RANDY METCALF/Arizona Daily Wildcat Media arts graduate student Andrew McCabe stands behind a video camera he uses to interview directors whose projects air on the UA Channel. McCabe's program airs on channel 76 in UA dormitories, and on Cox and Comcast cable systems.

That's all it takes for Î[FRAMES],' a show that shows off student projects

A UAPD bicycle officer once wrote Andrew McCabe a $110 ticket because the graduate student ran a campus stop sign on his bike. McCabe then had his license revoked when he chose not to pay the fine.

But when you wear black T-shirts every day, hail from Ohio and produce a TV show for UA Channel, such behavior might be expected. Artsy people often embrace their natural inclinations to shrug off the establishment.

McCabe is a student intern at UA Channel and the producer of "[FRAMES]," a 30-minute show dedicated to exhibiting student video projects.

UA Channel, not to be confused with UATV, is a UA outreach and service channel available in UA dorms and with both Cox and Comcast cable systems.

RANDY METCALF/Arizona Daily Wildcat McCabe in master control, where "[FRAMES]" shows are uploaded and fed to satellites to be broadcast on Cox and Comcast cable systems, in addition to the UA Channel.

"[FRAMES]" works like this: One or more video projects air and are followed by an interview with the director, kind of like special features on a DVD.

Punching the number 76 on your remote control at 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays won't let you hack into free HBO access, but it will provide you with a nice showcase of your fellow students' work.

Since he wants to keep the show diverse, McCabe's arms are wide open when it comes to submissions.

"Any kind of video project (works)," McCabe said. "It can be a music video, a documentary. It can be a short narrative piece. It can be experimental ÷ just any kind of video projects, as long as it displays a knowledge of video shooting and editing techniques."

But hold it, all you future pornographers of America; McCabe's arms are wide open, but he's not giving out bear hugs.

Joe Chitwood, the assistant general manager for the UA Channel, said aired projects have to be in good taste and not X-rated. Other than that, it's free game.

"Some of the programs are artistic. Some of them are funny," Chitwood said.

McCabe said film content hasn't been a huge problem and that he's been getting high quality work.

"Some stuff had been rejected, but it's more on technicalities than on content," McCabe said. "For instance, like if there's copyrighted music, a lot of swearing, stuff you can't really take out."

I think the best part about submitting work, or doing work, is getting people to see it and talk about it.Sitting in his UA Channel office, McCabe rendered some of the show's footage amidst computer and television monitors and cords snaking the ground.

Then he watched "Desert Monster Chronicles Episode 7: Cyborg Pirate Assassin!" by Mike Skvarla, a media arts senior.

That movie has a lot of fake blood. It had to be censored, but not because it's too gory.

"In the thing (movie), it says, ÎYou zigged when you should have zagged, mother fucker,'" McCabe said. "I had to take out Îmother fucker.'"

"Cyborg Pirate Assassin!" ÷ which is part of the second "[FRAMES]" program ÷ is nearing the end of its two-week running time.

UA students and cable subscribers curious enough to surf past Channel 76 Saturday night will get one last chance to view the short before it's replaced with the third episode of "[FRAMES]."

After watching "Cyborg Pirate Assassin!," McCabe watched "Woble," a short thriller by media arts senior Edward Kim.

Viewers should be forewarned ÷ "Woble" is elbow spelled backwards. That's how twisted and disjointed this thriller is. It doesn't air until Tuesday, and will run for two weeks on Tuesday and Saturday nights.

"Edward is one of those rare people who is a video production student that really gets it," McCabe said of Kim's ability to pay attention to aesthetics while maintaining a hold on the storytelling process.

"I can't say enough good things about him as a filmmaker," McCabe said of Kim. "About him keeping appointments, that's another story."

"Woble" was Kim's first opportunity to do a video project outside of class. He first got the idea for the storyline from a friend, a long time ago.

"When he told me the story, I was freaked out by it," Kim said. He remembered the plot and decided to tell the story visually.

Airing with "Woble" will be Kim's documentary of the UA a cappella sextet, Vocal Ease.

Kim said "[FRAMES]" is an open door for members of the UA community to exhibit their video projects and that he wishes more people would submit.

"I hear about students looking for a place to have their movies screened and this is like, a great opportunity," he said. "I think the best part about submitting work, or doing work, is getting people to see it and talk about it."

Kim said he doesn't think "[FRAMES]" is just for media arts students.

"There's hobbyists out there that I know that love to shoot around and make stuff on their own computers," Kim said. "So why not show it? Who knows?"

UA Channel is funded by KUAT, contracts, and grants.

Project submissions can be made to Andrew McCabe at amccabe@email.arizona.edu.

÷ Edward Kim, media arts senior