SFUAD Film Clubs

Posted by Andrew Koss in Film

The hosts of SFUAD’s weekly film clubs pose for photos on the counter in the lobby of The Screen. Kaylie Huse, Brendan Sauer, Amy West and Max Marriner all started film classes together their freshman year at SFUAD.  As the years passed, each of the students branched out into various specialties within the Film program. The photo shoot reunites them, along with film club newcomer, Jake D’Annunzio. D’Annunzio took over the International Screening Series from Baxter Smith, who graduated in December. The students sit up straight and smile for the camera. Moments later, the formality of the photo shoot drops away and they break out in laughter, making goofy faces.

Film club host Kaylie Huse (WTF Film Club). Photo by Luke E. Montavon

SFUAD’s film clubs provide a free movie-going experience for students. “They’re the most popular clubs at the school,” says Peter Grendle, the manager of The Screen. The clubs meet Monday through Thursday at 10 p.m. When asked if the late hours interfere with schoolwork, West says, “It’s only an issue if I’m working really hard on a film production. On the other hand, sometimes it forces me to take a break.”

Two out of the four film clubs are dedicated to specific genres. Amy West runs the Independent Film Club, which meets on Tuesday nights, and Jake D’Annunzio conducts meetings of the International Screening Series on Wednesdays. The other clubs serve a broader audience. Max Marriner’s Movie Night at The Screen, on Thursday nights, draws the largest crowd. Many students do not have class on Fridays and don’t have to worry about getting up early the next day. Taking in a blockbuster film is a great way to unwind at the end the week. West believes Movie Night owes its popularity to the professional manner in which Marriner runs his club. “I’m much more casual when I host,” she says. “I basically say, ‘Don’t be an asshole.’”

“The rest of us are super laid back,” Sauer says.

D’Annunzio adds, “I don’t have any problems with people at my club, because I’m just naturally sexy and intimidating.”

On Monday nights, The Screen hosts the What The Fuck (WTF) Film Club. “Where we play whatever the fuck we want,” says Kaylie Huse. “We fill in the gaps the other clubs don’t meet.”

Brendan Sauer co-hosts the club with Huse. The two came up with the idea three years ago while sitting in a car. “We didn’t want to stick to any specific genre,” Huse says. “Lately, we’ve been showing the Harry Potter films, but we play a wide range of movies. We show a lot of animated films, because they’re not really covered much in the other clubs. We also play musicals, because I like musicals. Brendan doesn’t like them so much. I have to talk him into it.”

Due to the wide range of films shown, attendance at the WTF Film Club varies a great deal. “There are times where we’ve had three people show up, and the next week the theater will be packed,” Sauer says. Hosting a club at the beginning of the school week does nothing to keep students from attending. “You can get anyone to come as long as you’re showing something they want to see. We even had people show up for Surf Ninjas.”

Film club host Jake D’Annunzio (International Screening Series). Photo by Luke E. Montavon

The correlation between attendance and film recognition translates to a lower turnout for the International Screening Series, but D’Annunzio is undeterred. “The people who do show up are fantastic. They stay after to talk about the films. It’s all about getting people to trust you in picking the movies.” D’Annunzio’s hosting duties began with a screening of Robert Bresson’s Pickpocket. “I wanted to establish what I would be bringing to the club,” D’Annunzio says.

He goes on to say that while Bresson is a tough director to get into, he figured the film’s short duration would make it easier for people to watch. However, as he walked to the projection booth when the movie was over, he doubted his choice. “I can’t believe I made people sit through this movie,” he said to himself. When the lights came up and he returned from the booth, he found one of the audience members crying. “Almost everyone stayed after to talk about it.”

Amy West enjoys the smaller, more intimate nature of her Independent Film Club. “There’s about 10 people who show up on a regular basis. It’s like we’re friends who get together to watch a movie once a week.”

Attendance isn’t always a problem. West’s showing of The Grand Budapest Hotel was the most highly attended of the school year. Students struggled to find seats while an additional batch of kernels popped in the popcorn maker.

“I run my club very casually,” West says. “I love getting suggestions from people on what to watch. I like to show films that have a controversial subject matter. If I’ve never seen the film, I do some research to see if there are any triggers.”

West recently screened the film Hard Candy, starring Ellen Page. “It was really fascinating to watch it with a group of people,” West says. “There’s a scene where Ellen Page is going to castrate this guy and people were so uncomfortable that they started laughing. If you were watching it by yourself, you would never have that reaction.”

Film Club host Max Marriner (Movie Night at the Screen). Photo by Luke E. Montavon

The students do more than just choose the movies shown at their clubs. When the film is over, the club hosts stay behind to clean. “I love cleaning the theater,” Marriner says. “You’re just by yourself with the music playing.”

Huse and Sauer admit that they hate cleaning up. Sauer once found a whole bag of chips poured out on the floor. He took a picture and sent it to Marriner. Anyone who attends Movie Night knows to expect an opening statement from Marriner about treating the theater and fellow audience members with respect. “I value the movie-going experience,” Marriner says. “When people abuse the privilege, it makes me upset.”

SFUAD’s film clubs go on hiatus beginning April 1. The clubs return on Wednesday, April 15 with D’Annunzio’s International Screening Series. Most of the club runners have already lined up what films they will show when they return. The International Screening Series begins with the Polish film, Ashes and Diamonds. The WTF Film Club picks back up with the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Marriner, in celebration of Pride Week, plans to show The Birdcage when Movie Night at the Screen resumes.