By: Shane Bagot, Follow South Jersey Intern
BRIDGETON, NJ — When looking for a new program for the Cumberland County Library, Librarian Tom Ayars revived The Reel Thing Club. An 18+ free film club where members choose a movie once a month, and then get together to discuss it. The club meets on the fourth Saturday of every month from 1 p.m to 4 p.m at the library.
The club was revived from back in the 70s when video librarian Walter Luertcing was the one who started and ran it. One of the members now was around when it originally started; they remembered how much of an enthusiastic film fan he was. Ayars crossed paths with Luertcing when he started back in 1991. Ayas remembers how affectionate and helpful he was.
In February 2025, the library was looking for something new to add to the library. Not only had this club not been back for decades, but a lot of local libraries have gone away with film clubs. Ayars was seeing the shift in film culture and recognized a chance to do something about it.
“This program is partly an attempt to get people talking with each other face to face again. Watching a movie and discussing it afterwards is very different from just watching a movie on your phone, or even on your TV, or your computer. Movies from the very beginning were designed to be watched as a group experience, and seeing a good movie with other people and hearing their reactions makes a good movie even better,” said Ayars.
There are certain things Ayars wants to make sure are covered when discussing. The focus is on technical aspects like the performances, direction, and themes. It is important for Ayars to go through and research the film in advance to guide the talking points.
There do happen to be disagreements about the quality between members, but things always stay respectful. To exchange ideas and feelings, and what makes a film good or bad, is the main point. Not leaving any time for education aspects outside of film lingo, picked up.
Another big component is creating a variety of different kinds of films to watch. Just recently, they have watched and discussed North by Northwest, No Country for Old Men, The Women, and, just this past meeting, Casablanca. They try to especially showcase older films as they are not as widely seen these days.
Part of why Ayars feels that this works so well is because of the impact of watching films with people. To feel those emotions and reactions to a comedy, thriller, or horror with people creates a visceral feeling. He compared it to telling tales around a campfire.
“They say it’s like people who would sit around a campfire in pre-modern eras and talk about legends and myths and heroes. It was a shared culture, and it would be an exciting kind of experience to share the excitement of the storyteller talking about whatever the myths and legends of the past. Movies are by their nature, larger than life,” said Ayars.
For the Film buffs and diehards, Ayars hopes the club can be a place to discuss the love of film with others. To be able to put another person into a great film so they can have their own personal experience with it.
The main overarching goal is for the community to grow true bonds together. An opportunity for society to get back to that. For more information, please call 856-453-2210 (ext. 26103) or email tomay@cclnj.org
The Reel Thing will be meeting this Saturday the 25th to watch and discuss The Princess Bride (Dir. Rob Reiner, 1987)
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