t
2^1, Vednesday • February 21, 1996
Aggielife
Page 5 • The Battalion
Aspiring Aggie Filmmakers
\&M students work together to produce short film Vector
We Score More!
|y Libe Goad
[he Battalion
e year is 2016.
r. Catherine St. James discovers a
computer virus that has been knocking
ut banks. St. James’ agency sends her back
the past with their time traveling device,
here she meets computer hacker Christo-
iher McCoy. Together, the two travel through
e to find the source of the virus and learn
a devious plan by Tsvalik, a mysterious fig-
who implemented the virus, to take over
e world’s banking system.
Add a little romance and a few action-
tacked scenes, and the 16-minute film Vector,
ated by two Texas A&M students, sounds
uch like a futuristic cyberpunk world that
uthor William Gibson would create.
Jay Biederman, a senior economics major
d a lead actor in the film, said Vector com-
lines elements from different popular films.
“This film has some Back to the Future,
ything with Jean-Claude Van Damme and
Pulp Fiction flashback and flash forward ef
fect,” Biederman said.
First-time film makers James Atkinson, a
® senior computer science major, and Chris
Long, a senior journalism major, have pro-
< U P ka jjiieed Vector from start to finish, an idea bom
last November over e-mail.
Via computer, the two high school friends
wrote and rewrote a script last year, and after
the eighth draft they found a running script
for their filming endeavor.
Filming hasn’t been an easy task for the
ambitious pair, though. After searching across
campus to borrow filming equipment, Atkin
son and Long found many doors closing in
their faces.
“Our main gripe is that the school wouldn’t
help us,” Atkinson said. “People told us to
come back when we were in grad school.”
Most of their opposition came from the Vi
sualization Sciences department, an A&M
graduate program that specializes in visual
arts, whose professors said they could not lend
them any filming equipment.
“People are pretty protective of their equip
ment,” Atkinson said.
Instead of waiting around for filming mate
rials to magically appear, Atkinson and Long
invested in their own.
After saving money from summer jobs, they
differ bought two lights, a hand-held camera and
film.
There’s something nice about owning your
own equipment,” Atkinson said.
Buying the equipment will eventually help
the two aspiring filmmakers keep down costs
'.m, TufBrJ
‘en
nore mall
: to seeii
ight be
found
eneficial
■ like It®
than si
they ie
i withic
y relate!
ig.”
j dents?
mg involi
i Campi
', the bos
i 'ish Canj
;w is an?
to inten
yone inlf
â–  the trai
Id consiii
r.
ou can
t the fre;!
â–  traditia
” he sail
h Camp
ggie spt
‘arninga
Average Final GRE Score
1800 r
1750
1700
1650
1600
1550
1769
ML
National Kaplan
Average
TPR
The average final
score for Princeton
Review GRE
students is over 180
points HIGHER than
the national average.
Kaplan scores are based on a 1994 Price Waterhouse study. Princeton Review scores are based on a 1994 Deloitte Touche
study. National average provided by ETS. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University or ETS.
Small Classes • Personal Attention
Thorough Review • Effective Test-Taking Strategies
Four Full-Length Practice GRE's • Free Extra Thtoring
THE
PRINCETON
REVIEW
December GRE courses start
October 21st. Call today!
(800) 2-REVIEW
http:Wwww.review.com
The Bottom Line Is Higher Scores!
Photo courtesy of James Atkinson
Members of the cast and crew of Vector, a short film produced by A&M students.
ether,
non goal
nsition
iooI seni*
! said.
i as me | with other* movies, Long said.
l 3.S tn>.)
An estimated $7,000 will go into this movie,
including blank-shooting guns and packets of
“fake blood.”
In this case, the blood costs little and can
be found in most refrigerators. A combina
tion of teriyaki sauce and ketchup ooze from
bloody wounds.
“It’s not like the blood used in the movies,”
Atkins said. “We’re not that advanced.”
Time creates other problems with filming
Vector. Instead of having the. Hollywood ad
vantage of filming anytime during the day,
Atkinson and Long used any spare moment to
assemble the cast and crew.
Last weekend, the group met at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday and worked until the wee hours of
the morning.
Four Corps members also arrived at the set
(the Hydromechanics Lab next to Zachary En
gineering Center) in their camouflage uni
forms, acting as Tsvalik’s henchmen.
Freshmen Corps members Jason White, a
political science major, Sean McGarity, a civil
engineering major, Jonathon Tomberlain, a
journalism major, and Nathan Buschow, a
general studies major, volunteered to appear
in the film project.
“It’s fun,” Tomberlain said. “It’s a good way
to help out your fellow Aggies.”
The principal actors also volunteered their
spare time to the film project.
Haven Powers, a senior theater arts major,
and Biederman latched onto the project after
Atkinson and Long saw them perform last se
mester in TTie Crucible.
“I got a phone call after the show and they
asked me if I wanted to be in the film,” Bieder
man said. “I said, ‘sure, why not?”’
Powers also got a phone call, and the two
actors began working together as Dr. Cather
ine St. James and Christopher McCoy, part
ners in time travel, mixed with the element
that made shows like Three’s Company suc
cessful — sexual tension.
“Actually, it’s pretty out in the open,” Bie
derman said. “We even have a kissing scene.”
Acting in front of the camera has taught
the two actors the difference between working
on stage and in the movies.
Instead of being a character for an extend
ed period of time, Powers said, playing a part
tests her ability to shift in and out of her role
of St. James.
“Sometimes we’ll be here all night,” she
said. “Ill be acting my part for a few seconds
and they say ‘cut,’ and I have to return to be
ing Haven.”
With new film equipment and free actors,
Vector will be ready to enter the film festival
world this summer. Long said they hope to
have it ready for the annual South by South
west film festival in Austin.
now forming
* Academic Survival Qroup
Group 1: Thurs. 3-4:30 p.m.,- Mar. 28 - Apr. 18
Group 2: lues. 5:15 - 6:45 p.m.,- Apr. 9-30
This four week undergraduate support group focuses on helping students make it through
midterms or finals.
* African American Student Group Tues. 5:15 - 6:30 p.m.
This group provides support for African-American students and explores issues related to
gender-based expectations of performance, sexuality, and self-discovery.
* Career Exploration Qroup Mon. 3-4:30 p.m.
This six session group will aid in answering questions about choosing a career and how to
make it a reality.
* Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Support Qroup Wed. 3-4 p.m.
This group will discuss topics such as relationship issues, self-esteem, and coming out to
family and friends.
* Hispanic Student Qroup Mon. 5:15 - 6:30 p.m.
This group is a safe, supportive and confidential place to discuss issues relevant to
Hispanic/Latino(a) students at Texas A&M.
* Men's Qroup Mon. 3-4:30 p.m.
This group will discuss relationships, masculinity, sexuality, gender expectations and
challenges of being male in the 90's.
* Stress Management Tues. 3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
This four session structured group will focus on understanding causes of stress and techniques
for managing and reducing stress.
Call the Student Counseling Service at 845-4427for more info.
esearclt
en.
ele
this sut
peration
3HTBS
/ey
THE TEXAS FILM FESTIVAL
Wednesday, February 21 - Sunday, February 25
A presentation of the MSC Film Society of Texas A&M
MlOg
)US
cW)
lay,
itions'
NS:
Ider
Tonight at the Texas Film Festival...
An Evening of Short Films
7:00 PM
Th« Harldy Boya In Hardly Gold
In this spoof, the director, famous photographer:
William Wegman, uses his favorite canines (weimaraner
dogs) dressed as humans to solve the zany mystery that
surrounds their summer vacation.
Tribaa
Set in the deep south after WWI. A black soldier
returns home from the war to continue a secret
inter-racial relationship with the daughter of a
local fanner. Together, the couple flees through
the local swamp to their freedom, but when the
girl's father discovers the truth, the hunt down
begins.
The CTanky' a Chrla turns
v§§
Sam i i
ltd. y
A claymation fable narrated by William S.
Burroughs about a drug addict trying to get a
fix on Christmas Day.
Bluabarry Hill
♦♦♦World Festival Premiere***
A look at the life of two friends in Indiana who
want to escape their "small town life" and move
to better things in college.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for John Landis' program are $5.
Tickets for the remaining programs are $3.
A Festival Pass is available for $15.
The Festival Pass allows entry to all the Texas Film Festival events.
Ticket purchases can be made at the MSC Box Office (845-1234) . - Parsons with disabilities please call
All presentations are in Rudder Theatre Complex.
Sponsored in part by the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley
and The Texas Commission on the Arts
6-
845-1414
to inform us of your special needs. We
request notification three(3) working days
prior to the event to enable us to assist you
to the best of our ability.
Thursday, February 22, 1996
7:00PM Five (5 minutes)
A man talks about his five off-the-wall friends.
9:30PM Jackllght ***a World Premiere***
Filmed in Brenham. Six high school friends graduate at the
top of their class. The future was theirs. Then, in a single
night, in a sudden moment, a life is taken, and the future becomes
dark. Now, two years later, the remaining friends come together
once again in hopes to find answers. As they rediscover each
other, themselves, and the bond of friendship that exist between
them, the past becomes clear and their future becomes possible.
Friday, February 23, 1996
7:00PM Pharaoh'a Army
This story takes place on a southern farm during the Civil
War. A group of Union soldiers arrive at the home of a Confederate
soldier whose wife and son live in the house alone. The soldiers,
who are in need of supplies, are caught off guard when the unex
pected happens and are forced to change their plans.
9:30PM An Evening with the Original Blues Brothers John Landis
Saturday, February 24, 1996
3:00PM Seminar- Filmmaking In Texas
Free Seminar covering the unique aspects of filmmaking in
Texas. Rudder Tower Room 301.
7:00PM Voice Mall (12 minutes)
A man struggles with a voice mail system while trying to
order a chess set on the phone.
Unconditional Love
Directed by the American Painter, Arthur Egeli. This film
is the story of a young painter in Cape Cod who is struggling with
his impending greatness as an artist and as a lover.
9:30PM Plgl (2 minutes) ***Honorable Mention Sundance Film Festival***
Based on an urban myth. A biker's confrontation with a
woman in a car is not quite kosher.
Farley Mowat Ate My Brother(10 minutes)
In this farce, a man tells the story of how famous Canadian
writer, Farley Mowat, ate his brother and how he learned not to
"Cry Wolf" .
Seeking the Cafe Bob
Filmed in Austin, Texas. Three old college roommates move
back in together after one of them get divorced. Together, they
try to find some direction for their lives and their lovelives.
12 AM II Postlno ***Nominated for 5 Academy Awards***
This film tells the story of an exiled Chilean poet who
warms to the uneducated innocence of a fisherman's son who dreams
of wider, more exciting horizons. In Italian with English sub
titles.
Sunday, February 25, 1996
3:00PM II Postlno ***Nominated for 5 Academy Awards***