\The secret ingredient is... twist.""
With this announcement by Wis-Kino co-founder Matt Sloan, the 2005 Wis-Kino Spring Kabaret kicked off.
Filmmakers of all sorts had 48 hours to create, shoot, edit and produce five-minute films. They needed to include the secret ingredient in some shape or form, but aside from that rule, there were few restrictions for the Kabaret films.
UW-Madison junior Andy Schlachtenhaufen, who created a film for the event, likes the secret ingredient because it forces people to make connections and turn out films they normally would not have created.
The Spring 2005 Kabaret featured numerous thematic takes on ""twist"" as well as several literal takes on the secret ingredient. Films such as ""Madison Twist,"" by UW-Madison senior Justin Sprecher, featured people dancing on State Street to Chubby Checker's ""The Twist,"" while Schlachtenhaufen's ""Twist People"" took an avant-garde approach with choreographed doppelg??ngers. One mockumentary film even went in-depth into ""The Origins and Mysteries of Twister,"" complete with two Twister pros and the evil mastermind inventor of the game.
The Kabaret is actually a special twice-yearly event for Wis-Kino, a Madison-based filmmaking group. Aside from the Kabarets, Wis-Kino features screenings every month at the Orpheum stage, 216 State St.
The concept for Wis-Kino has roots in Montreal, where the first Kino shows were created.
""Kino is this movement which is becoming pretty big right now,"" Wis-Kino co-founder Aaron Yonda said. ""Wis-Kino is composed of people who make short films on their own with whatever limited funds or resources they have, just for the fun of it.""
When Yonda heard about the Montreal Kino, he traveled there to meet up with the original Kino creators. They suggested he bring Kino to the states, which resulted in the creation of Wis-Kino-the first Kino in the United States. It paved the way for Kinos in New York and Kentucky.
Sloan feels the local nature of Kinos contribute to their success. ""[Kino] is exciting because it's not part of 'the industry,' it's not part of something that's a thousand miles away. It's happening right here in town, and that's exciting,"" Sloan said. ""If someone is interested in local cinema, something that's happening locally, something that's part of the community-these are all things that attract people to Wis-Kino.""
While the monthly screenings do feature a common element, they do not force participants into following the 48-hour creation time limit. However, Sloan feels the most creativity comes out of the Kabarets.
""The more time you take, the more excuses you can come up with to say why it can't be done,"" Sloan said. ""Because of the short time period, people are forced to just get it done and they surprise themselves with how good they can do in that short of time.""
When Schlachtenhaufen created ""Twist People,"" he faced numerous obstacles, such as coming up with his concept, contending with his class schedule and finding places with adequate lighting.
""This is a weird idea-I hope it works out,"" Schlachtenhaufen said while filming.
Sloan describes the Kabarets as a ""competition with yourself to see the project through."" True to that description, Schlachtenhaufen's hectic filmmaking journey took him all over the campus area into the early hours of the morning. Stops at Memorial Union, Van Hise, Birge Hall and the Humanities building all served as Schlachtenhaufen's sets.
He finished filming at 1:30 a.m. Saturday-a mere 15 hours before the completed film was due. During that time he digitized and edited the rough footage, create special effects and incorporated a soundtrack created by his friend, UW-Madison junior Joey Cienian, for the purpose of the film. Schlachtenhaufen even managed to get just over six hours of sleep. When he was finished, Schlachtenhaufen was more than happy with his film.
Sloan and Yonda encourage filmmakers to stop by the Orpheum side door and show their films. Information for the monthly screenings can be found on their website www.wis-kino.com.
