IU alumnus to document fraternity's competition

For producer and IU alumnus Jason Lee, coming to IU to film his first full-length documentary is like returning home. The former president of the Gamma Eta chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity will spend the next two months following members of the chapter's step team as they prepare for their April 22 competition at the IU Auditorium.\n"The film is about exposing the phenomena of the step show and what goes into it," Lee said. "And I want to shed positive light on African-American fraternities and sororities."\nLee was sitting in his apartment one day about six months ago when the idea "just came to him," he said. He immediately contacted his fraternity brothers at IU and made plans to come to campus. \n"Stepping is something that has always been interesting to people who do it, but we want to get it more into the mainstream," Lee said. "It just seemed natural to do it at IU." \nFor the past five years, Lee has been working in Los Angeles on a number of different projects, including writing screenplays. However, this documentary will be the first test for his newly formed production company, Griffin and Lee Entertainment.\nA deciding factor in making the film was the timing, Lee said. The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity will be celebrating its centennial anniversary this year. Another reason was the dominance of the IU step team, something that Lee, a former "step master," is very familiar with.\n"Our step team is very, very good," Lee said. "When I was here, we won the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis and a bunch of other competitions." \nThe fraternity is enthusiastic about the project, said Cameron Beatty, president of the National Panhellenic Council and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha. The film will show the whole perspective of the fraternity and stepping, not just what people can see at parties or competition.\n"We want the world to know what it is like to be in an African-American fraternity," Lee said. "We do a lot of great things, and what better outlet is there than through a movie?"\nCameramen will spend the next two months tailing members of the step team throughout their daily activities, Lee said. Going to class is no exception.\n"Everyone in my classes had to sign waivers so that the camera could go to class with me," said senior Terrance Dennie, a member of the IU step team. "Everyone was pretty cool about it, but afterwards a lot of people came up and were asking about what they were filming me for." \nThough Dennie does his best to be himself on days the camera is on him, he admits he sometimes gets a little self-conscious.\n"I mean, I don't want the camera to see me picking my nose or something," Dennie said.\nLike students, University officials have also been open to the production, Lee said.\n"The University wants to encourage creativity, so we take a 'hands-off' approach to deciding what can be filmed," said David Rust, vice president of corporate partnerships. "Our only interest is in making sure academic activities aren't inhibited." \nThe film should be released sometime in fall 2006, Lee said. Where it will be shown depends on distribution deals and whether other companies like the film. \n"I will take the DVD to everyone on campus's house, sit them down and make them watch it," Lee said. "It is something that everyone -- students, graduates and faculty -- should support"