by Cory Woodroof | Nov 3, 2011 | News Slider
To this day, Nashville citizens are continuing to rebuild since the catastrophic flood of May 2010. Locals will always remember the time our city picked up the pieces from the devastation of a thousand-year flood that wreaked havoc on families and businesses across Middle Tennessee. The Opry Mills mall, a once prominent shopping center, sadly fell victim to the flood, taking with it many popular stores and restaurants unique to Opry Mills, including a theater that held Nashville’s only IMAX screen. After a year and a half of waiting, the theater is making a comeback. The Opry Mills 20 and IMAX will finally re-open its doors to the public on Nov. 18. Via press release, Dick Westerling, Regal Entertainment Group senior vice president of marketing and advertising, shared the news with the public. “Regal Entertainment Group is eager to open our Opry Mills Stadium 20 & IMAX,” Westerlng said. “Prior to the flood, this location with its IMAX presentation attracted moviegoers from across Middle Tennessee. We believe our returning patrons will be impressed with this all-new facility.” Westerling believes the theater–and its customers–will profit from the theater’s re-opening, which will be just in time for Thanksgiving. “Opening during the busy holiday movie season is the perfect time to offer this state-of-the-art theatre to our loyal patrons in Nashville,” he said. The theater will host a series of charity events on Nov. 14, 15 and 16 that will lead up to the grand re-opening. Those in attendance can purchase such offerings as $2 movies, popcorn and sodas. Groups such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Nashville Film Festival and...
by Cory Woodroof | Oct 20, 2011 | News Slider
During a time of great political turmoil, those lucky enough to get the chance to hear from one of the representatives on Capitol Hill get a unique opportunity. On Wednesday night, Lipscomb students, faculty and members of the Nashville community got this distinct chance. Representative Jim Cooper (D-TN) visited Lipscomb for the university’s monthly Pizza and Politics event. Cooper addressed the burning issues facing our country while giving the students a message of urgency concerning their political activism. Dr. Lowry introduced the congressman, even jokingly saying that Rep. Cooper is only democrat he would vote for. Rep. Cooper took the stage and quickly began his opening statements directed at the students and other young people in the audience. Cooper urged the young in the audience to take an active role in politics, even if it meant only voting. Cooper believes that just being an informed voter is an important role for Americans. Cooper, who hosts the largest internship program on Capitol Hill,encouraged students to pursue being informed of the nation’s issues. He firmly believes that the state of the country reflects on the state of its citizens. “America is not going to be number one if you are not number one,” he said. A self-described centrist, Cooper calls for all Americans to become independent thinkers, not just trusting the opinions of such popular news outlets as Fox News and MSNBC. Cooper devoted the rest of his time to address such important issues such as the current state of congress – a system he believes to be broken, health care, and the current pattern of government spending. The audience, diverse...
by Cory Woodroof | Oct 12, 2011 | News Slider
If you either got the scent of a delicious meal or heard some good music this past Monday night, thank the folks at Open Table Nashville. Open Table Nashville recently hosted its 2nd annual Southern Cookin’ and Music Festival in the Flatt Amphitheater. The event was created to help raise money for the non-profit, interfaith organization. Brett Flener, a senior Law Justice and Society major and one of the organization’s co-founders, is very appreciative of the social and service clubs that helped with the event, as well as the other supporters of the organization. In addition to the southern food, there were several musical acts including Sarah Carter and the Pretty Ponies, Hogslop Duo, Jo’shua Odine, Relapse and Chrome Pony. Flener likes to think of the event as “spreading joy just to spread more joy.” He sees it as a “win-win” situation for everyone involved. Open Table Nashville defines itself as “a non-profit, interfaith community that disrupts cycles of poverty, journeys with the marginalized and provides education about issues of homelessness.” Open Table also works to provide community and transitional housing. Flener says that he wants everyone to know that Open Table Nashville is a community. ”We’re not really here to ‘fix’ people,” he said. “We don’t see these people as problems. We see them as brothers and sisters to be journeyed with.” Flener said that he wants Open Table Nashville to provide a community for those who have lost their own. “What we are looking to do, especially through our community houses, is to plug in and say ‘We want to be that family now,” he said. “We...
by Cory Woodroof | Oct 12, 2011 | News Slider
As Midterms are in full swing, here are a couple of Redbox choices to help ease your studious mind. Being that there are no new releases that are really worth recommending, this Redbox Report will feature older titles that are still worth a look. TRON: LEGACY (PG, 125 minutes-featuring Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, and Jeff Bridges) *BLU-RAY OPTION RECOMMENDED Being somewhat of a film nerd, I love the 1982 sci-fi classic Tron. At its initial release, Tron revolutionized the world of graphic design in film. Almost twenty years later, Tron: Legacy continued the story of the digitalized world. This time around, Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) embarks on a journey across The Grid, the world where Tron: Legacy takes place, to find his long-lost father (Jeff Bridges). The film is complete with jaw-dropping visual effects, the return of franchise star Bridges, and solid performances by Hedlund and Olivia Wilde. Even if you’ve never seen the original, this film is still a fun, stylish film that is sure to entertain. And who wouldn’t want to see Jeff Bridges in two different roles – he’s also a villain? Tron: Legacy has been on Redbox for a good while now but is definitely still worth a rental. MORNING GLORY (PG-13, 107 minutes-featuring Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, and Patrick Wilson) I’m usually not one for a “chick-flick”, but if it’s one produced by J.J. Abrams, I’m in. Rachel McAdams plays a TV producer who takes a job at a failing program. She enlists the help of a famous news anchor (played by Harrison Ford) to co-anchor the show, and the hijinks ensue....
by Cory Woodroof | Oct 7, 2011 | News Slider, Opinion
If you’ve ever met me, you are likely to pick up within the first fifteen minutes that I kind of like movies. Movies have been an integral part of my life ever since my childhood. I distinctly remember my first movie experience- seeing The Lion King during its initial release in the summer 1994. I would have been around 2 years old. Over the past nineteen plus years of my life, I have seen countless films, written countless reviews, and have spent countless hours increasing my knowledge on the subject I love. Everyone has to have a point where they form their passion- a sort of love at first sight. I remember when I first truly fell in love with film. I was 3, the time was around Thanksgiving 1995, and Toy Story had just been released. I remember seeing Toy Story. It was the first time I really loved a film. For about a year or so, I was obsessed with everything Toy Story. I had a cowboy poster print around my walls. I had Toy Story bed sheets (with matching comforter and pillow covers), countless Toy Story toys and memorabilia (including the lunch box with thermos included), a Woody outfit for Halloween the following yea, and my own Woody doll with my name written on the bottom of Woody’s boot. After seeing Toy Story, I decided that movies were really my “thing.” I started to see everything I could under the sun. That personality trait has helped develop me as a writer and as a person. I always look back to Toy Story as the match that...
