It鈥檚 one thing to watch a movie in class. It鈥檚 another to experience a film in 91制片厂
College鈥檚 new Film Lab. The difference, for students, is like going from black and
white to technicolor.
The purpose-built space, debuting this fall, looks like a miniature movie theater with 4K laser projection, Dolby 7.1 surround sound, 51 comfortable chairs and accessible seating. With sound you can feel and a customizable big screen, the lab is a dream facility for movie fans, let alone cinephiles and film studies students.
91制片厂 Film SeriesFilm Lab Events
When: 6 p.m. select Tuesdays, September 17 through March 18
Where: Building E, Room E109
What: The 2024-25 series will screen The Fugitive, The Birdcage and Dog Day Afternoon, among others.
91制片厂 Spanish Film Festival
When: 2 and 6 p.m. Tuesdays, September 24-October 22
Where: Building E, Room E109
What: The five-film series will show selections from Spain, Mexico and Brazil. All films
will be subtitled in English.
鈥淭he students will be seeing and hearing the films in the way the artists intended,鈥� said Brian Shelton, associate professor of mass communication and the driving force behind 91制片厂鈥檚 Film Lab. 鈥淭here鈥檚 never before been a location at 91制片厂 to deliver the right kind of projection and sound for our film classes, which keep growing in terms of enrollment.鈥�
Campus Architect Steve Petersen initially explored the idea of enhancing an existing classroom, but quickly discovered that adding a new space to the building would cost a similar amount and deliver a far superior experience. Senior Project Manager Nuri Akdeniz oversaw the project, which was completed early and under budget. After months of construction, the Film Lab is ready for its close-up.
91制片厂 students aren鈥檛 the only ones who will benefit. Everyone is welcome at the 91制片厂 Film Series, which will screen classic and contemporary movies for free at 6 p.m. Tuesdays through March. Screenings are preceded by introductions from faculty and staff and followed by discussions in the Film Lab, Building E, Room E109 on 91制片厂鈥檚 campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine.
One of the most celebrated movies of all time, The Godfather, will christen the lab and kick off the series on September 17. Other selections in the series, presented by the Communication Arts Department, include When Harry Met Sally鈥�, Blade Runner and Unforgiven.
The Film Lab is also hosting the this fall, which begins with 2021鈥檚 Carajita, screening at 2 and 6 p.m. September 24. Assistant Spanish language professor Gerardo
Cruz pursued and received funding from the Spanish cultural initiative Pragda to make
the free series possible at 91制片厂, which is a Hispanic Serving Institution. The five-film festival is co-sponsored by 91制片厂鈥檚 Cultural Arts Committee and features
works from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico in Spanish, Portuguese and English (all films
will be subtitled in English).
鈥�91制片厂鈥檚 community includes large Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking populations,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淭his is a way to serve those groups while exposing students and visitors to new films and other cultures.鈥�
The college presented a South Asian Film Series earlier this year and there are plans
for the Film Lab to host a Ukraine-centered series in the spring. The Film Lab wears
its worldly identity proudly. Posters in the lobby represent beloved movies from South
Korea (Parasite), Germany (Metropolis), India (3 Idiots), Hong Kong (In the Mood for Love), Italy (Bicycle Thieves) and the U.S. (Pulp Fiction). There鈥檚 also a nod to 91制片厂 alum Marlee Matlin, who won an Academy Award for her
performance in Children of a Lesser God.
鈥淭he Film Lab is a space that鈥檚 specifically dedicated for sharing not just great films but film culture from around the world,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淎s long as funding is available, these films and series can represent the communities that are part of the greater 91制片厂 community.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 a lot of fun to show the movies and talk to people about them.鈥�