Baker University Center Theatre has been a little quieter this school year than in the past.
After an unreliable turnout last year, the Campus Involvement Center has opted out of showing free movies during the semester.
The price to show movies has become too expensive, costing $1,000 per viewing, combined with the fact that the number of students coming to each event has been inconsistent, said Brian Heilmeier, former movie organizer and current interim assistant director of Greek Life.
“We weren’t getting the consistent numbers among students that we need to justify the cost that the movies were,” said Heilmeier.
This isn’t the first time the free movie events have encountered financial problems. The University Program Council had previously sponsored the events, but in 2010 the movies had become too expensive for them to fund. The Campus Involvement Center partnered with UPC during the 2010-2011 school year to help with the rising costs, said Samantha Fink, a past executive chair of film and cultural arts for UPC.
“We knew (going to the movies) was a popular thing among students that they liked to do on weekends as kind of an alternative to going out,” said Fink. “We still wanted it to happen and that was just the best option at the time.”
The Involvement Center paid for the events for the 2010–11 school year, while UPC promoted them, said Fink.
The events were also funded from what Heilmeier called the “Pepsi Account.” Because of the exclusive drink contract that OU has with PepsiCo, Pepsi provides a small amount of money to be used for student programming, said Heilmeier.
Although turnout was unpredictable, when students did attend, the experience was enjoyable.
“I loved it and I thought it was so much fun,” said Celia Tice, a sophomore studying education, of the experience she had when attending Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 last fall. “I think it was a nice thing to have … As far as giving kids something to do instead of going out and drinking, I thought it was a good opportunity.”
There is a chance that the free movies may come back to OU. Heilmeier recently received an email from Swank Motion Pictures Inc., the company they used for the movies, saying they are trying to find a way to bring costs down and provide movies for a cheaper price for universities.
“I think that down the road possibly (we will provide the movies again), we just need to work on pricing it,” Heilmeier said.
md781510@ohiou.edu
