The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, November 13, 2002, Image 3

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The Battalion
Page 3 • Wednesday, November 13,
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Aggie-SWAMP project
Students direct and produce videos that receive local and state-wide recognition
By Nishat Fatima
THE BATTALION
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ccording to Vishwanand Shetti, a senior
;e! *iputer science major, when creativity and
iration come together, a vision is created. He
a great outlet for that vision is the Aggie
lAMPClub, which stands for Screen Writers,
orsand Movie Production.
SWAMP Club gives me the chance to do
[have always wanted to do, which is make
Ivies,” said Shetti, vice president of SWAMP
band a senior computer science major. “At a
[oollike (Texas) A&M, it is hard to find ways
innovative with movies. The club is a place
re people can get their ideas and make some-
gof them. It is a great resource to get a foot
- i s m «pt lllie door to film and other creative media.”
iners thivi;;’j$\VAMP Club is a University recognized
;anization with a variety of 50 members who
directors, producers, screenwriters, actors and
etimes a combination of all of these ele
cts. SWAMP Club President Casey Pinkston,
nior environmental design major, said the
his open to anybody who is interested in its
us, which is to create unconventional short
Ins to express their artistic visualizations.
“We are a collection of people who basically
jjie ideas and want to put them to life by making
pit films, whether it is for a hobby, or if they
pit to make a career out of it,” Pinkston said.
Ifeall try to combine our resources to make a
reatend product. Once I started making these
pies I realized how much fun they were. Its
I illy easy to enjoy the process of making the
sary oftkktwvies and devote all of your time to it. But, in
the Pentay. the end, it’s a great feeling to see the resulting
■duct after all of the hard work you put in to it.”
■>e of theirrsBCory Calhoun, director of Ag TV and a sen-
Zawahn,ratjournalism major, said SWAMP Club movies
tan be seen on Ag TV, which is Channel 88 on
Associated telanipus. Channel 20 in Bryan broadcasts some
ui Iraq.attjoitheshows as well. Calhoun said SWAMP
rid on bera fib is a vital part of Ag TV. In 2000, Ag TV ran
in—and KJi out of money. She said it was saved by becoming
affiliated with SWAMP club,
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PHOTO COURTESY OF SWAMP CLUB • THE BATTALION
Vishwanand Shetti, a senior computer science major, films Nick Davis, a junior political science major,
and Haley Jasper, a junior psychology major, for the SWAMP production of Perfect Recollection.
“We had always used the help and expertise of
“The marriage of the clubs was a great move
because Ag TV started to show their pieces on
the air and it resulted in some great programs,”
she said. “The purpose of Ag TV as it stands now
is to be a spring board for SWAMP Club produc
tions and other programs created by Aggies by
incorporating them into a television show and
creating unique entertainment.”
Calhoun said SWAMP Club keeps its viewers
in mind when detennining the length of the movies.
“We have to keep our movies short and to the
point because most audiences don’t want to sit
there and screen something that is half an hour
that long,” Calhoun said. “We usually have short
films that are 10 minutes in duration. They usual
ly have an idea or point behind them that they
want to get across.”
Calhoun said SWAMP movies have been used
by other organizations, such as Percussion
Studio, for enhanced visual purposes or if they
want a recording of their event.
Calhoun said the movies have been shown at
the Texas Film Festival for the past few years,
and SWAMP club received the Viewer’s Choice
Award in 2000 for its short film. The Eagle.
“Its a fantastic experience when you have
the chance to share your art with an audience
and get to see their response,” Pinkston said.
“If they can laugh at a comedy or react to a
drama, then it all seems worth it because you
got the right response.”
Shetti said SWAMP Club and the ability of its
members has been undergoing continuous
improvement.
He said the club began with a group of
students who were in the film society, but
they became more interested in production
and directoral aspects of filmmaking rather
than viewing the films.
“We have come a long way from just mak
ing movies,” Shetti said. “We all have devel
oped our own styles, we realize how important
it is to talk to people and get our actors in to
their roles and creating the right kind of envi
ronment to appeal to the audience. We know all
the technical ropes now as well.”
Omkar Dave, an actor in SWAMP club and a
sophomore biochemistry major, said the attitude
of the other members is very encouraging.
“When I first joined the club, I wanted to
act, and I was able to do so after going to only
two meetings,” he said. “It’s an amazing feeling
to see yourself in a movie because you can see
for yourself what you are doing wrong and
right. There are so many talented people in the
club that also help you learn.”
Shetti said he is inspired by being able to
create a new world through movies.
“When we show one of our movies on the big
screen, it takes on a life of its own,” Shetti said.
“My inspiration is to create stories with innate
characters and make a world around them. There
has to be a sense of detachment from the rest of
the world, and its more than just reading lines or
pretending.”
Shetti said producing SWAMP Club films has
intangible benefits.
“It’s all about being somewhere you haven’t
seen and living somebody else’s life in the
moment that is created,” he said. “It is a magical
new way to experience different aspects of life.”
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’0U WANT
313 S. COLLEGE
846-3343
LIVE
Friday, November 15
ROGER CREAGER
:hief
editor
5 Editoi
tucer
laydunns 1 "’
inier sess»"
Univeisity 1,1
w/special guest
DANNI LEIGI
Doors open at 8:00pm
$ 1.50 Mixed Drinks
$ 1.50 Longnecks
j 8-10pm
office 5
are 111
647; W >i:
For clas 51 '
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ubscnpt^
liner or 10
Advanced tickets available at Cavenders Boot City & Rothers Bookstores
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