Pulse: From truth to grief, stories started in Naperville
From Sun staff and freelance reports January 9, 2013 4:14PM
Jim Hemphill,39, is a Los Angeles filmmaker and 1989 graduate of Naperville Central High School. Photo by Evelyn Sen
Article Extras
Updated: February 12, 2013 6:10AM
Truth is …
Naperville native’s film to screen in Chicago
Los Angeles filmmaker and Naperville native Jim Hemphill will be in town this weekend when his film, “The Trouble with the Truth” is featured at Facets Multimedia Cinematheque in Chicago.
“When I was a film student at Columbia College, Facets was where I went to see movies by some of the world masters of cinema: Hitchcock, Douglas Sirk, Nicolas Roeg and many others,” said Hemphill, 41. “It never occurred to me that one of my own films would screen there. It’s an honor to return to a place where I spent so much time in the audience as a filmmaker presenting his movie.”
The feature film, starring Lea Thompson and John Shea, has received glowing reviews from critics around the country — and close to home.
“Both my husband and I are extremely proud of Jimmy’s accomplishments in both the writing and directing,” said his mom, Nancy, of Naperville.
“He has loved film since he was a very small child — always said he wanted to make movies, so it is exciting to have ‘The Trouble with the Truth’ up on the big screen.”
Jim Hemphill will be on hand after weekend screenings to answer audience questions.
The Facets Cinematheque is at 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. in Chicago. For information on show times and ticket prices, visit http://www.facets.org/pages/cinematheque/films/jan2013/troublewiththetruth.php
Men grieve, too
Author’s tome earns Book of the Year
It’s amazing what starting a blog can do. In the case of Naperville resident Kelly Farley, 44, a blog became a way to help people like him deal with the grief of losing a child.
“My wife and I lost two children due to some genetic defects we later discovered we had, and when I lost my first child, I did what most men do — I did the ‘get back to life thing’ and acted like nothing happened,” Farley said. “Then 18 months later, we lost a second child, and I realized there were no resources out there and that not grieving was totally the wrong thing to do.”
Farley spent 2 1/2 years interviewing other men he found through his blog and various travels and produced a book, “Grieving Dads: To the Brink and Back,” which he said has now found its way to 15 countries spread over five continents. The series of 30 interviews has become one of the first resources of its kind, which Farley found to be sorely lacking when he tried to find help himself.
“Men are allowed to be angry in our society but not grieve,” he said. “The loss of my two children and the lack of resources to help people in the same situation as me triggered this book.”
Farley and three other authors will be recognized during the Chicago Writers Association second annual Book of the Year Awards presentation Jan. 19 at The Book Cellar, 4736-38 Lincoln Ave., Lincoln Square in Chicago. The event is free and open to the public.
Read about the Grieving Dads Project at www.grievingdads.com.
Rare breed
Downtown snowmen soon to melt away
This weekend will bring what could be your last chance to spot a snowman in these parts this winter, if the current un-snowy weather pattern keeps up its wacky ways.
The Downtown Naperville Alliance will have crews out Monday, removing the decorative snowman sculptures that have dressed up the retail core since Thanksgiving weekend.
This year’s version of the public-art-with-a-purpose project brought 20 of the rotund figures to the area, each of them sponsored by a local business and fancied-up by a local artist or, in some cases, school groups.
New this year was a little friendly competition, when visitors to the downtown area were asked to vote for their favorites. Chosen as the best of the bunch in very tight voting was “Dr. sNOwcavities,” sponsored by Naperville Dental Specialists & Innovative Orthodontic Centers and painted by the Naperville North High School Art Club. Second place went to “Frosty the Snow Fan,” sponsored by Klein, Hall & Associates CPA and painted by Shannon Bachara. Finishing third was “Rosy,” sponsored by Rosanova & Whitaker, attorneys at law, and painted by Naper School art students.
“It has really been a delightful addition to our downtown,” said Katie Wood, the DNA’s executive director. “Even though we have had no snow, they really have added a lot of fun and merriment and picture-taking opportunities this holiday season.”
The fundraiser traces its roots to 2001, when United Way of the DuPage Area sponsored a lineup of baby giraffe statues it called “Baby Giraffe Walk.” The philanthropy cited the down economy as a factor when it shelved the project in 2009. It remained in hibernation until the DNA reawakened it last fall.
Rising Star
Central newspaper
adviser wins accolade
Extra, extra, read all about it.
Naperville Central teacher Keith Carlson is making headlines after being named one of five educators from around the country to earn the Journalism Education Association 2013 Rising Star Award.
“Winning the Rising Star Award is a very humbling honor,” said Carlson, journalism teacher and adviser for the school’s newspaper. “My student journalists are the ones who win the awards, so this is very odd to have attention focused on me. In my role as a high school newspaper adviser, I’m definitely a behind-the-scenes guy.”
Since 2006, the award has recognized teachers who demonstrate a commitment to journalism education and show promise as up-and-coming advisers.
“It feels weird to be called a ‘rising star’ at something when you’re middle-aged and have been working in your profession for well over a decade,” he said, “but I like the sense of energy and momentum that the title implies. I feel like I’m sharpening my skills as I go along, not coasting.”
His sharp skills will land The Central Times adviser on the west coast in the spring. Carlson will receive The Rising Star Award during the Journalism Education Association National High School Journalism Convention in San Francisco in April.
Got Pulse? Email tips about interesting people and events in Naperville to community news editor Heather Pfundstein at hpfundstein@stmedianetwork.com
