MANKATO — A digital camera. Lots of free time. A few stuffed animals. "We have all the ingredients for a prize-winning amateur comedy short!" thought Paul Spangle and his girlfriend, Jessica Manthie, while personifying several plush toys in Spangle's apartment.
That's actually pretty close to how their movie, "The Wizard o' Foz," was born. Spangle and Manthie, Minnesota State University graduate students in counseling and student affairs, saw a poster advertising the IMPACT Team's annual Amateur Film Fest. And one day, while the two were sitting around, their stuffed animals sparked fiery inspiration.
A loose script outline later, the two were producing, directing, acting and filming their first short comedy, which has been chosen as one of the top five submitted for consideration at this year's fest. "Foz" will be shown Monday night in the Centennial Student Union north ballroom, with the other four top films. The top three winners will be chosen by a panel of three MSU English professors and two representatives of Sprint, a sponsor of the contest, said organizer Jacob Hamilton.
"We wrote sort of a pseudo script, but things kept changing throughout the process," Spangle said. "We spoof a whole bunch of stuff - 'The Ring,' 'That '70s Show,' 'Austin Powers' and 'Lassie.'"
The most obvious spoof of Spangle's and Manthie's 8-minute movie is - you guessed it - "The Wizard of Oz." The plot centers around four characters - who move about in puppetry fashion via fishing line - who are missing something in their lives, so they set out on a journey for fulfillment and find each other. They also find Fozzie Bear, who serves as a quasi "great and powerful Oz."
"We tried to keep ourselves out of the shots. It looks pretty real," Spangle said. "We were kind of all over the place - bedrooms at our apartments, Dairy Queen and a playground for part of it."
A small dolly named Dorothy seeks true love. An underwear-clad monkey looks for his lost mojo. A "rather large ape of some sort" is in need of courage. And a "Lassie" dog is looking for ...
"It's never actually said what he's looking for," Spangle said. "In the end he gets a little treat."
But the treat will just have to be a surprise for those who attend the Film Fest, he said.
"Foz" is Spangle's and Manthie's first attempt at comedy, but Spangle's done a couple of short films before. One of his undergraduate majors at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was in film before transferring to MSU for graduate studies.
Spangle said both are pleased with their film.
"I think it's funny. Everyone who I've shown it to laughs out loud throughout most of it," he said. "There is somewhat of a message that comes out in the end ..."
But that, too, will have to be a surprise, he said.
Hamilton said IMPACT received nine entries this year, which range from documentary film to action to drama. Contest rules didn't restrict theme, but required each film to be no longer than 35 minutes and had to be somewhat "clean." Hamilton and nine others narrowed the films submitted to the top five.
The first-place prize is $200, second place is $100 and third place is $50. Movies will be judged based on quality, story line, plot, originality, entertainment value and artistic merit.
At A Glance
The MSU IMPACT Team will be hosting a Songwriters Contest 8 p.m. Tuesday on the lower level of the Centennial Student Union.
Students who wish to perform must sign up by Monday in CSU 173.
If You Go
What: MSU's Amateur Film Fest, top five films will be shown and top three winners chosen
When: 8 p.m. Monday in Centennial Student Union north ballroom
Admission: Free and open to the public
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