UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television unveiled the Darren Star Screening Room Friday for use by students, staff and faculty.
The small, burgundy and grey-walled room seats 54 people in a movie theater setting with low lighting, sloping walkways and leather seats.
The screening room, located in the film school’s Melnitz Hall, had not been updated since 1964, said Teri Schwartz, dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
UCLA alumnus and television producer Darren Star donated money to update the room’s sound, screen and projection technology, as well as new seats.
“What’s the purpose of making movies if you don’t have the (most recent) technology to exhibit them?” said Richard Walter, a professor and co-chairman of UCLA’s MFA screenwriting program.
Star told a crowd of about 40 people at an unveiling event Friday that one of his best memories from his college undergraduate experience was viewing films, including his own early projects, in the old screening room.
“I’m thrilled I can do something for UCLA,” he said. “It’s done so much for me.”
At the event, Schwartz presented photos from the room’s remodeling process and demonstrated its new sound and resolution capabilities by showing clips from famous films, like “Raging Bull” and “The Hunger Games”.
The room’s teleconferencing system can connect to James Bridges Theater in Melnitz Hall to allow live screening for larger events, like screenings, conferences or symposiums, Schwartz said.