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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1998)
ednesday • February 18, 1998 The Battalion r jfS; 1 I 8 B ■ BC^ K_ B BT^ K!|!| exas Film Festival Kicks Off ISC Film Society helps bring in independent talents of the cinema world By April Towery Staff wr/ter rent Troyan has a dream, and to day’s event will bring him one step closer to fulfilling it. Troyan, chair of the MSC Film Soci- and a senior English and speech mmunications major, is set to kickoff Film Society-sponsored Texas Film jstival today. ‘ I’m looking forward to getting some ight into the industry for myself,” yan said. “A question I’m always ask- g directors is, ‘Should I go to film tool or just head out to L.A.?’ It’s an pensive question.” The Texas Film Festival is a five-day, n-competitive independent film fes- al directed by senior management ajor Melissa Curtin, ii is set to include seven feature ns, 22 shorts {40 minutes of film each) and three free workshops. This year’s workshops are Music in Film, Ethnicity in Film and The Work of Tarantino. “The film festival celebrates film as art and the genius of independent filmmak ers from across the world,” Troyan said. This year is the first time a children’s screening room will be a part of the fes tival. This is a chance to involve the community and faculty families. Chil dren’s movies and pizza will be avail able to younger movie critics. This is the fifth year for the Film So ciety to sponsor the event. The first year was a tribute to Spike Lee, and in 1995 Oliver Stone was a guest speaker. “That was a thrill ride for me, per sonally,” Troyan said. But last year, the festival took a dif ferent turn. Festival directors decided it was best to honor independent film makers by not having a “big name” di rector. Troyan said the change the best. “From a businessman’s I ew, last year was the best id. “We don’t need a big speaker to draw attention. It generates its own In fact, the festival has quite a track record of drawing filmmakers who lat er make a name for themselves. Director William Gazecki was a part of last year’s festival, and this year his film VSfaco: The Rules of En gagement, is an Oscar-nominated best documentary. Troyan emphasized that the selec tion of movies in the festival holds something for everyone, from roman tic comedy to drama to animation. Currin and Troyan each said the highlight of the festival for passholders is getting to know the filmmakers on an individual basis. Students may pur chase a pass to the festival for $17.50 and meet the film directors at an ex clusive reception at Fox and Hound Saturday afternoon. “It’s a great opportunity for anyone interested in film,” Troyan said. “We give directors the V.LP. treatment here. It’s very culturally oriented. We take them to the Chicken or whatever, de pending on what they want to do. Last year, I took one of the directors to Freebirds and he was like, ‘Wow, that’s a really big burrito.’” Currin said the festival is a unique opportunity for students. “You get the chance to see things that you’re not getting to see at main stream theaters around town, at least for a while,” Currin said. And, meanwhile, though Troyan may still be wandering around Free birds in College Station instead of the movie studios in Hollywood, opportu nities such as these are giving him a little more insight to his dreams and his future. “It’s exciting meeting people still try ing to make it who are interested in helping people not that far behind them,” Troyan said. “They are real people. And because of them, this is the most exciting time of year, in my mind, for Film Society. These are movies you will more than likely never have the chance to see aga i n, but someone has put a lot of time into them. Take a chance on something you haven’t seen before.” Non-student passes are available for $20, and individual screening tickets may be purchased for $3. Tickets are available at the MSC Box Office from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 45 minutes prior to each screening. For more information, call MSC Film So ciety at 845-1234. Norman Rockwell on Display the tradition of showcasing great artists, the Stark Gallery presents famous lithographs JAKE SCHRICKLING/The Battalion ns Thomas, graduate assistant to the curator, looks at the man Rockwell exhibit at the J. Wayne Stark Gallery. By Travis Irby Staff writer I he J. Wayne Stark Gallery is showing some clas sic American art in the form of 52 hand-signed Norman Rockwell lithographs. The exhibit will run through March 8. The signed lithographs came into existence in the late 1960s after Rockwell was urged to turn some earlier art into lithographs. The lithographs were created by transferring Rock well’s original images to plates and stones with a painstaking and time-consuming process. Catherine Hastedt, curator for the University Art Collections and Exhibitions, said the Rockwell exhi bition has received a terrific response. “Norman Rockwell is so well-known and well loved,” Hastedt said. The collection of lithographs not only has well- known Rockwell works like his Saturday Evening Post covers, but several of his book illustrations. Hastedt said while his book illustrations aren’t as famous as the Post covers, they still personify the Rockwell charm. “Everyone knows about Rockwell’s work on the Saturday Evening Post, but he also did illustrations for Boy Scout publications, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and Poor Richard’s Almanac,” Hastedt said. Rockwell was also a child prodigy. He was accepted into the Chase School at age 14, the National Academy of Design at age 15 and the Art Students League at age 16. At 22, he first did his first Saturday Evening Post cover. Llastedt said this was quite an accomplishment in his time. “It was a big deal for anybody to have a Post cov er at any age,” Hastedt said. “But to have one at 22 was amazing.” Hastedt said throughout his career Rockwell was not only talented, but also prolific. “He had a huge volume of work,” Hastedt said. “Rockwell had 322 covers and about 2,600 pub lished works of art.” The collection is owned by Walt Powers, a profes sor emeritus at Eastern Washington University. The tour management is being provided by the College of Fine Arts at Eastern Washington University. Hastedt said she thinks the Rockwell exhibit has a number of things to offer art lovers. “It can tie into a number of curricula like sociology and art,” Hastedt said. Hastedt also said people enjoy Rockwell’s vision of America. “It is a very romanticized view of America,” Hast edt said. “It is extremely accessible art and presents defining visual images.” Visitors seem to be getting the same feeling when they view the works of Norman Rockwell. “One woman came up to me and said she had been walking around smiling the whole time, without even realizing it,” Hastedt said. The MSC Film Society of Texas A&M Presents The Fifth Annual Texas Film Festival February 18-22,1998 Schedule of Events Wednesday. February 18 7:00 Night of Shorts - Man’s Best Friend - Dust and Other Particles of Attraction - Operation - Americana: Forever a Rebel - Italian Lessons - My Body 10:00 Feature: Coventry With additional short film: Flying with the Angels Thursday. February 19 7:00 Feature: First to Go With additional short films: - Cosmic Strings - Anna in the Sky 10:00 Featured Film: Sweet Jane With additional short film: Tumbling After Eridav. February 20 4:00 Workshop: “Music in Film” 7:00 Night of Shorts II - Lunch with Louie - The List - Moving Prime - The Little Things Pu Ro Mi Su (The Promise) Secrets Friday. February 20 (cont’dl 10:00 Feature: Made Men With additional short films: - The Puzzle - Fast Food Saturday. February 21 1:00 Workshop: “Ethnicity in Film” 2:00 Children’s Screening Room - Happy New Year - Partners in Crime - Big Bucks for Buddha 3:00 Workshop: “The Work of Tarantino” 7:00 Feature: Just Friends With additional short films: - Ah L’Amour - Lily and Jim 10:00 Feature: Nude with Oranges With additional short film: El Artista Sunday. February 22 2:00 Feature: The New Gods With additional short film: Six Months of Darkness, Six Months of Light Ticket Information Individual Tickets $3.00 Festival Pass $20.00 provides access to all screenings, special receptions, workshops & hospitality room Student Festival Pass $17.50 Same access as festival pass. Available to anyone with valid student I.D. Tickets can be purchased at theMSC Box Office (409)845-1234 Aggie Bucks Accepted Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. We request notification three(3)^^y^ working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our ability. Made Possible in Part by the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Brazos Valley Arts Council. Movie Poster Sale!!!! MSC Hallway Monday-Friday, February 16'20, 1998 9 a.m.'5p.m. Benefitting the MSC Film Society and the 1998 Texas Film Festival