Eastern Connecticut State University, through the Office of Alumni Affairs and the Intercultural Center, with financial support from the Office of Equity and Diversity and the ECSU Foundation, Inc. is proud to present a virtual movie group for students, alumni, faculty and staff. We'll select and discuss a new critically-acclaimed movie each month ranging from box office hits to powerful documentaries. The movie group will connect through a private text-based forum where all participants can discuss the current movie and network with each other. Joining the group is completely free and all movie selections will be available to stream on Netflix or Amazon Prime.

1. Elevate Your Movie Watching: Joining our movie group will expose you to impactful and important movies that you might have otherwise missed. The group will watch a range of independent films, documentaries and bigger studio productions so there will be plenty of variety.
2. Connect with the Broader Eastern Community: Our movie gorup will introduce you to students, alumni, faculty and staff across generations and geographies all while gaining different perspectives on amazing movies. Through the discussion of each film, everyone participating will gain fresh insights and will learn from each other.
3. The Power of Film: Movies allow us to experience different cultures, narratives, and ways of life which can enhance our own lives. Films can also help us learn, drive social change, and help us process difficult life lessons. [1]

How often will movies be discussed, what is the time commitment and what are the expectations?

The movie group will watch a new movie every month. During the month, we will have an on-going discussion in the forum about the movie. Each participant can watch the movie on their own when it is convenient for them while the online forum is on 24/7 so you can join the discussion whenever you like.

Will there be any in-person meetings of the movie group?

No, the movie group will be entirely online and the discussion will take place on our text-based forum. You can participate anywhere you have Internet access and on days and times that are convenient to you.

Is there any cost to participate?

No, the movie group is free to join.

How do I get the movies?

Movies will be selected that are available for online streaming in the US on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. You can also check your local library or rent the movies.

How do movie group discussions work?

During the month-long discussion period, you will watch the movie and then engage in the forum. The movie group will have a moderator from our vendor partner, PBC Guru, who manages the forum. The moderator will pose questions to the group, share relevant articles, and facilitate conversations about topics in the movie. Members will be encouraged to post and share as well. This format allows for ongoing conversation and makes it easy for members to connect with each other through the forum.

How do I make a forum profile?

We're using a private forum to host the virtual movie group, so it's easy to connect with the community. During our sign-up process, you will enter the information to auto-generate your free profile. After you complete the signup, we'll send you a link to the forum and you can begin to post right away!

About Eastern’s vendor partner PBC Guru . . . what exactly do they do and what do they have to do with the movie group?

Professional Book Club (PBC) Guru is a book and movie group management company that works with businesses, alumni associations, schools and professional societies. The Office of Alumni Affairs, the Intercultural Canter, the Office of Equity and Diversity and the ECSU Foundation Inc. are teaming up with PBC to put this program in place for students, alumni, faculty and staff. Alumni Affairs partnered with PBC to launch the Eastern Alumni Book Club in January 2018 and the Alumni Webinar Series in September 2020. For more information on PBC Guru, check out PBC Guru .

I've already signed up. How do I log in?

If you are already a member, you can click here to log in.

What if my question isn't answered?

Feel free to send an email to info@pbc.guru and we will be happy to help. Or contact the Office of Alumni Affairs.