the microcinema

i thought this article was a great read, and inspiring to say the least. partly because running some sort of small "microcinema" has always been a dream of mine. in all reality, i'm somewhat involved now, showing films every sunday night at the juggling gypsy for the 'subversive film series.' truly the rough theater, we play the movies projected onto a pull down screen, that is full of wrinkles and lines, and never has a straight image. plus the shadow created by the decorated headboard hanging down from the ceiling. although, if you rig it up right, and shove enough books/trivial pursuit cards/tea light candles/anything else you can find up under the projector (also hanging from the ceiling, suspended in a small wooden box) you can get it angled low enough just so the shadow isn't too bothersome. the only real thing that separates our sunday night venture from a true microcinema is the material that we play. keeping tune with the "subversive" aspect, most of the movies we show are left-wing documentaries focused around the failing and corrupted state of our nation's (and world's) government. although last week, we did do it narrative style, and show v for vendetta. perhaps one day in the future we could branch out, and begin to show [non-subversive] other types of movies, but all low-budget true indie work. although i have no idea about how to go about getting those types of things..

i suppose thalian hall is somewhat less like a microcinema and more like an art-house theater, as it pulls in bigger movies, but of course never huge-budget films. the science of sleep, for instance, a critically acclaimed movie and winner of many awards, but not a blockbuster, by any means.

some of the examples in the readings remind me how great things like microcinemas and the rough theater can be (paying for a ticket with muffins, watching a movie on a school bus, etc..) and one day, i do hope to provide a nice little quiet corner where people can come and watch some true art films.