Beginning Feb. 20, Monmouth University and Asbury Park’s ShowRoom Cinema, located at 707 Cookman Ave, will proudly unveil a new event series, uniting well-known and topical films with insightful post-show commentary.
The series of screenings, titled “Monmouth University Live at The ShowRoom Cinema!” will feature Monmouth professors Walter Greason, Lisa Dinella, and Randy Abate.
It will run once a month in thematic correspondence with Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Earth Day.
Kenneth Womack, Ph.D, Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, described the inception of the event series: “Last summer, I had the opportunity to present the 50th-anniversary showing of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine at The ShowRoom Cinema in Asbury Park.”
“The managerial team Michael Sodano and Nancy Sabino were pleased with the response, and we hatched a plan for bringing more curated film presentations to the Showroom with Monmouth University content experts providing post-film commentary,” said Womack.
“‘Monmouth University Live at the Showroom Cinema!’ offers another venue for sharing our faculty’s expertise with our students and the larger community beyond our campus. It is a vital means for our gifted faculty to share their expertise as public intellectuals,” Womack concluded.
Following the aforementioned thematic order, each film was selected with a purpose: to highlight the struggle of marginalized groups or concepts in our nation’s history.
The list of featured films thus far include, in chronological order: Jordan Peele’s Get Out, Betsy West and Julie Cohen’s RBG, and Davis Guggenheim and Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth.
Each film has received vast critical acclaim based on their artistic interpretations of societal impediments that continue to exist.
Jordan Peele received the 2018 Academy Award for Best Screenplay for Get Out, as well as a Critics’ Choice Award and a Writers Guild of America Award in that same category.
RBG is nominated for a 2019 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
An Inconvenient Truth’s Davis Guggenheim won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
John Morano, professor of journalism and former managing editor and lead critic of Modern Screen Magazine, elaborated on the importance of student engagement with film, “Everyone, especially students, benefits when they are exposed to new ideas, when they think about issues that might not be on their radar.”
Students have also expressed interest in the upcoming series, as the involved works are fresh in the mind of the public.
Amanda Smith, a senior communication major with a concentration in PR and journalism, commented: “These events are important for Monmouth students, as it gives us opportunities to interact with the local community, share our insights with professors and peers, and change pace with a different learning environment.”
Large attendance to the series could result in a fall 2019 continuation, with more titles involved.
As for titles that could be added, Morano suggested, “One that I took a film criticism class to for a final last year was Boy Erased. Movies like Gorillas in the Mist, Beast With No Nation, Straight Outta Compton, The Visitor, all lend themselves to discussion and identify important issues.”
The ShowRoom Cinema is appropriately a civically-engaged and artistically-driven theater that became Asbury Park’s first movie house in 30 years circa 2009.
The Cinema is known for its showings of Oscar-nominated films and shorts, as well as beloved indie and classic films.
Nancy Sabino, owner of The ShowRoom, expressed, “Mike [Sodano] and I are excited about this new alliance between the next generation of movie lovers at Monmouth University and our cinema. The ShowRoom Cinema strives to present provocative and engaging entertainment like “Monmouth Live” as part of our mission.”
Jeff Lundenberger, Creative Director and Assistant Manager at The ShowRoom Cinema, spoke on the collaboration with the University and how the event can serve the public. “We are all excited, a partnership with Monmouth University takes this local event to another level,” said Lundenberger.
“There is more added when professionals are here speaking on their specialties.”
As a specialist in graphic design and a fan of classic film, Lundenberger concluded, “It’s all about context. Whenever you’re able to give more information or something to think about, it adds to any film experience. If they are movie fans, this event can provide that context.”
Each selection will be screened at The ShowRoom Cinemas’ Asbury Park location, and will be free to University students who call ahead to reserve seating.
Tickets will also be available for purchase to the public through The ShowRoom, at $12 and $10 for non-Monmouth students.
Morano concluded, “Movies can, and do, show us life through the eyes of others. They reveal how people other than ourselves, or our close circle of acquaintances, live in their world. To broaden understanding, to increase empathy is a wonderful thing.”
More information about “Monmouth University Live at The ShowRoom Cinema!” is available at https://www.monmouth.edu/mca/.
IMAGE TAKEN from Skyscanner
