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

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And the Golden lion goei to Most people in America and around the world know George Lindsey for his work as an actor in the role of Goober in the long-running television series. The Andy Griffith Show, and for the same portrayal in the Mayberry series. People who live in Florence and students who attend UNA, however, will always remember George Lindsey as the founder of the George Lindsey UNA Television and Film Festival. George Lindsey is a graduate of UNA who has gained fame not only in television, but also in films and on Broadway. But he has never forgotten UNA and the people in Florence. I wanted to give some- thing back, and I thought and thought about what 1 could do to help my university. He visited the campus many times, particularly the Communications and Theatre Department. Lindsey said he came to the conclusion that a film festival would be one way he could help the university and the students. 1 was teaching a script-writing class at the time, and many students were writing what seemed to me to be good scripts. Many of the stu- dents were also interested in filmmaking, but we had no way of getting them in contact with filmmakers. Most of our students didn ' t have the time or money to go to some of the bigger festivals, like Sundance. Lisa Darnell and I volunteered to co-chair a committee to work with Lindsey to produce the first film festival, held on the UNA campus in April 1998. With the celebrity power of George Lindsey, we were able to have a celebrity guest, Tom Cherones, direc- tor of News Radio, and have a first-class festival. It was a combined effort of Bill Jarnigan, Lisa Darnell, myself, Annette Himmler and many others. We worked so hard that first year to get the fUm festival going — it was like climbint Mount Everest wltjiout really knowing what we were doing. The festival was planned to give aspiring film makers who could not go to film festivals in Europe or on the West Coast an opportunity to show their work and to be recognized. In the event, the festival attracted entries from across the nation as well as from many local students. UNA students were given a way to meet and talk with celebrities who have ' ■;y. ijfr ■ ■■■J ' --. i ¥?m - y i succeeded in the Industry. They had a chance to enter their own work, and a chance to see what other amateur filmmake ere doing as well. It was a win win situation. mi |f Categories for films were arranged for profes- sionals as well as for students, fledgling filmmakers from middle school to college. A Golden Lion Award was given to the best of show entry in both cate- gories and first-, second-, and third-place awards were presented in both categories. Winners were announced and awards presented at a gala held on the final night of the festival. | jriMli. ■B Everyone had a wonderful tSne. tne tfrenflrn festival was declared a success and the committee immediately began work on the second festival. Academy Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine, a personal friend of Lindsey, was the guest celebrity for the second film festival, in April 1999. Borgnine thrilled students attending workships during the fes- tival with stories and behind-the-scenes tales of the lan; I ' ho Ian; a-ai ard f flUif hoi Dee