F r o n t   L i n e Sex, Lies, & Salmagundi by Van Nguyen On April 8th the Film and Media Society (FMS) will host its second annual Salmagundi Film and Video Festival in an attempt to provide exposure for amateur filmmakers and to celebrate the artistic possibilities of film and media. The word "salmagundi" refers to a wide mixture, which is exactly how FMS President Matt Chayt described the event: "This year, we have a big variety [of films], ranging from the comical to the strange." FMS Vice-President Kristin Adolfson agreed. According to Adolfson, the FMS has received film submissions of several different genres, among them narrative, experimental, and digital films. One submission serves as a companion piece to the filmmaker's artwork. The FMS used various means to seek entries. For instance, FMS members posted flyers asking for entries, and the society's website also solicited films, in one instance bringing in a submission from Ohio. Filmmakers from California and Idaho have also submitted films. In addition, Adolfson and Chayt personally knew of students who were making videos of their own. Some students were familiar with last year's Salmagundi Festival and knew beforehand approximately when to submit. Generating a lot of entries was important because of the message that the FMS wants to send out. According to Chayt, Salmagundi is the only venue for U.Va. students to feature their work in front of an audience. "U.Va. is slowly putting together a media studies department. We have some good professors, but currently there's nothing related to film production. The FMS does what the university can't: loan kids equipment, bring them together to make videos, and give them an audience. Salmagundi is a message for student [filmmakers] to continue their much-supported work and to let others know about the [art]." Adolfson added that media studies at U.Va. is "extremely overlooked, even though society and culture are heading in that direction." Salmagundi offers an opportunity to focus on the film and video media. For some, videos and film offer personal rewards that other media forms do not. Huck Park, who will attend a graduate studies program at U.Va., said that films offer relaxation and personal fulfillment. This year, audience members may notice two major differences from last year's Salmagundi Festival. The first difference is the length of the festival. Only eleven or so 10-minute films will be shown, making the event two hours long. According to Chayt, last year's festival lasted over two and a half hours because there weren't very many entries. As a result, the FMS decided to show every film. Because of an increase in entries this year, however, the FMS had to be more selective in what it could show. Second, the FMS will charge two dollars per person, while last year's admission was free. The main concern last year was with creating plenty of publicity, and allowing free entry was an effective means to bring in a large audience. Chayt stated, "As a Contracted Independent Organization [CIO] with a big mailing list, we needed to produce money for the FMS, and [charging for admission] was a logical way to do this." The proceeds will go toward advertising and buying new equipment for student usage. Chayt stressed, however, that money was still a concern last year. 1997 was the first Salmagundi Festival, and FMS members did not want to charge money for a new event produced by a novice organization. The FMS was founded just last year by Chayt and Adolfson. Adolfson had been taking a class called Video Performance Electronics, in which students learned to create and produce videos. Adolfson felt that with all the videos being made, there ought to be some way students could show their work to others. About the same time, Chayt was starting the FMS, and the two collaborated to produce the Salmagundi Festival. Aside from the time limits and the ticket price, this year's Salmagundi will remain similar to last year's event. It is scheduled in Newcomb Hall at 8:00 p.m., and tickets will be sold only at the door. For Chayt and Adolfson, the festival is more than just an opportunity for students to exhibit their work. For Adolfson, the festival is a chance to communicate her own personal message; she has submitted some entries for consideration. She said, "Essentially, I create things to make a point. The Festival gives me a chance to see how my point affects other people." Chayt sees the event as his effort to better U.Va. He said, "As an artist, the FMS and the festival are my contributions to the university." Without these two things, students probably would not have organized opportunities to express themselves using the film and video media. Besides reaching out to the university, Chayt hopes that Salmagundi will reach out to the Charlottesville community as well. He made the point that there is a thriving film community in Charlottesville, evidenced by the successful Virginia Film Festival, and Chayt would like Salmagundi to contribute to that community. One way of accomplishing this includes advertising off-Grounds to encourage local patronage. Posters will be placed in Barnes and Noble and around the Barracks Road area. A notice will also appear in the C'ville Weekly. Last year, there was a line of people waiting to enter the theater. Although most were students and professors, there were a number of local patrons, which Chayt found very encouraging. He said, "I knew [Salmagundi] would take off when I saw the great turnout." Chayt is confident that this year's Festival will be just as successful.

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