Front Lines
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This Week
Your Ticket to Win
A Is For Adventure
W by don't you go out and play?"
This oft-asked question can
have some unusual repercus-
sions if one isn't careful.
Nowadays, we are most concerned with
the fattening up of America and are trying
to get the kids — and ourselves — out
more and getting physical. However, some
of the extreme "sports" are
exactly that; and I'm not sure .
that I'm ready for such adven-
tures.
Skateboarding is quite
popular today. I have trouble
balancing on two feet for such
exertions as walking up and
down stairs so the thought of
balancing on a board,on wheels
that is going very fast is scary to
me. Of course, with the proper
equipment — helmet, knee
pads, elbow pads, gloves, goggles — it
seems to be a worthwhile challenge to
the participants to come up with intricate
turns, jumps and flips.
From there one could move on to
Trickblading. (Notice, the operative word
there was "could.") This is done with spe-
cial in-line skates that have smaller but
thicker wheels. I remember being chal-
lenged by the old-fashioned roller skates
with wheels on four corners and a key
to adjust the length. Even then, I rarely
let go of the rail that bordered the room.
Outside?? No way!
Some of our young people are getting
into mountain climbing and then branch-
. ing out into rappelling — "slid-
ing down a rope in a controlled
manner."
I guess that once you have
crested the peak and slid down,
the next step would be to go
up once more and descend in
a more graceful fashion. Hang
glide. Just step off the edge;
the wind catches your para-
chute and by maneuvering the
"wings", you can catch thermals
and drift to Earth.
If you like the idea of drifting, why not
start out far away from earth. How does
free fall sound? (I'm sorry, but I have seen
too many movies in which the bad guys
are tossed out of airplanes.) This sport
parachuting — involving at least 60 sec-
onds of free falling — can be done with
a guide/teacher in what is called tandem
skydiving. I have it from my friend Rhoda
Milgrom who did this on an Australian
trip and she was delighted with the expe-
rience. I get queasy just looking down
when at the top of a Ferris wheel.
If the idea of falling appeals — and you
"sick ones" know who you are — you may
decide not to go by air. There is always
bungee jumping. You are usually weighed
and the cord length is adjusted accord-
ingly. The padded ankle straps are then
put on you. If you are on a bridge or simi-
lar structure, you then just step off. Some
are lifted by a crane before the jump. If
you are over water, you have the choice of
stopping just.before getting wet or being
dunked.
Consider, if you will, this wording from
a brochure: "If the cord has been adjusted
accurately, you should enter the water
head first." There are too many qualifying
words there to be of comfort to me; sorry.
OK, so not everyone is a coward like me
and that's good. But when you tell a kid to
go out and play, be aware of what you are
exposing him to.
Anyone for a lively round of kick the can? 1-1
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You Voted
Harry Kirsbaum
Staff Writer
T
om Zambeck could in time be
the next Alfred Hitchcock, but for
now, he just wants to get through
the next few weeks. The 25-year-old
University of Michigan and Motion Picture
Institute of Michigan graduate is currently
producing his first full-length feature film
in Detroit.
Nevermore, a psychological thriller that
took two years to write, is an ode to his
early literature and film influences, said
Zambeck of Troy.
"Many of the motifs were borrowed
from Edgar Allen Poe, the first author who
inspired me to write, and Alfred Hitchcock,
the man who inspired me to make movies:'
he said.
In short, Nevermore involves a social
recluse millionaire (Judd Nelson) who has
moved from New York City to his child-
hood Michigan home and believes that his
wife (Jennifer O'Dell) is attempting to drive
him insane in an effort to steal his fortune.
Vincent Spano also stars in the film.
Zambeck has worked on 8 Mile and
Standing in the Shadows of Motown as
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well as other independent films, but this is
his first full-length movie.
Detroiters are plentiful in the crew.
Oren Goldenberg, 22, of Huntington
Woods is cinematographer.
He met Zambeck at U-M during a
special program in the woods of Maine.
Goldenberg started shooting videos at
age 15 and did a summer internship in
Hollywood, working on the film Bad
Santa.
This is Goldenberg's first feature film as
well, with a 105-page, script in which every
shot needs to be broken down.
"The budget is about
500 times what I've ever
worked with, and the high-
definition camera is more
expensive than anything
I've ever touched:' he said.
"You're working with the
Screen Actors Guild with
very strict guidelines, and
everything needs to run
smoothly."
Zambeck's company,
Dayton Street Productions,
has raised about half of
the $402,500 budget, and
Zambeck has appeared on
local television and radio shows to promote
the film, which begins shooting June 5.
Zambeck said they are rounding out
the film crew and will soon make an
announcement about extras on
www.daytonstreet.com, which explains the
film down to the last detail.
Another Internet site,
www.maketomsmovie.com , is an irreverent
yet humble attempt at raising more cash.
After all, Hitchcock had to make his first
film, too, and he didn't have to rent a high-
definition camera. IT
Last week's survey question: "Will
your mother have to cook on
Mother's Day; May 14? "
Yes - 15%
No - 8 5 °/o
This week's
question:
Do you believe that immigration
and border issues are among this
nation's top priorities?
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vote.
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often see a link that will take you
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INIMININISIINVONOW i
May 18 • 2006 11
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