Come Along to Club-Along

Posted by Madeleine Sardina in clubs

Warren Couvillion and Omar Hilario are the founders of the Club-Along Film Club. Photo by Christy Marshall

A new addition to the SFUAD film club roster this year is the Club-Along Film Club. While the other clubs follow the traditional rules of cinema (no talking, singing or otherwise interrupting the movie), the Club-Along offers something different: The audience can actually quote and sing along to the film! As the name would suggest, this club is designed to give fans of musicals and classic quotable films an outlet to show off their musical theater chops. Sophomore film major Warren Couvillion is the founder of the club. “…When I found out I could start any club I wanted, if I got permission, I was like, ‘OK, what’s something people would enjoy? Singing along to things!’” He runs the club with junior film major Omar Hilario. “I went to see Mulan,” Hilario says, “and it kind of upset me that I couldn’t sing my favorite song.” That favorite being the classic “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” which can bring a voice to even the shiest musical theater nerd.

Haley Joy Porter is a patron of Club-Along. Photo by Christy Marshall

Club-Along gives students a rare opportunity to watch their favorites on the big screen and share the experience of belting along with a much larger audience than can fit in a lounge or living room. “It’s actually pretty awesome to…go to the theater and actually sing and…have fun and [give] joy to the whole audience,” says one patron of Club-Along, studio arts senior Phát Lê. He isn’t alone in that opinion. The fans of Club-Along seem the most intense and dedicated to these film showings. “[The fan base] is always kind of a highlight every week,” Hilario says. “It’s always the same people and they’re always excited to come every Tuesday to our club.” Excited might be an understatement. For the major films, many will go all out to really enjoy the sing-along experience. “Grease was really fun,” sophomore film major Haley Joy Porter says. “Especially because it was one of the first ones so everyone came in costume and the theater was packed.”

Parker Orr is a frequent patron of Club-Along. Photo by Christy Marshall

This week the theater is already filling with the usual suspects ready to enjoy a showing of the classic musical Chicago. Musical theater fans make up the majority of Club-Along’s fan base and many have a history with the genre. “I did musical theater in high school and I kind of grew up on musical theater so I generally know most of everything they show,” Porter says. Her friend, sophomore music major Parker Orr, has a similar relationship with musicals. “Quoting I don’t really do very much, but if it’s a musical I always…sing along especially because I grew up around musicals,” he says. Even those with busy schedules, like Lê, make time for their favorites. “I rarely have time to get out of my studio…” he says. “[But] they show very good movies so sometimes I try to negotiate a little bit to actually go to the movie.” Club-Along seems to have filled a wide gap in the film clubs. While it might not be the place for first time viewers, it’s definitely a much-loved club when it comes to re-watching favorites.