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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1994)
t Daily t \ Nebraskan Give it a shot > Sandy Veneziano — A produciton de signer in the film industry, this UNL alumna returns to campus as part of Mas ters Week. She will speak today at A _ A^ ± p.m. in Howell Theatre, addressing is A i ^B ■ ^HLA ^^B B B ^B B A BB ^B ^B ^B B Bi^A ^B try. The free and open to ^^B ^B h^^A V B ^^A B B the public. Vfcneziano’s ^^B ^B ^^Bj^^A f ^B B " i Y Alone ^B BAfB B ^^Bi^B A Tournee of ‘toons to show world’s best animation By J—1 ttrauch Senior Reporter Be sure to ‘toon in to the 24th annual Tournee of Animation this weekend at the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Tournee is the acclaimed annual feature-length compilation of the world’s best animation. It is made up of 13 animated shorts from five countries and includes a tribute to Will Vinton Studios. Dan Ladely, the director of the Ross film theater, said, “Will Vinton is the fellow who worked in claymation and made the Cali fornia Raisins commercials. ; “He started out doing all the work on his own, and he was so impressive that he started doing commercials and now has his own studio.” Vinton Studios is represented with “A Salute to the Dimensional Artistry of Will Vinton Studios.” This 22-minute segment in cludes “Mr. Resistor,” an electri fying adventure in stop-motion animation, and “Cool Tools,” a computer-generated short that fea tures a hip-hop hammer. This year’s Tournee also in cludes an impressive group of award-winning films. Among them are “The Sand man” by Paul Beiry and “Words, Words, Words” by Michela Pavlatova. “There are a lot of really good examples of practically every type of animation,” Ladely said. “Ev erybody will find something that they like in this diverse selection of animation.” An animator who worked with Steven Spielberg on “Jurassic Park” also is included. Phil Tippet’s “Prehistoric Beast” was made in his garage and took two years to complete. Ladely said the Tournees had been received well in previous showings at the film theater. “Animation has gotten really popular in the last few years, Ladely said. “We have had a lot of people call and ask when the next Tournee was going to be. “Hopefully those people will come see this one.” Event: The 24th Annual Tournee of Animation At: The Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater Times: three showings today and five showings Saturday Tickets: $5, $4 for students, $3 for senior citizens, children and Friends of the Riepma Ross Youths’ acting saves ‘The War’ Senior Aeport* “The War” may revolve around a conflict between two groups of children, but its cen tral theme of the futility of violence gives a message to everyone. " Stephen Simmons (Kevin Costner) is a Vietnam veteran who suffers from post-trau matic stress due to the horrors of the war and his own feelings of inadequacy. He returns from a voluntary stay at a mental hospital and tries to instill his feel ings of pacifism into his explosive son, Stu (Elijah Wood). Stu and his sister, Lidia (Lexi Randall), are building a tree fort and also battling with a family of rough kids, the Lipnickis. The film touches on a number of deep issues, but the main one it tackles is the de teriorating effects that war has on the hu man spirit. Stu listens to his father’s advice of pas sive resistance but does not fully grasp his intentions until after a major battle with the Lipnickis. The film is awesome on most counts, but a few mediocre acting performances and some holes in the plot keep it from being a show of award-winning capacity. The realistic dialogue and behavior of the children in the movie give it a special charm that is rarely seen on the big screen. Chil dren usually are ignored or presented as little adults. The acting of the young folks in this one saves the show. Elijah Wood gives a great performance as Stu, an emotional boy who just wants his father around. Court My of Unhroraal Plcturoa Kovln Costnor stars with Elijah Wood In “Tho War," a now film about tho futility of vlolonoo. Newcomer Lexi Randall also is fantastic as Stu’s older and more rational sister. Latoya Chisolm is fabulous as Lidia's best friend Elvadine. She gets into her assertive and hilarious character with every ounce of her body and soul. Kevin Costner has yet to do a poor job as an actor and this film is no exception. But Mare Winningham was transparent and seemed as if she never got into her role. “The War” is a great show, filled with emotional ups and downs and is an enjoy able film for almost anyone. Movie: “The War” Rating: PG-13 Stan: Elijah Wood, Kevin Costner, Mare Winningham, Lexi Randall Director Jon Avnet Grade: B+ Five Words: Kid show appeals to everyone it, Alum’s comedy tour brings his antics home By Chad Lwtnx Staff Reporter College makes good comedy material. Experiences from his six-year stay at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have in spired Mark Gross’ best acts, like the one he used two weeks ago for his “Tonight Show” audition. Tonight he will bring it back to Lincoln. Gross, a 1989 UNL graduate, will per form stand-up comedy with fellow Lincolnite Craig Peters at Noodles Comedy Club at 8:00 tonight and Saturday night. “It’s going to be loose and ftin. We’ll have old bits and new stuff,” Gross said. Gross pursued his comedy career right after graduation. His five years of comic acts have included A&E’s “Comedy on the Road,” “Evening at the Improv,” Comic Relief ’92, and writing for Comedy Central’s “Politically Incorrect.” He also recently toured with comedian Paula Poundstone, where he performed with Paulie Shore, Howie Mandel and Kevin Nealon. His first comic exposure was when he placed third at the Showtime comedy con test as an undergraduate, Gross said. He mounted successes by winning comedy con tests in Lincoln, he said. “I constantly thought about dropping out and going on the road. But I stuck it out, graduated, and have been at it for the past five years," Gross said. He said he missed the optimism he had in college. Having a goal like graduation to look forward to was a promise of success, he said. "There are no landmarks like that any more," he said. He said he had enjoyed his work on the club circuit, which kept him on the road 52 weeks a year. But he said he soon hopes to cut his involvement on the club seem and find a more stationary job. "I want to be able to have a dog, to see art on my wall. I’m fascinated with domestic life because I'm sick of traveling. Last year I bought my own pillow, and it was the most exciting thing I did all year," he said. -% Artist says sculptures are simple iy Patrick H—nbf cht Staff Reporter Fletcher Benton will appear with his outdoor sculpture “Three Triangles” at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday to meet admir ers. But to really enjoy the sculpture, situ ated in front of NBC Bank at 13th and O streets, one should walk past it quickly without much pondering. That’s what Benton, the sculpture’s creator, says. Benton said in a phone interview, “People should be able to enjoy a sculp ture for what it is, like they’d enjoy a tree. “If you see a beautiful woman walk ing past you on the street, you don't get to spend a lot of time with her. But you know you’ve seen something you like.” Too many people will stop in front of a sculpture and rake it for a secret meaning that the piece actually doesn’t have, Benton said. “What do I want a person to feel when they pass my sculpture?” Benton asked. “I want them to have a good feel • _ M ing. QnfAMi Via hAAoma ciirmccfii I in dciuic lie ucuiiiic &uuc»iui in uic late 1950s, Benton painted signs to fund his career as a painter. And throughout his career he has used the alphabet in his art, because of its simple beauty. “Letters have the most beautiful of all geometry,” Benton said. “It’s not the sounds of the alphabet. It’s the geom etry.” Benton especially admires the letter R. “Look at a page of advertising, ami you’ll see all different types of R’s: beau tiful R’s, ugly R’s, sexy R’s. It’s one of the most beautiful and graceful of all letters. “Artists create because it’s fun,” Benton said. “It has a sense of reward. And you’ve made a statement, good or bad, and there it is for everyone to deal with.” So if you bump into Benton on Sat urday morning, or wander past “Three Triangles” while bar-hopping the night before, Benton would advise you not to think too much. “When people look at art, they ask, ‘ What does that mean?’ because they’re intimidated,” Benton said. “When people look at art, they should drop their baggage and become children again.”