 "Photo: Breanna Huff")
For all moviegoers wanting something different from mainstream Hollywood films, the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center is the place to be. Located on 13th and R streets, adjacent to the Van Brunt Visitors Center, the Ross shows movies of assorted genres from around the world. Most are independent movies, foreign films and documentaries.
The Ross started as an exhibition program at the Sheldon Museum of Art. Norman Geske, the former director of the Sheldon, started showing films sporadically in 1964. In 1973, Geske wanted to make the film program stronger and show movies on a regular basis.
Then Geske met Ross, who was on the board of trustees for the University of Nebraska. Ross loved film as an art form and often went to screenings in New York City. She pledged to financially support the art form and gave $10,000 annually for the theater.
Geske needed a director to start the program, and through recommendations, he found Danny Lee Ladely. Ladely has worked as the director of the Ross for 35 years, since the first films - a Charlie Chaplin series - were shown in June 1973.
"The idea at the beginning was to exhibit film as art in the same spirit as sculpture and painting and any other art medium," Ladely said. "And that's something people didn't think about in those days and still don't think about now. In fact, film is the major art form of our modern times."
In 1990, Ladely decided the Ross Center needed its own facility. He sent Ross a letter outlining his vision, and she donated $3.5 million to a University Foundation trust fund for use in constructing the new building. Construction started in 2001, and the completed theater opened in 2003.
The building has two theaters, one that seats 106 and the Joseph H. Cooper Theater, which seats 236. There is a concession stand with local homemade popcorn from Chapman, Neb., as well as candy and healthy snack alternatives.
Next to the director's office is a room with old movies preserved for film studies students to watchand another room with files of poster collections, reviews and articles on filmmakers and past movies shown at the Ross.
Senior film studies major Joe Coleman works at the Ross. He has gone to many movies at the Ross but just started working there inJune.
"My favorite movie would be 'Air Guitar Nation,'" Coleman said. "It's a documentary about air guitar competitions. It made me want to compete in them. I won one this year. They're pretty fun."
Ultimately, Ladely decides what movies are shown at the Ross. Many local directors, students and professors contact him to screen their movies. Otherwise, he contacts distributors and requests screeners - advance video or DVD copies of films - so he can preview them. Movies play for a two-week period and then are switched out for new attractions.
"I pay attention to the box office returns," Ladely said. "I try to provide a balance between films that are more mainstream that will attract larger audiences and films that I think are important to include in our programming but I know won't attract big audiences."
The Ross theater hosts many events to attract more students to the movies. Student appreciation night is once a month, where students pay only $1 each for admission, pop and popcorn. Some companies hold free sneak previews of Hollywood movies at the Ross. Sometimes filmmakers and film experts visit and hold discussions with the audience after screenings or lectures.
Sophomore psychology and sociology major Ryan Bramhall said he enjoys seeing movies at the Ross.
"Last year I had an indie friend, and we went to indie movies there together," Bramhill said. "They play amazing movies there. I would recommend everyone to go. It's an enlightening experience."
aliaconley@dailynebraskan.com
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