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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 22, 1999)
Great Plains has advantages over larger film festivals FILM from naffe 1 like the Great Plains are a welcomed invita festivals, where attention is put on the art “Firs't and foremost it itself rather than its marketability. allows an audi And no one is quicker at rolling out ence a chance to the welcome mat than director of the see it (“American Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater and Chain Gang”) who coordinator of the Great Plains Film may never have. This Festival, Danny Lee Ladely. is the first time this “Filmmakers pretty much enter film has played in the every film festival they can possibly midwest and it’s cer enter, Ladely said. “There are a lot tainly important for me of films out there that aren’t shown to have the film played anywhere other than at festivals so before a variety of audi it’s a great way to get that expo- ences.” sure- Aside from the imme The Great Plains Film diate allure of the basic vis Festival is important especially ibility offered at the Great to those living and working in Plains Film Festival there is the great plains because it’s also a personal interaction really hard for them to get between director and viewer the recognition they that many say doesn’t happen deserve.” at festivals where the primary Robert Byington, focus is put on securing director of “Olympia, ” a Hollywood deals, play entered as a dramat- For Benson, that is a valuable ic feature, is a Lincoln aspect. native who currently “The hardest thing to get is resides in Hollywood, hardcore criticism, you know, that California. Two years unbiased talking about the craft and ago he won the Best talking about the audiences and when Dramatic Feature award for his yOU can get it, like here, it’s great,” film Shameless and has shown it and Benson said. “Here they’re more able to other films all over the world. spend more time with individual film Still the saying holds true, there’s no place like .ggm makers and getting that hardcore criti nome- cism is the only way to get better as a “I had such a great experience with the filmmaker.” festival last time, Byington said. “The Not only that, but as Byington realized, this better festival experiences tend to event is, after all, a festival and at festivals people be the smaller regional ones relax and have fun. because it’s less about “I met someone at one of the screenings money and more for my first film here and now he’s a buddy about general 0f mjn that is working three blocks away,” curiosity Byington said. “He basically just came about film.” Up to me and said ‘hey, I liked your That integrity film, wanna have a beer?’ was a big factor in “At festivals like Sundance it prompting Rand just seems less likely that that sort Benson, director of of stuff can happen.” “Man and Dog, a docu- One thing remains impera mentary short” to enter tive for the survival of festi his film in this year’s festi- vals y^ the Great Plains val- Film Festival, and that is “The regional festivals are for the people of the a lot more important than people great plains to continue might think because even though makinp films the big festivals carry a lot of pres- s 0f if tige, that prestige is forgotten quickly t j 5 year and it’s really hard to have an indepen- old high school dent film to be seen by anyone,” Benson student or a 33 said. “If you actually want people to see year 0id Oklahoma your film and talk to people about your _ film, you have to enter a regional festival, like “i think promoting regional the Great Plains.” filmmaking is obvously important, Not only does the festival allow for films to because then you can encourage someone be shown, it allows for films to be shown to a vari- in Nebraska or Oklahoma that they have just as ety of people generally unreachable. much a right to make a film as someone in Los Xachary Irving, director of “American Chain Angeles. In that sense regional film festivals are vital.” Gang, a film entered as a documentary feature, said And as long as the people of the great plains continue that entering festivals in New York, where he currently making films, Ladely will continue rolling out the wel lives, offers only a specific kind of audience, so festivals come mats. • : ' r ” REGENCIES... ...can change your life in an instant. Perhaps you would like to consider the possibility of creating an adoption plan for your child. Our case workers can answer your questions confidentially. If you would like to visit with us, please call today. 4600 Vallay Road, Sta. 314 • Lincoln, NE 68510 (402) 483-7879 • 800-390-6754 haircut A H t RIC A N CR?W Qua Products Co//ege _ All work b performed by students under the stpervision of professional instructors. yworks HBfl OPEN 24 HOURS Sglfi Your Most Complete Print Center Celebrating 10 Years ■JaZuSpI NOW OPEN MM 1320 Q Street E2K|3SEMj9| . 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