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Aggielife
w?mn I' h M The Battalion Page 7 • Monday, February 17, 2003
Let the cameras roll
MSC Film Society to host 10th
annual Texas Film Festival this week
By Nishat Fatima
THE BATTALION
During its 125 years of existence, Texas
A&M has become known for its many unique
qualities including rich traditions, having one of
the largest campuses in the nation, and main
taining a fierce sense of school spirit. One of
Aggieland’s newer achievements is that it is the
host of the largest student-run film festival in
the nation, the MSC Film Society's Annual
Texas Film Festival. This week, the event will
be celebrating its 10th year of successful opera
tion.
Dan Steele, director of guest relations for the
festival, said MSC Film Society members start
ed the Texas Film Festival in response to “the
very limited selection of quality movies at the
local cinema.”
“(Film Society members) were aware of the
vast talent independent movies had. but they
didn't know how to bring them into the spot
light,” said Steele, a junior English major.
“They decided that College Station needed an
outlet for all of those unconventional and
unique films out there.”
Steele said the event started out as a minor
idea, but has evolved during the years.
“(The Texas Film Festival) began as an artsy
film festival,” he said. “Over the years, it gradu
ally gained momentum and as the participants
and volunteers grew, we have become the biggest
student-run movie event in the entire country.”
Steele said the guest list for the festival fea
tures talent from across the nation.
“Every year we try to bring in directors and
actors from all over the country,” he said. “This
year, we have invited 11 directors and several
actors for the event, and many of them are from
Hollywood.”
Steele said he owes most of the Texas Film
Festival’s success to its 50-plus volunteers.
“The entire event is able to run smoothly
because we have volunteers who really care
.about the festival,” he said. “We have also
become known for our hospitality which is why
we can attract so many filmmakers, directors and
actors to the event. All of the volunteers go out
of their way and do a great job to make sure that
everybody is comfortable and taken care of.”
Steele said the ultimate purpose of the festi
val is to reveal the hidden talent lying in inde
pendent films.
“It is a completely volunteer and donation-
run, non-profit event,” he said. “The sole pur
pose of the festival is to create a showcase for
all of the amazing yet lesser-known independent
filmmakers out there to expose their talent. It is
also an outlet for Aggies to experience different
types of movies other than the regular
Hollywood-type outfits.”
Hallie Gardinier, co-chair for the Texas Film
Festival, said the festival has a history of being
a star-studded event.
“The first year that the event was put together,
we actually had Spike Lee attend, and at the time
he was promoting his movie 'Malcolm X,”’ said
Gardiner, a senior political science major. “Other
famous directors that have attended are John
Landis, who is the brain behind many of Michael
Jackson's groundbreaking videos such as ‘Thriller'
and ‘Black or White,’ and Robert Rodriguez, who
directed both of the 'Spy Kids' movies.”
Gardiner said the movie selection process for
this year’s festival was a strenuous one.
“This year we had over 400 movie submis
sions, and all of the Film Society had to watch
them and decide which ones would be included
in the festival,” she said. “After we decided on
the movies, we sent out invitations to the produc
ers and directors to come and join the festival.”
Gardiner said Robbie Henson, who directed
“The Badge” (which starred Patricia Arquette
and Billy Bob Thornton), will appear at this
year’s festival.
In addition to the high-profile attendance, spe
cial recognition is awarded to many of the movies.
“There are several awards that are presented
to the participants,” Gardiner said. “The Judges
Award, which is chosen by a board including
faculty members and alumni, is given to the
best short film, best narrative feature and best
documentary. We also have the jury awards,
director's choice, and audience choice awards.”
Casey Pinkston, president of SWAMP Club
(Screenwriters, Acting and Movie Production
Club), has been a regular participant of the
event for the past two years. This year, the
organization has submitted three new entries in
the Aggie Short Section of the festival, he said.
“(SWAMP) does a lot of short films, and we
are always trying to improve them,” said
Pinkston, a senior environmental design major.
“I think that our movies have progressed since
last year, and the festival is a great way for us
to display our improved efforts.”
Last year, Pinkston and fellow SWAMP
member Julian Londonio were the recipients of
the special achievement award for their short
film “The Eagle has Landed.” Pinkston said he
was surprised yet very pleased when he
received the award.
“We were up against a lot of really great
movies from professional and very talented
filmmakers,” he said. “On the judges’ grading
scale, we scored enough points to make the top
five, so we received the award as a form of
recognition for the movie.”
For Pinkston, the Texas Film Festival is a
break from Hollywood mainstream.
“I think that the festival is a great idea
because it gives indie filmmakers a medium of
coverage, and moviegoers a chance to see dif
ferent types of movies,” he said.
The Texas Film Festival will open Monday
night with a showing of the Oscar-nominated
documentary “Spellbound” in Rudder
Auditorium at 7 p.m. All events will take place
in Rudder Auditorium from Monday, Feb. 17,
to Saturday, Feb. 22. Tickets for individual
events can be purchased at the MSC box office
for $3 each, and event passes can be purchased
for $15. For more information, visit
http://txfilmfest.tamu.edu.
TxFF Schedule
Monday, Feb. 17
5 p.m. Striking Back Shorts Program
6 p.m. Prom Night in Kansas City
7 p.m. Spellbound
9 p.m. One World
Tuesday, Feb. 18
5 p.m. International Culture Shorts
Program
7 p.m. Animation Shorts Program
8 p.m. Virgins (with Le Mime and
Burning Passion)
Wednesday, Feb. 19
5 p.m. Look Again Shorts Program
6:30 p.m. Unprecedented (with Ostrich Egg)
7:30 p.m. The Utopian Society
9:30 p.m. Killers 2
Thursday, Feb. 20
5 p.m. Aggie Shorts Program
6 p.m. Mind Blowing Shorts Program
7:30 p.m. R S V P
9:30 p.m. The Backyard
Friday, Feb. 21
5 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
8 p.m.
I’m With Romance Shorts Program
I'm With Lucy
Special TxFF 2003 Event TBA
Saturday, Feb. 22
2 p.m. | Download a Ghost (with Jungle
Putt and Lenny The Leaf)
4 P M ' Light Hearted Shorts Program
5:30 p.m. Welcome to the Neighborhood
7 p.m. Production War Stories Panel
8 p.m. The Badge
10 p.m. Awards & Closing Night Reception
Source: txfii.mff.st.tamu.edu
RUBEN DELUNA
:>ld’s jym
•uary 28th
I get a
FIEE *
ITH OF
mm®
Great Name
VOTE! Rec Sports Fee Referendum
February 26-27 The Department of Recreational Sports
will be going to the A&M student body asking for a ref
erendum to increase the Recreational Sports Fee from
$78 to $88. This $10 increase per student, per semester
is critical to the Department's ability to cover the cost of
inflation in it's budget. But more importantly, it will allow
the Department to create some exciting opportunities for
the students of Texas A&M:
•Expand the Weight & Fitness Room
• Expand Penberthy Intramural Sports Center
• Increase Rec Sports student worker wages
• Hire a second Sport Club Coordinator (after hir
ing freeze is lifted)
Referendum information is available at http://rec-
sports.tamu.edu. A detailed FAQ is available to answer
all your questions. Voting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on
February 26th and will end at 5:00 p.m. on February
27th. Students may vote on-line at vote.tamu.edu or at
select sites on campus, including the Rec Center.
Live the Excitement with Sports Clubs
• M. Lacrosse, Feb. 14-17, all day @ Penberthy
• W. Lacrosse, Feb. 22, League game, 2:00 p.m. @ Penberthy
• W. Volleyball, Feb. 22, 12th Man Classic @ Rec & Read cts.
• Judo, Feb. 28-March 1, IX State, all day @ RC 7, Rm 272
• Archery, Feb. 28-March 2, Nationals, all day ©Archery Rm.
Get Going with TAMU Outdoors
Upcoming Events
Lead Climbing Clinic
Women's Rock 101
BACKPACKING TRIP
Rock Climbing Day Trip
Horseback/Hiking Day
Registration Event Date
Jan. 21-Feb. 17 Feb. 1 8
Jan. 21-Feb. 18 Feb. 23
Jan. 21-Feb. 18 Feb. 22-23
Jan. 21-Feb. 25 March 1
Jan. 21-Feb. 25 March 2
TAMU Outdoors is located behind the Rec Center, facing
Olsen Field. Call 845-451 1 for information.
SPRING BREAK TRIPS
• CLIMB HUECO TANKS—Join TAMU Outdoors on a climbing
adventure in one of the top US bouldering sites. Registration
ends Feb. 27. $265*/$318**
• CANOE BIG BEND'S RIO GRANDE—Canoe the scenic
wilderness of the Rio Grande River, hike through side
canyons, explore the desert and sleep under the stars.
Registration ends Feb. 27. $364*/$419**
• HORSEBACK THE TEXAS FRONTIER—Join TAMU Outdoors
on this horseback adventure as we explore the Big Bend
area. Registration ends Feb. 27. $471 */$542**
SUMMER BREAK TRIPS
• SEA KAYAK ALASKA—Explore a portion of the northern wilder-
ness-Alaska's Prince William Sound and Harriman Fjord.
Registration ends April 1. $1,765*/$! ,950**
• SAIL & SCUBA the Bahamas—Sail on Blackbeard's cruise
and trace the historic route of pirate ships and treasure
galleons. Registration ends June 9. $819
recsports. tamu. edu
RAMP ROMP with Intramurals
Sports CLOSING: Registration ends Cost
Badminton Feb. 18 FREE
Sports Trivia Bowl Feb. 18 FREE
Sand Volleyball Feb. 18 $20/team
Sports OPENING:
Program Registration Cost
4-on-4 Flag Football ■ Feb. 17-Feb. 25 $20/team
Ramp Romp XII February 22 @ 10:00 a.m.
A 5k run through the A&M campus that finishes with a run up
and down the ramps of Kyle Field. Early registration ends Feb.
1 8. (Cost $10/$1 2) Late registration Feb. 19-21 (Cost $13/
$15) Race day registration (Cost $20) Registration forms avail
able at the Rec Center or on-line at rec.sports.tamu.edu.
Get Fit-Fitness & Classes
• FREE FITNESS PROFILES by certified Rec Sports Personal
Trainers—Friday, February 21 from 2:00-4:30 p.m. in room
134 of the Student Rec Center. ProfiL„ include: blood pres
sure, body composition, muscular endurance, flexibility test
ing and a 3 minute cardio endurance step test. Don't miss out
on this FREE one-day event.
• FREE Healthy Living Lecture: THE FOLIC ACID TRIP: NOT JUST
FOR WOMEN ANYMORE. Wednesday, February 19 at 5:30
p.m. in room 281 of the Rec Center. Learn the latest informa
tion on the importance of folic acid.
• FITNESS INSTRUCTOR TRAINING—Registration begins now for
this 6 week program that starts March 1 8. Sign up at Member
Services today.