Page 4 * Friday, October 1, 1999
40:
fal 4 i % J s
Medium One Topping Pizza
$3.50
* Order 3 for free delivery
Kna-naimaci
A
GGIELIFE
V"K. a"-* g m ~~~"W2' -W 3F 1 *
Still waiting for your snip
to come in"?
Sf'oo dont Have to wairmuch longer!
Complete your education by studying abroad!
Discover tbe opportunities at . .
TAMU
OVERSEAS
DAY
October 5
VISC Main Hall
10:00 - 2:00
Sponsored! By:
Study Abroad Programs
161 Bizzefl Hall West <845-0544)
Be on your way
an “A”
Organized, detailed, typed notes
Done by top students in class
Fast quality service • Semester packs, exam packs, and daily notes
HOW DOES IT WORK? Top students in selected classes
take notes which are then typed and available for you to pick up the NEXT
DAY! You may pick up the notes whenever you wish - daily, weekly, or
before exams - whenever.
ACCT 209.506
ACCT 327.504-505, 507-508
ANTH 202.500
ANTH 205.501
ANTH 205.504
BIOL 113.503
BIOL 113.504
BIOL 114.500
ECON 202.506, 509-510
ECON 202.507-508
ECON 203.506
GEOG 305.500
GEOL 101.510-515,57
HIST 105.508
HIST 106.507
MGMT 105.500
MGMT 211.501-502
MGMT 363.501-502
MICR 351.501-510
MKTG 321.501
MKTG 321.504-505
MKTG 345.501-503
PHYS 201.511-520
POLS 206.501
POLS 207.502-505. 510
PSYC 107.508
PSYC 323.500
RDNG 351.500
RENR 205.502
SCOM 301.500
SOCI 319.500
VAPH 305.501-503
694-9403
707 Texas Ave., 222D
(Next to Barnes & Noble)
Battalion
ependen
Happy, Texas creators talk about breakthrough
H nppy, Texas is one of the largest success
stories of the year for independent film-
making {Blair Witch notwithstanding).
After debuting at the Sundance Film Festival,
rights to this $1.7 million movie were snapped
up by Miramax Films. The deal was reported to
be worth at least $2.5 million and a share of the
profits, possibly up to $10 million outright.
The film is slated for a limited release start
ing Oct. 8, 1999 and will show in Houston.
The Battalion spoke with Mark Illsley, direc
tor, co-writer and producer of the film and Ed
Stone, writer and producer, and asked them a
few questions.
[—i Your film stands out at a time when
E—i many independent films are beginning to
look alike. Why is that?
PQ
Ed Stone: We are not really your basic in
dependent film. We’re not kind of dark and
gritty and looking at the underbelly of
American society. We are really more of a
mainstream film hiding out in independent
clothing.
f-H Were you nervous about calling all the
i shots during the production, being a first-
time feature film director?
PQ
Mark Illsley: I’ve worked on films before.
I was a second unit director so 1 am pretty
comfortable around the set. On the other
hand, this is my first feature as a director.
But I wasn’t as nervous as you would think
and I wondered why. 1 finally decided it
was because I hired a really good crew, and
1 let them do their job.
i Did it make you feel more at ease when
i you assembled the cast?
PQ Mark Illsley: I’ve always said that 50 per
cent of this movie is the script, 40 percent
of this movie are the actors, brilliant actors,
and everything else that we do is just the
last 10 percent, including the directing, in
cluding everything else, it is just 10 percent
of the movie. People go, ‘Wow you really
underplay those other things.’ If you think
about a boat, it only takes a little hole to
sink it, so that last 10 percent is absolute
ly crucial to make the boat float. The boat
is still made up of the script and the actors.
f-H What were the circumstances surround-
( ing hiring William H. Macy?
PQ Mark Illsley: The days our lives changed
was the day Bill Macy said he wanted to
do the movie. We didn't offer him the part.
The part was actually written for a 300-
pound man. Bill Macy’s agent had gotten
a hold of the script and read it and called
us and asked if we would consider Bill
Macy and our first response was. But he’s
so skinny.’
f-H What is it like trying to make a film in
£—< Hollywood?
PQ Ed Stone: We re the most successful Hol
lywood failures ever because we com
pletely failed to make a movie in Holly
wood. We completely failed to find
financing and set it up and get distribution
and all that stuff. So we went [and] made
it ourselves. We got good actors, made a
good movie, we sold it and we’re getting a
lot of distribution. But we couldn't do any
of that before the film. Getting a movie
made is like a miracle. 1 am amazed any
movie ever gets made. Really, it's like a
house of cards.
[—h Why do you think that films where film-
[-h makers risk everything generally seem to
■<£ come out with so much heart?
PQ
Ed Stone: I think that one of the things
about independent films is that they tend
to take on more of the personality of the
filmmakers themselves, because the studio
and some business executive isn’t telling
you that you have to have this in the movie
or you can’t have a character say this.
PQ
1 think when you watch at* /s
dependent filmmaker yoirB.- ,
look at who that filmmah ‘ 1 (
I think another level u
are talking about it kindo(hB^ 1L ,
ness to it on top nI ? 1
1 call it cumulative. Them.™ 1
spend with the people, thee
ry affects you. Things thata
come much funnier becaus
the character.
late. I
rolim (B
ugh er, J
;pe feet
th( pert
|H. But
;B\ rnin
[— \i e you going to work togetr 8 0( ^
H soon ?
Both: Definitely.
H
H
<
PQ
How is your
of Happy 7 .
Ed Stone: V'
to be in the
Fexaf
In his d
ings a Ik
fers an
esc call
Lester' 1
■Hi he
ith his d
r neverhacBe-lik
A AM papo iva a). 1
ork-out.
life now afteri
Illsley: It
get accusti
imazing how
*d to things.
how long in your life you dr
being differently, and then::
how fast you can just takeiti
Going from living in a trailer!
the Ritz, you think‘Oh, I'mg
being at the Ritz tor theresi
No, by the end of that first wc
were going, ‘Hey, hey, heyn
champagne?’ So I checked inr
the first screening.
id qc
D bur
Lest
ife a
^althe f<
■ihze
His the
Hrecn
;es a ma
rican
I supe
Ices a
ally f
acter
I'he wi
Ed Stone: Two biggest change
movie is: it’s easier to get wor ^ vyi
other thing is it's a loieasierlorMbmci
. Bty of
Mark Illsley: When the sa! oignant
plication and you till it out and *he m
point you have to fill out‘occupy i: cou
used to put down ‘mw’and no® lin p 5
down ‘film director^(tlgure/can&
more movie olM'jwoodB 0
they realize I really ammM. p
Looking to Begin Your
Future Today?
Today’s employers are looking for applicants with
real-world work experience. Don’t get left behind!
UCS currently has many part-time opportunities for
individuals with all types of majors and backgrounds
that can offer you the experience you need to succeed
in the real world!
Part-Time Opportunities:
♦ Customer Service
♦ Clerical/Office Support
♦ Hardware Repair and Support
♦ PC Support/LAN Administration
♦ Inventory Control
Get your career started now with a proven leader!
To apply, give us a call at 595-2609. EOE.
UCS...A Tradition in Quality,
A Commitment to Aggieland!
www.universalcomputersys.com
as
“American Beauty' will quickly find its place
in the categoiy of unique masterpieces such £
The Graduate’, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s M
and ‘Ordinary People."
Richard Rayrier, HARPERS BAZAAR
“Great sciipt. Great directing. Great acting. Great movie,”
Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE
KEVIN SPACEY
ANNETTE BENING
AMERICAN BEAU
Opens Everywhere October 1