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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 31, 1999)
j-HNTERTAINMENT Red carpet rolls out for student awards Students’films come to Lincoln for region two of Oscar competition at Ross Film Theater By Jeff Randall Senior staff writer When class lectures lead to inevitable boredom, most students take the opportunity to nap or scribble illeg ibly in the edges of their notebooks. But for a group of students arriving in Lincoln this week, notebook mar gins are more than likely the home of fragmented screenplays, scenery sketches and notes on camera work. The 26th annual Student Academy Awards is once again coming to the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater. The Ross will play host to Region Two judg ing in the competition, which is spon sored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Winners of this week’s event will see their films advance to national judging and receive cash prizes between $ 1,000 and $2,000. Winners of the national competition get $2,000 and a trip to Los Angeles to be immersed in the Hollywood system. For the competitors, this week will mean sweaty palms, nervous fidgeting in a darkened theater and anticipation. But for the others in attendance, it is a chance to see films by the next genera tion of filmmakers - and it’s all for free. “When I watch these films, I some times marvel at the talent these young people display with relatively little experience,” said Rich Miller, director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. “After the months of preparation for (the Oscars), it’s nice to get a look at films that come from a different per spective - the perspective of a student.” Films in the competition are entered in one of four categories: ani mation, documentary, narrative and experimental. Miller said narrative films are the ones most often entered, but other cate gories often produce the most interest at the competitions. “Because we have established sepa . I rate cate- '• /y%M/ gories for animation and experimental films, it seems as though a lot of directors have raised their eyebrows and have really gone for it in those categories,” Miller said. But the competition’s atmosphere and the films entered are more the result of the directors than the Academy, Miller said. Red carpets, limousines and high fashion are nowhere to be found around these awards, and the love of filmmaking is the only visible and consistent motiva tion. “We see kids who have somehow pulled together a budget, rounded up friends and made these films in their spare time,” Miller said. “And a lot of them rival or exceed the quality of what you pay $8 to see on a Saturday night.” And a brief glance at former win ners of the Student Academy Awards - including acclaimed directors such as Spike Lee and Robert Zemeckis - proves that this competition is a show case for renowned filmmakers of the future. For Dan Ladely, director of the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater, the annual event is - at the very least - a once-in-a-year opportunity. “If it weren’t for these awards, we might not ever get a chance to see these films,” he said. “And some of them are pretty extra ordinary.” r But when all the weight of competi tion and the soothsayer mentality toward up-and-coming directors is set aside, the Student Academy Awards are truly about the same thing film has almost always been about - entertain ment. “I would encourage people to see these films not because it’s their obliga tion, or even an opportunity to expand their horizons,” Ladely said. “This is good entertainment and a good time. “If it weren’t, do you think I’d go every year?” Melanie Falk/DN StudentOscars TIM Facts Title: 26th Annual Student Academy Awards Where: Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater When: Thursday through Sunday, with screenings nightly at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 2:15 p.m. Coat: Free The Skinny: Rim students strut their stuff for Oscar Jr. Actor’s racial experiences aims to unite ethnic groups ■ Oscar winner, actor and director Olmos will speak Thursday in UNL By Liza Hoitmeier Senior staff writer Edward James Olmos believes we’re all in the same gang. On Thursday, the University Program Council brings the award-winning actor to campus to talk about the shared traits between different ethnic groups and races. In a speech titled “We’re All In the Same Gang,” Olmos draws on his own racial background, which is part black, part American Indian and part Hispanic, to stress the importance of racial and ethnic harmony. Olmos’ speech also carries a strong anti-gang mes sage. Olmos began his career on the stage, earning a Tony Award nomination for his role in the musical “Zoot Suit” He eventually moved on to movies and television, starring most recently in “Selena” and “12 Angry Men.” Olmos has also produced and directed a number of feature films and television programs. In addition to his stage and screen credits, Olmos has participated in a variety of humanitarian efforts. He is the U.S. Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and the execu tive director of a government-funded gang prevention pro gram. The event begins with a potluck dinner at 5:30 pjn. in the Nebraska Union (room will be posted). Olmos’ speech starts at 7:30 p.m. For information call, (402) 472-2027. Courtesy Photo EDWARD JAMES OLMQS appears at UNL Thursday to discuss race and diversity issues. The actor is famous for his appearance in “Selena,’’and his work on Miami Vice. Aliens, sci-fi images take over film theater By Diane Broderick Staffwriter Tonight, a maelstrom of images will confront the senses. In a repeat and revised presentation of “alieNation,” German exchange stu dent Christian Seichter will present an 85-minute montage - and barrage - of images. The presentation, “alieNation,” explores the feelings of paranoia preva lent in the 1950s and parallels the reali ty of the decade with science-fiction movie still frames and clips, a haunting soundtrack and a tape-recorded voice over. Seichter premiered “alieNation” in December at Burnett Hall, and he planned to show it only once. But after experiencing several technical difficul ties, he knew he needed to give it anoth er try. Seichter explains his show by say ing that tension and fear gripped the nation in the ’50s, and that feeling cor responds to the images in the science fiction films produced at the time. In his documentary/essay, Seichter wants the audience to experience that fear. “I try to create that feeling of para noia with all of my mediums,” he said. “You can understand what was going on. Him MM ns Facts What: alieNation When: Tonight at 8 Where: Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater, 12th and R streets Coat: Free Sldnny: International students barrage Americans with images of their past To create that effect, Seichter has 700 slides and an 85-minute video mon tage that will be shown simultaneously. And with the work he has put into it this semester, he has made progress in improving the show as well. It features 300 additional slides, and it will employ constant use ofboth screens. And the venue has changed as well. The Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater will house the production, which is free and starts tonight at 8. Seichter is pleased with the venue, which he calls the best theater in Lincoln, but he said it saddens him to see it empty so often. He hopes tonight’s presentation will remedy that situation. “My plan was to fill that huge, empty space with excitement, with tor sion, with aliens ... and the story of die ’50s.”
