M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit will be screened at The Athena Cinema before it hits theaters nationwide, thanks to Ohio University’s campus representative for Universal Pictures.
Fans of M. Night Shyamalan are in luck.
His latest film, The Visit, will be screened at the Athena Cinema on Tuesday before it hits theaters nationwide thanks to Ohio University’s campus representative for Universal Pictures.
In the past year, Garrett Haptonstall has represented the film studio’s brand on campus. He typically books one advanced screening of a Universal film per semester. To help promote the events, Haptonstall passes out posters and T-shirts.
“Last year, you used to have to have a ticket,” the senior studying management information systems said. “(This year) all you have to do is show up — that’s it!”
Though no ticket is needed, the event is first come, first served. The theater can fit a maximum of 200 people, and Haptonstall advised arriving about 6:45 p.m. to ensure getting a seat.
The Visit tells the story of a young brother and sister who visit their grandparents’ secluded home and find that Nana and Pop Pop aren’t how they used to be, making them question if they’ll ever leave.
Although the screening is free for moviegoers, Universal Pictures spends about $300 to make the event possible.
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“I think it’s amazing,” Suma Kolla, a first-year medical student, said. “It gives a good opportunity to allow students to become a part of something bigger. You wouldn’t think that Athens would have something like that.”
In the past, the Universal Pictures campus representative hosted screenings for movies including Neighbors, Unfriended and Trainwreck.
Haptonstall said he mainly relies on word of mouth to advertise his events.
“I totally plan on attending this year and sharing the information with all of my friends,” Kali Ross, a junior studying early childhood education, said.
Part of Haptonstall’s job for Universal Pictures is to report the audience’s feedback about The Visit. Following the show, he encourages the crowd to share its positive or negative experiences.
Haptonstall will also be handing out free The Visit merchandise after the screening.
“I think it's cool and interesting that they give out free merchandise,” Ross said. “If I would have known, I would have been going every time.”
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