And Email to My Advisor

Hi Julie,
I was about to go into my second Senior year in the Art and Theater departments, when I got a really amazing internship as assistant makeup artist at ABC-7 News Chicago.  And then, while I was making arrangements with ABC, I got a deal to shoot a feature-length movie in Vancouver this September for an LA production company.  Then the one movie deal was extended to a two movie deal.  Long story short, it’s been a crazy eventful summer that seems to be spilling over into the fall and maybe even a slice of winter.  And as important as organized education at a university can be, since I’ve been offered the kind of opportunities that a 22-year old can’t pass up, I need to take at least one semester off.
Problem is, I have no idea how to do that.  I’ve spent my entire education trying to paint, sculpt, costume, wig, and make up as much as possible and in the process really lapsed in the advising department.  So, two major questions:

-How do I go about taking a semester off?  Do I just drop all of my classes and slip out in a clandestine fashion?
-Can I turn these opportunities into independent studies, thus alleviating the need for an all out academic break?

For the film (The Infected) I’ll be primarily the special effects makeup artist, but I’m also co-producing the zombie-thriller and acting as overall Artistic director.  How can this be an independent study without adding to my 16-hour per day workload?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Laura Schartner

What’s Happening in Greenside City

Brothers Divided (Eric Lim-top left, Mike Moh-bottom left)

After being involved with the project for nearly a year, filming for Greenside finally wrapped yesterday. The story follows the hip young renegade Jackson Simms (Played by producer Eric Lim, above in yellow) as he fights scores of ominously masked Zero Troopers in the name of his girlfriend Acacia (the lovely Angela Bolmes). Acacia is ill, and the only way that Jackson can save her is to plow through 40 or so Zero Troopers, break into the Utopian futuristic biodome that is Greenside, find his brother, Lachlan (the illustrious and handsome Mike Moh, above in brown jacket), who is also extremely adept at martial arts. Needless to say, the entire movie is peppered with excellent action sequences thanks to the scads of Zero Troopers deployed by General Samuels (Chicago-based actor/director/producer Marc Rita).

Marc Rita as the General. I hear he's one hellofa dart player

There’s still a lot to do in post production, but I’m truly looking forward to seeing the project completed. I’m so grateful to have had so many opportunities to work with the best of young Madison filmmakers. Director Niko Pueringo and visual effects lead Sam Gorski have put in countless hours developing the look, feel, sound, action, and rhythm of Greenside, and from what I’ve seen so far, their work is paying off.

Treasury Men in Action

How do you accurately depict a bruise caused by the speaker of a radio smacking into a person’s face? Just hit the person’s face with a radio and see how it looks. If the actor that you’re working with is opposed, which most probably are, just sponge some abrasion-colored red onto the radio and use it to make a print on the victim. Afterwards, go in and enhance the mark with a brush, and add edge marks to indicate swelling. This was supposed to be a very recent injury, so no bruising, just redness, scrapes, and swelling. Use the contours of the actors face to make it seem more realistic.

This was just one of many injuries my kit inflicted upon this actor while filming “Treasury Men in Action” this month in Shorewood Hills. First, he’s hit in the face with a hurling full beer can, then he falls out of a window, rolls down a set of stairs, and has a few kicks from a wingtip landed on his bald skull. Needless to say, I had a good time doing his makeup.

Sneak Peak into the Lair: Madison’s Newest Heartthrob

There’s been a lot of buzz around Capitol City relating to recent sightings of Johnny Depp and Company in our fare town. It’s not often that we see well established international celebrities in our bagel shops. Even rarer still, however, is seeing one of our native sons begin the path to potential superstardom.

My Miracle Acne Cure: Pine Tar Soap

I’ve had a total bastard case of acne since I was 8 years old. On the upside, growing up with persistent acne has forced me to learn the art of clever makeup and avoid overhead lights, and I believe that it has built character. At the age of 21 though, I decided I had moved on from my teen years enough to get rid of my affliction.

This winter I picked up some Everclean Pine Tar Shampoo to help with my dry scalp. Upon perusing the ingredient list, I realized that I had stumbled onto a goldmine. Salicylic acid, tea tree oil, aloe vera, nettle extract the list goes on.

Gypsies in the Palace

As a scholar of character insight, artist, and confirmed voyeur I love to look through people’s things.  It provides a deep insight into what makes a person tick, to see their history, taste and quirks through the objects that they have amassed.

TASA Fashion Show Highlight: Amelia Erhardt

This model was probably the highlight of doing the TASA Fahion show on Sunday. I had to stop myself from jumping up and down and giggling like a Hannah Montana fan when I found out that she was to be my modern take on Amelia Erhardt.

Zootalk: Treasures in Soundbites.

Example 1) You’re enjoying a nice afternoon at the zoo. You are near the

a) lion exhibit. As you gaze at this majestic beast looking docile as Mr. Mittens, and you overhear a nearby woman say “Oooh, I wouldn’t want to clean his litterbox!”

b) deer/meerkat/seagull(?) enclosure and “Oh look Nathaniel, it’s Bambi/Timone/Skuttle!” an obnoxious mother barks to her tot in a sing-songy voice. (Luckily, the kid’s probably on a leash)

c) parking lot just after a rainstorm. Though there’s no pond in sight, he local ducks are utilizing the be-puddled area as a makeshift pool. Sure enough, “Oh yah! I bet the ducks are loving this weather!”

If you’ve ever found yourself in this situation, then you’ve just had a close encounter with Zootalk. Don’t let the name fool you, this particular brand of kitschy speech can be found beyond the wildlife exhibit. It can sneak up on you at work, the mall, or even at the movies on a frigid snowy day: “Oh, they should be selling hot chocolate instead of popcorn!” Zootalk can be anywhere.

-While admiring art, for example Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”…”I bet his dentist had an easy job!”

-At the gym on a harmless stair climber….”Ya’almost reach the top yet?”

If anyone else has examples of “Zootalk,” they’re more than welcome.  I can provide more examples later when I feel more creative.

Madison’s Sexiest Comic: Mega Dude Squad!

Here it is, Madison’s Sexiest Comic, coming to you courtesy of Madison’s Sexiest Comic Artist, Ryan Lynch and sexy co-author Stephen Guzzetta.

The comic is about a rag tag crew of almost heroes, founded by super-hunk Mega Dude, who can’t seem to get things right.

New Page!

New gallery of hairstyles from Streetcar Named Desire. It’s funny how unhappy everyone looks when I take their hair mugshot, but everything looked great onstage.