No tickets required

By Libby John

Now that Campus Cinemas has closed down and many students lack transportation, it seems impossible to find entertainment during the week — but don’t forget Campus Activities Board’s films.

“It’s easy access and something to do that’s entertaining,” said Jeff Robinson, CAB public relations coordinator and a senior corporate communication major.

The free films have been presented since CAB was first formed.

The next movie, to be shown at 7 p.m. Saturday at Cole Hall, Room 100 and Sunday in the Holmes Student Center’s Carl Sandburg Auditorium, is called “Roger and Me,” a documentary by Michael Moore about the closing of a General Motors plant in Flint, Mich. The town was economically devastated when the plant closed and 35,000 jobs were eliminated. Moore tries to meet with the chairman of the plant face-to-face.

CAB will also show the movie “Duets,” a road-trip comedy about six people in different places in their lives: a small-town singer, a cab driver, an ex-con salesman, a Vegas showgirl and a karaoke hustler, who are all trying to win a $5,000 karaoke contest. This film will run for Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14 in Cole Hall, Room 100 and Feb. 15 in the Sandburg Auditorium.

CAB chooses fairly new or uncommon movies that people won’t usually see elsewhere. They also try to target residence halls dwellers who probably don’t have easy access to a car.

“We started first showing independent films, things you wouldn’t see in theaters,” Robinson said. “But now we moved into half and half, some blockbuster and some independent films.”

Along with the free movies, CAB also will sometimes sponsor free promotions at certain movies, said James Hurley, CAB films coordinator and a senior economics major.

“We’re going to try to get some free popcorn, pizza and free pop,” Hurley said.

CAB rents the rights to show the movies from different companies that own the rights, such as Swank, Criterion and the New Yorker, who provides foreign and independent films.

“What’s the point of seeing all these blockbuster movies when in half of them you can figure out the ending before you even see it?” Hurley said. “The point of college is to see and experience new things. It could be a good experience to go to one of movies you know nothing about.”