Newly created Film Society hopes to 'screen' for interest
Sarah Flanagan '10
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Features
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Freshman David Jaffe was behind the club's launch this year. Unlike past attempts to start a film club, this version has three goals, to watch, share and make films.
"The concept is that people love to watch movies and people love to share movies that they love. We also make films. We have both a production aspect and a viewing," said Jaffe.
The club hopes to fill the void for film appreciation on campus. If BACCUS weekend films are a bit too mainstream, the bookstore's selections are too meager and expensive, the library reminds you too much of school work or film classes are still just classes: the solution has arrived.
"My aim is to watch films with artistic merit, for example, not 'Transformers.' Something someone has taken the time to make because they love film."
However, Jaffe does not discriminate against French films such as "400 Blows," or funny films such as "Hot Fuzz." The criteria for movies the film society watches is that "the creator has put a lot of passion into what he is making."
Jaffe believes one can discern the passion put into a film "sometimes simply by the quality" or by "how much you enjoy it. Do you see a spark of originality?"
The decision of what to watch is up to members of the club. For example, if someone loves the movie "Cider House Rules," bring it on in!
Jaffe personal tastes tend toward films in "independent theatres and landmark theatres...what some people consider more art films."
The vital goal of the club is to "just make movies!"
Jaffe brings the wisdom of every single film maker that he has met. From Guillermo del Toro and Werner Herzog to Ryan Johnson, the lesson comes down to one simple fact: just make movies.
"So if someone is interested in making movies or isn't and they just want to go out there and screw around for a couple hours then go and make a film."
On Tuesday, October 23, the Film Society showed their first film, Brick, written and directed by Rian Johnson.
Brick is a low budget movie that places the works and language of the hardboiled detective story, like Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, into a modern day high school setting of teenage drugs and decadence.
While the film won the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival it had a limited theatrical release.
Jaffe concludes, "We want to watch films in which the viewer is treated respectfully."
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