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

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IN YOUR OPINION ... Celebrity guest Ernest Borgnine and founder George Lindsey take time to field questions during a Festival work- shop. TIME TO BREATHE. Bobbie Hurt and Ernest Borgnine steal some break time amid the busy schedule of the Festival. lany films he has made. He also presented the olden Lion awards to the winners at a final gala. It takes a lot of people with a love for students I ho want to offer the best for students to do this. llany, many people helped with this festival. It ' s pwarding to see how the professors and staff work ard to make something like this become a success - especially because it ' s all on a volunteer basis. Several years ago, Lindsey presented the UNA oilier Library with the original scripts Irom the ndy Gri[fith Show to be studied by anyone who light be planning a career in script writing, acting. • filming. These scripts showed actual instructions i how the series was filmed for an audience. And ince films from those entering the 1998 and 1999 ; stival could be useful to students studying televi- on and film, it was decided to create a place where these valuable scripts and amateur films could be easily accessible. Happily, a place was created and set aside to house the scripts and films for students to study at the Collier Library, and dedicated to George Lindsey. Marking the place in the library is a plaque, which reads, The George Lindsey Film Library, dedicated to all those who dream and all those who choose to learn. In a highlight of the sec- ond film festival, Ernest Borgnine made the UNA library a gift of the leather -bound, original scripts of all the movies in which he has appeared. With this gift, and that of Lindsey, and other filmmakers, the film library and the film festival have a firm foundation, and film students have an excit- ing future at the University of North Alabama. — Bobbie Hurt

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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

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I I 0 y% .r Steppin ' out for United Way 10 Here I am, in the cavernous Norton Auditorium. Surrounded by other students, faculty and staff, and some community members all waiting for it to begin. I ' ve only heard about this event — I ' ve never been to Step Sing before and don ' t know quite what to expect. The house lights go dark. Lights begin to brighten over the stage. The air quivers with nervousness. Anticipation ends as the show begins. Zeta Tau Alpha, who placed first in the women ' s division, started off the event, which benefitted United Way. The Zeta sisters rocked ' n rolled to some of the most popular songs that colored the ' 50s and ' 60s. UNA ' S newest iraltTnity. Alpha Tau Omega, left its mark on the university t y winning nrst place In the men ' s division. With the ' 40s era and the Swini motif. their outstanding performance brought the Tin Pan Alley theme to Norton. Ital HlU The Phi Mu sisters contributed to tB omen ' s division with their tribute to Broadway, fvire ' ady well lighted, the stage dazzled with the silver sequined vests and black sequined top hats of the sisters. In the men ' s division, Sigma Chi tried something new for them this year. They compiled several well- known songs from TV shows and applied them humor- ously to university life. Alpha Delta Pi stood apart from the rest that night by their Chorus Line performance, consisting of ener- getic song and dance. Another somewhat energetic scenario was that of the Kappa Sigmas. Looking back on MTV. this group surprised the audience as they proudly showed their glow-in-the-dark costumes, lighting the auditorium with a funky glow. It was a Whole New World for the audience as they witnessed Alpha Gamma Delta. These ladies of the university chose Aladdin as their theme for the night, and made every move count. There was an Elvis spotting on the Norton stage, too, and the Sigma Alpha Epsilons were to blame. These brothers were responsible for providing the audi- ence with a laugh as an overweight Elvis shook his sti Pon stage. J| ■Uie Baptist Cj|mTtmsMinistT the co-ed cli -isi(Mi. sang their va Acres and other television hit jl loi And though Austin Powe fna Fiji brought the subject to the j resef outstanding performance. By tli more than half their pants were ing audience. We were also treated to the first faculty staff rou- tine, the premiere performance for the Lion Paws Dance Team, and a vocal selection by Miss UNA 1999 Kimberly Williams. Audience members who poured forth from the auditorium that night seemed agreed that this year ' s Step Sing was a success. Contestants exemplified school spirit through routines touched with comic relief, originality and ultimate creativity. — Anne Beam only entry for irough Green igo. from the ' 60s, lay with another ' of their routine, le laps of the gap-