Former first-year roommates Sophie Kahler and Sloan Wilson discovered their common interest of film and TV after living in the same dorm room for a year. Now their second year, the history student recalled one time when she watched “Get Out” with the political science student. The pair ended up spending three hours in their room discussing the film, and Kahler realized they clearly had a lot to talk about when it comes to films.
The two friends planned on joining a film club on campus to share their ideas with other students, but realized USC did not have one at the time. They decided to start their own club, hoping other students were looking for the same thing.
“We’re both those people who will watch something and then like automatically have 10 thoughts and just want to talk about it with someone,” Kahler said. “So, we just figured we'd start a club to kind of facilitate that and get other people who feel that same way.”
The Carolina Film & Television Club is open to anyone who enjoys watching and discussing film and TV. The club meets once a month on a Sunday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Honors B110. The two-hour block gives time for a movie or TV screening and a discussion afterwards. The meetings will alternate between film and TV to combine Kahler’s enthusiasm for film and Wilson’s love for television.
“It’s both a piece of what we’re interested in and it’s able to combine together,” Wilson said.
“Lady Bird” was the first screening of the semester on a Sunday evening. Kahler chose this movie because most people are familiar with the title since it came out earlier this year.
“It’s personally one of my favorites so I could watch it a million times,” Kahler said. “It’s kind of just a coming-of-age story.”
Kahler wants to choose films that are familiar and relatable instead of abstract foreign films that no one has heard of.
The meetings that focus on television look a little different since TV shows are shorter. These give the opportunity to show several clips or episodes and discuss differences between shows of the same genre.
“Comparing how different shows operate differently and why some are more critically acclaimed than others is kind of like the main thing that I want to focus on,” Wilson said.
This semester, Wilson is planning a cop-drama night to compare shows like “The Wire” and “NCIS.” The discussion might include the role of cops and portrayal of criminals and how those characteristics operate outside of the shows.
Both Kahler and Wilson are excited for their first full semester as a club. They want the meetings to be a comfortable environment where students are willing to share their opinions about the films and shows.
“It’s stimulating and fun and interesting to be able to discuss things like this with other people who care about it,” Wilson said.
They’re hoping the meetings are a relaxing way to spend Sunday evenings and even joked that students should wear their pajamas and bring snacks, which they agreed would definitely be acceptable.