It’s not hard to push through hump day when a free movie, free food and free music come your way.
Rave Cinemas, located on the corner of 40th and Walnut streets, swarmed with Penn students gathered to catch the free advanced screening of the musical comedy “Pitch Perfect” last night.
Expecting a turnout of 350 people, SPEC Film Society — a Social Planning and Events committee — had to turn people away when the theater reached its full capacity at 7:30 p.m.
“We picked it because the co-producer Elizabeth Banks and her husband went to Penn,” College senior and SPEC Film director Meg Schneider said. “We also thought that actresses’ Rebel Wilson and Anna Kendrick would appeal to students.”
To promote the event, SPEC Film organized a video contest on Facebook. Students could enter the contest by singing their favorite song in the spirit of the movie, which is about a girl making it in a college a cappella group.
College sophomore Kiara Vaughn, who sang Sara Bareilles’ “King of Anything,” won the contest with 92 Facebook Likes. She received a free poster, headphones and guaranteed tickets to the next three SPEC Film movie screenings, among other prizes.
The Universal Pictures blockbuster attracted students through its comic trailers and sneak previews.
Wharton freshman Sydney Williams said she jumped on the opportunity to watch a movie free of charge, especially one that she eagerly anticipated.
“I’m not a big fan of ‘Glee,’ but this looks better than ‘Glee’ — more risqué,” College senior Maia Gottlieb said.
The advanced film screening also drew students who wanted to have fun while they had the time. College senior Davielle Brown said, “I’m free at the beginning of the semester. I wanted to do something fun.”
A Penn a cappella group, Dischord, sang three songs to a cheering crowd before the movie began. “We always enjoy performing for our fellow classmates,” College senior and Dischord singer Rachel Greenberg said. She also said the performance was very appropriate since “Pitch Perfect” is about the rise of a struggling a cappella group.
Once they had seen the film, many students commented on how humorous they thought the movie was.
“We were laughing the entire time,” College freshman Ali Tradonsky said. “I would definitely watch this movie again … I don’t watch movies twice so that’s a big deal.”
College junior and Undergraduate Assembly President Dan Bernick said, “I really liked the movie … and the way it connected to Penn. The movie reflected the vibrancy of student groups on campus.”
“Pitch Perfect” opens in theaters nationwide on Oct. 5.
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