VESTAL, N.Y.-- It's not your typical movie filmed on a college campus that only uses the school as a backdrop. "The Rewrite," is writer and director Marc Lawrence's self-professed 'love letter' to Binghamton, according to a Binghamton University release.
"Binghamton is not the biggest city and for someone to write a movie about Binghamton, is pretty amazing," said Binghamton University junior Ross Taylor.
Lawrence graduated from the university in 1981. He grew fond of the area and wrote this story to mirror his own experience.
"Marc loves Binghamton University and wanted to write a story about Binghamton University and it really is about Binghamton University, it's not about Hugh Grant and Marisa Tomei, it's about Binghamton University," said Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger.
"You have movies like '21' which is about Harvard but not really, it's more about his journey but I thought it was very interesting them doing a movie specifically tailored to the university that I go to," said Taylor.
That's what makes this film special, according to President Stenger. "It's I say unprecedented if you, I'm not a huge movie-goer but I know a lot of movies and there's not many movies you can say was about a university."
Lawrence compared his first look at the Binghamton area to a Norman Rockwell painting with the color drained out, according to the university's release. But after four years, it was 'The Wizard of Oz.'
BU junior Ross Taylor says he had a similar first impression.
"But then you start realizing all the potential that it has and it really is a great place to be," he said.
It's the university that brings so much life to the area, according to Taylor.
"You can build a city around a very good university and that's what Binghamton is," Taylor said.
Many throughout the community are excited to get a first look at how this movie unfolds and depicts their love for the area as well.
The first wave of free tickets will be available to students, faculty, staff and alumni from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, at the Anderson Center Box Office. The second wave will be available to the general public from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Each day, the first five people in line will receive a Binghamton University related prop used during production of the film, according to a BU release.
A limited number of VIP passes will also be available for reserved VIP seating, access to a special reception and a prop used in production of the film.