With an educational background in media studies and 22 years as the film expert at The Ferguson Library, Carolyn Aucella knows a thing or two about movies. More than just a hobby and favorite topic of discussion, the art of film is something Aucella takes very seriously.
“I love it. It’s eternal,” Aucella said during a recent interview. “The themes never change. Life changes; style changes. But with a good movie, 30 years later, you can still relate -- even though the hair looks funny.”
In addition to ordering movies for The Library’s collection and writing her blog “Reel Matters,” Aucella runs The Library’s film series. There are the monthly series, Second Saturday Cinema and Third Thursday at Noon and there’s also the Andrew Gale film series, (named after a patron who supported The Library’s film series), which runs several times a year and revolves around different themes. In the colder months, The Library offers a Sunday Afternoon @ The Movies series.
Second Saturday films are more popular titles and Third Thursday films are a bit outside the mainstream, Aucella said.
“They’re great movies that you probably never heard of,” Aucella said. “They could be a foreign film, a documentary or an older film.”
Before the movies start, Aucella gives the audience a quick rundown of the film, which may include important facts or the historical context. After the picture, as the audience lingers for a bit, Aucella runs an informal discussion of the film.
Aucella said she’s noticed an increase in attendance in recent months, especially for the Third Thursday films.
“The audience is changing. There are more older people …they’re open to ideas that may not be popular.”
That, in a nutshell, is Aucella’s vision for The Library’s film programs. Aucella said she not only wants patrons to be entertained by the films, she wants them to be challenged by them.
“This is a place that is open to new ideas and possibilities… because, if you can’t see it here, where are you going to see it?”
Some films of 2012 that Aucella is recommending include: Double Hour, Queen of Versailles, Undefeated, and Nobody Else But You. All the films are on order for The Library’s collection.
