Students gather in the Great Hall for a Hollywood classic screening hosted by Film Club

Director Billy

Wilder's "Sunset Boulevard" showcases

Hollywood’s golden age of cinema as looked through a satirical lens, depicting narcissism, delusion and murder in a classic black and white noir.

Pierce’s Film Club delved into the world of Hollywood with the main character Norma Desmond, an aging and washed up silent film star clinging to relevance in the changing medium of “talkie” films.

The screening was followed by a Q&A session involving club members and professors. The panel discussed women in Hollywood and the themes displayed in the film.

Ken Windrum, film club adviser and instructor of cinema, said the sole purpose of holding these screenings is to educate students.

"I think college should have so many more things like this where people get together, watch something and then get to talk about it after. This event is like an intellectual forum that allows different discussion. These screenings are education," Windrum said.

Windrum said the students voted on displaying the movie they screened for the event.

"The students chose the theme for films that were about L.A., and they thought to show an old movie about what Hollywood was like back then. This is the best classic movie about Hollywood," Windrum said.

Teryn Eikenberry, former vice president of film club and tutor, said the Q&A panel adds substance to the screening.

“Speaking as a past panelist and as a student, this opportunity is very unique and odd. If you are someone who likes film, just to be able to study it and speak about it to people is really exhilarating.

The panel enhances the experience of the screening by offering an intellectual basis," Eikenberry said.

Jacky Torres, sociology student, said this was her first time at a Film Club event.

"I'm not really one to watch old black-and-white movies, but this one was really cool, it really interested me. I'd like to watch more movies. I'd come again," gbecerra.roundupnews@gmail.com

Torres said.

The Film Club will be hosting a screening of “La La Land” on Monday, April 23, at 2 p.m. in the Great Hall.

Elliot said she wants to see events like this grow. She said the performances portrayed struggles and triumph as she was proud to see her peers stand up and be vulnerable sharing their stories.

“I think college students are so expected to have it together and we just don't sometimes. We are expected to be adults but we still feel like children and this was a place to be exactly that - to be a child in an adult role and express the challenges of that or different experiences,” Elliot said.

Student Ruth Murillo sang a piece called “Sabor a Mi” (A Taste of You). She was originally supposed to be accompanied by a friend but ended up doing the performance alone.

This was Murillo’s first open mic performance but she has sang many times at her church.

Murillo said she felt empowered and inspired by the performers and hopes to participate in more events like this in the future.

The performance that stood out the most to Murillo was Sherrie Bradford reciting an original poem over music and she shared many personal experiences.

Bradford pointed out all the people in her life and on campus that showed her support and became a part of her family.

Faith Amoussou said it was great to see all the creativity in the room and was excited to perform, support and encourage her peers. Amoussou said, “I felt really comfortable performing. It feels like a community and I am happy to be a part of it.” jvaughan.roundupnews@gmail.com