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Independent film looks at the seedier side of student life coking at the darker I side of student life is he ambitious goal of the newest student feature to come out of the crucible of independent filmâ€"making at Wilfrid Laurier University. The new movie, 247 High Street, premiering March 30 at â€" Waterloo‘s _ Princess Cinema, is the story of three roommates exploring the seedier side of student life. After the three main characâ€" ters Sy, Alexei and Roman, played by Jeff Carver, Josh Curl and Brent Reany, assault their senses with sex and drugs, they get a taste for the lurid in their own personal relations. ‘247 High Street‘ The trio hatches a plot to ruin the lives of three people close to them to win a bet, but in the end can‘t deal with the emotional wreckage they leave in their wake. That last victim in this modernâ€"day morality play is the friendâ€" ship these master manipulaâ€" tors once enjoyed before things started spiralling out of control. Writer and director Mike Downing is back behind the camera after his initial work on Canis Lupus. Downing, who helped launch the burâ€" geoning interest in local stuâ€" dent films back in 1999, admits the project is a lot darker than the existential look at campus life explored by another studentâ€"centred 741â€"0770 The main protagonists of 247 High Street hatch their plot to ruin the lives of someone close to them. The schemers include ({from left) Josh Curl playing Alexei, Jeff Carver playing Sy, and Brent Reaney playing Roman in the independent production that premieres next week. production _ called The in the successful Nature of don‘t see in the brochure," Nature of Reality, which preâ€" _ Reality production. He was _ said Downing. "You see the miered last year. interested in casting a wider partying and you see the "Nature of Reality was . net with a more universal | issues that students get into. more of a philosophical _ theme in this production. "It deals with the sexual "Nature of Reality was more of a philosophical story," said Downing, an English literature student at the University of Waterloo who _ recently . graduated from a directing workshop at the â€" Canadian _ Summer Institute â€" of _ Film _ and Television. "This story is a personal story â€" it‘s about people. "The comment everyâ€" body made after reading the script for the first time was, ‘Whoa, 1 know people like this.‘" Inspiration for the story came from Dharm Makwana, who was involved oo e e o 11qINNqA1TTS GISTRO ho oDb Makwana â€" thought by exploring the recesses of human relationships they‘d be able to draw in a wider audience. "It started with a senâ€" tence," said Downing, about the film‘s inspiration. "Three guys make a bet to ruin the lives of three people close to them, and end up fighting each other." Ultimately, it looks at a side of student life that isn‘t normally seen in mainâ€" stream media or on campus tours. "You see the stuff you CHRON "It deals with the sexual aspect of it, and the drugs as well. Whether or not you‘re part of it, it‘s present and it‘s happening all around you." In its own way the proâ€" duction tries to address the realities of university life far from _ the â€"romanticized ideals of Hollywood. This is not another episode of Dawson‘s Creek, said associate producer Dave Henderson, also a member of the Nature of Reality proâ€" duction team. "Everything that comes out of Hollywood about uniâ€" Continued on page 17 The Renaissance Singers present Ancient and Modern â€" Music of the Second Millennium, March 31 at 8 p.m. at St. Andrew‘s Presbyterian Church in Kitchener. The John Laing Singers of Hamilton and the Renaissance Singers combine for a concert of some of the greatest choral music of the second millennium... plainsong to Perotin to Parry to Part. Audience memâ€" bers will hear Thomas Tallis‘s 40â€"part motet Spem In This is the third concert of the Singers fourâ€"concert season. Tickets are available at the door or at the Twelfth Night Music store in the Atrium in Waterloo. The Robert Langen Gallery will showcase the diverse talents of Wilfrid Laurier University students, faculâ€" ty and staff during the 20th annual Laurier Art Show:. The nonâ€"juried exhibition, which is on display through March 31, will open with a reception today (March 21) at 4 p.m. The exhibition features a wide variety of artistic styles and mediums, including prints, oil and waterâ€" colour paintings, photographs, stainedâ€"glass works, pen and ink drawing, textiles and artistic jewelry. Last year‘s exhibition drew 62 entries and curator Suzanne Luke is expecting a similar showing this year. "There are so many talented individuals at Laurier who didn‘t major in fine arts but are interested in art or pursue it as a hobby," says Luke. "Aside from promoting campus spirit and community, this show gives Laurier‘s aspiring artists a professional outlet for their work." An open call for entries went out in February. The majority of participants are students, but many faculty and staff members anticipate the show and submit works year after year. As part of WLU‘s visual arts centre since 1989, the Robert Langen Gallery provides knowledge, stewardâ€" ship, appreciation and enjoyment of Canadian art and culture to the local community. The gallery is located in the John Aird Centre and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is free. WLU celebrates artistic talents of students, faculty and staff Renaissance Singers perform ‘ancient and modern‘ music