Starting this week, the Southwest Film Center will edit its film schedule because of criticism from the Media Arts Department.
The center has been showing more mainstream movies than independent films since the beginning of the spring semester. Organizers are changing the film options to half independent films and half mainstream films for the rest of the semester.
Ryan Lindquist, adviser for the film center, said film selection depends on the director of the center.
Justin Landis, who has been the director since the beginning of the fall 2004 semester, said he likes to show classics, although the center shows some independent films.
Some of the movies shown at the center are "The Godfather" and "Pulp Fiction."
"Our budget comes from student fees," he said. "The reason we pick the movies we do is to represent a bigger population of the school."
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He said the Southwest Film Center shows more mainstream movies to target a bigger crowd. The Media Arts Department is a smaller population, he said.
He said he and his eight-person staff choose the films shown at the center.
In the spring 2004 semester, 1,600 students saw a movie at the center. In the fall 2004 semester, 3,200 students saw a movie at the center.
"I do understand there needs to be a venue for independent films, but it's hit and miss sometimes," Landis said.
He said some of the criticism from students and professors in the Media Arts Department hurt the center. Part of the criticism, Landis said, was that the center used to be run by media arts students.
Sarah Williams, a media arts student, said the center is not part of the Media Arts Department.
"Their main purpose is to bring money in," she said. "They're focusing on that. They're afraid they won't make as much if they show independent films."
She said media arts students used to go to the center before it changed. Now, she said, most movies shown at the center can be seen at other movie theaters.
Williams said she the change is a good idea and will cater more to the University population.
"Because we have such a diverse population on campus with lots of different tastes, they shouldn't cater to one taste," she said.
Student Bryant Davis said he likes the half-and-half idea. He said mainstream movies are more recognizable, but independent films fit the University atmosphere.
Graduate student James Hruschka said it shouldn't be a matter of criticism that changes the center but a matter of demand. He added the center should survey students to see what films they want shown at the center.
"They should show things students want to see," he said.
The Southwest Film Center is student run and shows films Thursday through Sunday.
It is not affiliated with the Mid-week Movie Series, which is sponsored by the Student Activities Center.
