They'll leave the ight on for you Check in to the Lonely Hearts Club to see Starmotel, a young rock 'n' roll band featuring female vocals. 9 p.m. michigandaily.com /arts R rig FRIDAY APRIL 7, 2000 TIME TO BUY THE FILM FARM By Leslie Boxer Daily Arts Writer Tonight marks the fourth annual M- Flicks Film Farm, an evening dedicated to showcasing the talent of student filmmakers. Participation in Film Farm is open to the entire Film Farm Natural Science Auditorium Starts Friday at 8 p.m. r s ; , N' student body and "allows students of all back- grounds, not just film majors, the chance to have their films shown, says M- Flicks co-presi- dent Mike Cataletto. This year's Film Farm will show 14 short films that were selected program includes a chance for viewers to vote on their favorite film in four categories: Most original piece, best screenplay, best cinematography and best of festival. M-Flicks, the organization that sponsors Film Farm, is part of the University Activities Center, an umbrella organization that supports student activities on campus. M-Flicks not only heads up Film Farm, but is also responsible for bringing films to campus and giving students the oppor- tunity to see sneak previews of films. As for the student entries, they range from a documentary teaching you how to get a date to a story about a mental- ly disturbed man who is trying to escape the confines of his own psyche. What's most impressive about all of the different films is that the students are involved with every component of the filmmaking process. The students are allowed creative freedom in their endeavors and the differences between the entries goes beyond their choice of topics. Some films are shot in 16 mil- limeter while others are on VHS, SVHS or DV In addition, the films vary in length from three to 22 min- utes. While anyone is afforded the oppor- tunity to submit an entry to Film Farm, the majority of entries are from stu- dents concentrating in Film & Video. The major offers a number of classes in filmmaking starting at the 200-level and advancing throughout the four years. Many students make films for these courses and subsequently submit them to Film Farm. Dan Weinberg, director of "How to Go on a Date," made his film for FV 200 and found that the most enjoyable part of the film was translating some- thing that he had written into a visual form. Other directors shared Dan's enthusiasm for their own projects and the opportunity to work with wonderful student actors. Peter Katona, another student direc- tor, found that being a student and try- ing to manage the work that goes into filming and editing was difficult. He said the thing he disliked the most about this experience was "not being able to focus only on the film. We had other commitments and classes and could not rise and sleep with the pro- duction in mind." For many of the students involved in Film Farm, filmmaking is part of their career ambition. Many of the students have written or directed several other short films and have been involved with previous Film Farms. One film, "The Box," even has a recent graduate collaborating on the effort. All in all, this year's Film Farm promises to be a night of entertain- ment and a tribute to the hard work of your fellow students. from a pool of 38 entries at the Natural Science Auditorium The evening's 'U' students laugh up career hopes By Robyn Melamed Daily Arts Writer What do you get when you add two funny guys, a few hilarious films and a friendship that will last a lifetime? American Jedi By Adam Schwarz Friday at Film Farm A }; If you answered Abbott and Costello, you are close. If you answered senior LSA film students Matt Plumb and Adam Schwartz, you hit the nail on the head. This creative team met during auditions for the 1998 production of "One Flew Over the Coo CooUs Nest." Unfortunately, nei- ther of them made the cut. "We went in thinking we were the shit and came out just shit," Plumb said. Yet because of this traumatic blow to their egos, or as they like to call it, "the first dramatic defeat," they went rehearsal and performances Plumb and Schwartz became good friends. They realized that between the two of them, they had several clever ideas for films. "We were able to hang out together and make crazy movies together," Plumb said. Last summer Plumb and Schwartz, along with other film students (known as "the Film Mafia") worked as interns in Los Angeles, Calif. Plumb worked for the Classics division of Davis enter- tainment while Schwartz worked for Saturday Night Live "Film internships are different from most internships." Shwartz said. "You don't get paid, but you're getting a hands-on experience," said Plumb. "I got to drive a goft cart around that said 'Lorne Michaels,"' Schwartz said. Plumb and Schwartz went into fits of laughter thinking about one of Plumb's jobs: "I worked as a production assistant for a friend. We went to the movie site and realized we were going to spend the day helping with a film about gay porn. My jobs included oiling gay men and being a dildo wrangler," Plumb said. In their few spare moments, the Film Mafia amused themselves'by making their own films. Plumb's piece, "L.A. 99," is based on the true story about the comical instances that occurred during the time spent in L.A. Plumb worked on this film for the "labor of love," he said. Schwartz put together "American Jedi" which was a project for one of his film classes. This piece, described by Schwartz as a "fake pre- view," combines the films "American Pie" and "Star Wars Episode l: The Phantom Menace." The focus of the film is that "OBI-WAN has to get laid in order to become a jedi knight," Schwartz said. "Jedi" will be screening tonight at Film Farm. Plumb and Schwartz recently co-directed, co- produced and co-wrote the uncensored sketch comedy show, "Skits-O-Phrenia 2." The guys agreed that "this campus was starving for laugh- ter. Laughter is what the people wanted, and you gotta give the people what they want." According to Plumb and Schwartz, "Everybody loved it. There was consistent laughter." After graduation, this entertaining duo is planning to move out to Los Angeles and pursue careers in film or screenwriting. Will they be competing for jobs? "No. If anything, we'll help each other out," Schwartz said. "We work well together," Plumb agreed, "and it's all about col- laboration." Courtesy of Davidnmith Photography Darryl Semira (left) and Celia Keenan-Bolger spice up the Kit Kat Klub in "Cabaret." Blending various. styles, 'Cabaret' smolders onstage on to try out for the "Rude Mechanicals" one act play, "All in the Timing," and were both cast. During the three months of auditions, By Jim Schiff Daily Arts Writer "In here, life is beautiful." This line, one of the first uttered by the emcee of The Kit Kat Club, was the theme of University Productions' spectacular pro- duction of the Kander and Ebb hit musi- cal, "Cabaret" The first-rate cast deliv- ered masterfully choreographed dance numbers and perfectly-pitched vocals to the full crowd at the Power Center. Directed by Linda Goodrich, "Cabaret" follows the lives of several individuals in 1930's Berlin, just as the Nazis were coming to power. It centers on American Clifford Bradshaw (Sean Clifford), who travels to Germany to get inspiration for his novel. Through his stay at a tenant N W. i" house, owned by Tilower Frau Schneider Cabaret ( Madeleine Center Wyatt), he meets April 7-8 at 8 p.m. an ensemble of April 9 at 2 p.m. quirky characters. His frequent trips to The Kit Cat Club, a sleazy cabaret, cause him to collide with Sally Bowles (Celia Keenan- Bolger), a free-spirited spunky British singer. Back at the hotel, Schneider gives herself a chance at love with an elderly Jewish man, Herr Schultz (David Reiser). In the background of these relation- ships is the flashy decadance of the cabaret. The ensemble cast, adorned in glittery costumes and widened smiles, brought this night club to life. Throughout, the musical retained an unsurpassed energy and vigor. The cabaret's musical entertainment, a most- ly crossdressing jazz ensemble, set the PAUL HON READS DAILY ARTS. You SHOULD, TOO. spirited mood. Flappers and their beaus shimmied across the stage in with incredible ease. While singing, dancing, and drinking, the partiers could leave their worries behind. The set design gave an authenticity to "Cabaret" that was useful in creating a genuine period-feel. The train car and the hotel room were simply decorated in 1930s-style furniture, but careful atten- tion was payed to the tattered curta* and worn-wood door. In stark contrast was The Kit Kat Club, decorated as brightly as the smiles on the actors' faces. Dim table lighting, coupled with bright lights on the stage, helped to reveal the sexy dialogue among the chacters and the over-the-top perfor- mances on the Kit Kat stage. In an incredible performance, the emcee (Darryl Semira) set the sexually- charged tone to "Cabaret" He was co@ pletely believable as a gender-bending party-animal, seamlessly blending in the female chorus line. "The Money Song" allowed him to show off his considerable vocal talents and dancing ability. Both Clifford and Keegan-Bolger handled their lead parts beautifully, providing the musical with its emotional center. Keegan-Bolger was particularly con- vincing as a lounge singer who comes face-to-face with responsibility and her first true love in Clifford. But the most impressive aspect of "Cabaret" was the onstage chemistry between Wyatt and Reiser. In "So What' and "What Would You Do," Frau Schneider confronts her lonely existance and the moral dilemma she must make between her love, Schultz, and her safe- ty in Nazi Germany. The widower Schultz and the love-deprived Schneider convey beautiful vocals in their long for one another. In supporting roles, Thomas Foster as Ernst Ludwig, a Nazi businessman, and Anna Gleichauf as Fraulein Kost, a sexy young woman who sleeps around with German sailors, were also effective. Both winningly wooed the innocent Bradshaw into the carefree world of the German cabaret. "Cabaret" is so wonderful because it is an intricate blend of many kinds of shows. Las-Vegas style dancing, a sense of humor, and powerful relat - ships make it a delight to see. "In here, life is beautiful." At the Power Center last night, it certainly was. jWisanber ~h Ormen You Can Be Too! fl.,#u DaCaumae I I * - IL ~'