Guild offers sneak previews for students

Imagine a place where movies are free. Stop pretending, free showings are happening on campus, just ask the 375 students who saw "The Game" two weeks ago in the Lorch Hall auditorium.

The free event was sponsored by the Cinema Guild, which promises "at least one more" free showing on campus, said Harry Todd, the group's president.

Sneak previews of films are not at all foreign to the University community. Todd said the campus was selected as one of several movie testing sites throughout the United States about seven years ago.

"We've typically done up to five or six previews per year," Todd said. "All these college previews were set up by advertising agencies. Studios want to give a boost to the film."

Students were told to line up for auditorium passes at least two hours before "The Game" was ready to begin. Tickets were not available prior to show time, which prompted long lines of hopeful students.

At the event, eight students were given notebook organizer door prizes while 40 others were asked to complete viewer response cards. The cards are sent to an adverting agency that compiles the student responses with others from different testing sites.

Inside the screening, students who watched the movie said the only thing missing from a movie theater atmosphere was the buttered popcorn.

"For students on a limited budget, free movies are a great night's entertainment," said LSA sophomore Shanghne Manning.

LSA junior Jide Mbanefo, who watched the film, said he appreciated the free event but wished the University sponsored more events without charge for students.

"It's one of the few things that the University actually does completely free of charge," Mbanefo said. "Most colleges have free concerts and like events, but Michigan is not known for its generosity when it comes to free events."

While students who arrived early got into the sneak preview at "The Game," more than 50 others who were left standing in the hallway said the real game was outside the doors of the auditorium.

LSA sophomore Trevor Gardner said his frustration quickly escalated to anger when he found out he was not getting in.

"I'm pretty pissed at the moment," Gardner said. "It was poorly organized."

RC senior Beth Lasser, who said she stood in line "too long" to find out there were no passes left, criticized the ticket system.

"I think it's ridiculous we have to line up for two hours or 1 1/2 hours in advance to pick up tickets," Lasser said. "We could pick them up in line somewhere else and they could still be first-come, first-serve."

Todd said since the advertising agency that helps sponsor the event does not give much notice before a film showing, "it is best to look for posters advertising the next showing."

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