If a low budget or independent movie is being released, many times studios won't want to pay tens (or hundreds) of millions of dollars to promote it. Instead, they will provide screenings where people can get free tickets to go see the movie, then (hopefully) tell their friends what a good movie it was.

These screenings are a great way for a studio to generate buzz about a new movie, without breaking the bank trying to advertise the movie to an already saturated market.

Well, a few things. First, the studio generally gives out more tickets for the screenings than the theater can hold. That means that even if you have a pass, it doesn't guarantee that you'll get into the movie. It also means that in order to guarantee that you'll get in, you have to show up early and wait in line. A good rule of thumb is that for a normal movie, you should show up 1-2 hours ahead of time. So bring a friend, or a book, or a few crossword puzzles, and chill out for a while.

Also, this isn't a big deal, but the studio will sometimes require you to fill out a comment card or survey at the end of the movie, so they can get an idea what people think of the movie. These cards usually don't take more than a couple of minutes to fill out.

Finally, because these movies haven't been released in the theater yet, studios are extremely paranoid about somebody bringing a camera into the theater. So, expect for there to be extra security at the theater. If you bring in a bag, just assume it's going to get searched. Also, leave all still and video cameras at home.

But come on! Free movie! Before it's even released in the theater! You can deal with the minor hassle. Enjoy!