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Supplementing Academic Courses/Programs with Movies Broadcast on PVN

The Penn Video Network (PVN) provides University departments and centers, instructors, and all student groups the opportunity to broadcast movies and special events programming that support academic courses and programs free of charge. Use of films draws student interest in class work and pulls them into discussion. Showing movies on the Movie Channels provides students with more than one possible viewing time. In addition, by taking advantage of this service, centers gain visibility for their projects.

PVN is the University's cable television and special video events network. It serves over 8,000 students living in the University's college houses and fraternity/sorority chapter houses and is also available in over 60 academic and administrative buildings.

Request Movie Broadcasts--PVN's movie channels (11 & 22) broadcast 40 to 50 movies a month, a combination of blockbusters, foreign and independent films. Films are leased on a monthly basis and need to be requested six weeks prior to the month in which they are broadcast. To request that a movie be broadcast in support of your curriculum or program, contact PVN at video@isc.upenn.edu or fill out the simple online request form at: www.upenn.edu/video/classes/classes-form.html.*

Enhance your course/event with a Special Events Channel Broadcast--PVN's Special Events Channel (24) provides special programming aimed at a college audience. PVN's knowledgeable and friendly staff will work with you to determine if a movie or video can be rebroadcast to coincide with a special event. Recent programming included broadcast of movies for the Greenfield Intercultural Center's Unity Week as well as consecutive showings of Tell Me a Riddle, a film depicting an elderly couple dealing with serious illness shown in support of Dr. Barbara Reigel's (School of Nursing) coursework. For information on broadcasting on this channel, contact PVN by e-mailing video@isc.upenn.edu.

* Please note that PVN runs films obtained from two large distribution companies that provide the appropriate rights to broadcast on a closed-circuit system. Some films are available for home rental but not for closed-circuit broadcast, so you may want to choose a backup movie in the event that your first choice is not available. PVN staff can also suggest alternate titles if they aren't able to gain broadcast rights to film you request.

--Reni Roberts, Project Leader, Networking & Telecommunications