The Media Arts Department is hosting “Friday Flix!,” a new event on campus where feature films will be screened every Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Glendale College Television Video Studio/Theatre located in SG334.

Films shown during “Friday Flix!” are selected by media arts instructor Mike Petros, who said he wants to “show films that people may not get a chance to see on a big screen.”

Screenings are presented in Blu-ray, 5.1 surround sound and projected onto a 14-foot screen (measured diagonally).

Most of the films lined up for the fall semester are classics because according to Petros, the only chance people get to watch older films “are on television. That’s the only time they’re run, other than at art houses . [or] other special showings that they might have to travel a long way for.”

Since newer films can be viewed on big screens at theaters, the films selected for “Friday Flix!” tend to be out of the mainstream.

Petros said suggestions and requests are welcome, but it is preferred that films are ones that are not often seen on big screens and can be presented in Blu-ray format.

Recent movie releases are not necessarily excluded from being considered for screenings and Petros said that he plans to screen the “Lord of the Rings” once the extended trilogy is released on Blu-ray.

The screenings are followed by audience discussions.

“Friday Flix!” was originally intended for media arts students, but Petros “felt this might be a fun thing to open up as well, to invite everyone to come see.” Screenings are open to students, faculty, staff and the general public.

Faculty may earn flex credit by attending the screenings and participating in the discussion.

Teachers are required to fulfill a certain number of hours of flex credit per year in addition to teaching classes. Flex credit is earned by engaging in activities that promote professional development.

The most recent film screened during “Friday Flix!” was “The Wizard of Oz” on Nov. 6. The Blu-ray version was a 70th anniversary commemorative package with vividly restored color and sound.

Other recent screenings included “The Haunting” (1963) and “Young Frankenstein” (1974).

Upcoming screenings are as follows: “M*A*S*H*” (1970), Nov. 20; “Blade Runner” (1982), Dec. 4; and “Fargo” (1996),
Dec. 11.