A number of Wisconsin Film Festival movies will be returning to Madison as they enter wide release or for special showings. We will be highlighting them as they return as part of WFF2008 Encores

Loose Cannons: Campus Security tells the story of a miscreant gang of student campus security officers at a local University startlingly similar to UW-Madison… Protecting and serving become a bit of a problem for them when the football team’s playbook is stolen and their beloved mascot “Muley” is murdered in suspicious correlation with the university’s impending homecoming celebration. The plot thickens; these atrocious acts have not been set in motion by the rival school, but by an embittered domestic foe. Spencer Huntly. One of the very students expelled through the valiant actions of our bubbly campus-cop crew has come back to reek vengeance and reap reward with foul play, a nearly silent sidekick played by the director, and a new gang of thugs appropriately dubbed as the “Freshman 15”. The villain’s treachery can’t be contained by typical human angst; his vile plans, while immature in nature, are obscenely sociopathic. Yet, our “loose cannons” have no fear; their bravery delivers them through even the most elaborate fights and haphazard gun battles with alarming grace.

The story spends much of its focus on central ‘loose cannon’ Chuck Sypholis (pronounced “sih-FO-luhs”). No matter how hard he tries, Chuck just can’t seem to get it right. He has the Dean’s office on his case, determined to take away his campus cop badge for good. Things begins to look doubtful for Chuck when his poor marks in class get him ousted from his position, but with his cohorts beside him, he sets out to ace a test, restore campus safety, and tackle a formidable foe. By his side, there’s Terry Hutchinson, a savvy kung fu master with the hots for a local newswoman. His lady love, Emily Fresca eagerly joins the crew and brings with her the high hopes that just might help them save the day. Glenn Youngblood tackles any terror with an earnest off-the-cuff attitude, smiles, and machismo… often simply climbing his way out of a pickle.

Loose Cannons: Campus Security has all the makings of a spectacular tribute with independent flair: Two parts kung-fu action, a hint of noir, and a dash of commedia dell’arte timing. This feature definitely holds a lot of personality. Schlachtenhaufen is purported to have spent less than $1,500 on this carefully optimistic attempt; an attempt I may gladly report as a success. Not only has Schlachtenhaufen shown us a professional image, he has exhibited the razor sharp edge of a cast and crew he knows inside out.

The script was written with his brother Steffen, a veteran in what has almost incidentally evolved into a cult series of “Loose Cannons” mayhem. Together, Andy and Steffen have created a charging storyline with the right amount of situational comedy, improvisation, and witty interactions to advance such an exceptionally youthful scenario.

You have another chance to see Loose Cannons and I recommend you do...

...before Madison loses this talented young filmmaker to the big bad L.A. film scene, you will want in on the action, splendor, and mayhem which Loose Cannons: Campus Security has wrought. It will be playing in conjunction with Eric Lim’s (Officer Terry Hutchinson in Loose Cannons) film Zero Trooper F at the Orpheum’s Stage Door Friday, April 25 at 7:00PM. Tickets are $3 (at the door). Running time for Loose Cannons is 97 minutes. Running time for Zero Trooper F is 39 minutes. Q&A to follow.

Related Links:
Poetic musings with "Loose Cannons" director Andy Schlachtenhaufen