WHEN CAMPUS BECOMES A CINEMA: FACULTY OF ENGINEERING HOSTS MOVIE NIGHT

Kyle Bauermeister

@kylebauer80

 

Remember movie cinemas? The smell of popcorn in a large, dark room. Sound effects blaring from speakers in all directions. And of course, being completely and utterly immersed in the story being depicted on the big screen. It sparks an incomparable magical feeling in the air. Do you feel nostalgic yet? Luckily, a North-West University (NWU) faculty brought this magic back by hosting a movie night.

 

On Saturday, 7 March, the Faculty of Engineering hosted a movie night. The event was initially marketed as an outdoor picnic, scheduled to be held in the Engineering parking lot. However, due to weather concerns, the organisers had to relocate the event to an indoor location. In the end, they opted for the massive N2B – G02 lecture hall. Despite this concession, the organisers moved all tables and chairs to the side of the venue. This created a flat, open area — ideal for a picnic setting.

 

In classic cinema fashion, popcorn and slushies were sold. Two movies were played: firstly, Tom Gornican’s 2025 remake of the famous 1997 film Anaconda, and secondly, Paul Feig’s 2025 thriller The Housemaid, starring the likes of Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. The aim was clearly to bring students on a roller coaster of laughs, scares and hopefully the joy of having experienced such a journey.

 

So, did the night live up to our expectations? Did it bring back the awe and wonder of the classical cinematic atmosphere?

 

Production-wise, the event was not perfect. The films did not have subtitles for when characters spoke foreign languages, and the sound was not of particularly high quality. Technicalities aside, it was never supposed to be a professionally orchestrated event with astounding production. It was a student event, run by students, for students.

 

They made use of the minimal budget they had, and put all the elements together to create a decent cinematic atmosphere. They succeeded in bringing students together. Amidst the laughs, the jump scares and the cringeworthy acting scenes at times, bonds were strengthened and human connections were deepened.

 

The Faculty of Engineering gathered their resources and created an unforgettable night. Not unforgettable in a production sense, but on a deeper, more emotional level. They used the wonderful nostalgia of movie cinemas to bring students together. For a few hours in that room, huddled together, we forgot about the heaviness of life. Instead, we appreciated the moment for what it was — an escape from reality and an opportunity to bond with those closest to us.

 

 

Edited by Simoné de Witt