Oberlin students create Hollywood here

Students choose their own music, costumes and back drops for videos

If it is true that everyone will experience 15 minutes of fame in his or her lifetime, a large portion of the student body filled at least a third of their time slot Wednesday evening.

Fun Flicks, a company which travels across the country allowing students to choreograph and star in their own "MTV style" videos, made its way to Wilder Hall. Thanks to the sponsorship of the Student Union, this service was entirely free of cost, with the possible exception of one's reputation, if applicable.

This much I knew when I ascended the icy steps of Wilder at approximately 8:30 p.m., but nothing could have prepared me for the commercialized madhouse waiting inside. Nine color television screens, arranged Tic-Tac-Toe style in the center of the lobby, towered over all passersby. As if I had suddenly morphed into an insect, I saw nine identical images of a female student wearing a red cape and flying through outer space, waving and winking at me to the tune of the Superman theme.

When I regained consciousness, I looked up again to assure myself I was awake, in reality, and not hallucinating. I saw the same image, though this time accompanied by a flying rubber chicken. That was good enough for me. Now, it was time to start asking questions - "check out the scene," as it were.

For those of us who don't spend a great deal of our time watching television these days, we may have forgotten the hypnotizing effects it has. I was abruptly reminded of this phenomenon when I attempted to talk to those students staring, mouths agape, up at the screens. So, I decided to leave the brainwashed to their fun and go straight to the source.

Timidly, I entered the main lounge, where the students at the sign-up table, among them college senior Christian Wells, asked me if I was ready to sign up. At which point I hastily explained that, uh, no, I just wanted to write an article. I was soon directed to Vince, The Man in Charge, (he wished not to disclose his surname) who said, "We've got everything from Chippendales dancers to motorcycle rides. You choose your own costumes, props, music, backgrounds. It's fun." When I asked if there was anything he thought I should include in my article, Vince, slick Fun Flicks representative that he is, suggested that I experience it for myself, so I would know what I was writing about.

Not wishing to appear squeamish, I casually agreed that this was a good strategy. Actually, the thought of my face on display nine times in the middle of the lobby while other students had fun at my expense scared me to no end. But I went along with the game anyway, spending an inordinate amount of time flipping through the catalogue of music and scenery choice. Finally, I decided on Madonna's "Vogue" over Def Leppard, and was just about to sign the slip with "computer-generated sunrise" as my background of choice when I learned, to my chagrin, that it was too late. It was approaching 9:30, and there were no more slots. Darn.

At that point I resigned myself, as did other rejects, to join the droolers in the lobby, where - quelle surprise! - the same students from an hour before were still gawking at the display. Some, I learned by eavesdropping on their conversations, had been rooted to the same spot, with small rest breaks, for up to three hours. I had to find out why.

It did not take genius or fact-finding skill to figure it out. As Vince the Man said, "It's fun." And it was. For everyone - whether voyeur or spectacle. Where else could one see "Copa Cabana" performed under the sea by people wearing straw hats and red leather jackets? Or the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" performed by four women?

Hell yeah. As any fellow MTV junkie would have told you: This kicked ass. And if you weren't there, you suck.

Strike a pose, there's nothing to it: Oberlin students had fun and managed to escape the pressures and doldrums of everyday life at Oberlin when Fun Flicks came to Wilder. Students co-ordinated their choice of music and background to make music videos or movie clips. Most students watched the nine television screens in the lobby in lieu of making their own video. (photos by Nicole Wright)