San Jacinto College Central Campus will feature two movie screenings Oct. 16 during Cinema on the Lawn in the North Courtyard outside the Student Center.

Central campus Student Life Coordinator Amanda Rose, along with Administrative Assistant for Student Life Christopher Gates, coordinates the event. It was introduced during the Fall 2010 semester, and according to Rose, “each year the attendance has grown.”

Rose said the first viewing is family-friendly while the second film is intended for more mature audiences. This year’s offerings include the “The Lego Movie” followed by “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Screening times are 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., however Rose added, “it’ll just depend on when the sun is setting.”

Although the second feature is more explicit, Rose said, “It’s not going to be offensive to individuals as in a culture.” She said vulgarity is not what they aim for, but “I don’t let that deter either, if it’s a popular movie.”

Last year’s event garnered an attendance of 225-250 people, but Rose said the weather affects the outcome. “If the weather’s good people will come.” However, she said there is a back-up plan in the event of adverse weather conditions. Although they have never resorted to it, Cinema on the Lawn would move indoors to the Student Center if necessary.

Moviegoers can bring in their own snacks and Rose said, “we encourage people to bring blankets or chairs.”

Furthermore, Rose said mosquitoes are never a problem, but repellant is available if patrons need it, and the lawn is treated for ants.

Behind the scenes, San Jac does its part to provide the movie showings.

“A lot of people don’t realize this, but we have to pay for the copyright to show movies publicly,” Rose said. “It’s worth the money investment that goes into hosting this event.”

Meanwhile, San Jac student and education major Beth Prado attended previous screenings and said she and her family “really enjoyed it.”

Compared to a movie theater, Prado said Cinema on the Lawn is spacious and most importantly, free.

The idea for the event can be credited to Rose’s time at McDaniel College, a college she previously worked for which held a similar event.

“Because the response was so high,” she said, ”I believed that even at a two-year school, you could still have activities like that, and the students are going to want them.”