Christyn Pettway
SUNY Plattsburgh’s Film club is open to all students interested in talking about all things film. According to the club’s president, Cole Kachejian, a sophomore double majoring in psychology and TV/video production, the Film Club is a community of students who come together to talk about everything surrounding film from film criticism to the actual production elements of the film industry. The club meets every Friday at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom to discuss film and/or work on film production.
Each Film Club role helps the production of the club. The club has four main roles. Kachejian, the president, takes on the club’s administrative responsibilities like event paperwork, organizing club events and coming up with discussion topics and project ideas for meetings. The vice president, Cameron Kaecher, assists the president in leading club discussions during meetings as well as coordinating any events the president requests. The club treasurer, Jorge Martinez, keeps track of the club’s budget, keeping up with event funding and purchasing merchandise needed for the Film Club. The club PR representative, Hailee Olsen, primarily focuses on the club’s social media page @plattsfilmclub on Instagram, creating flyers using graphic design and promoting club events.
Before Cole Kachejian became president, he came into the club looking for a place to disconnect, relax and meet new people to relate to and share his passion with. During his second semester in the Film Club, Kachejian was unanimously nominated as president, replacing former president Blake Lewis after they graduated. Before becoming President, Kachejian was the first PR representative of the Film Club.
“Finding opportunity and leadership was something that the Film Club right off the bat offered me,” Kachejian said.
The Film Club is always looking for more engagement from students.
“Film Club is meant for people who are looking for a hobby, for curiosity on a possible passion or interest, or something fun to go to when the stress of academics gets too much,” Kachejian said. For this club, all students have to do is be a SUNY Plattsburgh student — major or year doesn’t matter. Members of the club really enjoy the community the Film Club has built. For example, Edward Baillargeon, a sophomore majoring in TV/video production who is a general member of the club’s togetherness.
“What I enjoy the most about film club is the sense of community we’ve built between us being in similar majors, and how talking about movies have brought us together,” Baillargeon said. “I enjoy the discussion and analysis part of talking about what we’ve watched recently, the latest movies, any news from the week, and whatever is the major discussion of the week.”
Like many of the other clubs on campus, the Film Club has been negatively impacted by COVID. The virus has affected the regular flow of the club because now the Film Club can no longer meet in person for meetings and events. Although lucky to at least be able to have meetings through Zoom, taking away the in-person feel of the club has slowed down productivity. On top of this, the decrease in the budget has also affected productivity.
One good thing is coming from the pandemic. The Film club has begun working on producing their own COVID documentary. Kachejian revealed that the documentary will have a darker spin on things. Other than that, the club continues to carry out meetings to the best of their ability and remain up to date with what is going on in the world of film at every meeting.
“It’s been my passion to make sure that no matter what happens next at this school, that our little club, the Film Club, is a place where everyone feels like they can belong, and where everyone can do something or talk about something that fuels their passion for film.”
