Open forums, movies also on Carolina Productions agenda
Carolina Productions, the student-run organization that organizes entertainment and educational acts for 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒 students, has a spring 2011 lineup complete with big names, big expenses, new student events and opportunities for student feedback.
鈥淲e have some definitely visible names that should stir up excitement across campus,鈥� said CP President Lee McKagen.
Perhaps most visible is comedian, actor, rapper and media personality Nick Cannon, who will perform in the Russell Ballroom at 8 p.m. tonight. CP 鈥� which is funded by the student activity fee and allotted more than $400,000 a year 鈥� is paying Cannon $1,250 for the performance.
McKagen said Cannon is using 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒 as a warm-up for a hour-long Comedy Central special on March 5, allowing CP to attract him at a steep discount from his normal asking fee of $30,000.
Most expensive for the spring semester is Jewish reggae artist Matisyahu at $28,000. He鈥檒l perform here in late April.
His cost is followed by Frank Warren, founder of PostSecret, a popular website devoted to innovative art and anonymous secrets. His Feb. 7 visit to the Koger Center will cost students $18,150.
Students must have tickets for the Warren event, and they鈥檒l become available Jan. 18 at the Russell House Information Desk. Tickets are free with a CarolinaCard.
鈥淵ou will be able to get tickets at the Koger Center, but in case we run out, the quicker you get yours, the better,鈥� said McKagen. McKagen said student interest prompted CP to bring Warren back after four years.
Controversial philosopher, civil rights activist, member of the Democratic Socialists of America and Princeton professor Cornel West will also come to 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒 on March 31.
The event is a collaboration among CP, the African American Studies Department and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. The three combined will pay $16,000 for West. Specifics of CP鈥檚 share of the cost weren鈥檛 yet available.
Other upcoming artists include comedian Ralphie May at $15,000 and comedian and actor Dave Coulier from 鈥淔ull House鈥� at $7,150.
Total costs for the semester won鈥檛 be finalized until May, McKagen said.
Also on CP鈥檚 agenda is more transparency and communication with students. CP will now hold an open forum each month; the first will be Jan. 31 at 5 p.m.
鈥淲e will be there to answer questions, take suggestions and encourage people to get involved,鈥� said McKagen.
After undergoing criticism from students, alumni and parents for paying Jenny Sanford $15,000 to speak on campus, CP held a similar open forum. Fewer than 10 students attended, and critics said the event was not advertised.
McKagen said he believes this time will be different.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping by it being on our calendar, people will be aware of it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t will be on our website, it will be on our calendar and there will be posters.鈥�
Popular movies are also coming to 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒 this semester, including 鈥淭he Social Network鈥� from Jan. 27 to 30 and 鈥淗arry Potter and the Deathly Hallows鈥� in March.
CP typically runs two films at two showing times in the RH Theater from Thursday to Sunday each week. Many students are often turned away from popular movies due to capacity.
鈥淗arry Potter and the Deathly Hallows鈥� is double-billed during its week, but 鈥淭he Social Network,鈥� a popular film nominated for Best Picture, will not, sharing its week with 鈥淛ackass 3D.鈥�
McKagen said CP decides how to bill movies based on expected student draw. He said the decision to double-bill 鈥淗arry Potter鈥� was based on the fact that 鈥渙ur age group came up reading those books as they were released.鈥�
An event that already occurred this month was Acrodunk, a performance combining dunking and trampolines that took place at Wednesday鈥檚 men鈥檚 basketball game versus Arkansas. Campus Movie Fest started last week and runs through Jan. 28..
鈥淭hey give you all the equipment and information that you need, and you enter as a team, and you record a short movie,鈥� said McKagen. 鈥漌e鈥檒l show all the movies in the Russell House Ballroom, and one will be chosen as the winner.鈥�
McKagen estimated that by the time registration closed, 71 teams of two students or more had signed up. Prizes include iPod Touches and Nanos, Final Cut Studio software and invitations to the international Campus MovieFest competition and the Distinguished Filmmakers Network.