A couple of times a month Kelley Auditorium is transformed from lecture hall to movie theater. This little piece of tinsel town on Saint Louis University’s campus is made possible due to the work of the Student Activities Board, Network Event Theater and a few generous corporate sponsors.
The NET Movies began showing at Kelley in the spring of 2000. The free tickets, available to any SLU student, provide a unique opportunity to see movies before they are released. Such films as Almost Famous, Frequency, Charlie’s Angels, Thirteen Days and Death to Smoochy have hit the campus before they hit big at the theaters.
The films are sent in via satellite and projected onto the big screen in the auditorium. Other campuses around the country are also showing the movies at the same time. SLU is the only college in the area showing the NET films. The satellite feed allows for special features, like having the stars from some of the films talk to students after the film has been viewed. Arnold Schwarzenegger talked with students from around the country after his movie, Collateral Damage. The actors, producers or directors who participate will also take questions about their films from different campuses.
SAB is responsible for setting up the auditorium and hosting the NET movies. They handle all the publicity, from the posters to promotions like a guy running around in a Barney-Like outfit advertising the last movie, Death to Smoochy. Along with advertising they put together the gift bags, which are full of complimentary items from the various sponsors such as MasterCard and Herbal Essence. The funding from these companies makes the free movies possible.
NET movies are typically shown two times a month, but SAB has control over what movies will be shown. They do not show films during exam weeks or nights when other big activities are scheduled. A few of the films have been shown at the Tivoli because the movie was only available on 35mm, but SAB makes a concerted effort to keep the showings on campus for the students’ convenience.
Erin Dunn, SAB president, is absolutely thrilled with the NET movie program. “I love NET. It is an easy event for us to put on. They are movies that students are going to see anyway, so they may as well see it on campus for free.”
The last two movies for the year are Murder by Numbers, starring Sandra Bullock, showing on April 17 at 8 p.m. in Kelley Auditorium and Insomnia, which stars Robin Williams and is from the director of Memento. It will be viewed on May 1 at 8 p.m. in Kelley. Tickets are currently available for Murder by Numbers in the Student Life Office.
So check out the newest films before anyone else can; pick up some free merchandise and experience the sensation of a movie in Kelley Auditorium, instead of falling asleep during a 101-level class lecture there.
