This semester, movies are back being played at WCU in a new style.
Last Minute Productions, the student-led programming team for campus activities, is known for their free weekly movie nights on Fridays and Saturdays. LMP accesses the movies through a movie licensing supplier.
“They’re like the middle agent between the studios and us,” said Coleman Leopard, the Associate Director for Student Programs and Campus Activities.
As the staff advisor overseeing LMP, Leopard handles many of the contracts. Before the first movie event in the spring semester, the movie licensing supplier LMP was working with notified Leopard they changed their contract.
“They said that they had changed their terms and how they represent colleges, and so their contract was no longer valid with the university,” said Leopard.
For the rest of the spring 2024 semester, WCU did not have movie nights like they did before. Leopard and his team searched for solutions to bring back movies. One of the solutions was Swank.
“Swank controls a lot of movie licensing for the industries,” said Leopard. “They’re kind of the head honcho when it comes to licensing.”
Swank gave LMP a new contract and helped them bring movies back to the WCU campus. The movies will continue to be free for students. However, there are a few changes because of the new contract.
A big change in the movie events on campus now is that they won’t be as often as in years past.
“Just to be fiscally responsible, one movie license is $1,000,” said Leopard.
With movie licenses being so expensive, LMP has become more selective about the films that they show. They have some rules that will help with making the movie license worth it.
“We have to make sure we’re going to show a movie that one, is really popular in theaters, and two, that we think we’re going to get the crowd that will justify the cost per student,” said Leopard.
LMP won’t only change what movies they show, but where students can watch the movies.
On Sep. 21, LMP planned a movie event that was a little different. They showed “Twisters,” an action film about tornado chasers, on the University Center Lawn.
“When we show a movie outdoors, we’re able to get many more people in at one time,” said Leopard.
The movie theater inside of the University Center is limited to 175 seats, but a movie on the lawn can fit more. For example, LMP showed “Pitch Perfect” on the UC Lawn, and had over 380 students there.
The movie events on campus are changing, but one thing is staying the same, and perhaps one of the most important parts.
“We will provide as much popcorn and drinks as we can possibly provide,” said Leopard.
