Under the “Flesh” of society

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Kenny Redublo
Photo by Kenny Redublo

Filmmakers Christina Lee Storm, left, and Kristin Ross Lauterbach answer questions about their new documentary "Flesh" at Oxnard's McNish Gallery.

Revealing the seedy underground of sex trafficking in the US, filmmakers Kristin Ross Lauterbach and Christina Lee Storm presented a segment from their film “Flesh” at the McNish gallery in Oxnard College on Mar. 12.

As part of the art event “Harmony Reverberates Optimism”, focusing on female artists’ works striving toward social justice, “Flesh” takes steps toward dealing with a subject affecting many women in the US.

“One of the first steps is just awareness,” said Lauterbach. “That’s one of our goals with this film, to put it on your radar.”

“Flesh” is a 70 minute feature revealing the presence of sex trafficking in the US through interviews with those who are involved with the industry. Interviews consist of former and present sex slaves, prostitutes, pimps, members of non-profit organizations and abolitionists, providing each side to the issue. Along with the formal interviews, the filmmakers went out onto the streets to provide more reality to the subject and a naturalistic feel to the interviews. Getting the interviews on the streets was not always safe, according to Storm.

“We definitely were followed, tracked,” said Storm. “We changed cars three times. — While [Lauterbach] is filming, I’m looking forward, to the sides, to the back if a car comes up.”

Lauterbach came up with the idea for “Flesh” after reading an article about sex trafficking on an airplane to Thailand and started to research the issue more thoroughly when she returned to the US. During her research, Lauterbach questioned why the US did not include themselves in surveys about human trafficking among other countries in the world. At the same time, Storm was in India to see firsthand human trafficking in the area. Storm visited a safe house in Mumbai where minors pulled from brothels have been relocated and saw the trauma caused by sex trafficking. After returning to the US, Storm met Lauterbach and began development of “Flesh”.

A 12 minute segment of the film was shown at the McNish Gallery and was followed by a Q&A session with Lauterbach and Storm. The Q&A session dealt with topics like others involved with the project, the filmmakers’ background, organizations involved and the project’s future. Event curator Ronald Lopez also answered questions like why he had chosen “Flesh” for this event.

“When you watch this 12 minute video, it gives [Flesh] a certain humanity,” said Lopez. “And for me, that’s what this whole show is about. It’s the humanity that’s involved.”

“Flesh” will be considered for the Sundance Film Festival and Toronto Film Festival, giving its “push to action” goal a better chance to be heard. The organizations that helped with “Flesh”, like After Hours and Children of the Night, will also be promoted through the film and are open to new volunteers.

Though “Flesh” presents the evils of sex trafficking, Lauterbach shared with the crowd that she learned that the morality of people is not always clear. With the people she met, like pimps, trafficking can be all they know how to do and what they were taught. However, getting to know their personalities as a contrast to what they were involved with created a grey area in morality.

“Not everyone is wholly evil or wholly good,” said Lauterbach. “You want to put pimps and traffickers on the spectrum of wholly evil and the girls on the spectrum of wholly good, but it isn’t that clear cut.”

For more information on the film, visit the official website flesh.squarespace.com. For more information on the “Harmony Reverberates Optimism” event, visit http://www.adenistanbul.net/harm_rev_opt.htm.

Originally published on March 23, 2010 @ StudentVoiceOnline.com

Original post: http://www.studentvoiceonline.com/arts-entertainment/under-the-flesh-of-society-1.2199287

 

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Little Tokyo: A gem in the rough of LA

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Kenny Redublo

little tokyo – a diamond in the rough of LA

Venturing out past Ventura County in search of a different culture, the Student Voice visits Little Tokyo. Ramen and Mochi await.

Tokyo is a thriving metropolis, housing thousands of people moving at hectic speeds through daily life. Off to work, off to school, always on the go. However, its Los Angeles counterpart, though in the middle of another busy city, slows down the pace and celebrates the subtly of Japanese culture.

Little Tokyo creates a serene atmosphere in the heart of LA. Ichi Yoshida, employee at Popkiller, a vintage clothing shop in Little Tokyo, has been living in LA for 14 years and sees why people would go out to visit this quaint area.

“[Little Tokyo] is so different from the rest of LA,” said Yoshida. “And the best part of it is the Japanese food.”

Little Tokyo’s main attraction is its variety of authentic Japanese attractions across the district. The Japanese American National Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art provide a cultural tour through arts and history of Japanese Americans. Ranging from Japanese curry, ramen, sushi to shabu-shabu houses, where meat and vegetables are boiled in a communal bowl, the taste of Japanese culture does not stop from just the restaurants. Dessert shops like Yamazaki Bakery and Mikawaya Mochi will satisfy the need for ice cream or sweets after a Japanese dinner. Karaoke restaurants like Oiwake and bars like Far Bar and Chop Suey Café keep Little Toyko a fun source for nightlife in LA.

Little Tokyo was established in 1942, but during the internment of Japanese Americans in the Second World War, the district fell into a decline. In the late 1970s, Japanese corporations expanding their overseas operations in LA started redevelopment of Little Tokyo, opening hotels and shopping plazas.

Today, Little Tokyo is made up of newer establishments like restaurants and bars, but still has the original buildings like the Chop Suey Café, built in 1836.

Of the newer establishments, Daikokuya is a ramen shop where their signature broth and mix of pork, scallions, bamboo shoots and noodles have garnered them an LA favorite from over 1000 reviews on yelp.com. Styled like an old time Japanese ramen shop with antique drink advertisements and movie posters hanging on the walls, its timelessness adds to its appeal. Culinary student Hannah Henderson was pleasantly surprised by her first time having Japanese food.

“[The ramen] was awesome! It was cool to have a taste of a culture so different than what I’m used to,” said Henderson.

Other than the Japanese food, specialty shops like Popkiller provide the modern Japanese culture to the traditional setting. Yoshida has observed that Popkiller’s patrons have been “70% American and 30% tourists” and though this shop is one of three Popkillers in LA, the Little Tokyo branch is the most popular. Considering the shop’s inventory of vintage clothing and t-shirts with original designs and Japanese sensibilities, Little Tokyo is a fitting setting for Popkiller.

For some who visit Little Tokyo, one appeal of the district is the source of anime and manga. A large staple of Japanese culture that has spread over the world is their influence in animation and comics. The fandom of anime and manga has grown extensively in the US, spawning conventions like Anime Expo and AnimeLA and also getting fans practicing cosplay, portraying favorite anime and manga characters through costumes. This is the main attraction to Little Tokyo for people like 25-year-old Christian, whose friends refer to him as “Lazer.” Dressed as Kakashi Hatake from the popular anime Naruto, the LA native Lazer spends his days in Little Tokyo meeting up with friends, eating at the many Japanese restaurants and perusing local anime shops. With his group of friends, Lazer urges people to visit Little Tokyo for the serene atmosphere.

“If you like peace and quiet, [Little Tokyo is] peaceful around here,” said Lazer. “Well, if you don’t go bring crowds with you, such as today.”

From ramen to Japanese contemporary art, Little Tokyo condenses parts of Japanese culture in just a few blocks in LA. Little Tokyo provides that break in the constant hustle of downtown LA. For being a few miles away, any Japanophile should visit this quaint, serene gem of LA.

Originally published on March 20, 2010 @ StudentVoiceOnline.com

Original post: http://www.studentvoiceonline.com/student-life/little-tokyo-enriches-los-angeles-culture-1.2196336

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Credit where credit’s due: Moorpark Film Department’s IMDB recognition

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Kenny Redublo

Anyone can shoot a film, but to garner recognition is tough work and sometimes surprising.

For the Moorpark College film department, their movie “The Room” has gained prestigious Internet Movie Database credits and has given film instructor A. Ferenc Gutai just such a pleasant surprise.

“I’ve never sent for IMDB credits,” said Gutai, laughing. “It actually just happened. I don’t know who did it, but I do know there [are] certain criteria that has to be met.”

“The Room” had met these criteria and earned its IMDB credits through different requirements. For accreditation, a movie has to be a legitimate production, consisting of filming protocols and structures, like a full cast and crew of directors, producers, and directors of photography. A large factor in getting the film accredited was the budget, funded by Moorpark College. Since the film was not just a student production, but a whole department’s, the larger budget gave it the level of professionalism sought after by the IMDB.

“The Room” actor Andrew Wolf feels the IMDB credits are an honor that rewards the efforts of the cast and crew.

“Coming from a community college,” said Wolf. “[the IMDB credits are] such a huge achievement for anybody, considering how ever many hoops we had to jump through.”

“The Room” is a suspenseful thriller following a family who considers themselves as the ideal American family, but perfection is difficult to maintain.

The film premiered in May 2009 after three months of production. With 150 people on the production team, “The Room” was not a small studio project, but a legitimate production. It is the second production of the film department, following their May 2008 film “Trauma.”

With “The Room” in its wake, the film department is now in pre-production for their next film.

Helmed by director Steven Mallett and writer Scott Landsman, “Elena” is the working title for the new film. Branching off from a meeting in the desert between drug smugglers and Hispanic illegal immigrants, “Elena” will deal with the prejudices of the people on both sides of the border and the drug cartel. The film has been in pre-production since Fall 2009 with the completed script undergoing some modifications and is starting production on the week of Mar. 15, shooting on location in Palmdale and Apple Valley.

From the success of their previous efforts, Gutai has hope for the future and feels that the film department is headed in the right direction.

“I’m very proud of what we’re doing,” said Gutai. “I’m proud of our program.”

Originally published on Feb. 23, 2010 @ StudentVoiceOnline.com

Original post: http://www.studentvoiceonline.com/arts-entertainment/moorpark-s-the-room-earns-acclaim-1.2165823

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Take Time: A Timeless Look at the Internet

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Kenny Redublo

Illustration by Kenny RedubloSocial networking, videogames, the world is full of fantastic time wasters, but abuse of these time wasters is a major problem.

I don’t have good time management skills. The need for studying usually gets overwrought by finishing just one more episode of a television show or one more mission in a video game.

I seem to always look at the clock when the night is gone and panic arises. Many fall victim to the same habits, but a large factor in precious time being wasted is the Internet.

Vast, abundant, and dangerous, the Internet has many faces; all of them are as intriguing as the next. According to the U.S. Census Bureau News, Internet use in the home has tripled in a decade, from 18 percent in 1997 to 62 percent in 2007. There is always a lust to gather more information with each random thought that passes.

For example, social networking; as a product of the Internet, I can’t pass on a subject until I had scoured every resource in order to gather every bit of information. The same can go for any member of a social networking website.

According to a study from the Nielson Company, social networking sites account for 17 percent of all time spent on the internet in August 2009, tripling the percentage of time spent last year.

With walls to be written on, status updates, instant messaging, and other means of connecting with others, the ease of these tools help us learn about each other or even become absorbed in each other’s lives. Distance is becoming less of an issue and with these sites, face to face human interaction may become second to an Internet profile. Even though the Internet is rich with resources, it still has a limiting factor, time.

I spend countless hours playing video games. When I tell people this tidbit, I usually get the answer, “I can never find the time for those things.”

I don’t really have the time for video games either, but as a strong interest, naturally, time finds its way to be spent.

As students, we claim we can’t find time to balance studying with friends or classes with work, but through the integration of technology, we can stay constantly connected to the Internet and find the time. What matters most on how we use our time is where our interests lie.

Though the Internet can have its good and bad aspects, it is contributing to how we are changing our ways when it comes to time management. We can still connect with each other and indulge our interests while fulfilling other responsibilities.

Finding time isn’t the concern, it’s how we use it. Time waits for no one, not even for the Internet.

Originally published on Feb. 18, 2010 @ StudentVoiceOnline.com

Original post: http://www.studentvoiceonline.com/opinion/too-much-time-spent-online-1.2159929

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Health survey reveals the results of what is ‘behind the mask’

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Kenny Redublo
Photo by Kenny Redublo

Moorpark College Coordinator of Student Health Services, Sharon Manakas presents the results of a student health survey at the Year of Service Event, "Behind the Mask" on Feb. 10.

A mask can be used to hide one’s face or for protection, but what most people forget is that a mask can also be used to hide true emotions and feelings as well. Understanding what is behind the mask is the key to helping one another with the pressures of life.

As part of the Year of Service lecture series, Health Services Coordinator Sharon Manakas presented the results of a health survey in a lecture entitled “Behind the Mask” on Feb. 10. Manakas not only questioned what is really behind the mask but also encouraged students to take an “active role in understanding the needs of your peers, your college, and your community as a whole.”

“An important component here at Moorpark College is helping others to get involved,” said Manakas. “Help them feel like they belong here and to give back [to the community].”

During the 2006-2007 academic years, 580 Moorpark students were surveyed by the National College Health Assessment in order to take a look at the health of college students and to make sure that the programs offered were meeting the students’ needs.

Manakas, a 17-year  administrator of college health, was appointed Distinguished Faculty Chair this year and intends to share the deeper role that health services have with students at Moorpark College.

For example, 32 percent of students surveyed in spring 2007 were diagnosed with depression and, as a result, psychological counseling hours were increased to meet the students’ needs.

Results from the survey were split into different categories: academic impacts, depression, depression diagnosis, alcohol use, health insurance and volunteer and work hours.

Manakas also profiled different types of students who have gone to the Health Center searching for help, ranging from depressed students and sexually active students to homeless students and even some war veterans.

With the diverse amount of students on campus, the lecture helped remind 19-year-old English major Morgan Siggard to look deeper into her peers and push judgments aside.

“[The lecture] reminded me to not judge people from surface value,” said Siggard. “Everyone has problems in their life that you don’t know about. Involve everyone, try to get to know them, and not judge them.”

Manakas used her own experiences as an example of discovering what lies behind the mask by sharing a video of her first skydiving trip. With the risky act, she contrasted her personality and showed that behind the mask is where understanding can truly be obtained.

“Take a closer look at the changes in the mask,” said Manakas. “For if it is not paid attention to, you will miss a glimpse of the person inside.”

In the next couple of weeks, the National College Health Assessment will again be conducted for updated statistics on the health of present students.

For more information on the Health Center and survey, call (805) 378-1413. The Health Center is located in the Administration Building, Room 111.

Originally published on Feb. 16, 2010 @ StudentVoiceOnline.com

Original post: http://www.studentvoiceonline.com/news/moorpark/health-survey-reveals-the-results-of-what-is-behind-the-mask-1.2154801

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Late Night Woes with Coco

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Kenny Redublo

I’ve been a fan of Conan O’Brien since his days on Late Night back in New York. When I heard that he’ll be taking the Tonight Show position, I had nothing but the best intentions for the show. Late Night and the Tonight Show always felt like a team effort. Each skit, joke, or mix-up was all a brainchild from the whole crew and never from just O’Brien. When the news about the Tonight Show time shift came and the burden thrown onto O’Brien’s lap, it was like telling his family that he had to get a divorce. Though emotions could flare up in this situation, I felt O’Brien really tried to understand and consider every option with maturity, even as a comedian. O’Brien felt he had to do what’s right and stand by the integrity of the show, by walking away. Like a captain going down with his ship, it was a moment of glory, not remorse. As other late night hosts lashed out at each other about NBC’s managerial follies, O’Brien seemed to understand his situation and set out to do what he did best, have fun on television. Though many fingers can be pointed at different causes like Jay Leno, NBC, or ratings, O’Brien did his job while he had it. To O’Brien, hosting the Tonight Show was his dream job and now that he had it, hosting it to the end was his sole duty, no matter what the circumstances. And host he did. The last week of the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien was the best week of late night programming I have ever seen. From having prestigious guests such as Martin Scorsese, Tom Hanks, and the program’s first and last guest, Will Ferrell, to the signature absurd sketches and jokes like buying a Bugatti Veyron (a $1.7 million car), dressing it up as a mouse while listening to the original studio recording of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stone (which costs a hefty amount in licensing fees), and having NBC pay the bill, O’Brien had ridiculous fun on television. Fans of O’Brien even had rallies in front of NBC buildings across the nation, showing their support for O’Brien and his ventures. The rallies, though aimed to stand for O’Brien, were self-aware of the absurdity in the actual influence it carried toward NBC’s decision. The rallies were more, as comedian Michael Ian Black put it, a “silly street theater for the sake of silliness,” providing a fitting send off to one of the silliest comedians. As sad as the situation might have seemed, I felt it was like any transition in life; rough in spots, but opportunity lies ahead. There are many ways to look at the situation in a bad light, but keeping hopeful is the best choice. O’Brien reflects and reassures hope with his final Tonight Show statement: “Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it’s my least favorite quality, it doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen. I’m telling you, amazing things will happen.” We’re with you, Coco.

Originally published on Feb. 11, 2010 @ StudentVoiceOnline.com

Original post: http://www.studentvoiceonline.com/opinion/late-night-woes-with-coco-1.2150060

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