JESSICA MEDITZ
Staff Writer
Since we as college students are often focused on our academics, it’s important to find outlets for expression that are outside of our majors.
Among Fredonia’s wide variety of clubs is Cinema Alternatives — a film-based club that allows students to do so.
Cinema Alternatives’ main mission is to shine a light on all things film-related that do not fall under the category of Hollywood narrative cinema.
The club’s executive board consists of Susan Kehl, president; Nick Skopinsky, vice president; Elisha Faisst, SA representative; Emily Sando, public relations chair; and Ryan Blatto, secretary.
Nick Skopinsky, a senior video production major, said that Cinema Alternatives “[focuses on] viewing video content that strays away from Hollywood and looking at more artistic means of cinema, including experimental films, short films, animations and classic movies.”
In fact, several films were recovered from the basement of Thompson Hall in the spring 2019 semester. They are all 16mm films, and some titles include “Citizen Kane,” “M,” “Wild Strawberries” and “Casablanca.”
Susan Kehl, the club’s president and a senior film and video arts major, said that they hope to be able to screen these films in the near future.
“It depends on if the films can still be run through the projector. Since film deteriorates over time, it’s hard to say,” she said.
Kehl has been involved with the club since her freshman year at Fredonia, when she was voted in as secretary. At the time, the club was known as the Media Arts Club, which was then renamed.
One of her favorite things Cinema Alternatives does is their painting-on-film workshop.
“It’s a really fun way to get your creativity out,” said Kehl. “We literally paint on clear film, and it always looks so cool, no matter what you do. We then mess with it in an editing program and show them. They always look so good on the projector.”
This workshop is just one of the few the club puts on, so students who are interested have a lot to look forward to.
Another highlight of the club is that they expand their horizons outside of Fredonia.
They’ve taken field trips to Buffalo, Rochester and Toronto to view a variety of films from different filmmakers.
The club’s advisor, Phillip Hastings, is a member of the visual arts and new media faculty.
He helps the club get in contact with filmmakers, receives updates about different screenings and galleries and reconnects with alumni to talk with students.
Cinema Alternatives meets biweekly on Fridays at 2 p.m. in the Rockefeller Arts Center, Room 237.
For more information about Cinema Alternatives, visit their Facebook page, “SUNY Fredonia Cinema Alternatives Group,” or contact any of the executive board members.