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Show Thursday, March 7, 1996 twitch i i i i i rr i i i j i IIruOv i 1 i 1 i i inni i i 1? mm i 1 1 i i rn r n 1 1 i f 3 i oooooooo: ooooooooooooo WHEgllff i y - i , . , Jlfc??4?sri MM 'OVIES THESE DAYS TEND to get dumber and dumber. If Black Sheep or Dunston Checks In don't blow your skirt up this film season, you might want to check out the 1996 University of Utah Student Film Show. Culminating over a year's worth of work, 16 mm film students will showcase their most raw and gritty short films tomorrow in the Union Building's Theatre. This is probably a good representation of student filming," said Brian Patrick, Film Studies Director and 16 mm professor, "Some of them are fairly simple and some of them are very complicated. Some of them are i highly crafted; some of them are even a little crude." According to Patrick, students featured in the show learned a great deal working with the more difficult 16 mm film. "I think any students that go through this sort of program find it extremely valuable," Brian said, "You can say you're a film studies major and sit in a classroom and learn about Citizen Kane or Italian but to actually make a film on your own is an extremely valuable experience whether you're even going to go on and be a filmmaker. In many cases, having completed a film is maybe more valuable to students than a degree. Once you learn from it, it opens up a lot of ideas. It gives you a greater perspective of what you can do." Film Studies Teacher Aide Carla Woodmansee agrees.-Iaddition to studying film at the U., 'Carla is an Neo-Realis- n adjunct professor at Weber State University. She believes that the experience of filmmaking is valuable anywhere to devoted students. "Student filmmaking is so individual," Carla said, "It doesn't matter if you go to the best school in the United States. You get out of it what you put into it" One student who puts a lot of hard work into his films is Josh Haroldsen. His Myth of the Skeleton Woman will play at this week's show. The 16 mm film class is probably the best experience I've had going to school," Josh said, They basically give you the resources and leave it up to you to go about working it I just lost myself in the project and let it become a part of me!" Skeleton Woman features the diffi- cult task of underwater cinematography, which Josh accomplished with aquarium frontdrops, fish footage, and HPER's underwater diving window.. The worst part of working your first 16 mm project is that you become so involved. I forgot everything else. You kind of lose touch with reality," Josh said. Sabine Werk is also a film studies major at the U. Her Traum Alp Traum (a German play on words meaning "dreams and nightmares") plays tomorrow as well. "Filmmaking has been a long process for me," she said, The most valuable part of the 16 mm class for me was to see a project from begin- , ning to end. I wrote, produced, directed, and edited 'the whole piece. I i 1 TeJMcKinley To finish something like that I think is quite an accomplishment" Like Josh, Sabine appreciates the independence of learning how to shoot films. "Learning something is a self-referr- ed process," she said, "You do it Then after, you see how you could doitdifferendy." Student filmmakers face enormous obstacles when going about their business. They must grapple with every cinematic detail from conception to execution to exhibition and '' " beyond. The main problem that students encounter is money," Carla said, "Making a film is very expensive. So it's kind of difficult, especially for students who are non-tradition- al paying for their own films. Most par- ents aren't paying for their films along with their tuition." Brian Patrick can see other problems, too. "Money is certainly one of them," Brian said, "But it's not necessarily the main factor. I think ideas are the most important. I work with students a lot on their ideas and whether they're doable. Some students will come to me and want to do Gone With the Wind on a meager I So how can budget get them to go back to the drawing board and come up with a doable idea; one that they are really happy with that will work for them? I think a lot of students aren't aware of what they're getting into as a technical and aesthetic chal- is a mass medium; it's meant for a lot of people to see. We're training peo- to present their work to an audience; to see it from the audience's ple point of view. It's a real thrill for students to actually have a big audience there. There's something that happens it's a completion of a whole process, from beginning to end. When you are in that room with hundreds of people and you hear them laugh at certain things that you've done, if intentional or not intentional, there's a feeling that you have that is unmistakable, tbu get this sense of how people are watching and viewing your work; understanding your ideas and what you've done." Sabine understands this importance as well. "After making a film, you feel you have something to say and you want to share it," she said, "No one makes a film and doesn't want it to be seen. Also, with an artistic product like this, it's important to let.it go. You face the thrill mixed with the terror of having it seen by an audience." Josh likes to find consensus about his films' efficiency in the screening process. "You can watch your own film, but it's hard to know how to take it ' P1 11 Everyone seems to agree that Bntwf shows such as the annual student festival are an integral part of making movies. "Films are not like a therapeutic art form, where you might paint a picture or make a sculpture and put it in your closet," Brian said, ."Filmmaking TUMcKinlty film." But will all the hard work of producing and screening student films ever pay off one day? Brian Patrick believes it takes patience, persistence; and more work. These are beginners; these are not professionals," Brian said, They're just trying to do films for the first time. All the people that are doing . multi-millio- n dollar films started somewhere like this. They paid their dues and they learned by doing this whole process. A few of them, because of a variety of reasons like their individual talent, their connections, their experience, their own character, and a lot of luck, might even be taken to the next level." Josh has some advice for prospective film students in the future. "Video is pretty accessible to everyone," he said, "Do as much as you can with video first! Then just start putting work out" The 1996 University of Utah Student Film Show will play on Friday, March 8 at 7:10 p.m. in the Union Theatre. Admission is $5. Jf Private Club 328-086- 8 145 PierpontAve. Proper Dress Required lenge." Josh thinks writing is the most difficult phase of the process. "Once you get your script, you have to believe in it to where you can just go out and do it," he said, "You first always have to have enough confidence in your script" Among other things, learning to accept the shortcomings of her films after completion is tough for Sabine. "Besides putting out your own ; soul to be trampled on, there's a balance between the learning experience of the film and your own perfectionism," she said, "Working hard and learning doesn't necessarily bring perfection." without the audience's reaction," he said, "You need that to move on and have any sense of closure about your Entertainment Menu Monday Enjoy a Fabaloas dinner while watching yoir favorite team en ear Maybe even sheet a game ef tool diring kalftime. Tuesday Com ia for an incredible night Salt Lab's best jazz bands. big screen T.V.S. of dining experience and live Jazz entertainment, with Night as for dianor from 5 lo 10 am and No Cover for Ladies! Wednesday-lad-e$ Join Hot 94.9 Live Broadcast Thursday b served from 5 to 10 am - Stay and Samba with the best. Salsa and Reggae mask that is Hot! Hot! Hod Fashion Show at 9 om. Dinner Friday Party Night Dinner from 5 to 10 em and dance the night away to the hottest top 40 hits. Saturday Lot as entertain Aaijoin yea with a romantic evening of fine dining and dancing. ... Thursday, March 28 SALSA BRAVA Sunday, March 17, St Pattys Day BOOTIE QUAKE NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH |