Wednesday, June 9,1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 5
KAN film festival showcases locals
By Clint Hooker
Kansan Staff Writer
Aspiring filmmakers from Kansas and Missouri showcased some of their work Saturday during the 1999 KAN Film Festival held at the Lied Center.
The festival, now in its eighth year, featured 63 finalists in separate divisions for elementary, secondary, high school and college students, as well as an open division for non-students. Judges narrowed the 63 films from 158 entries received before the May 4 deadline.
Barbara Nash, president of the festival, said this year's event evolved from a small gathering in 1992 that was planned as a one-time venue for a few local filmmakers, funded by a grant from the Kansas Arts Commission.
"This is the biggest year we've had — attendance and entries — and I'm thrilled about that," she said.
Nash said she believed the success of the festival was due to professionals within the industry who volunteered their time, and to teachers and parents who supported many young filmmakers.
The featured guest at this year's festival was Jay Underwood, a veteran Hollywood actor best known for his roles in the films The Boy Who Could Fly and Uncle Buck and as Sonny Bono in the NBC movie And The Beat Goes On: The Sonny & Cher Story.
Underwood, who spoke to about 150 people during an afternoon workshop, said that the growth of film festivals and the success of independent films has forced the film industry to realize that it doesn't take million of dollars to make a great movie.
"The thing I particularly like about this festival and being able to come here is the fact that it promotes film making for everybody, young and old and everyone in between," he said.
Underwood, who was also a festival judge, helped present awards at the end of the festival. He bounded off the stage to present
the first-prize trophy in the college division drama/comedy category to Nicky Walston, Lawrence graduate student, for her film *Reunion*
Walston, 32, suffered a stroke several weeks ago while working on another film. She is still recovering and had to attend the festival in a wheelchair before returning to the hospital. She received a standing ovation as Underwood presented her the award.
Nash said the KAN festival was always intended to be a venue for the works of student filmmakers, who she hoped would not forget their experiences and successes here.
"Primarily, it's to encourage student filmmakers who we hope will continue to do that, go to Hollywood and come back here and then — speaking as a film commissioner, my other hat — come back and make movies in Kansas."
David Gunn, Lawrence senior,
whose parody of film making, *Portrait Of An Artist*, took second in the college division drama/comedy category, said the KAN festival gave recognition and encouragement to people that put a lot of work into something they love.
"I guess it's a hope and inspiration for anybody whose trying to get into the field of film making," he said.
Underwood said the two keys for success in the industry were persistence and a love for the film making process.
"It can be a real tough road and you never know when your break's going to come or in what form it's going to be in. And it has to start within, with an absolute love and a passion for the art of film making or making a movie." he said.
Underwood also said that the growth of independent films had tightened the market on available jobs, but added that he felt the industry was far from saturated.
"When you make a movie, you're saying something. I think there's somebody out there that would like to see it if you make a good movie, and I like to think that there is room for everybody."
— Edited by Mike Miller
Guinea pig new movie star
By Lisg John
Kansan Manaaina Editor
Alyssa Buecker, 15, Lawrence, smiled proudly as she introduced Ringo to those who stopped by her table at the KAN Film Festival Saturday afternoon. Ringo has been collecting quite a bit of attention these days. Buecker said.
So much so that he's going to meet Jay Leno on a 'Tonight Show appearance later this month. Buecker and her 18 guinea pigs are becoming famous.
Her troop of acting guinea pigs have starred in two subsequent movies. If this whole thing sounds familiar, that's because it may be. Since February, three of Buecker's
And to think that it all began at the KAN Film Festival.
"I had so much fun making the first movie that I decided to do more of them," Buecker said.
For the first time in four years, Buecker did not have an entry in the festival. That's because her current project is still in the works. But she credits the organizers of the festival for feeding her enthusiasm for film making. Buecker stepped into film making when she took film class with the Lawrence Arts Center at Oldfather Studio in 1996. Her films feature her guinea pigs whose actions are accompanied by high-pitched voices that seem to come from the guinea pigs.
The aura of excitement filled the air as film and movie buffs found a home away from home at Lied Center where the eighth annual KAN Film Festival brought filmmakers and watchers together.
Looking especially at home was Ringo, a four-year-old American Shorthair guinea pig who also happened to be an up-and-coming film star. While festival judges dined on a barbecue luncheon at nearby Oldfather Studio, Ringo relaxed in his owner's hands and munched on his favorite kind of brown-bag lunch — a baby carrot.
Alyssa Buecker, 15, Lawrence, three-time winner at the KAN Film Festival, visits with festival judge Jim Yonelly, Overland Park, at Lied Center Saturday afternoon. Although Buecker, whose guinea pig videos are running on the HBO Family Channel, didn't 'have an entry in this year's festival, her presence seemed to inspire others. Perched behind Buecker is a photo of her guinea pig, Rinao, who is the star of her upcoming video. Photo by Lisa John/KANSAN
movies have been airing on the HBO Family Channel. The videos range in length from three to six minutes.
Buecker's mother, Nancy Pistorius, said not only had HBO bought one-year rights to Buecker's three guinea pig movies, the company also commissioned another guinea pig movie for next year.
Why the soaring demand for guinea pig movies? To Buecker the answer is simple.
"They'll have sole rights to that one." Pistorius said.
"People like them because guinea pigs are really cute," she said.
Jim Yonally, Overland Park, judged the films at Saturday's competition and said he was familiar with Buecker's movies from previous festivals. Yonally said he liked to see the guinea pigs in action.
"They're cool," Yonally said. "It's amazing to see the creativity that she uses in putting a script with natural movements of the animals. I don't know how you direct guinea pigs."
Barbara Nash, president of this year's festival, said that was what it was all about getting young people involved in film making.
appeared in one of the movies, to her friends who sometimes supplied the voices.
Buecker said she had lots of help, from her mother who
Pistorius said her daughter had not only learned about filmmaking, she had learned how to edit her videos on computerized, non-linear equipment. Pistorius said that Buecker edits her videos at Oldfather Studio.
"There are many venues for students to excel in other art forms such as music and painting, but there are very few for film and video," Nash said. "We wanted to provide a forum for students who are interested in these areas to show their work."
As for Buecker, the work goes on. In progress is her next film, a 10-minute parody of Star Wars, titled Carrot Wars. Of course this production will feature none other than the up-and-coming guinea pig star of video, Ringo, as Duke Strawler.
Edited by Kimberly Erb
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