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THEY SAID IT "’’Money is better than poverty, if only Page 6 for financial reasons.” Wednesday, September 15, 2004 T LATIN AMERICAN FILMS TAKE OVER LOCAL THEATER By LINDSEY FLOWERS THE GAMECOCK It’s a sad fact that for most the phrase “Latin American films” triggers either a blank stare or some kind of reference to Cheech and Chong. A change is in order. The third annual Latin American Film Festival begins this week at the Nickelodeon Theatre, located on the corner of Pendleton and Main streets. Expanding on the five day run of past E * festivals, this year’s event runs from Friday through Sept. 22 and then starts again Sept. 24 continuing through Sept. 27. Anne Ramen, Nickelodeon Theatre director, said this year’s festival would offer a broader variety of programs that appeal to a larger audience than past features. Beginning with a reception at Tio’s Mexican Cafe on Friday, the festival features several films in both Spanish and English, along with a Family Day on Sept. 27. “This is the first time we will really be having a program geared at families,” Ramen said, “but I think the appeal will also go beyond families. We have the tour of the art museum in Spanish ... as well as a documentary ... and a guitar concert.” Described as a Mexican version of a Tarantino thriller, “Nicotina” will be the first of three big films to be shown, followed by the nationally acclaimed “Maria Full of Grace.” The third feature will be the U.S.-produced comedy “A Day Without a Mexican.” There will also be select screenings of “Ballad of a Soldier.” In choosing the films for the festival, Ramen said, the theater’s Festival Planning Committee tries to reflect the diversity of Latin Americans. “There’s no monolithic Latin American culture,” Ramen said. “There’s different languages, different cultures, different histories, and different political situations.” This year’s features are from Mexico, Colombia and the United States, and past years have featured Brazilian films and a Cuban movie. The reception kickoff runs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and each of the four films will play for a couple of days at the Nickelodeon. On Sept. 25, Family Day will take place from noon until 4 p.m. and include a free tour of the art museum, screenings of short’animated films, a guitar ensemble and a documentary about Latino musicians including Machito and Tito Puente. For more information, call 254-8234 or visit www.nickelodeon.org. Comments on this story? E-mail gatnecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu PHOTOS SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK “Maria Full of Grace," left, and “Nicotina,” above, will play this week at Nickelodeon Theatre. Third Annual Latin American Film Festival Movie Schedule Opening Reception: Friday 8 10 p.m. Tio's, 928 Main St. “Nicotina”: Friday 7 and 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 3, 7 and 9 p.m., Monday 7 and 9 p.m. “Ballad of a Soldier”: Saturday, 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. (Tickets half price) “A Day Without a Mexican”: Tuesday 7 and 9 p.m., Sept. 22 3, 7 and 9 p.m. “Maria Full of Grace”: Sept. 24, 7 and 9 p.m., Sept. 25 and 26, 3, 7 and 9 p.m., Sept. 27, 7 and 9 p.m. Overseas study gives students perspective By NATALIE NETZEL THE GAMECOCK Instead of the normal classroom routine in South Carolina, imagine studying and living in a place like Italy, Limerick or Vienna. Study abroad programs offer students just that opportunity, but those anxious to head overseas need to hurry — the deadline for the spring 2005 semester is Oct. 1. All eligible USC students still have time to prepare an application — applications are available online at the university’s student affairs Web site, www.sa.sc.edu/sa/index.htm. Students can also pick one up at the Byrnes building, across from the Horseshoe. Eligibility requirements are simple. Students must be enrolled full-time, have completed at least two semesters of college, have completed two years of a college level foreign language if planning to study in a non-English speaking country, have a GPA of at least 3.0 and have met with an adviser. A study abroad fair will be held Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Russell House second floor lobby. Even procrastinators still have a chance to find out information and apply for study in a far-flung locale. The process really begins once you receive your official acceptance letter and complete an approval form alongside your academic adviser, dean and study abroad adviser. Also, make sure you have a passport and, if necessary, a student visa. Paperwork aside, there is fun to look forward to. According to the study abroad office, each year there are 250 undergraduates from USC that go abroad for either a semester, full year or during the summer. Eligible students can study on any continent in the world, including Antarctica. With such basic eligibility requirements, many undergraduates on campus are able to take advantage of study abroad opportunities. Financial issues can arise, but scholarships and financial aid are available. Students can also use their LIFE or other approved University scholarships toward approved programs, and there are even department-awarded scholarships for studying abroad. The cost of studying abroad can be similar to a semester spent in Columbia if students choose a USC tuition exchange program. The expected cost for one year of study, personal expenses included, is $12,048. There are also USC affiliates and non-USC, ♦ Please see ABROAD, page 7 Amber Jones, a 1 fourth-year advertising student, looks through a brochure of study abroad options at the Office of International Programs for Students in the Byrnes Building. The deadline for the spring 2005 semester is Oct. 1. Applications are available at http://www.sa.se .edu/sa/forms/in dex.htm JENNI DILLARD/THE GAMECOCK MOVIE REVIEW Obsessive lovers cross paths in compelling Wicker Park’ ‘WICKER PARK’ ★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ By LESLIE DENNIS THE GAMECOCK A cross between a romantic comedy and a dark thriller, “Wicker Park” shies away from the cookie cutter studio formula to encompass many genres, appealing to a variety of moviegoers. While it stars Josh Hartnett and Matthew Lillard, two actors probably best known to teenagers for their roles in “Pearl Harbor” and “Scooby Doo,” respectively, “Wicker Park” pleases all types of audiences and does not purposefully target a certain demographic — a refreshing change considering the film industry’s emphasis on marketable products. A remake of the French film “L’Appartement,” “Wicker Park” uses subtle filmmaking and strong writing to create a movie that draws the audience into the characters’ lives and emotional psyches. Beginning in present time, Matthew (played by Hartnett) seems to have it all: a decent girlfriend/fiancee, a well-paying job and a comfortable lifestyle. But when he thinks he sees his long-lost love passing him in a restaurant, he finds himself skipping his flight to China and searching for clues to find the love of his life, Lisa (played by Diane Kruger, who also played Helen in this year’s epic “Troy”). Through flashbacks, the relationship between Lisa and Matthew is slowly revealed: Boy sees PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK Josh Hartnett and Diane Kruger star in “Wicker Park," the romantic thriller and remake of the French film, “L’Appartement.” girl, boy stalks girl, girl finally goes out with boy, girl leaves boy. Now, two years later, he realizes his true feelings for her and is determined to get her back. Or at least talk to her. While Hartnett and Kruger are the film’s main characters and “the couple to root for,” they are outshone by Lillard, who plays Matthew’s best friend, Luke, and recently starred in the hokey comedy, “Without A Paddle,” and Rose Bryne, who plays Alex, Lisa’s somewhat unstable friend. Bryne uses every emotion in her acting arsenal to portray her complex character and believably becomes her in every aspect. Lillard, the always sweetly adolescent actor who seems to have a Peter Pan complex, brings bits of hi^mor to the film and aptly portrays the somewhat goofy sidekick to Hartnett’s serious lead. Filmed in the now popular technique of mixed chronology, “Wicker Park” slowly unravels through memories and reflections of the past. By doing so, the film succeeds on a different level than most romance flicks, infused with extra elements of mystery and suspense. Combining the missed opportunities and oh-so-close encounters of “Serendipity” with the frightening obsessions and psychotic impulses of “Fatal Attraction,” “Wicker Park” will have viewers screaming at the screen in an effort to help the characters out of their maze-like web of deceit, love and passion. Comments art this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gvrm.sc. edu Gospel cable networks share faith through song By KRISTEN WYATT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Growing up the son of televangelist Rex Humbard, Charles Humbard remembers family suppers with gospel music greats. Pat Boone. June Carter Cash. The Gatlin Brothers. Charles Humbard later chose a career in cable television, not the ministry, but he returns to bis roots this fall as he launches the Gospel Music Channel, the first 24-hour music network for Christian music. Set to launch in seven markets this October, the Atlanta-based cable network aims to be as popular as MTV and a blessing for gospel artists who find themselves mostly ignored on television despite selling millions of records. “This is a music genre with a large, undeserved, passionate audience,” said Humbard, who left a top post at the Discovery Networks to start the Gospel Music Channel along with Brad Siegel, a former president of Turner Entertainment Networks. The channel will span all Christian music styles, from rock to rap to traditional gospel. A different music style will be featured each night of the week, with an artist biography show called “Faith 8c Fame” airing at 8 p.m. followed by videos or concerts from that style. “My perception of gospel music was that it was mass choir, black church music. It was what you saw in ‘Sister Act,’” said Siegel, who was approached by Humbard to launch the new channel. “But what I saw when I started looking at it was that was not some small niche. This was an enormous chunk of the country, with a real diversity of music.” And the genre is growing. Album sales have gone up 10 percent since 1998, accounting for 47 million albums sold last year, according to Nielsen SoundScan. During the same five-year period, overall music sales dipped 10 percent. Despite its growing popularity, gospel music videos only intermittently run on television. BET shows some gospel videos on Sunday mornings. Religious channels sometimes air music blocks. Humbard and Siegel think the time is right for & full-time video channel, citing the success of “The Passion of the Christ,” one of the year’s top-grossing movies. “It feels like the country has gotten to a point where people s faith is more a part of their lives. It’s a lifestyle as much as it is a religion,” Siegel said. These two aren’t the only ones who have noticed gospel’s growth. Another gospel music channel is in the works. Charlotte, N.C.-based The MP Network — short for music and praise — is trying to get cable distribution for a launch by December, with a focus on Christian rock and pop. “There is a huge market potential here,” said Larry Moore, president and CEO of The MP Network Corp., which will eventually include a gospel music magazine and concert tour series. Despite gospel’s growing popularity, a little divine help might be required to get these two channels into homes. Both are independent, without the distribution muscle of a multi network cable giant such as Viacom Inc. or Turner Broadcasting. The president of the Gospel Music Association, John Styll, concedes the odds are long for the Gospel Music Channel and MP Network. “We would love for them to do for Christian music what MTV did for rock music, but they’ve got to do everything right,” said Styll, who suggested that the startups emphasize gospel’s popularity in major television markets. Surprising to some, gospel music’s top-selling markets are New York and Los Angeles. “Cable companies would be smart to realize this is a great way to get Christian customers without running programming that is particularly religious,” Styll said. Humbard and Siegel say they’re getting plenty of help from people who want the Gospel Music j Channel to launch, from Christian bookstores offering to call cable operators to gospel singers offering free ad help. Already Aretha Franklin and Travis Tritt have posed free for Gospel Music Channel ads, and Amy Grant voiced a promotional video for advertisers, saying, “It’s the music that’s in all of us.” “The artists are absolutely embracing the idea of being all together, with a place to showcase their talents,” Humbard said. “You can’t,! love music and not, love some part of gospel.”