This past Friday in the Student Center Theater, Campus life began its first Friday Night Movie with the screening of “Toy Story 3.” All movies are free, and no tickets or student I.D.s are required.
The seating for both showings of “Toy Story 3” reached full capacity. Twenty minutes before the second showing began, a line of more than 100 students stretched from the entrance doors past the lobby shop. Students were still coming in after the movie had started. The doors of the theater had to be guarded and locked to prevent more people from coming in. Groups of students stood outside the auditorium discussing what to do now that they could not get in.
“Toy Story 3” is about toys donated to a local daycare ruled by an evil stuffed bear named Lotso. The toys first feel appreciated, but soon find themselves abused by the younger children. Determined not let the evil Lotso rule over them, the toys do everything they can to try to escape back home.
All the Friday Night Movies shown are chosen by Campus Life. Gregg Costanzo, arts and entertainment program coordinator for Campus Life says, “Campus Life is a department on campus and our primary devotion is student involvement and student devotion here on campus.”
“If you’re defining success by attendance, then it’s a very successful program,” Costanzo said.
Nick Meisling, EMU sophomore and health administration major, believes attendance could be improved by changes in show times.
“I would see more movies if they showed them on Thursdays,” he said.
Meisling suggests college students’ tendency to party on Fridays might discourage students from attending movies. “If they showed something on Thursdays, maybe they’d have even more people.”
Campus Life takes suggestions from students as to what movies should be shown.
Suggestions for movies can be sent to Campus Life’s Facebook page, or its website at www.emich.edu/campuslife. Because of the large number of suggestions that Campus Life receives, students will not be notified if their suggestions are taken or not.
Costanzo, along with four student staff members in the Arts and Entertainment Department, have a previewing party for the movies suggested by students.
They then choose what movies they believe to be the best rated.
On Sept. 17, “Iron Man 2” starring Robert Downey Jr. will be playing at the Student Center. Having previously revealed his true identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark is asked by the United States government to turn over his Iron Man suit.
While participating in a car race, Stark is attacked by a villain named Ivan Vanko, who has a suit similar to Iron Man’s. Vanko claims Stark is responsible for the death of his family and vows to avenge his family’s deaths.
Other films chosen for this year: “The Karate Kid,” “Twilight Saga: Escape (shown at University Park),” “Grown Ups,” “Despicable Me,” “Dinner for Schmucks,” “Inception,” “Salt,” “The Other Guys,” “The Expendables” and “Eat, Pray, Love.”
