In my family, we’re movie people. Love movies – all kinds. We love them on the big screen, the home screen and the independent screen.
If you enjoy movies, then you know there is nothing like sitting in a dark theater, popcorn in hand and going on a collective journey with fellow movie-goers. Movies are funnier, scarier and more heart-breaking when watched in a shared experience.
In a theater, you can’t pause the film to check the pot roast or take out the trash. Your attention is focused. For those 120 plus minutes, your brain and emotions are only tied to what’s on the screen.
As much as I love watching movies at a big theater, the small, independent movie houses hold a special place in my heart. The viewing experience is just as compelling and often more so as many of these small theaters are housed in unique, historic venues. Plus, independent theaters are often smaller, so the collective emotional journey is amplified.
If you’re unfamiliar, independent movie theaters are different from their big-screen cousins. They’re the quirky, fun side of the family.
They screen films ranging from classics and new releases (after their cineplex runs) to documentaries and low-budget indie films. Often, films that are first screened at small theaters gain momentum and acclaim, which then leads to them making the rounds among the cineplexes and the awards circuit.
Independent theaters don’t have to follow any rules. They can host comedy nights, film festivals, concerts, game nights, dinner/movie nights, and so many more film-related events.
The creative programming is only limited by the imagination of those running the theaters. For these venues, a more fitting, although boring, title is probably "cultural, multi-use facility" than movie theater considering the variety of their activities.
For our family, one such activity was watching National Lampoon’s "Christmas Vacation" at The Cary Theater in Raleigh, N.C., in conjunction with an ugly sweater contest. I voted for the person who came dressed as the movie's Cousin Eddie character. The whole outfit is like an ugly sweater, after all.
The Cary is a member of Art House Convergence (AHC), an organization dedicated to the independent movie theater community. Sponsored by the Sundance Institute, the AHC serves approximately 2,000 member theaters across North America and Western Europe.
As part of its support, the AHC regularly collects survey-based research. Among their findings, community-based, independent movie theaters are viewed as:
• enhancing the cultural life of a community.
• a source of community pride.
• inspiring and encouraging artistic expression.
• adding to a community’s economic vitality.
Plus, these theaters help preserve a community's heritage because they are often housed in renovated, historic buildings and considered landmarks.
As more people are watching streaming services from home, the AHC and its members are continuing to find ways to attract audiences, especially from all walks of life and younger demographics. Prior to the pandemic – the last survey I found online – independent movie theaters were drawing in more millennials.
Today, my Gen Z son, Jack, and I attended a screening of short films at The Cary during its annual Beyond Film Festival. Afterwards, filmmakers answered questions and then the discussions continued in the lobby.
People didn’t rush out to their cars and head home. People hung around since the energy was up and the lively conversations flowed. It was the same friendliness I experience every time I visit The Cary.
Jack and I went around the corner for lunch and realized all the people sitting at the tables near us were talking and laughing about the shorts we just watched. "Love and Laughter" was the theme of the screening, so there was lots of humor to revisit.
This is what I love and among the reasons my crush on independent movie theaters continues. They bring people together. All the reasons found in the AHC research ring true.
If your town is home to an indie movie theater, give it a chance. Look at the programming and odds are you’ll find something you like. I bet you’ll develop a crush, too.
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