Film Series, Tufts' student-run movie club, dropped its two-dollar fee this semester to encourage higher attendance at screenings. Before the removal of the fee, student attendance at movies usually averaged about eight people - but now students are packing into Barnum 008 to watch their favorite films.
"It wasn't even worth it," Film Series President Christophe Renaud said. "It was a hassle to deposit such a small amount."
According to Cohen, because ticket profits were minimal, the group's budget has barely changed despite the cut in income. Film Series has also made cuts this semester by showing fewer films. Movies cost approximately $1,000 per movie for the weekend, and the group also purchases trailers to show beforehand.
Since eliminating the fee, Film Series attendance has skyrocketed. "We're getting about six times as many people," Renaud said.
Renaud decided to drop the fee at the beginning of the semester because although his group was not making as much money as hoped, it was not losing funding either. He hopes to keep Film Series admission free again next year, but the decision depends on how the group's budget will be affected by funding changes. Now that the movies are free, movie-goers are packing into Barnum 008.
"I think it's great that people can stay on campus and still be able to see a collection of some of the newer movies," freshman Ralph Bassett said, adding that students enjoy having new releases available on campus at such a low rate. Additionally, students who favor the "theater experience" can watch their favorite old movies with the Film Series.
Many students said that although two dollars was not an unfair price, the inconvenience of paying prevented them from attending. Freshman Brett Weiner said that the word "free" plays into Film Series' attraction. "They could charge only 50 cents and not get as many people," he said.
This weekend, Film Series will be showing Leon the Professional on Friday at 9:30 p.m. and The Man Who Wasn't There on Saturday 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
