University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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CO-DIRECTORS Steve Sparks and Suzie Shoemaker with Dr. Foote edit a scene from the production. The editing process was essential to produce the award winning production. Grant Lovelt l?fi« T5fif?lkc His Sister ' s 29 '

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LS. StribUng ' a SHE HAD HAIR LIKE HIS SISTER ' S with Jennifer Katechis Shawn Leary and Michael Campbell Mike King Adapted by Sherhonda Allen Kim Lund Steve Sparks Produced by A. Edward Foote Directed by Suzie Shoemaker Steve Sparks Camera Janice Bridges Deon Hargrove Gil Newton Jessica Teal Videotape Usa Harris Bill Johnson Angelia Phillips Audio John Bonfield Editing Steve Miller Kenny Posey Mark Wilson Props Kenneth Dumas Cathy Smith 28 The Advanced Television class brought yet another facet of UNA into the limelight by winning third place in national competition for their production of T.S. Stribling ' s ' She Had Hair Like His SisterV She Had Hair Like His Sister ' s a 30 minute television production done by the Advanced Television production classes, won third place in the National Student Television Awards. The annual contest was sponsored by the Acade- my of Television Arts and Sciences. The television adaptation of T.S. Stribling ' s short story was co-directed by Suzie Shoemaker and Steve Sparks. She Had Hair Like His Sister ' s is a story set during the Civil War in which a Union Army soldier falls in love with a 17-year-old southern girl. The Stribling story was chosen in honor of the 50th anniversary of his Pulitzer Prize. Stribling, a native of nearby Clifton, Tenn., is one of UNA ' s most famous alumni. Screenplay for the film was writ- ten by Sparks, Kim Lund, and Sher- honda Allen. One of the primary loca- tions for filming was near Cherokee in small log cabins owned by Gene and Carol Jean Grisham, according to Dr. Edward Foote. Foote is an associate professor of dramatic arts and speech who was the instructor of the class. Other locations included two river boats, one at Ditto Landing, the other at Guntersville; LaGrange Mountain; property near Shoals Creek owned by Mason Ingram; and at the reenactment of the Battle of Olustee, Florida. The battle reenactment is an an- nual event which includes 1,500 troops, 100 horses, and 12 pieces of artillery. After filming was completed, the show was entered in the regional con- test which included 19 states. The pro- duction won first place in the region, enabling it to advance to the nationals where it was in competition with pro- by Gary Cosby, Jr. ductions from UCLA, Temple, and San Jose State. This is really exciting. I ' m hon- ored that we got it, said co-director Shoemaker. Director Sparks was equally ex- cited. This is really great. I just can ' t wait to get to that awards banquet in Hollywood, said Sparks. Shoemaker and Sparks went to Hollywood, California, November 14- 16 to receive their award at the Bever- ly-Wilshire Hotel. As a result of the efforts of the class, broadcasting students here re- ceived $1,000 for the regional contest and $2,000 for the national contest. The cast for She Had Hair Like His Sister ' s included Shawn Leary as the Union Army private; Jennifer Ka- techis as Elvira, the 17-year-old girl he falls in love with; Michael Campbell as a Union Army captain; Mike King, a UNA graduate as Sam, the slave; and Mary Anne Waitzman of Florence ' s Zo- diac Theatre who plays Elvira ' s moth- er. In addition to the cast and stu- dents who were involved in the produc- tion, there was a great deal of commu- nity support, according to Foote. The cooperation of community groups and businesses has been fantas- tic, said Foote. We have been very lucky to find such regional experts and interest In the project. For example, the Civil War uniforms were provided free of charge by the C D Jarnigan Com- pany of Corinth, Mississippi. The Jarnigan Company is the main supplier of Civil War uniforms to the National Park Service and is a pri- mary consultant to Warner Brothers Studio. The sound effects and music came from a library produced by the British Broadcasting Company. UNA pur- chased the rights to it and also had the show copyrighted. The show premiered at the Na- tional Sigma Tau Delta Convention held at Athens State College March 22- 24. I ' m really excited that our stu- dents have been given this kind of rec- ognition. I ' ve known all along that we have some exceptional students in the department, but it ' s nice when some- one else points it out, said Foote. DR. FOOTE and Suzie Shoemaker review footage while still on the set: a feature that ' allowed for an immediate correction of ' scenes that weren ' t just right.

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m i:i ' RAFTERS GAIN SPEED as they approach a small rapid. Although Cypress Creek did not provide the excitement of a u ild river run. it did give the participants an opportunity to relax and enjoy a leisurely float downstream. Jumping frogs, seed spitters, and 568 would-be Huck Finns gather for a day of friendly competition Conquering (The Great) Cypress Creek by John Howard and Matt White When Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher gathered on the banks of the Mississippi River, they were ready for some mischievous fun. Well, a hundred years later friends still come together down at the creek, but now it ' s for a race. The seventh annual Great Cy- press Creek Raft Race, sponsored by Robin Wade, his father Gerald, and their wives, featured a turnout of 568 people entered on a variety of rafts. The rafts ranged in size from an inner tube to a replica of the World War I Red Baron airplane. When asked why the race brings so many people from all around, Ger- ald Wade said, It is the first event of the summer and it gets people going, hooting and hollering. The race is a nonprofit event with this year ' s pro- ceeds going to the Florence Recreation Department. UNA provided this year ' s harbor master, Don McBrayer (tennis coach) and a drum corps organized by assis- tant band director Tom Risher. All winners, both of the race and the judged categories, received a me- dallion and a certificate honoring their achievements. The grand winners were on a raft with no name headed by Captain Rob- bie Hanback and his crew of three. The Regency Body Shop entry took first prize in the industrial commercial class and first place for best engineer- ing. The Regency crew also took the Coober Peedy Memorial Award for be- ing the first entry to cross the finish line with a dog on board. The dog was a chi-wa-wa as it was spelled on the entry form. The all girl division was won by the Regency Body Shop II. The Cy- press Queen by Burns-Craft won the organizational division and Jack ' s Talk of the Town entry, the Red Baron, won the most colorful honor. Andy Brown and John Cooper won the Huck Finn Award and Andrea Kimbrough got the Becky Thatcher Award. Beth O ' Steen and Polly won the littlest frog competition and Chad James ' Homer got honorable men- tion for being wartiest and heaviest. The team of Billy Alsbrooks and Tina Andrews was first in the mixed doubles watermelon seed spitting con- test with a combined effort of thirty-one feet and one-half inches. Jimmy Carringer retained his title in the hambone competition. The race has a loose festive at- mosphere and everyone has a good time, said co-organizer Gerald Wade. THE RACE DOWNSTREAM sometimes meant a little pushing and shoving from the crew as is demonstrated here by a Red Baron creu member. John Graham