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Show Monday, October 6, 2008 r THE SIGNPOST Award-winning homework WSU student speaks on sucessful career as documentary filmmaker By Samantha Neri a&e editor 1 The Signpost The documentary "Ogden: Junction City of the West" originated from an assigned English report for Issac Goeckeritz but ended as an awardwinning film shown on KUED and the Ogden Channel. After doing interviews for the report, Issac became excited about preserving their stories, which then ended up turning the filin into a documentary of the railroad in Ogden. Issac, a WSU junior and geography major, spoke in a lecture Thursday night in the Stewart Library about making the film. He said his idea began when he heard a song called "A boy who had never seen a train." The song is about a movie star who went to southern Utah in the 1920s and found a boy who had never seen a train. "I realized I was that boy who had never seen a train," Goeckeritz said. "I had never been on a railroad train, yet I was making a documentary of trains." In the beginning scene of the film, Issac shows a picture of a train leaving the station. In the picture steam is visible by the wheels. "I had to imagine the sounds the pictures had," he said. "I imagined if I took the picture what would I hear at that time." Rachel Coleman, a senior majoring in geography, said she thought it was interesting how he made a picture come alive. "I thought it was cool how he animated this photograph in the union building," Coleman said. "I also thought it was impressive how he learned as he went. I was very impressed." During the lecture Issac showed the process he took of making the film. He took scenes, such as the opening scene and in the program used to create the movie, and played the movie without sound effects. He then played each sound effect used, then played the scene again with all of the sounds together. "I tried to make it so that people wouldn't even notice the sound effects are there," Goeckeritz said. Goeckeritz described the process of making a documentary film and said that the script doesn't decide where thefilmgoes. "I'd go to the archives and find a really cool photograph and I had to put it into the film," Issac said. "I had to write narration so it could go into the film. Or I'd do an interview with Randy Gibson (a volunteer at Union Station) and I'd have tofinda picture of 25th Street or Elvis Presley for the film." After finishing his work on "Ogden: Junction City of the West," Goeckeritz began filming "Uintah United," which will open in late November. Keisha Goeckeritz, Issac's sister and a twodimensional art major, was also involved in the filmmaking process. "I have made props for him for Uintah United," Keisha said. "I have taken pictures and made sure the boys had heating pads (during the winter filming)." Despite her involvement, Keisha said she never knew what Isaac was up to. "Even though he is my brother, I don't hear what's going on," Keisha said. "I didn't know he rode in a helicopter." Coleman said she was surprised by Issac. "I actually thought he would be an old stuffy professor dude." Coleman said. "When I came in here tonight, I was like 'oh my gosh he is like my age.'" Coleman thinks the film is a way to promote the urban identity of Ogden. "Now when you think of Ogden, and you ask people, they think of Ogden as this industrial city that is just rundown and Ghetto," Coleman said. "I think this (film) is good. It came out around the time as the whole 'revitalize Ogden,1 the restoration of 25th Street. It is basically like this movie is bringing-alive the urban identity of Ogden." Coleman said she thought thefilmwas professional. "Let's not belittle any students," Coleman said, "but this is something that is as good as a Ken Burns documentary." Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. U G D 3 I G continued from front H 3 D I l 3 1 continued front front "It softened the dirt and made things a little easier for us," Loveless said. Williamson said he was open to the tasks upon arrival. "I came just to lend a hand wherever needed," Williamson said. "Swing a hammer, toss dirt whatever they needed." Williamson also said that as a student, volunteeringwassomething relaxing. "Where you're thinking all of the time, workingis kind of a break, oddly enough," Williamson said. "I like getting out and doing something." I I O LJ S I n Cl continued from front El Leithy isn't the only student from outside the country living in PT. WSU student Chao Wang is an 18-year-old freshman just out of high school. He is from Beijing, China, the same city that hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics. He said he missed the games, but was glad to hear how popular they were. Wang has several degrees he is considering. He is looking at psychology, music or becoming a make-up artist. He also said he hopes to play for the WSU football team next year since he played in high school. Wang came to the U.S. three years ago with his mother, when she worked in Salt Lake. "I went to Park City High School," Wang said, "and I like purple, so I like Weber." The majority of students living in Promontory Tower, however, are from right here in Utah. JD Evans is a civil engineering major who grew up in Provo, and graduated from high school in 2006. He said he chose to live in PT because he came to Weber State. "I don't have to spend any gas to get here," Evans said. "I've not moved my truck in two weeks." Evans chose to live in PT instead of University Village. "I don't like the way UV's built," Evans said. "Your roommate could be doing something in the room next to you and you could totally hear it." Somersaid she enjoyedbeingable to work with the student volunteers. "It's a nice change to get out and get to know people," Somer said. "It's good to have the families work with the volunteers. It truly is a community effort." Williamson said he agreed that the people are what made the project successful. "There was good company and ever seemed to get along," Williamson said. "That makes it enjoyable." licanVR candidate, Sarah Palin. Palin has been both praised for some of the things she has done as governor of Alaska and criticized for her lack of experience in Washington. "I think that Palin did an awesome job, she really seemed like she knew what she was talking about. She also was more informal," said WSU student Ashley Carver. Her assessment on how personable Palin was wasn't shared Comment on this story at by all. "I was surprised, I felt that Palin wsusignpost.com. was evasive with the questions she | Jason Lovewas asked," said Brianna Jordan, 5 less, right, another WSU student attending ^ and Dan the screening. < Mauchley, The nomination of Palin for £ left, spread the Vice Presidency came out of dirt, preleft field for most people. Some paring the looked at it as a ploy to get voters habitat for that were in Hilary Clinton's camp humanity to back McCain. home for sod. "It seems that the main reason Volunteers for the Palin nomination is to get said the rainy the women vote from Hilary Clinweather ton," said Wynn. made the Regardless of the reason for the nomination, it is a sure thing that dirt softer either way history will be made, and easier to Now it is up for people to decide handle. what history they want to make. Those that watched the debate on Thursday night now have more information on the issues involved in making the decision, and also He said the same isn't true at PT now have their first real look at the Vice Presidential candidates. since it is built differently. "Sound does not travel from floor "I think that they balanced the to floor, thank goodness," Evans tickets really well/' William Petersaid. son, a WSU student in attendance Daniel Kilcrease, the director said. "McCain's camp balanced the of campus housing, said mere are historical aspect for both tickets 675 students living on campus. and also brought some youth and University Village has 476 bed vitality to the campaign. Obama spaces, 200 more are in Promontory was smart in nominating Biden by Tower, and there are 24 couples bringing experience to the table." living in on-campus married housing. Wasatch Hall is being used for over-flow. Kilcrease said there are more students living on campus this year than usual. "Last year was the first time in six years that Promontory Tower was full," Kilcrease said. "And this year we've got about an additional 30 to 50 people living on campus. So this is probably more students than we've ever had on campus." Though the main residences on campus-PTand UY are full, people are still given an opportunity to live on campus by living in Wasatch. "When we say we're full, we're full with Promontory Tower and University Village," Kilcrease said. "We haven't been turning people away, we've simply been assigning them to Wasatch." Before last year, Wasatch hadn't been used for residents since 2002, when University Village opened. Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. Call and you could save. Class dismissed. • - • / * Convenient local office Money-saving discounts Low down payments Monthly payment plans 24-hour service and claims Coverage available by phone Local Office THE 1 A . M . LINE DANCE Heel. Toe. Heel. Toe. Heel. Toe. CALL FOR A FREE RATE QUOTE. Local Office 1513 N. Hillfield Rd. Suite 3 DRUNK DRIVING (801)775-8020 Askfora Student Discount OVER THE UmtT. UNDER ARREST. . i7w.-Li.fc, i u r T t t j L a (inpV.fypr-i Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. Breath continued from front possible for funds to be raised for those in need of respiratory care. McFarlane agreed but was also in it for the competion. "We are entry level students and we want to win the race for bragging rights," McFarlane said. Eager students, faculty, and volunteers arrived early to get organized and to get their T-shirt and racing number. Those in charge provided breakfast and hot chocolate to runners and observers to fuel their energy before they got on the track. Only 18 minutes after the race began, the first runner passed through the finish line. As the participants caught their breath and mingled together, more sandwiches and drinks were prepared. Tanner Tmjillo, one of the members involved in the organization, stoodl up, and gave his thanks to those who participated. "It has been a great turnout," Tanner said, "Next year's run will be around the same time, but maybe sunnier." Tanner awarded the V place runner with a $100 dollar gift certificate to Peak Performance. A raffle was then held for participants who had donated to the foundation. Several gifts were given, including hats, and gift certificates. Students and faculty interested in registering for next year's run can contact Tanner Trujillo who will email the registration form for next year's race when the date is closer. The rain may not have stopped, but neither did the participants. No one seemed disturbed by the cold, because of the purpose of the activity. This is just one more project that is performed in one of Janelle Gardiner's classes that seeks to improve the lives of those in need. This 5k run has now become a tradition, and members of the student representatives from the class are already planning ways to improve, and grow, an already meaningful activity. Comment oh this story at wsusignpost.com. r-MH-K The Musical Eccles Theater 7:30 • Oct 7,8,9,10,11 & 2:00 • Oct 11 $8.50/$5.50 • 1-800-WSU-TIKS or at the Browning Center Box Office one hour Before show |