As an up-and-coming society, ‘Bad Film’ is all about stringing together the art of united mockery and the not-so-cinematic lessons behind bad films to create the perfect balance between education and leisure.
What makes this new film society so different from the typical University of Sheffield film society is its complete disregard for the typical characteristics of what makes a film interesting. Placing a firm emphasis on the most universally terrible films released, Bad Film Society aims to create an environment in which students can lay back, relax and disconnect from academics for a short while.
Offering students a break from heavy, serious art, Bad Film Society disengages entirely from the academic overlay of the typical university society. Taking place in the evenings once a week, it certainly relieves the pressure of attending meetings during lecture-time and is a fantastic opportunity to wind down after a stressful day, bring along some friends or meet new people.
When asked what they feel sets the society apart from other great Uni of Sheffield film societies, current Inclusions officer Xander Hunter responded that the “more relaxed atmosphere and encouragement to interact with each other and the film made the showing feel much more communal,” drawing attention to the society’s open encouragement of laughter, mockery and commentary throughout screenings. Certainly, this offers a fresh experience for students accustomed to typical strict, cinema rules and allows them to truly absorb the ‘masterpieces’ before them whilst socialising with their peers around them.
Furthermore, current social media officer Isaac Pickett valued how one could “get to know the other members better than in other societies,” highlighting the social aspect of the society and congratulating the previous committee’s dedication to creating a consistently easy-going and safe environment, something that remains a priority for the new committee to uphold into the society’s second year.
The new committee also has a plethora of plans for the beloved society, including bad film trivia, themed events, collaborations with other societies, mini presentations on the films watched, plans to engage directly with member opinions on films and future showings. These will be done via questionnaires as well as the usual Bad Film Society suggestion box, which can be found on the society’s Instagram account under @sheffbadfilmsoc. All details can be addressed directly by the committee at the activities fair in fresher’s week, make sure to pay them a visit!
If a stream of collective mockery, low pressure socialisation, and laughter is exactly what you need after a stressful day as a UoS student, bad film society is certainly the society for you! Providing a leisurely, informal and inviting atmosphere, even the most introverted of students will be guaranteed an enjoyable experience, with potential opportunities to make some new, like-minded friends. If horrific on-screen chemistry, ghastly dialogue, and shockingly pointless storytelling is exactly what you’ve been looking for, there will always be a seat saved just for you at Bad Film Society. Previous screenings have included: Birdemic: Shock and terror, Velocipastor, Santa Paws, the Bee Movie and more!
