In a time of big summer blockbusters and franchise films, the East Meadow Public Library is bringing back the classics.
Three film historians are presenting films for discussion in a special series at the library, offering new films every month.
The film historians are Dylan Skolnick, Co-Director of the Cinema Arts Centre, presents a monthly film series, Independent Cinema. Keith Crocker, Film maker and Historian, presents a monthly Pop Culture film series at the library. Philip Harwood, Film Historian and Reference Librarian, shares his Classic Film programming, continuing his Essential Hitchcock series from last year.
East Meadow Librarian Christina Crocker worked with her husband, Keith, to make this opportunity possible. It has become a long-standing tradition for the library.
“In September, we set up chairs, and he sets up his movie screen and his 16-millimeter projector, and he will we try to tie it into some kind of literature,” she explained. “Everyone sits out in the garden, and I usually talk about the book end of it, and then Keith will come on and talk about the movie itself. He shows the film at the end to take questions and do a little recap. So, that's something that Reader Services does with Keith, and we're hoping to set one up in September.”
The East Meadow Library has shown films covering a wide range of genres, including romance, comedy, drama, and more.
“The sci-fi horror seems to draw in the biggest crowds,” Christina said. “I think there's a very large horror sci-fi community, and I think they really enjoy seeing the older films, especially the ones from like the 60s and 70s, and even earlier, especially the 50s sci-fi.”
Keith, a former Nassau Community College professor, has a passion for film and is eager to share more at every opportunity. He still teaches film at Long Island University.
“I've been presenting at libraries for 31 years now,” he said. “Believe it or not, when all this started 31 years ago, it started with the East Meadow Public Library.”
At the time, Keith partnered with the library to help begin its filmmaking program, which transformed into film history for all things pop culture. His classes provide an important opportunity to connect with people in the past and present, going into detail about the cultural context of a film’s release and why it is important.
“My view was a historical perspective of how important cinema was to people, not just in an escapist way, but as an experience,” he said. “My job is to go in there and remind people of how great it was, what a great experience it was, and you know, keep their interests renewed, keep their focus on the screen, and you know hope that maybe we can get back to the type of movie-going experience we used to have years ago.”
Elmont Librarian Philip Harwood is an active participant in film communities across Long Island.
“I also do a monthly film series at East Meadow Library, East Meadow Public Library,” he said. “I've been doing that since 2018… I introduce the film, discuss some of the backstories of the film, then we see the film, and then we do a post-film discussion. So, by seeing the film, that ignites the discussion launches, where people will ask questions about the film, they'll touch on certain subject matter.”
Film is an enriching thing to share with people, said Harwood.
“It's the excitement of seeing a film together. You chuckle at certain lines that are funny,” he said. “If you're in a you know see a comedy, you're laughing together. You're sharing that mutual excitement of seeing a film, hearing a discussion, and it becomes an event… when you see it in a theater or a library, on a big screen, with a facilitator who will guide you through the film and tell you what to look out for, and then you see the film, you say, oh, I'm seeing it in a better light.”
For more information about film times and other programs, visit EastMeadow.info.
