By Lucia Sacerdoti
TAMPA, Fla. — Student Productions, the campus activities board, hosts movies every two weeks at The University of Tampa through Spartan Screenings. These screenings provide students with the opportunity to engage with the Student Productions’ executive board while enjoying a trivia night before the movie. Participants can win various prizes, adding to the excitement of the event.
Sophia Petersson, a business management major at UTampa and film chair for Student Productions, highlighted the impact these screenings have on the student body.
“I think Wicked is the best one so far because everyone was so excited to come and just see the movie,” said Petersson. “A girl came in before and said, ‘This is my favorite!’ and it’s been great so far.”
An event takes careful planning, and Petersson plays a key role in ensuring its success.
“The elements of having a successful event include hard work — making sure there’s food, that we have the movie rights, and that we have the movie itself. Obviously, marketing is a big part of it, getting people to come,” Petersson said.
This event has been one of Student Productions’ most well-received screenings. The newly released Wicked drew an enthusiastic crowd, and students left with smiles on their faces.
Petersson explained how she selected prizes for the event.
“I was looking on Amazon to see what was Wicked-related, so I found a Wicked Monopoly set, a Wicked game, and some Lego sets that I thought everyone would enjoy,” said Petersson.
Trivia games were conducted through Kahoot, where students scanned a QR code to participate in a questionnaire related to the movie.
Ainsley Lynette, a sophomore nursing major at UTampa, shared her thoughts on the event.
“I loved the movie. There was food, and it was so fun to have food before the movie started. It was super involved, really fun, and had a great atmosphere,” said Lynette.
Lynette, who had not previously seen Wicked, appreciated the opportunity to experience it in this setting.
“The movie was really good. I hadn’t seen it before, so it was cool to be able to watch something I probably wouldn’t have seen without this kind of event. It was a really fun and different way to spend my night, and I loved it,” said Lynette.
“Winning the prizes was my favorite part of the movie,” Lynette said. “It gives a sense of competition, and then enjoying this new release movie is what makes this event great.”
Student Productions continues to bring entertainment to campus not just through movies but through other engaging on- and off-campus events. According to Petersson, catering has been a key element in making these events successful.
“Having catering at our events has been the best. We usually pick food based on the theme of the movie, and we add a little decor to match,” said Petersson.
Petersson talked about the different foods and drinks that were provided, such as cupcakes that were pink and green with the Wicked logo and photos of Ariana Grande who plays Glinda and Cynthia Erivo who plays Elphaba There were also mini burgers, chicken wings, fries, and fruits. The fruits were all themed in colors of the movie, especially green.
Looking ahead, Petersson shared some of the upcoming movies planned for Spartan Screenings.
“Next month, we’re showing the live-action Cinderella to celebrate its 10th anniversary. We’re also showing the new Moana 2 movie at the pool, and then we’re screening Mufasa outside in Plant Park,” Petersson said.
Student Productions continues to create immersive experiences for the UTampa community, making Spartan Screenings a must-attend event.
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Photo courtesy of Student Productions.