CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
The Student Union film series has popular films covered. But the Philomathesian Society, promotes awareness of the arts and humanities through forums, their publication, The Philo-mathesian, and a film series.
The film committee works to provide films that are different from the mainstream.
"It's not that the mainstream films are bad -- they're not at all. We just want to show something that is different, something that the students wouldn't get a chance to see otherwise," said Kristina Hemphill, a senior and the co-chairwoman of the committee.
The Philomathesians often choose films that fall into one of three categories: foreign, old and artistic films.
However, this is not always the case.
Senior Jason Bennett, a member of the film committee, said, "We usually go by whatever the group is into at the time. We try to offer a wide variety of films, not just intellectual or foreign films but films that are different from what the students have seen and yet ones that would still interest them."
Anticipated student body interest is taken into account by the film committee to make programming decisions. But the personal interests of the committee members help the committee to make decisions about what specific films to show.
For instance, one member had a great interest in Paul Newman and as the society was looking for a classic film to show, they decided on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Though the final decision is made by the committee, everyone's interests are considered.
One way to assess this interest is to look at the films that draw the biggest crowds.
When the Philomathesians showed the Star Wars series last fall, it was an unusual choice. Usually they show less well-known films, and the response to this perennial favorite was overwhelming.
They were amazed not only at the number of people who attended but also at how much people knew about the Star Wars series.
Another film series that was extremely popular was Krzysztof Kieslowski's three films, Blue, White and Red. Jude Stewart, a senior and a co-chairwoman of the film committee, said, "These films are visually stunning. We got a big response from them because of their recent release but also because they are beautiful movies.
"The director has a strong eye and really brought out the diversity of the series. They all worked together and really have a lot to offer, especially bringing in the strong French art tradition."
Red is the only film in the series that has not yet been shown.
But because of the response for the other two, it will definitely be on the film series' lineup in the future.
Crowd size isn't the only factor that determines whether or not a film is well received.
The films shown often provoke much discussion, and this is a major criterion as well. In fact, after some films the committee sets up formal discussion groups and occasionally even brings in a guest speaker.
These guest speakers have not been as prevalent lately because the Philo-mathesians' energy been directed toward other areas.
But that hasn't stopped discussion among the students. Indeed, informal discussion based on the films quite often breaks out among the students who have viewed them.
Stewart said this discussion is a good tool for the committee to use in order to determine the success of the films with their audiences.
"We tend to have some of the same people attending the films so I will often talk to them afterwards to see what they thought," Stewart said.
Just as many of the committee members have certain preferences for movies or actors, so does their audience.
Some people will approach the committee with films that they would like to have shown.
This was the case with Raise the Red Lantern, which was shown two weeks ago.
The society has also shown a few controversial films that address current issues as well.
Last year, it showed Roger and Me, a documentary about a General Motors plant that closed down in Flint, Mich.
Another set of controversial films is coming up this weekend. These films, Hollywood Shuffle and Shaft, have been termed "blaxploitation." They deal with black issues using black actors.
Some profess these films to be ground-breaking and part of the reason for showing them is to delve into the issues they are addressing and evaluate whether or not they really are.
A speaker may help foster the discussion and address the issues shown in the films.
The discussions will probably revolve around race, how it is portrayed in film,and how it is perceived in film.
It is these kinds of issues and the discussion they spark that the film committee strives to promote.