University of Virginia Library

8MM Union Shows Student Films

Almost unnoticed by the
community, the 8mm Film Center
held a showing Monday night of
some of the most recent student
films. Competing against both Ho
Chi Minh and the Greening of
America, the event drew a small
crowd; but then, numbers are
non-essential.

After shorts of Mr. Magoo and
the Three Stooges, the first film, by
Greg Powers, was shown. It
consisted of scenes shot around the
railroad station under Main Street,
with a slight narrative. Alternating
between black and white and color
film, it had perhaps the best
photography of any of the
evening's films. Some of the black
and white footage was especially
notable for its grained texture.

The second film was "Jerry," a
narrative about a young man who
falls into a series of incidents with
various people. In one episode he
meets a man wearing a suit on a
country road, who is pushing
something which looks like an
upside-down spinning wheel. Jerry
asks him for money, he doesn't
have any, and Jerry ends up giving
him money.

Beneath the sometimes absurd
surface of the film is a perceptive
cinematic awareness. "Jerry" was
produced by a company, probably
the best organized at the
University. The members include
Carl Erickson, Paul Chaplin, Jerry
Vessels, and Ross Deitch. There is
another film underway this
semester, they say.

The next film was RASH, by
John Jacobs. It could be described
as a portrait film of the Stan
Brakhage ilk, though different in
style from Brakhage's. Images of a
cat, everyday effects, and shaving
cream mix and create a revealing
and interesting film, it opens with a
scene calculated to drive any
projectionist mad.

The last feature on the program
was a mixed-media event by Jeffrey
Ruggles. Bingo cards and incense
were distributed to the audience. A
tape recording of a vacuum cleaner
and a record, the Nude Paper
Sermon, played, as a film called,
"Marijuana Minus One" was
projected on several pieces of junk
in front of the screen. Also an
orange light with a beard blinked
throughout the performance.

Also shown were the initial
rushes of some shooting which was
done at the center a week ago. A
member of the University
community Bill Parker, has devised
a process by which synchronized
sound can be used in 8mm,
bypassing the abysmal sound
usually associated with it. The
results of the test, shot in the
center, will be shown with sound
later in the spring.

The next film showing at the
8mm Film Center is tentatively
scheduled for two weeks after
Founder's Day.

Although there will be no
scheduled film showings for a
while, the Center, which is located
at 165C Madison Lane, will be
generally open for those who would
like to view their 8 or Super 8 film.
Also available at the Center is a
dual 8 editor, for those who may
wish to dabble in theories of
montage, or just edit their films.