Over the last few weeks, there has been a Creativity and Innovation Film Series being shown on campus. The Creativity and Innovation Film Series continues Halloween night with a screening of Get Out. There will be door prizes of copies of the film and Halloween candy for those who join us at 7pm in Miller Auditorium- Stark Hall.
About the Get Out Film
Well-known for being a social commentary on the experience of the black community, Get Out became the most talked about film of 2017. Something that you might not have guessed from the tremendous quality of the filmmaking, Get Out was the directorial debut of Jordan Peele who may be better known for his work in comedy as half of the show: Key and Peele.
Peele was always a fan of the horror genre, and he states, “This idea came from my wanting to contribute to the genre of thriller and horror that is unique to my voice.” Any person who is a fan of the horror genre knows that it comes with a laundry list of well-known tropes and clichés that pervade the majority of horror films we see today. This is not the case with Get Out.
Socially Relevant Themes can Spark Conversations
As producer Jason Blum says, “It gives you all the thrills and scares of a classic horror movie but there is more to it than that.” The horror in Get Out lies with issues that are very real in the world we live in today, such as race relations and the experiences of the black community. These issues are based on fears and situations that Jordan Peele feels and has dealt with in his own life. The fear in the film comes from masterfully crafted suspense and twists in the plot that come at the exact right time.
These innovations to the horror genre truly reflect the University Theme of Creativity and Innovation. Peele uses his experiences to create a film that no doubt will be used for years to come as a talking point when it comes to conversations about race relations and what can be done to assist the black community in any ongoing struggles. As students and citizens of the world, it is important that we are all aware of world events and be aware of how we contribute to this.
More and more we see films that comment on socially relevant themes. Examples of this include, 50 Feet from Syria, Spotlight, and the Hunting Ground among others. These films push the limits of creativity and innovation within the film industry and how you can tell a story with relevant themes. The popularity of blockbuster films often over-shadows the fact that film is a medium that can create works of art that are not only gorgeously shot but can also be a strong commentary on the world.
Get Out is a tremendous example of the ever-growing relevance of film studies and how it can be applied in the real world to not only create a product that is entertaining but that also promotes relevant social messages.
The Filmmaking Process is for Everyone
In the end, a film is collaborative and involves the work of people outside of just the film industry. Any person involved in fields such as writing, business, music, engineering, and much more can all be a part of the filmmaking process and can contribute to projects such as Get Out that masterfully comment on social and political issues.
For a full list of the upcoming films being shown on campus, view the schedule below:
– Lindsey Brezinski ’18
