FILM REVIEWS : USC Student Works Highlighted

USC’s Bovard Auditorium is the site of the second half of the Cinema-Television students’ short films program today and Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Of tonight’s films available for screening, Julie Linowes’ “Vanishing Vets” is deeply affecting. Linowes’ unforgettable portraits of black Vietnam veterans, many of whom are fighting the effects Agent Orange exposure, show her to be a fine, empathic film maker. Her subjects are the definition of valiant men and fortunate to have the remarkable Frank Walker, a fellow veteran-counselor at this South Central Los Angeles vet center.

Dave Edelson’s semi-opaque experimental film, “The Personal Life of Mr. Phelps” with its double sound tracks, was done with a wry sense of humor as well as a strong sense of style. Edelson was cameraman, director, editor and did the complex sound track and music.

Wednesday night’s screening is highlighted by the zing of Cynthia Cohn’s droll “Lovestruck” in which editing, fine lighting, camera work and a friendly point of view make all the difference during interviews with six obsessive lovers.

Writer-director Tom Sylla’s “Dinosaur of My Dreams” is a pleasant-enough fantasy whose best features are its camera work and production values and the performance of Jamie Holland as a soulful young man who tries to nurture a dinosaur egg.

In “Fred,” director Ron Ward eases us in to stand-up comic Fred Burns, gingerly. Born with spina bifida, existing now on a proud diet of nicotine, caffeine and excess.

In Wednesday’s review of “Out of the Water,” USC student writer-director Mary Kuryla’s name was misspelled.

Information: (213) 938-5673.