Bring Back the Cinema! (Exhibition and Petition Signing at www.dajmikino.org)

robybaggio said:Is it not utterly preposterous to suggest that we should withhold investment from the film industry? How can anyone possibly argue against fueling the very engine of our cinematic culture?

Does anyone here actually discuss the cinematic arts? It seems to me that we are exclusively preoccupied with the business of theater exhibition, and isn't that precisely what we have been establishing from the very beginning?!

Is it not absolutely staggering to witness such astronomical sums of money being poured into mediocre cinema? One has to wonder, how can we justify spending upwards of $1.5 million on a single production that barely scrapes by as an average American film?

It seems you aren't entirely up to speed with the recent surge in American cinema and its incredible momentum over the last few years! Might I ask, what was the very last American film you had the pleasure of watching?

Honestly, how could I possibly continue to engage with someone who possesses such a peculiar mindset? Is it even worth my time to waste energy on this level of discourse? No, I simply refuse to dwell on such trivialities any longer, so consider our interaction officially concluded!

It’s honestly pretty sad seeing that little indie theater on the hill sitting empty so often. I feel like they should probably focus on filling up Central Park first before making a big scene about needing more space for film lovers. If I were running Central Park, I guess I’d try to secure some serious advertising budget and really push the venue properly. I’d probably bug the local papers and news outlets to get better coverage of the schedule and keep the listings updated more frequently... stuff like that. We really need to raise awareness about what's playing, and the city should definitely step up with some funding here. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of those massive multiplexes, but you can't deny that Broadway did a professional job with that Asian film festival, especially from a marketing standpoint. Almost every single screening was sold out.
But whatever, I suppose today's audience is pretty much screwed. We're lucky if we make it through this. 👎

I’m left with just one nagging question in all of this... if people are truly so desperate for indie cinema or alternative venues—to the point where they’re organizing protests, petitions, and massive outcries—then why is Central Park usually empty? Why was Broadway a ghost town during those Asian film screenings? And why on earth was I sitting COMPLETELY alone at an AMC Theatres screening of 'Hell's Kitchen'? That movie was hailed by several American critics as one of the best films released in our country last year, so it definitely wasn't some obscure indie flick.

Don't get me wrong, I love going to the movies, and it honestly breaks my heart to see the Europa theater closing its doors. But from an outsider's perspective—say, a business owner looking at the bottom line—it seems obvious that there isn't enough interest in high-quality programming in America. At least, not enough to actually keep a theater running.

Anthony Davis6 said:I have to give credit where it's due—Broadway did a solid job promoting that Asian film festival, especially from a marketing standpoint. Almost every screening was completely sold out.

Give me a break. Every time I showed up, the theaters were either totally empty or half-empty.

Anthony Davis6 said:Shouldn't we be demanding more from the management at Central Park? Wouldn't it be much more productive if I were to relentlessly pursue the local news outlets and various media organizations to insist that they provide far superior coverage regarding the scheduled programming? Is it not high time they offered more frequent and thorough updates on what is actually happening within the program?

I truly believe that Agar Pata is performing more than adequately in her role! Honestly, does anyone else find themselves wondering what would happen if she weren't so incredibly agile when it comes to promoting these programs? It makes one contemplate the alternative! Of course, we must remember that Central Park isn't exactly the kind of venue that needs to be packed to capacity every single day, nor is it a space that requires a constant, frantic rotation of brand-new programming. I will admit, I was initially quite bothered by the fact that so many classics and series seem to repeat themselves year after year. However, have I not since come to realize the profound reason behind this pattern? Am I not actually quite pleased with it now? Every single year, new generations arrive—fresh students and young kids who, if Central Park doesn't offer them these timeless works, simply won't have any other opportunity to experience them!

(Since I am the one running Central Park) I actually attempted to secure some funding for an advertising campaign!

The individuals managing Central Park are truly quite proficient in their specific field of expertise. However, if you happen to be harboring any secret strategies or superior concepts that could generate significant revenue—well, why not reveal them immediately? And I am talking about funds specifically earmarked for advertising! When you are relying on a massive sponsor like ExxonMobil, you can barely scrape together enough just to cover basic maintenance costs, don't you think?

Shouldn't the city have absolutely surged forward with a massive injection of capital? Wouldn't we all agree that a bold, decisive move to pump money directly into our urban centers was exactly what was required at that moment?

Do you have any idea how one might actually go about this? How can we possibly compel the city to act? It seems to me that the city hasn't contributed even a single cent toward funding Central Park this year—at least, from everything I have gathered! Is it not true that Central Park only continues to exist thanks to our most hated local tax authorities?

Can you believe it? Almost every single screening was completely sold out!

I distinctly remember when I attended, and the venues were absolutely packed to capacity! Yet, Zachary Thompson2 insists that Broadway was practically a ghost town. Now, who is actually telling the truth here?!

Zachary Thompson2 said:but clearly, from someone else's perspective—say, the owner of that movie theater—there just isn't enough interest in high-quality cinema here in America. At least, there isn't enough demand to actually keep a theater running.

I, on the other hand, feel like I am speaking a foreign language! It seems quite obvious to me that the owner cares nothing for the business of showing films, nor for the audience, nor for the movies themselves; instead, hasn't he intentionally managed the theater to bring it to the very brink of ruin just so he "has" to sell it? To this owner, it simply doesn't matter whether the building is demolished to make way for a shopping mall, converted into a nightclub, or turned into a CVS. His only goal is to pocket the cash and wave us all goodbye!

Oh, and yes, I assume you have all heard the news that in the spot where that theater used to be, they are planning to build a mixed-use residential and commercial complex?

redowl90 said:Maybe one day, when you finally figure out who's actually pulling the strings behind AMC and playing us all for fools, you'll find yourself praying to God that this thread disappears and your post gets wiped from existence...

Uffff, thank God for free tickets!

Thank God I'm being enlightened by someone shamelessly shilling for the very distribution company that forces us to buy overpriced, redundant "ultimate editions" of the exact same movies that evil AMC is peddling.🤣

Zachary Thompson2 said:There’s only one thing I don't get about this whole story... if people are supposedly so desperate for indie films or alternative spaces to watch movies—if they're actually doing protests and signing petitions—then why is the local arthouse theater usually empty? Why was Broadway dead during those Asian film screenings? Why was I the ONLY person at the screening of 'Hellraiser' at AMC??? And that wasn't even an obscure flick; a few American critics called it the best movie in theaters last year.

Don't get me wrong, I love going to the movies and it sucks that the Europa theater is closing, but clearly, from the owner's perspective, there just isn't enough interest in high-quality programming in America. At least not enough to keep a theater running.

On top of all that, you have to consider the fact that the petitions and protests are only starting now that everything is already finished. That shows how much people actually care. Now suddenly everyone has eyes wide open and they're screaming, "How could this happen?!!!" Your concern for these old theaters is just incredible. Honestly, God help us with activists like you and your "enlightened" crowd.

I'm being honest here. I don't give a damn about those theaters because I haven't stepped foot in one in at least two years, yet I go to the movies two or three times a month. Maybe I feel bad about losing the Washington, D.C. cinema, but when I really think about it, I haven't been in there for ages either. No point in lying to myself.

Lala pun said:I feel like I'm writing in hieroglyphics here. It’s obvious the owner doesn't give a damn about showing movies, the audience, or the films themselves. He’s intentionally run this theater to the brink of bankruptcy just so he "has" to sell it. To him, it doesn't matter if the building gets torn down for a shopping mall, turned into a nightclub, or becomes a CVS. He just wants to grab the cash and wave goodbye to us all.

So, what’s the move? If he acquired the theater illegally, then take him to court. But if he didn't—well, damn, it's his property. He can do whatever he wants with it. An organized campaign to save one single cinema? Please. That would just mean someone gets a choice between 25 theaters instead of 24. Besides, most of these places are half-empty anyway. 😁

It’s funny hearing Anthony Davis6 go on about aggressive marketing for an indie theater like Tuškanac. Honestly, you don't see massive ad campaigns for those types of spots out in the real world; people just check the local city guides or follow their usual hauntings. Truth be told, we still don't have enough die-hard cinephiles in this country. That said, I think there's a valid point in suggesting that multiplexes could easily dedicate a single screen to non-mainstream screenings on a permanent basis—whether through curated cycles or independent runs.

And that brings us back to what Lala pun mentioned regarding how owners and editorial boards simply couldn't care less. But why? It’s not like their other specialty screenings are breaking any records either. Is sourcing an old classic actually such a monumental task? Is the licensing fee really that steep? Or is the root cause just pure laziness and a lack of interest? I truly believe this would be a way to pull in entirely new crowds. And ultimately: they'd sell more popcorn! There's your profit margin right there. Everyone wins.

By trying to convert the skeptics using high-tech Star Trek seats, bamboo organizers, and free parking right next to the elevator to convince them that Orson Welles could have directed a flick just as good as one by Bryan Singer, they might actually expand the circle of people who wouldn't normally bother trekking out to a tiny hilltop cinema.

I don't think we really need this kind of heavy-handed advertising anymore. People are much more aware now that movies can be more than just mindless entertainment or a way to kill time; there's a real sense that they can actually mean something deeper.

It breaks my heart that Vicko Ruić will be forced to premiere his latest project—another one funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, where I’m sure Nada Gačešić-Livaković will deliver yet another career-defining performance—at a commercial AMC rather than at an elite theater in Europe. Hang in there, Vicko!

The Europa is my absolute favorite cinema—I’m signing that petition first thing.

Brenda Lee50 said:When you walk into a theater like that, you can actually feel something our small-town mentality hasn't quite grasped yet: film is the seventh art. It doesn't matter how hard Hollywood tries to strip that away these days. In a venue like that, you aren't just hearing the local dialect; you're seeing people who were checking out a Frida Kahlo exhibit yesterday and might be heading to a world music concert or a Shakespeare play tomorrow, depending on the weather. They certainly aren't going to stay cooped up within their own (mental) four walls.

Yeah, that’s exactly what I was getting at earlier. 😁

Lala pun said:Who exactly is to blame here?
Are you talking about the movie theaters and their management? Honestly, they aren't the villains. The management (and let's remember, we're talking about an investment fund from some exotic foreign country) never actually intended to turn a profit or build a loyal audience. What we're seeing right now is exactly what they planned—drive these theaters to the brink of bankruptcy, liquidate them, grab the cash, and bail.
And who sold those theaters to them? We all know. Was it legal? No. But it's too late to go back and fix things from ten or fifteen years ago.

To be perfectly honest, I don't know the full story.
In my head—since I'm working with limited info—the situation looked like this: the theaters used to be state-owned (or maybe municipal, more likely), but once Broadway and AMC opened up, they stopped being profitable. Some were repurposed for theater needs (and I actually liked the idea regarding the area near the dance center or whatever it was called), while others were just sold off to whoever had the cash. All that's left are these few struggling spots waiting to shut down.

I had no clue that Francek and his company sold them off back during the urban renewal era. Now I feel a bit foolish for not knowing the backstory, but hey, nobody's perfect. 😬

Is there anything about this online?

I’m requesting that this thread be closed immediately. Most people here clearly have NO CLUE what they're actually talking about...

I haven't seen this much total nonsense piled up in one single place in a long time...

It's honestly pathetic...

You all are here getting worked up and arguing—but let’s be real—this whole movement was launched just so some filmmakers hungry for media attention can get a few soundbites in the papers and on camera.

northerncrane4 said:You guys are all getting worked up arguing, but this whole thing was just a stunt so some filmmakers hungry for clout could get a few soundbites in the papers and on TV.

Fair point, but I’d rather see their tax dollars produce something actually useful than waste them on garbage...
Damn, I'm a genius this morning. 😬

redowl90 said:I’m asking for this thread to be shut down immediately, because the vast majority of people here clearly DON'T HAVE A GODDAMN CLUE what they're talking about...

I haven't seen such a massive pile of garbage written in one place for a long time...

It's pathetic...

Well, come on then, enlighten us. Why the attitude?

steelstag4 said:Nah, enlighten us then.

Exactly! Let's hear some noise from the back of the crowd!!

If you ask me, that whole thing is going to fall apart faster than a cheap lawn chair in a hurricane...