EDITOR'S NOTE: New films have been announced for April and May 2003. On April 11 see Sholay, introduced by James Prakash Younger, scholar of Indian film, at 7 pm in the Bytwerk Video Theater. On April 25 see To Kill A Mockingbird, introduced by by John Loeks, President of Jack Loeks Cinemas, at 7:30 pm in the Bytwerk Video Theater. And on May 9 see Mansfield Park, introduced by Kathi Groenendyk, professor of Communication Arts and Sciences and an expert in the film adaptations of Jane Austin’s novels, at 7:30 pm in the Bytwerk Video Theater.

ORIGINALLY POSTED DECEMBER 26, 2002

West Michigan film buffs will soon have one more place to satisfy their movie appetites.

Several Calvin College faculty have created a new group at the college which will offer regular screenings of movies followed by a faculty-led discussion. As a bonus the Calvin Film Forum will show all of its offerings in the new Bytwerk Video Theater at Calvin (located in the ).

"The (Bytwerk) Theater is an amazing place to see a movie," says Calvin film professor Carl Plantinga, one of the prime movers behind the new Film Forum. "It's got custom-made seats from American Seating, theatre-style lighting, complete surround-sound. It's a perfect venue for this new series."

Each month this spring will see some sort of focus on movies followed by a discussion. For example, February will feature a series on an icon of American movie making: the Western. Plantinga says the topic of "Myth and History in the Western" was a natural first choice for Calvin.

"It's a classic kind of American film," he says, "but beyond that we have a western studies program at Calvin, so there's a natural point of connection between what we're doing in western studies and what we're doing in film studies. We really want this project (the Film Forum) to bring together academic departments at Calvin. There is incredible expertise at Calvin. The Film Forum will give people a chance to benefit from it."

The series is free of charge. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by a discussion. February's slate is as follows:

Feb. 7 - Stagecoach - Introduction and discussion led by James Bratt, professor of history at Calvin

Feb. 14 - High Noon - Introduction and discussion lead by Will Katerberg, professor of history at Calvin

Feb. 21 - The Outlaw Josey Wales - Introduction and discussion led by Carl Plantinga, professor of communication arts and sciences at Calvin

Feb. 28 - McCabe and Mrs. Miller - Introduction and discussion led by Peggy Goetz, professor of communication arts and sciences at Calvin



Plans for the rest of the spring include "Films We Love" and screenings led by visiting filmmakers and scholars.