The smell of buttered popcorn and the hum of conversation filled Kent Plaza Cinemas on the night of Oct. 14, as students gathered for more than just a free movie. With complimentary popcorn and soda in hand, over a hundred attendees settled in for an Amazon MGM Studios screening of “After the Hunt,” a film that promised not only entertainment but reflection.
Following the film, Dr. Karisa Butler-Wall, assistant professor in Kent State’s School of Media and Journalism, and Scott Hallgren, associate professor of Digital Media Production, led an engaging discussion that pushed students to think critically about the movie’s deeper themes, including power, censorship and the politics of higher education.
“Looking at issues around power and authority in the university is always relevant,” Butler-Wall said. “Right now, with a lot of discussion around academic freedom and censorship, it feels especially timely.”
The film’s focus on academic ethics and creative control is closely aligned with the themes discussed after the screening. Butler-Wall noted that “After the Hunt” provided an interesting lens for examining how questions of authority and expression unfold both inside and outside the classroom.
“I think this film gives us a lot to talk about,” she said. “Cancel culture, how it’s portrayed, generational issues, thinking about power dynamics between students and professor, and the role of the media in shaping how we understand all of these things.”
For Hallgren, the night represented more than a mere film screening. It was a chance to show students how storytelling in cinema can serve as both a mirror and a warning.
“One of the important things about filmmaking is the power to tell a story that may be out of time, that may be timely, that may not even seem relevant now but suddenly become prescient in the future,” Hallgren said. “As a college professor, I’m always interested to see how that’s presented filmically.”
Hallgren said he was particularly proud of the turnout and the partnership that made the event possible.
“We’ve gotten well over 100 people to come through the screening tonight,” he said. “This could be the start of a relationship with one of the local companies that handles premieres. Going forward, we may be able to host two or more of these kinds of events a year, which is really exciting.”
Following the discussion, as students filed out, some holding free movie posters given away at the end of the night, they continued to discuss the film with their peers. What began as a casual movie night turned into a rare opportunity for Kent students to explore how storytelling, power and academia intersect.
“If you had told me five years ago that we’d be doing something like this, I would have been ecstatic,” Hallgren said. “This is a really nice place to be.”
Alexis Hood is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].