On Saturday, Jan. 25, Rowan After Hours (RAH) transformed the Student Center Pit into a mock movie theater.
Tables were moved out of the way and all the couches and chairs were centralized for perfect viewing of a large projector screen. RAH organizers were making popcorn and cotton candy, and halfway through the evening they began offering soft pretzels, chips, and the other usual concessions one would find at the cinema.
Saturday’s movie night was a double feature of Monkey Man and John Wick. These action-packed selections drew a small crowd of around 20 to 25, steadily growing as the night progressed.
Preparing for Movie Night is not as intense as other RAH events, but it still presents its own challenges.
“We go to an outside vendor for our movies, so that way we can license them and like, we have the license to show them at our event. The biggest thing is just to set up–like, as you can see, we have a huge projector and that takes up most of our setup,” said Yoosef Byrd, a graduate student of social work, and the Rowan After Hours and Special Events Coordinator.
“Other than that, these types of nights are kind of easy,” said Byrd. “Movie nights are pretty much our chillest nights.”
As for expected attendance, Byrd said that with students just coming back to campus, Movie Night is an event where they don’t expect too many people. Rather, the goal is to provide a relaxing space for those who choose to come and attend.
The lights dimmed as the first film began, and students settled in with their snacks for the first two-hour film.
In between movies, the rest of the concessions were made available as is routine at RAH events.
Sports communications and media major Nicholas Martinelli said Movie Night and RAH events in general are really good opportunities to get out of your dorm.
“I think what they do here for the students is a really good idea for people to just get out and watch movies with friends or without friends,” said Martinelli. “It’s a good way to just get out and have fun.”
Students returned to their seats and new ones arrived for the start of John Wick, another two-hour film, rounding out a long night of thrilling cinema.
RAH’s next Movie Night will be Black History themed and will feature Jordan Peele’s films Get Out, and Us. This and all other Rowan After Hours events can be found on Proflink.
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