Reel Deal: TU Organizes Drive-In, Virtual Film Screenings

Press release from Towson University:

By Rebecca Kirkman on September 13, 2020

The sun sets before a movie screening at Bengies Drive-In in Middle River, Maryland.
(Courtesy Bengies Drive-In Theatre)

From a drive-in movie to an annual film series gone virtual, grab your popcorn and
connect with Towson University through film.

Alumni Drive-In Movie Night

On Thursday, Sept. 17, Tigers will take over Bengies Drive-In Theatre to watch “Men
in Black” under the stars.

At this event organized by the Office of Alumni Relations, TU students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends will watch agents J and K—played
by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, respectively—on the biggest movie theater screen
in the U.S. as they track down extraterrestrials disguised as humans in this 1997
sci-fi comedy.

Moviegoers can enjoy the film from the comfort of their car or bring chairs and blankets
to sit outside. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the film begins at sunset. A playground
and full concession stand are available. Advanced registration is required; there will be no ticket sales at the door.

Keire Johnson, right, and Zack Mulligan in the 2018 documentary “Minding the Gap,”
directed by Bing Liu.

Virtual Fall Film Series

Rather binge from the comfort of home? Join the Department of Electronic Media and Film’s 2020 Fall Film Series, “The Roaring Twenty-Somethings.”

Organized by assistant professor Kalima Young, this year’s films span several genres
and explore how cinema helps construct our understanding of youth, aging, sexuality
and productivity.

To adapt the series to a virtual environment, Young decided on a “talk-back” style
format where attendees watch the films in advance via recommended links and gather
for a virtual discussion each week with a special guest.

Drawing on the College of Fine Arts & Communication’s 2020–21 theme “The ROARing Twenties,” Young says the collection of films is designed to spark conversations on depictions
of aging in cinema, from the sexualization of young Black girls in “The Fits” to what
it means to be aging and queer in “Grandma.”

“Minding the Gap,” the 2018 coming-of-age documentary and the first film in the series,
will inspire a discussion on the intimacy of documentary filmmaking with Jena Burchick,
electronic media and film assistant professor and documentary filmmaker.

The free series will be held via Zoom on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. from Sept. 14 to Oct.
19 and is open to the community with advanced registration.

Films and screening dates:

• Sept. 14: Minding the Gap (2018)
• Sept. 21: The Fits (2015)
• Sept. 28: Singles (1992)
• Oct. 5: Black Maria Film Festival & Fall Film Series Collaboration
• Oct. 12: 12 O’Clock Boys (2013)
• Oct. 19: Grandma (2015)

This press release was produced by Towson University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.