The Observer, September 2, 2005
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1
Film Society completes renovations
Everyone loves movies. Think about it: it's much easier to picture your favorite big-screen fight or love scene than it is to mentally replay your most personally meaningful O-Chem lecture. Some people love movies like Star Wars so much, they find it perfectly natural to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to see their beloved films over and over, all while living in tents outside multiplexes. As far as I can tell, the members of Case's Film Society aren't nearly that obsessive, but they are committed to providing the members of Case's community with quality movies for a fraction of the price demanded by most theaters today. In fact, if you check out Film Society's screenings of Sin City or Boondock Saints this weekend, you might find your viewing experience rivals those found at large chain theaters, (especially if you factor in the $30 popcorn and soda) thanks to some newly-completed renovations to Strosacker Auditorium. Bring a tent - you might enjoy it that much.
With the help of a grant from the Media Board, the members of Film Society have updated their sound equipment over the summer to the nearly-professional levels of Dolby Digital Sound. This rockin' new sound equipment, along with a new DVD projector added last year, will allow Film Society to show a variety of new films this year, including works by local filmmakers. These advances will hopefully allow Film Society to better keep up with current technological advances from their home in Strosacker Auditorium, as well as feature super-sweet new movies like Sin City, and have a valid excuse to show Jessica Alba in her underwear.
On a more wholesome front, Film Society is also partnering with both Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital and the Cleveland Museum of Art this year, hopefully bringing Case and our surrounding community closer. While CMA continues its own renovations this fall, Film Society will host all film programs for the museum in Strosacker on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. With their location chosen over dozens of local theaters, the members of Film Society hope that this added publicity will help them reach their ultimate goal of having a home theater in the new student center being planned. For a campus group that has been in existence for over thirty years, it's not an unrealistic aspiration.
These dedicated film junkies will also be holding a local filmmakers' spotlight next semester, and welcome submissions from non-professionals (these will be screened for propriety, so all you Paris-wannabes can forget it). On campus, Film Society plans to cosponsor movies and events with at least seven campus groups this semester. These include a UPB-sponsored performance by One Man Star Wars Trilogy genius Charles Ross (currently the star of his own Broadway show, packing all three original Star Wars movies into an hour-long monologue), preceded and followed by screenings of "The Empire Strikes Back." Get out your tents and pocket protectors, guys. And as if that wasn't enough, Film Society will also be holding sneak previews of unreleased movies like Corpse Bride, Tim Burton's newest stop-animation creation, set for 7 p.m. on September 20 in Strosacker.
Whether you love all movies or just the dirty ones (don't worry, we won't tell anyone), going to the movies has never been better or easier thanks to the intrepid members of Film Society. Why waste your heard earned cash on gas and snack money at a multiplex when you can see quality movies on the quad whenever you want? After all, tents are optional.
