Boys and Girls Club members attend red-carpet premiere
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POLSON — Busloads of children descended upon Showboat Stadium 6 early Friday morning, June 20, for a special movie premiere. The boys and girls were the first in Lake County to view the latest Disney blockbuster film, "Elio." Though the Showboat has done movie premieres in the past for Montana-produced films, as well as invite schools for movie viewings, the full-on exclusive red carpet showing was a first for both the cinema and the Boys & Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County. Treated in complete movie star fashion, children of all ages from the Polson, Ronan, and Mission clubs signed their autographs on a thank you poster as they waited in lines to get their picture professionally taken against a backdrop of event sponsors. As workers bustled behind the counter to keep up with the demand for popcorn and drinks, club members filled three entire cinemas, with an estimated number of 300 kids at the theater. Showboat employees were well prepared to handle the large gathering, planning out the quantity of concessions in advance, and utilizing staggered start times in order to prevent an unwieldy crowd.
According to Aric Cooksley, Chief Executive Officer of the local Boys & Girls Club, the goal of the event was to provide kids with a sense of importance and belonging by making them feel valued and extra special. Citing recent trips the students have taken, such as to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to view a Space Shuttle launch, Cooksley explains that by going above and beyond in what the club does for their members, including activities that would typically be hard-pressed to find in a more rural area, the club is better equipped to achieve its mission. According to the club’s website, its mission is, “To inspire and engage all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” Cooksley hopes that by exposing young minds to a diverse canvas of experiences, students will be able to enjoy a more enriched development and clearer path to what interests they want to pursue in life. Recently, club field trips have focused on cinematography and media, with Friday’s event coming directly after a trip to Missoula last Tuesday, June 17, where the club’s teen members were given the opportunity to visit the KPAX news station to speak with TV anchor Jill Valley about news media.
Dressed for the occasion in suits, dresses, and some in plain Montana blue jeans and cowboy boots, children in attendance on Friday were full of smiles as they showed off their flashy outfits. Nine-year-old club member Kimmy, who wore a pink, tutu-like gown, said she was very excited to be there, and explained how she has been part of the Boys & Girls Club in both Mission and Ronan, first signing up when she was four. Now five years later, Kimmy says she loves the club’s activities more than ever.
The event was made possible by funding given to the Boys & Girls Club by Fandango, an online app for purchasing movie tickets. After receiving the grant money, Cooksley approached Showboat owners Gary and Becky Dupuis about arranging a movie premiere for the upcoming movie Elio, a film that youngsters in the club were bound to enjoy. Additional activities are planned for the teen members as well, with upcoming trips to film schools on the summer itinerary. Parents interested in registering their children for club membership are encouraged to visit the club’s website.
