12B The Michigan Daily Weeken Magazine - Thursday, December 4, 1997
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The Michigan Daily Weekend Msaiii
2 Film Feature
First-year students leave A with new noti
'Farm' provides open range for
new class of student filmmakers
By Matthew Barrett
Daily Arts Writer
Now that the football team has fin-
ished its regular season, Saturdays are
seeming pretty bleak to Michigan stu-
de4-. And with finals just around the
corner, many
Wolverines areP
tempted to study the
night away - this is
one weekend when
you shouldn't. If you
opt to hide in some
place like, say the
library, you'll miss the first annual
"Film Farm," a showcase of short, stu-
dent-made motion pictures.
According to M-Flicks Co-
President Shahaf Abileah, "Film
Farm" is the biggest project that his
fledgling student-run organization
has tackled to date. "(Students should
go because it willl
a wonderful mix
said.
Designed as
REVIEW
Film Farm
Saturday at 8 p.m.
Nat. Sc. Auditorium
Admission $2
be) tons of fun with
of films," Abileah
a place for any
Michigan stu-
dent to show-
case his or her
own movie pro-
duction, "Film
Farm" is the
brainchild of
roommates and
University students Jef Cozza and
Nathan Oliver, both LSA sopho-
mores. Each of the included produc-
tions involve at least one member of
the University's student body.
"The general idea behind 'Film
Farm' is that film without an audience
is not art," Oliver said. So he and
Cozza founded "Film Farm" in order
to display student work that often goes
unnoticed.
Oliver and Cozza knew that there
were many students making movies
who were not involved in the
University's Program in Film and
Video Studies. Considering the gener-
al lack of other film festivals on cam-
pus, they founded "Film Farm" so that
there would be a venue where student
productions could be viewed by and
shared with fellow students.
Several departments at the University
show student films, but usually such
screenings are either for members of a
particular department, or are poorly
publicized and thus poorly attended.
"Film Farm" on the other hand is open
to all students who are interested in see-
ing their classmates' work.
The festival figures to have some-
thing for everyone, ranging from live-
action comedies to the completely ani-
mated "Infestation." Drawing inspira-
tion from animator Oshii Mamoru and
working with pens, paper, colored pen-
cils and a computer, LSA senior Dave
Cole and his partner K.C. worked
more than four months to complete the
three-minute movie about an ant that is
sent to raid a rival ant farm.
While three minutes may seem like
a drop in the bucket, Cole assured that
it is a very long time for an animated
movie. Animation appealed to Cole
because he felt that it would be "a lot
easier to animate things from a foreign
world," and it would offer him more
OPEN
MON-SAT 9:30.7:30
SUNdays I12-b
3; 13.434.89 5
talents at "Film Farm."
artistic license.
Cole thinks that "Film Farm" is a
great avenue for student movie makers
to have their work seen by others. He
also noted that the festival will appeal to
anyone who likes cinema and that peo-
ple should take advantage of the oppor-
tunity to see the work of local artists.
Another popular addition is "Baby
Seal." At 25-minutes, it is by far the fes-
tival's longest film. "Baby Seal" stars
and was written and directed by stu-
dents Mike Massie and Matt Reichl. It
is the story of two friends who set out to
make a movie about a third friend, and
1878i WASIIICNAW Av/Yj)SilANii/ONf Miff[EAST of US 2'11 FOUNIAiN SQUARI SltOPpiNj CfNuCR
was done for a film class in 16-mm for
approximately $2.500. Massie, an LSA
senior who also served as the producer
of the movie, helped to raise the neces-
sary funds for the production.
But "Baby Seal" won't be up for the
four categories of awards (Best Story
for a Screenplay, Most Original Film,
Best Cinematography and Best of
Festival) that the audience will select at
the end of the two-and-a-half-hour pro-
gram. Still, most of the other featured
films will be in competition.
So if you're tired of the typical and
predictable movies that Hollywood
has been turning out lately, stop by
and see what some of your fellow stu-
dents have to offer. Who knows,
maybe you'll find a little slice of cine-
matic gold.
By, Kerri A. Murphy
For the Daily
It's that time of year again -
Thanksgiving has come and gone, and
winter break is just a few finals away.
First-year students are on the brink of
having completed their first semester of
college, and presumably are anxious to
go home.
Many out-of-state students have
made travel arrangements months in
advance; parents and friends of in-state
students await phone calls to find out
just how early their first-year students
can make it home.
For some first-year students,
Thanksgiving was the first time in
months that they were able to see fam-
ily and friends and their hometowns.
But whether or not Thanksgiving break
was their first time at home, going
home seemed to produce the same
effects.
"It's a pretty mixed reception," said
Rhiannon Biddick, an LSA first-year
student. "Everyone's glad to see you,
but at the same time everyone realizes
that you are leading your own life now
and are just a visitor."
Dan Kersten, also an LSA first-year
student, had a similar experience during
his first time home. "I felt out of place,
but happy to see everyone" Kersten said.
Initially, going home can be a little
strange. Suddenly the old bedroom
seems a little less cozy and a little more
temporary. Some students begin to refer
to the residence hall as "home," when
talking about college with family and
friends.
"I've caught myself referring to my
dorm room as home, but I don't neces-
sarily consider it my home," said
Megan Watkins, an LSA first-year stu-
dent. "It's more of an in-between
thing."
Families inevitably move on despite
the new absence of students, and this
may seem disconcerting. But awkward
or not, students said home will always
provide some basic comforts that the
dorm just cannot achieve.
"I love the fact that I am going to see
my friends, sleep in my own bed and
not have to wear shoes in the shower,"
said LSA first-year student Rachel
Whitman.
Additionally, family and friends are
there to share the holidays and all the
new memories and crazy stories of "the
college experience." Simple. everyday
tasks like driving a car and sleeping in
one's own bed arc renewed.
Christmas Carol Service
led by the students of the
U/niversity Reformed Church
Sunday, December 7th
7 pm
University Reformed Church
1001 Huron - Central Campus
Parking on E. Ann St.
06 -3153
"I think the best thing about going
home is just doing the normal everyday
stuff I did before I came to college,"
said Mark Powers, an LSA first-year
student.
Who knew before they came to col-
lege that such simple routines and
habits could become such luxuries? As
LSA first-year student Keirsten
Meacham said, "You learn to appreciate
things you used to take for granted."
Some students felt that life outside of
Ann Arbor had stopped. Many learn,
however, that new songs have in fact
been released, global affairs have
changed and famous people have died.
As they return home, they realize that
the world is still going around and first-
year students are temporarily re-
engaged with current events.
After the hustle and bustle of the first
few months of college, where spare
time for most becomes a rarity, doing
"nothing" in the comfort of one's own
home can be more appealing than ever.
On the other hand, going home for
the holidays can be stressful as well as
peaceful. Pressures to see old friends
and relatives and take care of old busi-
ness, such as doctor's appointments,
puts a damper on the thrill and novelty
of being home. Accordingly, some stu-
dents like to go home at less hectic
times of the year.
"I like going home after the first
month better because I don't. feel oblig-
ated to contact all of my friends, which
allows me to relax," Kersten said.
Residence hall living also has entic-
ing qualities that make many first-year
students eager to return to school.
"I am going to miss the wide array of
foods in the dorms - especially the
frozen yogurt,"Whitman said, "and see-
ing my friends just feet away from my
door."
Socializing isn't a weekend phenom-
enon at college, many first-year stu-
dents quickly learn, but a seven-days-a-
week, 24-hours-a-day occurrence. This
freedom is both liberating and exhila-
rating, and is an element of college that
first-year students miss when they head
home.
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"I kind of miss the dorms. I stay up a
lot later here than I would at home just
hanging out," Powers said.
"Going home is not something I real-
ly look forward to, especially for the
summer, because there just isn't as
much to do as in A'," said Anna
Spencer, an LSA first-year student.
Going home seems to be a necessity,
a break from the fast-paced c
world. The excitement of seein
friends is relaxing and appealing
the new life away from home wit
friends can be even more so.
"I don't think anyone appre
how good a friend they have unti
see them for the first time in m
You realize how lucky you are
Want to talk about ...
Affirmative Action " Domestic violence " Interracial
Relationships " Coming out " Self segregation " Police
harrassment " Sexual harrassment " Sexual assault * Religion
& homosexuality " Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals &
transgendered people teaching children " Minority lounges
" Being asked out to dinner when you can't afford it " Body
image " Difficulty talking to people who are not like you
. Cultural organizations on campus " "Diversity" at U of M
+ Being misunderstood by men or women * Having three jobs
Take Psychology/Sociology 122 Wednesdays 3-5
Intergroup Dialogues are 2-credit classes where you can ask and answer
these and other questions. Coursework includes journals, interactive
exercises, discussion and other forms of learning. Discussion is facilitated
by students. Winter semester dialogues include:
People of Color & White People " Women & Men " Lesbians, Gay Men,
Bisexuals & Heterosexuals * And more ...
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
IGRCC, 3000 MICHIGAN UNION, 936-1875 IGRCC@UMICH.EDU
& juggling classes when other students don't " Parties
broken up " Campus chalkings erased . Campus activism -
The same people always dominating discussion " Scholarships
+ Treating women and men differently e Being tokenized "
Having mostly White professors * Stares . Being asked,
What are you?
Keirsten Meacham grins at the thought of returning to her real 'home' for wir
Hallelljah
i I
UOD i Hf f HfM S
oldest holida
IS' co irn.
tradition...
I
Handel s Messiah
Saturday, December e p.1.
Sunday. December 7, 2 P. .
HILL AUDITORIUM
Ann Arbor Symphony
orchestra
UMS Choral Vnion
Thomas Sheets, conductor
Nicole Heaston, soprano
David Daniels, countertenor
John Aler, tenor
Nathan Berg, baritone