Faculty Member to Lead Discussion on “Room 237” and “The Shining”

April 24, 2013

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. April 25, 2013 St. Josephs College (SJC) faculty member Peter Mascuch will host a double feature discussion on the 2012 documentary, Room 237 and the Stanley Kubrick psychological horror film, The Shining on Thursday, May 9 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The discussion and screenings will take place at the Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center (MAC) located in downtown Patchogue as part of its ongoing Film Discussion Series.

Written by horror master Stephen King and adapted for the screen by Stanley Kubrick and Diane Johnson, The Shining is about writer, Jack Torrance, who relocates his family after he takes a job as an off-season caretaker at an isolated haunted hotel. After a massive snowstorm traps the family inside, spirits of the hotel provoke the father into violence, give the son frightening premonitions and have the mother fighting for her life. A screening of Room 237, a full-length documentary that explores alternate interpretations and numerous theories about the hidden meanings within of the 1980 horror classic, will precede the film. The Q&A discussion will occur between films.

"I can't wait to see the movie-about-the-movie with local Kubrick fans and film buffs, said Peter Mascuch, Ph.D., associate professor of English and American studies and coordinator of the film media studies program at SJC. "It should be enlightening fun for those who are familiar withand those who are new toThe Shining.

The Film Discussion Series at Plaza MAC has included discussions by SJC English and Writing Professor Thomas Grochowski for the Academy Award winner, Searching for Sugar Man and SJC Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies Thomas Petriano for the Academy Award nominee, 5 Broken Cameras.

Tickets for Room 237 and the film discussion are $10 for the general public and $7 for students with a valid ID. Admission to The Shining is free. For more information, visit www.plazamac.org. 

ABOUT PLAZA CINEMA & MEDIA ARTS CENTER
The Plaza Cinema and Media Arts Center is a non-profit public charity organization dedicated to bringing the magic and power of movies and filmmaking to the hearts and minds of the community. On a weekly basis, the Plaza provides the Patchogue community with current, quality independent films from around the world while offering special films for children and cultural programming such as broadcasts of operas and ballet from the world stage. Starting in 2013, the Plaza will be offering classes in screenwriting, editing and film production.