BINGHAMTON, NY – Binghamton University’s on-campus special screening of The Rewrite, a movie set at the University, will feature visits from director and alumnus Marc Lawrence ’81, as well as the film’s lead actor, Hugh Grant. There will be a limited number of tickets available to the campus and the general public on a first-come, first-served basis.

The special screening will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at the Anderson Center’s Osterhout Concert Theater, just days before its national release on Feb. 13. At 5 p.m., following the movie, Lawrence and Grant will take part in a question-and-answer panel discussion.

"We’ve decided instead of going to the usual cliché, boring places to do a premiere, like New York or Los Angeles or London, we’re coming to the vacation capital of America — Binghamton, New York — on February 8," said Lawrence. "And I’m going to be coming up with Hugh Grant and some other members of the cast, and a lot of thermal underwear. We’re really, really excited, and we can’t wait to see you!"

The Rewrite is Lawrence’s self-professed "love letter" to Binghamton. He grew fond of the area while attending the University and wanted to mirror his own experience in the film.

"When you first see it — at least for me — it looked like a Norman Rockwell painting with the color drained out," said Lawrence. "And at the end of those four years it was The Wizard of Oz. The color was completely there, and that’s how I felt about it, too."

"We were thrilled when Marc chose to set The Rewrite at Binghamton University, and we’re even more excited that he’s decided to screen the movie right here on campus," said Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger. "It’s a big celebration for the University and for the entire Binghamton community."

The first wave of complimentary tickets will be made available to students, faculty, staff and alumni from noon-5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, at the Anderson Center Box Office. The second wave of tickets will be made available to the general public from noon-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3. Each day, the first five people in line will receive a Binghamton University related prop used during production of the film. In addition to the standard tickets, a limited number of VIP passes will be made available, granting the ticket bearer reserved VIP seating, access to a special reception and a prop used in production of the film.

The Rewrite follows a down-on-his-luck, award-winning screenwriter, played by Grant, who, as a last resort, takes a job teaching at Binghamton University, where he hopes to focus on writing another hit. However, he winds up becoming more involved than he ever imagined with his students, his colleagues — both friendly (J.K. Simmons, Chris Elliott) and adversarial (Allison Janney) — and a single mom going back for her degree, played by Marisa Tomei.

Watch the official trailer for The Rewrite at http://j.mp/1uo6kOI, and for more information, e-mail Rewrite@binghamton.edu.