Cinemuse premieres as student film club

A new club, Cinemuse, was started for students interested in watching and making films.

Junior Meghan Marville, Cinemuse events coordinator, said she hopes to show that not all entertaining films are blockbusters.

“Indie films are making a sweep this year,” Marville said. “A lot of the more popular movies in the past few years have had no backing from major studios.”

Junior Paul Robertson, Cinemuse president, said he tried to find a film club when he came to JMU.

“We have been trying to get this club started since the beginning of last semester,” Robertson said. “We … became officially recognized by the university in January.”

Freshman Chas Smith, Cinemuse vice president, said, “We’ve had some problems with copyright laws and the public showing of films, but we are dealing with those and talking with distributors, so it’s all being taken care of.”

Public screenings of films are prohibited by the Federal Bureau of Investigation without special permission or the paying of royalties.

Robertson said they plan to have film screenings at the houses of club members and on campus.

Cinemuse will have an informational meeting at 9:15 p.m. Jan. 31 in Taylor Hall, room 404. The club also will have a table at the spring Student Organization Night.

“Anyone is welcome to join and we encourage everyone to come, regardless of taste in film or film knowledge,” Smith said.

Robertson said the club plans to fundraise to co-sponsor showings of independent and foreign films.

“We also plan to have collaborative filmmaking and screenwriting workshops,” Robertson said. “Guest speakers will include some university faculty members and perhaps some members in the community.”

Marville said the club is not limited to film criticism, and people who are interested in making films also should join.