Friday, November 30, 2007
Mark Steensland (right) with Jerry Only (center) and Greg Ropp at this year's Eerie Horror Fest
Steensland remiered his latest short film. Peekers, Thursda nitht at Behrend.
By Scott R. Muska
student lilt editor
mj5.5387 Ni.edu
Award -winning filmmaker and Penn State
Behrend professor Mark Steensland recent
ly finished production on his latest short
film. Peekers. and premiered it to an Erie audience
Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. on campus at the
REDC.
Peekers is a film based on a short story written by
popular horror author Kealan Patrick Burke. who
has published numerous novels and short stories.
Steensland purchased the rights from Burke to
adapt the story and said that. "Kcalan is very, very
pleased with the results of the film. - He went on to
say that the story had caught his attention and would
make a good film because it was very. effective.
very strange and creepy.
"I thought it would make a good short film."
Steensland said. "I didn't have to change very
much at all for the adaptation."
Also contributing to the production of the film
was acclaimed and prolific author Rick Hautala.
who composed the screenplay and often works with
Steensland.
Steensland feels good about the potential of
Peekers saving. '',Ns a filmmaker I alwa j s hope to
improve. I have espeeiallk high hopes this time
around because I'm working with some truly stellar
talent.-
Part of the talent that Steensland refers to arc the
cast of the movie, who are all Erie area locals.
Albert Braun plans 7.ach Newstein, a man who sees
someone or something that looks like his wife star
ing creepily at him from the upstairs level of their
home. He believes that the woman is not his wife,
Agnes (who is played by his wife. June Braun)
since she is supposedly out of town. Newstein
enlists the help of his neighbor Larry Morgan (Mike
Lechner, a Behrend graduate) for help with the
anomaly. From there, the movie takes on a creepy
and suspenseful tone that does much to keep the
viewer guessing until the surprising outcome.
Steensland hopes to enter Peekerr in a plethora of
upcoming film festivals. "Its already been entered
in six festivals. I just sent it off to festivals in
Portugal. Brussels and a few others... He also plans
to enter the film at Screamfest in Los Angeles, The
New York City Horror Film Festival. The Festival
of Fantastic Films in Manchester, England and The
San Sebastian Film Festival in
Spain.
FIGs help students get involved
By Aeriale Cooksey-Kramer
staff writer
aaks 101 @Tsu.edu
Getting involved as a freshman on a college
campus is intimidating, and in many cases,
it is often a nerve-wracking feeling trying to
find the right organization to join. There is one
organization, hoWever, that is seemingly doing its
job of helping incoming freshmen that have similar
majors to become connected.
Penn State Behrend offers freshmen a chance to
get involved with other freshmen that have similar
interests. The Freshmen Interest Groups, or FIGS,
are a unique asset to Behrend's campus, adding a
boost of involvement for those incoming students
looking to seek friendships and credit for experi
ence in a specific major.
There are many FIGS to look into for majors
ranging from Electrical Engineering to
Environmental Science and American History. With
such a broad spectrum to choose from, an incoming
freshman cannot go wrong. There is also a FIG spe
cializing in "undecided majors", helping those stu
dents along who do not know where they want to go
with their degree.
Just as there are positives and negatives to any
given class or area of study, students share their
experiences by giving feedback about specific
FIGS. One freshman expressed that she enjoyed her
FIG primarily because of the hands-on work deal
ing with her specific major. Another freshman indi
cated that she had made friends; relationships that
were similar to hers because of interests as well as
possible majors.
rir
[MEI fa' Li
The film's premiere was precluded by a showing
of three films Steensland has completed in the Erie
area since moving here a few years ago from
California. The first was Sucker, a film dealing
with a child predator and his prey. The second film,
titled Lovecraft's Pillow, was adapted from an idea
that infamous author Stephen King suggested in
which an aspiring writer trades his laptop computer
for a pillow that H.P. Lovecraft allegedly slept on.
The final movie before Peekers was called
Dead@ 17, which was an adaptation of the graphic
novel by artist Josh Howard and deals with the mur
der of a teenager and her dealings with the occult.
Dearke'l7 had it's world premiere at the 2007
Fright Fest in London and was shown in October at
the Eerie Horror Fest.
There was a short Q&A session following the
film during which Steensland discussed some of his
future projects. "I have the rights to adapt a novel
into a full-length feature," he said. "It's a story
about an author that is kind of a celebrity in his
town because of his success. He discovers the body
of a young girl on his property and the town sort of
turns against him, so he has to protect himself in
something that basically turns into a siege towards
the end." He also revealed that he has the rights to
a few short stories that he is working with. He also
has one original full-length script.
Steensland also revealed his love for the EY ie
area, saying, lErie] really offers itself. I like this
kind of atmosphere. When I was living in
California I was drawn here because I saw a lot of
opportunities." He also said that he likes the weath
er in Erie. "That condition where people get really
depressed in the winter, well I think I have the
opposite of that condition. All of that sun in
Southern California was driving me crazy. I like the
clouds and stuff."
After viewing the films presented Thursday night,
it's easy to see that Steensland has improved steadi
ly with each production, and that he has a knack for
composing and finding alluring ideas that make for
extremely interesting, suspenseful and often fright
ening films. With such promising work, it wouldn't
he surprising to find his name popping up soon
among high-profile film production companies and
gurus.
Ideally, Steensland would like to create make
another full-length feature. When asked whether he
would rather make a full-length or short film, he
said, "I'd rather do a feature, as long as I had the
resources available."
However, one student commented on the fact
that her FIG wasn't the experience she was expect
ing. "We did absolutely nothing. I went to two
meetings and only one other person came with me."
The downfall for this student was the fact that no
other students showed up, or who showed a partic
ular interest in the class at all. "There was no point
in going anymore." She continued to explain that
there were no grades given, and no credits for show
ing up, therefore she felt no compelling reason to
continue with attendance.
Despite the fact that some students feel it useless
to be in a FIG, other FIG members enjoy the fact
that the housing assignments are arranged so that
students participating in the same FIG live in the
same general vicinity in any given dorm. Many stu
dents have combined interests, and have formed
close relationships because of the FIG housing serv
ices. For example, the Business Freshman Interest
Group students are primarily located in Senat Hall,
as well as many of the other FIGS.
For the most part, Freshman Interest Groups have
been enjoyable for students and a good way to make
friends with similar interests, especially if focusing
toward the same major. They each are unique in
their own way, and all maintain different strategies
to help freshmen become more involved on campus,
and seek guidance toward whatever field of study
he or she may want to pursue. Becoming involved
on campus can often times be hard, however, choos
ing a FIG that coincides with a student's specific
major can help the transition for an incoming fresh
man become easier.
Ucoming events on campus and in the Erie area
Penn State Behrend Concert Choir and Chamber Choir will be performing their annual
Witter Cancel Friday Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. at the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. Tickets are
on IWOtotho general public for $5 each and students can purchase them for $3. Tickets can
be bought at the Reed Union Building Information Desk or at the door prior to the show.
Them will be a Masquerade Ball on Saturday, Dec. I in the McGarvey Commons from 7-10
tk*eit is sp.:gored by The Matchbox Players, SGA, SAF and Trigon. Semi-formal/ formal
Stilt is requested and masks will be provided. Admissions and refreshment are free.
The Rhythm of Life Series will be presenting Animusic, a special presentation of 3D coin-
Piker graphics, music and animation, on Wednesday, Dec. 5. It will be held from 12:15-12:45
pm. in Bituto's Cafe. Admission is free of charge.
.Thete Win be a panel discussion on whether or not the War in Iraq is justified will be held on
Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. It is free and open to
both students and the general public.
The 59th annual Hanging of the Greens Candlelight Service will be held at the Wintergreen
Gorge Centetery on Friday, Dec 7 at 6 p.m. Transportation will be provided and those who
ntod it and they should meet at the RUB Information Desk at 5:30 p.m.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan will be performing live at the Junker Center on Friday Dec. 7.
Tickets cost $2O for Behrend students and $3O for the general public. They are available at
the information desk in the Reed Union Building or online at https://estore.psu.edu/home.asp.
Behrend College Specials
Monda - Thursda
UNLIMITED TOPPINGS*
3 Medium
Thursda - Sunda
* Excludes double toppings and extra cheese
** Cannot be combined with any other offer or special
Better Ingredients
2 Large 1 Topping
$15.99
Buy 1 Get 1 Free**
824-8282
n King
Better Pizza
$21.00
ted Disney Movies
cott Muska
le Mermaid
mations
The Behrend Beacon I 7