By Katie Potzick
For most college students going to the movies means taking an unwelcome hit to the wallet, but for University of Louisville students it doesn’t have to.
The Floyd Theater, located in the Student Activities Center, offers a variety of films and special events for the low price of $1.
Since Remington Smith, a senior history major, became film chair in the spring of 2006, Floyd has undergone several changes.
Before Smith took the helm, weekends were seen as times for what Smith deemed throwaway “audience friendly” movies; movies that the film committee felt they were obliged to show.
However, changes in movie genres as well as events have provided further opportunity for student involvement. It was stated that this change has dramatically increased attendance, but Smith did not specify by how much.
“Almost any film that you see at the Floyd Theatre is a film that we really want to show,” said Smith. According to Smith, due to the changes the film committee has made, last year’s attendance was the highest ever, nearly doubling the previous high mark.
The film committee has also made major adjustments in their marketing department.
They now get the word out through advertisements in LEO, handbills on Bardstown Rd. and around campus and groups on MySpace and Facebook. This massive outreach has gained a positive response not just at U of L, but around the Louisville community, resulting in the Floyd gaining many loyal fans.
According to Smith, he and a committee of about two dozen select the upcoming movies by “tossing around ideas, checking into movies that are ‘buzzing,’ and looking into obscure films.”
The budget of the film committee was suggested to be less than $15,000 for the year, but Smith would not comment on the exact numbers, nor did The Louisville Cardinal receive any comments from Student Activities Board advisors, Tim Moore and Julia Onnembo.
Every week the Floyd shows movies on Thurs., Sat., and Sun. nights at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Thursdays are reserved for small, independent or “obscure” films that are usually not playing in other Louisville theaters.
The committee also uses Thursday for “Louisville Premieres” or movies showing first run or exclusively at the Floyd. So far this school year, premieres have included “This is England,” “King of Kong” and “The Kite Runner.” The weekends play more commercial but still appealing films.
On the last Friday of every month, the committee presents a midnight movie which for January was “American History X.” The cost of the movies average to be around $300 each, according to Smith, and are secured from production companies.
Besides their usual weekday fare, the Floyd also presents special events throughout the year. Annually, the committee hosts a Halloween party complete with costume contests and horror movies, and yearly have the experimental jazz group. Another event that has become an annual tradition is the performance of “Ut Gret” to a live score for a silent film. This year there was also a “Simpsons Movie” party complete with “Duff” beer and doughnuts.
The real draw of the Floyd though lies not only with the movie selection or special programs, but with the passion that the film committee brings to their work with the theater.
“I think I speak for the entire film committee when I say we just love movies,” said Smith. “More specifically though, we love good movies, and we want to show as many good movies as we can.”
