too is not an Reid said. adequate motivator.

By going through and looking What works best is finding at all the things we want to change, motivation outside of yourself. and then finding that one thing Certainly, desiring change is a that matters most to us, we are great place to start, but to keep it more likely to attain it. up you need to have something to Once you find your resolution, guide you. set it as a realistic, achievable goal “Americans hinge their efforts rather some grandiose idea. It is at personal change almost easier to lose 10 pounds than it exclusively on themselves rather is to simple say you’d like to diet than realizing that lasting change and exercise more, because we often comes by serving and can see the results working for sacrificing for others,” president

of Barna Group research company David Kinnaman said in a report.

The third step is pretty simple.

You’ve heard it before and I’ll bet you were hoping that you wouldn’t have to hear it again.

Find a buddy. Talk to people about your resolution, find someone with similar goals in your circle of friends and count on each other for encouragement.

Even if you don’t find someone with that same resolution at least ask them to encourage you and discuss your progress with them.

As you discuss, you find the juice to keep going.

Lastly, stay focused.

Don’t lose sight of your goal.

Don’t feel discouraged that it’s not as easy, or not as quick as you would like. Lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. If you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath and remember what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and who you’re doing it with.

Now get back on that treadmill and keep jogging. I’ll see you in the gym.

Media lose sight of big picture

PAWS UP

MORGAN MEARS

N

Staff Reporter

PAWS UP to Epic Lounge releasing new drinks

PAWS UP to the women’s basketball team for securing first place in conference

ormally when one hears the word “news,” they tend to think about politics, the economy and current wars, or engagements going on in the world, not whether or not the current First Lady’s bangs work for her. Much of what is considered news in today’s society is truly just celebrity stories and gossip. Unfortunately much of what is actually hard hitting, factual news is being left unread by the masses.

While many people tuned in on Monday to watch the newly re-elected President Barack Obama be publicly sworn into office, instead they bore witness to a parade of celebrities competing with the inauguration.

One celebrity who has been in the media lately due to the large part she played in the President’s inauguration is Beyoncé.

According to a story published on Newsday. com, many people were upset and distracted by the celebrity’s lip syncing of the national anthem during the inauguration.

With so many people focused on whether or not Beyoncé had a backup track during the national anthem, the true reason for her even syncing the song is being over looked.

It was for the 2013 presidential inauguration, people.

We overlook the big picture and the things that matter. We’re focusing on the glitz and glamour of society rather than the nittygritty facts important news. Whether or not Beyoncé was lip syncing at the inauguration pales in comparison to what the event was and what it meant, the inauguration itself is meant to signify the beginning of Obama’s second term. It is not meant to be a concert or a parade of celebrities.

Another such example of society preferring irrelevant news to factual, hard-hitting news was during one of the 2008 Democratic Primaries. The media focused mainly on the fact that Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton wore a red suit, as opposed to something more traditional like a black or blue suit.

With society focused on what Clinton was wearing and not what her actual platform was and what she, as a candidate for presidency, planned to do if she had been elected, many people failed to understand the difference between the two candidates when it came time to actually vote.

The race for presidency and the winning of an election is more important than whether or not the national anthem was sang via lip syncing or if it was live; it is more important than what color a candidate for presidency’s suit was.

Society is focusing on the wrong stories and leaving the news stories that matter, those that contain sustenance, to sit and collect dust. As a whole, today’s society needs to put down the gossip magazines and stop visiting websites that only report on celebrities, fashion and gossip.

Readers and web users need to read and follow substantial news that provides factual evidence, provides stories that have some kind of sustenance, and relate to events going on in the world.

Global education vital to U.S. citizens Stephen Green encourages readers to expand their cultural knowledge

PAWS UP to Michelle Mowers, director of Preacher’s Daughter, for coming to speak to film students Wednesday night

C

PAWS DOWN

PAWS DOWN to more school shootings across the nation.

Something needs to be done

oming from a family raised in East Texas as well as a school filled with people of the same, it is a shame to see such a lack of understanding and sometimes ignorance about land outside of U.S. borders. As someone who is a self-confessed idiot when it comes to the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), I went into my last experience with a clean slate and taking on whatever came my way. I experienced a whole new culture in just one day, although I did pass on some adventures due to sheer exhaustion.

The Sam Houston State University Global Center for Journalism and Democracy recently hosted a conference with the Samir Kassir Foundation in Beirut, Lebanon called Media Coverage of International Justice.

Kelli Arena, the Dan Rather Endowed Chair in the mass communication department and executive director of the GCJD, asked me to go with their group to the conference.

During the trip, we were able to walk around the city for several hours and eat traditional Lebanese food, including shwarama for all you Avengers fans.

Although I don’t care much for the food there, it was still a learning experience for me that I will be able to say, “Yes, I’ve tried that.”

It was also a comparative experience that helped me to appreciate what I have in my life and be thankful that I’m not as bad off as citizens of other

Editorial Staff Robin Johnson Faculty Adviser

Molly Waddell

936-294-1499

News Editor mwaddell@houstonianonline.com

Stephen Green

Cody Lewis

Editor-in-Chief 936-294-1505

sgreen@houstonianonline.com

George Mattingly

A&E Editor gmattingly@houstonianonline.com

Misti Jones

Viewpoints Editor mjones@houstonianonline.com

Sports Editor clewis@houstonianonline.com

Matt Frazier

Online News Developer mfrazier@houstonianonline.com

Connor Hyde

Sports Reporter chyde@houstonianonline.com

Jay Jordan

Senior Reporter jjordan@houstonianonline.com

Sophie Nelson

Senior Reporter snelson@houstonianonline.com

Monty Sloan Copy Editor

Cheyenne Simpson

Multimedia Reporter csimpson@houstonianonline.com

countries. Meeting journalists who are constantly being shot at, kidnapped and imprisoned can make most problems seem trivial.

It’s important for us, citizens of the world, to act more like that.

I’m not preaching one particular political philosophy, but it’s important to at least learn about different cultures and network and read about other areas.

My experience was that members of all seven different countries I talked to new about American politics and news. I knew little, if nothing, of their domestic affairs. It was time for me, as a college student, to take advantage of the time I had to study and venture outside of my relatively small box.

I understand that transcontinental traveling isn’t the easiest or most affordable.

However, read different media outlets that cover international news heavily like the BBC or Al Jazeera. Read about foreign affairs.

Check out a library book on other

Staff Reporters Morgan Mears Allyson Wiley Taylor Likens Karmen King Carian Parker Richard McKinney Ashley Prchlik Ryan Bowers

STEPHEN GREEN

Editor-in-chief cultures that may interest you or at least Wikipedia the country for basic information.

To help aid my own education toward the MENA region, I am taking the politics of the Middle East and North Africa class in the political science department.

I don’t necessarily look forward to the reading and work, but I am anticipating the reward will aid me greatly.

To advance as a nation, global education is vital to U.S. citizens.

Business Staff Paty Mason

Business Manager 936-294-1500

pmason@houstonianonline.com

Steve Sears

Account Executive

Corbin Green

Account Executive

Stacy Hood

Estefania Torres

Tim Sears

Account Executive

Delivery Manager cmolina@houstonianonline.com

Kassidy Turnpaugh

Ad Deadlines

Advertising Manager shood@houstonianonline.com

Account Executive

Spencer Lee

Account Executive

Jamie Giglio

Account Executive

Account Executive

Christina Molina

Tuesday’s Issue Friday at 5 p.m.

Thursday’s Issue

Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Page 3

Sports

Thursday, January 24, 2013 houstonianonline.com/sports

Taylor twins discuss past, future football careers CONNOR HYDE Sports Reporter Growing up together on the gridiron since childhood, two brothers will leave a legacy of strength as they walk across the stage in the graduation summer as football champions.

Darnell and Darius Taylor, known as “the Taylor Twins,” became the faces of Sam Houston State since fall of 2009 as twotime All Americans and making consecutive trips to the FCS Division I National Championship in Frisco, Texas in 2012 and 2013.

Their relationship as teammates started in elementary school.

“Playing from first grade all the way up to now, it’s something a lot of people don’t get to do with their best friends let alone their brother,” Darius said.

“We’ve always played on the same team,” Darnell said. “It’s just something we’ve been fortunate enough to do.”

During their years at Mesquite High School, Darnell transitioned to safety while Darius gained weight and speed at middle linebacker. The two integrated their relationship to evolve as a defensive duo with a mean reputation for stopping the run game; a feature originating from pee-wee football.

“It dates back to our pee-wee days,” Darnell said. “That’s what me and him were known for.

Being able to run from sideline to sideline and being able to make plays.”

As a junior at Mesquite, Darius led the Skeeters with 132 tackles in just 10 games.

Darnell and Darius moved to Huntsville in 2009 to play as true freshmen on a 5-6 Bearkat squad.

Connor Hyde | The Houstonian

TWO OF A KIND: Darnell Taylor (left), and Darius Taylor (right) discuss their future plans in not only football,

but in life as well. The two have been on the same team since elementary school.

When coach Willie Fritz took hold of the reigns in 2010, the Taylor twins helped ignite the winning streak succeeding the following three years.

Darnell, a kinesiology major, received honorable mention as an All-Conference Safety and led the team with 64 tackles in 2010.

Darius recorded 83 tackles and intercepted two passes which landed honorable mention AllSouthland Conference in 2011.

Together, they’ve totaled 366 tackles during careers at SHSU. In January, Darnell’s NFL aspirations were put on hold as he suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in his left leg during the 2013 FCS Division I Championship game

against North Dakota State.

Darius was first on the field to aid his ailing brother.

“I just tried to go to him as soon as possible and I asked him ‘are you alright’ and he was like ‘no, I’m not going to be able to play the rest of the game’,” Darius said.

“I knew right then it was a serious injury.”

Hopelessness and helplessness absorbed the senior safety as he watched his team struggle against a strong rushing offensive from the sideline.

“I felt hopeless. I felt like I couldn’t help,” Darnell said. “I knew I couldn’t help my team.

That’s the worst feeling in the world.”

Darnell described the play as a routine coverage as his knee buckled while he planted for the tackle.

“It was a pass play, and I knew that, and I was guarding a guy and he broke on a five yard out route and I tried to plant and I just felt my knee just shift out of place,” Darius explained. “I knew then I was hurt. I was done for the game.”

As for his future competing in the next level, Darnell is unsure whether he’ll enter the NFL draft once his knee completely heals.

“I actually talked to coach Fritz a couple days before my surgery and I told him, ‘ I think I’m done,’ he told me to wait and told me to see how I feel in four to five

months,” Darnell said. “Right now I’m just trying to rehab and get back strong.”

After rehabilitation, Darnell is eager to move back to Mesquite and become a fire fighter.

“When I first came to Sam I wanted to be a coach but then you see how long they work every day,” Darnell said. “I didn’t know if I could do that. So I just kind of switched, I don’t know how that came up to be a fireman but it’s something I feel like I could do.”

Currently Darius is training with strength and conditioning coach Kyle Speer and seven other teammates for a pro day in March where he’ll showcase his speed and strength at middle linebacker for interested NFL teams.

“My plan now is to continue training,” Darius said. “I’m going to prepare for that shot and once that opportunity comes I’m going to do my best. All I ask for is a shot.”

As a health major with a minor in criminal justice, Darius aspires to be a state trooper or firefighter if a career in the NFL doesn’t surface.

“I can’t see myself being behind a desk,” Darius said. “My original plan was to be a game warden, I love being outdoors, especially the same thing with the law enforcement side but I see that you have to have law enforcement experience or military experience [as a game warden], which I didn’t have.”

With graduation in the summer, Darnell and Darius leave behind a legacy that will brace the future of Bearkat football.

“Keep doing what they’re doing,” Darnell said. “Coach Fritz got a plan [and] his plan has worked.”

Fans, players rejoice with delayed return of hockey RYAN BOWERS Staff Reporter Hard hits, fights and pucks flying across the ice have returned thanks to the NHL owners and players coming to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement agreement just a few weeks ago.

The new CBA was officially ratified on Jan. 9, ending a 113 day lockout.

The tweet heard ‘round the ice’ by Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference at 5 a.m., an involved union participant during the labor talks, was celebrated by hockey fans across North America.

The new CBA saves the NHL from potentially losing the entire regular season, as it did after labor talks broke down during the 2004-2005 season.

The issues facing the two sides ranged from what share of the revenue by teams the players get, to contract length and to drug testing and even equipment.

Under the old CBA, players received 57 percent of all hockey related revenues. Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, wanted that figure brought down to 50 percent.

This was the most contentious issue for both sides, as neither showed a willingness to budge on the issue.

Each side came up with different ideas of how to come to an agreement but still have certain concessions that would give them more money.

Another issue was contract length.

Free agency in the NHL usually happened for rookies at age 27(or 7 years in the NHL), but the best players were given lavish contracts such as Ilya Kovulchuk receiving $100 million. Many others received 10 year deals or longer. The players loved it; owners and executives did not. Some of the changes made in the new CBA are a seven year limit on free agent contracts (eight if signed by own team) and two “amnesty buyouts” per team.

This is much like what the NBA

decided during their recent lockout, where a team can cut ties with a certain player without the potential cap penalty affecting the team’s salary cap, and most importantly a 50-50 split of all hockey related revenue.

Now we can concentrate on the season, which will be a shortened 48 game season, which started Saturday.

There are no out of conference regular season games being played, instead every game will be in conference in order to keep the schedule on pace so the playoffs can happen during the usual dates.

There are many positives and negatives attributed to the lockout ending.

One negative is obviously less NHL games for fans. This includes the always-popular Winter Classic, a game played outside every year around New Year pitting two wellknown franchises, intended to expand the hockey brand to those who may be unfamiliar to it. Also, there is almost no time in training

camp. In other words, not a lot of time for players to get up to game speed or conditioning before the season starts.

This might affect goalies the most.

“A muscle needs to be trained. Even after as little as 2-3 days, they need to be retrained to the speed of NHL players shooting the puck,” hockey analyst Kelly Hrudey said.

But it’s not just goalies who might be affected by a less than usual amount of practice time, and we have seen this play out during the first slew of games since Saturday. Marian Hossa, a right winger for the Chicago Blackhawks, has had a field day so far against two of the top defensive teams in the league, the Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes. Two games, four goals, five assists and nine shots is a good stat line for any player.

Through four days of games—35 games total—10 games have seen at least one team score five goals or more. This may be attributed to defenses and goalies needing a week or two to settle down and become

accustomed to game speed.

The biggest positive of the lockout ending of course is that hockey is back. Period. And judging by attendance of fans during the first few games, there are no hard feelings toward the lockout as long as there are games to watch. Many players stayed in shape through the lockout by signing with AA Hockey and other European teams.

Some of the biggest names in hockey practiced and played in actual games well before training camps started, ensuring that they would be in top shape once the season began.

Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Tyler Seguin were just a few players who took advantage of the situation.

For now, hockey is back and fans across North America cannot be happier to have reason to visit their favorite rinks again and cheer on their favorite hockey players.

Southland Conference basketball standings Bearkat Basketball Southland Conference Standings

Facebook.com/TheHoustonianSHSU

Visit our website! www.HoustonianOnline.com

Women

Stephen F. Austin

Central Arkansas

Oral Roberts

7-0 5-1

Lamar

5-1

Northwestern State

5-2

Oral Roberts

4-2 3-3 3-3 3-4 3-4 0-6 0-6

Sam Houston State

4-2 3-3 3-3 2-4 1-5 1-5 0-6

Nicholls State McNeese State Stephen F. Austin Northwestern State I need an office assistance to work for me in my company, Part time or full time, if you are interested kindly contact me on this email scotmoore969@yahoo.com the payment is very attractive.

Men

5-1 5-1

Sam Houston State

CLASSIFIEDS

Bearkat Basketball Southland Conference Standings

Southeastern Louisiana Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Cody Lewis | The Houstonian

Southeastern Louisiana Nicholls State McNeese State Central Arkansas Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Lamar

Cody Lewis | The Houstonian

Page 4

Arts&Entertainment

Thursday, January 24, 2013 houstonianonline.com/a-e

Director gives refreshing advice to future filmmakers GEORGE MATTINGLY Arts & Entertainment Editor A Houston filmmaker stressed the importance of building connections and finding a focus in being successful in the film industry to students at Sam Houston State University on Wednesday as Raven Films and the Department of Mass Communications hosted their first speaker of the semester.

Michelle Mower, director of the Lifetime movie, “The Preacher’s Daughter” shared her challenges, rewards and success as she told her story of how she became a successful director and producer to a group of students in Dan Rather room 125.

Even with a degree in Radio, Film and Television from the University of Houston, Mower did not immediately go into making films, but took a different route that she says was a major benefit in being a filmmaker.

“After graduating [from the University of Houston], I started at the best job I think anyone can have looking for work and that is working for a non-profit media organization in Houston called the Southwest Alternate Media Project,” Mower said.

While there, Mower delved into the film industry organizing professional workshops and classes and connecting with several film professionals from every facet of business. It is those connections she said were instrumental in helping her to take her film from the Indie film circuit to be successful on a major network.

“It was my relationship with my sound person, who I met through my work with S.W.A.M.P that helped me get my sound on ‘Preacher’s Daughter’ edited by the same person who worked on ‘Gladiator’,” Mower said. “You just never know the people you will meet and how they can help you in the future.”

Even though her debut film was successful, Mower dealt with several challenges working with a small budget such as casting, production and getting her film to major audiences.

However, she gave her personal solution, stressing the importance of being open-minded as a filmmaker.

“No plan I had for my movie came to fruition,” she said.

“My plan was to make an Indie film and submit it to film festivals. But you have to be willing to make changes for the sake of getting your movie made. Never assume anything.

If I did I probably wouldn’t have my movie.”

While ‘Preacher’s Daughter’ was her most successful film thus far, Mower has produced, written and directed several other George Mattingly | The Houstonian small projects such as local music videos LIFETIME SUCCESS: Mower’s debut feature film “The Preacher’s Daughter” premiered on the Lifetime Movie Network in August of 2012 and earned the highest ratings of the year for the network. and movies.

She said the most “I liked that she didn’t talk about the glory of it all,” important thing for beginning filmmakers is to find a focus.

Molly Biggar, junior mass communication major, said.

“Even if you work as a production assistant, try out the “She was realistic, especially when she told her back story. different departments like costume, lighting or props and find where you fit in,” Mower said. “[Finding a focus] helps It made her more relatable.”

Other students were enlightened by Mower’s experience you learn one thing well enough and become a craftsman in with the business side of the film industry. one area, which is important when filmmakers are looking “I think she gave great insight on the business end for a specific job.”

Mower gave realistic insight of how to get involved in of making movies,” Riata Robledo, freshman mass communication major, said. “She told us about very the film industry, even if it means starting out small.

“I am established in Houston, and a lot of people think realistic situations that were good to know as student.”

Michelle Mower wrapped production on a new feature that there is not a lot going on for the arts but it’s the perfect place to make a mark, get attention for it and build a niche.” film called “Dreamer” in last year and is currently preparing Students who listened found Mower’s story refreshing for pre-production on a new film.

For more information on the SHSU film program, contact from the stories of the glamour of filmmaking. professor of film Tom Garrett at tgg099@shsu.edu.

Governator’s return to big screen flops in directing, plot JAMES WEEMS Contributing Reporter The recent film, “The Last Stand” takes place in Sommerton, a small town just off the border of Mexico. It’s the last place between a drug cartel leaders path to freedom. Arnold Schwarzenegger takes his first leading role in over ten years as the sheriff of Sommerton. He is tasked with

holding off the cartel leader from crossing the border into Mexico so that the FBI can apprehend him. Despite its all-star cast, this film was mediocre at best.

The talent alone was enough to make this film good but fell short because the script didn’t translate well to film and side actors were not given enough time on screen.

Johnny Knoxville, Luis Guzman,

and Peter Stormare displayed their best chemistry with the cast when they were all on screen together. However, they were on screen only in a few parts which made their roles too small to be appealing.

The directing and plot could have been done much better. There could have been better timing on a couple of action sequences and

Y A D O T APPLY fo r

SPRING & FALL

2-s to r y town h o m e s + p ri v ate b e d r o o m s & b ath r o o m s h u g e wa l k-in clo s et s + r e s o r t-s t y le a m e n iti e s p et fri e n d ly + fu lly fu rn i s h e d + h a r dwo o d-s t y le f lo o r s

APPLY ONLINE @ VILLASONSYCAMORE.COM 936.439.5234 • 1615 Sycamore Ave Premier Sponsor of SHSU Athletics limited time only. rates, fees, deadlines and utilities included are subject to change.

a few scenes could have been cut in the end to make the plot clearer for the audience. By putting more of the supporting cast together to gain a bigger subplot could have made a better film in the end. Anyone could have replaced Schwarzenegger for the lead role as sheriff and still would have gotten the same results with viewers and in the box office.

The overall appeal of this film was descent. Even though the lead and supporting cast were in the range of making this film a great action flick, it came up short and underperformed. Some of the best on-screen comedians didn’t get the face time they deserved to get this film to where it needed to merit a good review. I give this film 2 out of 5 paws.