As students begin to fill the dorms and settle in their temporary homes, they can engage in a fun event while continuing to social distance.
Located on the Theophilus Tower Lawn, anyone from students to community members can gather for a family-friendly film. In the past, over 200 people have showed up for a free moving showing.
There are three more opportunities to attend a Screen on the Green movie session hosted by Vandal Entertainment (VE) and the Department of Student Involvement. Those showing dates are Aug 21, 22 and 27. The Aug 21 showing is in partnership with New Student Orientation as it falls during orientation. The Aug 27 showing is in partnership with Housing and Residence Life.
Movies for this summer series are partly chosen by what is available and the licenses they obtain but it also has to do with “balancing new releases with some throwbacks,” Vandal Entertainment Supervisor Laurel Meyer said. They like to have something for everyone while keeping the movies at a PG-13 rating or less.
“We encourage students to enjoy the nice weather while they still can,” Meyer said. “Moscow summertime is so lovely and this is an event that can only take place during nice weather.”
There are few changes with the event in order to follow COVID-19 protocols. Patrons must wear masks while they move around the Tower Lawn but they can be removed once they sit down, cones are laid out to help maintain social distancing and free popcorn is no longer provided.
Earlier this summer VE partnered with the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, the City of Moscow and others to put on the Moscow drive-in. That event was incredibly popular within the community, with most showings having to turn people away because parking spaces were full.
Meyer said VE is looking to bring back that event for later in the fall, however this has not been confirmed. She said that updates regarding the Moscow drive-in will be posted on Vandal Entertainment’s and the Department of Student Involvement’s social media as well as UI’s website.
Movies that will be shown are “Jumanji: The Next Level” (PG-13) on August 21, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (PG-13) on August 22 and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” (PG) on August 27.
Nicole Hindbergcan be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @HindbergNicole.