A graphic designer for Rogers State University has won a poster contest held in conjunction with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Tulsa-area filming of the cult-classic film “UHF.”
Randy Riggs’ poster was personally selected by “Weird Al” Yankovic, the film’s star and co-writer, from among 13 entries submitted during the design contest, which was presented in association with the Art Directors Club of Tulsa.
Katy Livingston was recognized as the contest’s second-place winner and Matt Cauthron was selected as third-place winner. All three posters are available for viewing at http://rsu.tv/poster-contest/, and the entries will be exhibited through October 19 at the Circle Cinema, 12 South Lewis, in Tulsa.
Riggs, a 2004 RSU graduate, has been employed by the university’s public relations office since he was a student worker and full-time immediately after his graduation. A Catoosa resident, Riggs said he felt a special kinship with the movie because of its Tulsa connection and the off-the-wall humor.
Riggs’ poster provided a cartoonish representation of janitor and unlikely television star Stanley Spadowski, played by Michael Richards who later gained fame as Kramer on “Seinfeld.” In place of Spadowski’s beloved mop, Riggs placed George’s head, played by Yankovic, along with his ample bushy hair. The poster also contains the elements of Spadowski’s memorable ode to his mop.
The poster contest is just one of many activities planned in connection with the “UHF” celebration that will culminate in an Oct. 19 concert at the Brady Theatre in Tulsa. The impetus for the celebration started when RSU Public TV membership director Jennifer Sterling initiated a conversation with Yankovic’s management about celebrating the movie while supporting the station’s fall pledge drive.
A three-time, Grammy Award-winning musician, Yankovic was on the RSU campus in Claremore on Tuesday, where he spoke to communication students, taped promotional spots for RSU Public TV and joined a dediciation ceremony for the Weird Al Yankovic Supply Closet, which was a reference to a gag in his movie. Later in the day, he participated in a film screening of “UHF” and signed his children’s book, “My New Teacher and Me.”
Copies of Riggs’ poster were signed by the artist, Yankovic, co-writer Jay Levey and producer Gray Frederickson and sold during the Tuesday night screening. Proceeds will benefit the Circle Society and RSU Public Television.
Additional partners for the celebration include Tulsa City-County Library, Steve’s Sundry, HarperCollins, DCF Concerts and the Art Directors Club of Tulsa. The celebration runs from September 13-October 19.
For more information, visit http://rsu.tv/.