T he Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Friday, November 17, 2006 - 5A Ann Arbor film fest rallies for rights ByKRISTIN MACDONALD DailyFilm Editor Organizers of The Ann Arbor Film Festival aggressively defended their first amend- mentrightsduring AAFF an ACLU-spon- Fundraiser sored fundraiser At The at The Michigan Michigan Theater Wednes- Theater day night. Pairing Wednesday a movie-memo- rabilia silent auction with a screen- ing of "This Film Is Not Yet Rated," the acclaimed documentary on the inner workings of the MPAA rat- ings board, the event sought to both promote artistic free speech and defend the AAFF's ability to remain a prominent showcase for avant- garde independent cinema. TheAAFF fundraiserwas explic- itly put together in response to the state's recent funding cut for the festival, a decision made on the grounds that some of the AAFF's entries breached content guidelines developed by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Those guidelines forbid desecration of the flag, depictions of sex acts and human waste on religious symbols. MCACA specifically accused the AAFF of violating its sex-depic- tion ban, and submitted a list of the offending films implicitly charged as pornography. After a short reception of hors d'oeurves and Bell's beer, AAFF director Christen McArdle spoke briefly to chide Michigan lawmak- ers for their inflexibility toward the arts. McArdle notably didn't attempt to defend the public screen- ing of pornography, instead demon- stratingthat the AAFF films weren't pornographic. A quick screening of two of the MCACA's named pieces followed her talk, each accompa- nied by a word from their director. The first short, "Boobie Girl," an animation in the style of kindergar- ten stick figures, tells the story of a little girl who had always wanted an ample chest and finally ended up getting far more than she ever bar- gained for. It becomes difficult to move. She receives alotofunwanted attention. Other kids start making fun of her: "I think she swallowed Dolly Parton," one little girl sniffs. Having played at more than 8 festivals, "Boobie Girl" is a certified veteranofthe filmcircuit, and direc- tor Brooke Keesling laughed off its new pornography label. Keesling had received a breast reduction her- self, and considers the piece more a whimsical autobiography than anything 'else. She observed that audiences seemed to relate to its be- careful-what-you-wish-for theme and notjust its bustline focus. The second piece, titled "Chests," features two shirtless men chest- pumping one another in the man- ner of a touchdown dance for two straight minutes. While director Defending and celebrating free speech. Dolores Wilbur admitted the little film carries a sexual undertone, she clarified that the nudity and physi- cality themselves weren't enough for the label of pornography. "It's what you see when you watch wres- tling," she pointed out. Wilbur's pop-culture reference proved apt. When the latest sex- charged Fergie video can openly storm Internet and airwaves alike, how relevant is it to target an indie film forum for indecency? And the AAFF is at the top of its class. McArdle touted the AAFF's international reputation as a fearless festival, and listed the various film- makers and institutions (including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) who offered grants in the wake of the funding cut. The benefit's silent auction donations came from such cinema notables as director Sam Raimi and documen- tary filmmaker Ken Burns. Stand- ing before an applauding theater, McArdle reiterated the importance of keeping the AAFF a safe haven for the avant-garde: "It's a place for film and art you can't see anywhere else." i i Nightgowns and joints? Priceless Let the 'Madness' begin 'LEAFY GREEN ASSASSIN OF YOUTH' CONTAMINATES BASEMENT ARTS By WHITNEY DIBO speare and dancing at the five and dime, the Daily Arts Writer next he is driving stoned and crashing into old people with a stolen car. It's not long before Beware the dangers of reefer, kids. Getting Jimmy leaves his moral relationship with Mary high will only land you in a green garden of Lane and opts for the fast-pace love of Mary evil, ridden with sexual pro- miscuity, felony charges and Reefer (gasp!) atheism. Madness Based on a real public Tonight at 7 service announcement from and 11 tm. the late 1930s, this week- Saturday end's Basement Arts musi- at 7 p.m. cal "Reefer Madness" has At the Walgreen acquired a cult following Drama Center since its off-Broadway debut Free in 2000. Dripping with cheesy propaganda, the show's musical numbers feature everyone from Jesus Christ to Uncle Sam, all whom send the same message to the troubled youth of America: If you smoke reefer, you will end up selling your babies for drug money. The show follows the tragic story of two all- American kids, Mary Lane and Jimmy Harper, who get corrupted by this "leafy green assassin of youth." One day, Jimmy is reading Shake- Jane. A highlight of the show is Jimmy's first puff of the forbidden stuff. He has accidentally stumbled into a typical drug house (complete with a crying baby and a passed-out whore) when a smooth-talking reefer dealer convinces him to take a drag. As the lights swirl, the stage is instantly transformed into a jungle of naked marijuana smokers, and the kite-high Jimmy is stripped down to only a weed-decorated thong. Everyone knows that's how the first time always goes. Shortly before intermission, Jesus Christ and his band out angels descend from the heavens to give a gospel rendition of why Jimmy should fill his lungs with God instead of weed. ("Thou shall not smoke marijuana" is apparently com- mandment No. 11.) But Jimmy talks smack right to Jesus's holy face, saying he has new god now - in the shape of a thickly rolled joint. In the way only a tacky musical can, each time Jimmy falls deeper into the clutches of the drug culture, an offstage chorus sings the words "reefer madness" in a foreboding, omi- nous tune. As he continues his downward spi- ral, cast members walk across stage with signs reading "reefer will make you a pathological liar" and "reefer will get you raped." The show does not opt for subtly, to say the least. After Jimmy falls off the deep end, the show takes a turn for the weird. Reminiscent of Christopher Durang's absurdist comedy, "Reef- er Madness" holds nothing back - the corrupt- ed kids are killing each other with garden hoes, eating human flesh and being hauled off to the electric chair by the end of the play. Didn't you know? That's what you get when you smoke the reefer. The musical numbers are catchy (the show won the Drama Desk for best lyrics in 2002) and features a chorus of Music School students who can sing and dance with the best of them. This offbeat spoof on the "green scare" is pure musical theatre fun - so put out that noxious reefer stick and head up to North Campus for some not-so-wholesome entertainment. People-wat game - the when it cor moments h s a big part of college >ts, the tailgate parti( Michigan* football, sI off the field. ball. Call it the game around tI rd, especially, the fans. In fac of the name's most memorab Now Google Video lets you share those mom fans. Capture your favorite game day moments video.google.com/touchdown. 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