Save the Oak Street
Last night I went to the Oak Street Cinema for the "community meeting" to try to figure out what the heck is going on with MN Film Arts, and whether or not the Oak Street is going to close. Chuck was also there with his video camera, and promises video log footage at Minnesota Stories soon. For background on MN Film Arts troubles, see the City Pages.
As people walked into the theater, volunteers passed out a staff statement, which I've transcribed and uploaded here. The meeting was sprung on the board (they found out about it from the media) and this statement almost made them leave. I'm glad that cooler heads prevailed.
After a nearly-full house had piled into the theater, it got underway, with R.T. Rybak's aide Peter Wagenius moderating. Or, I should say, trying to moderate. The meeting quickly became chaotic, and no real answers were forthcoming.
I was disappointed how the meeting turned out. I did not like the belligerents in the audience shouting down the board members who were trying to speak. Let them answer the questions, damn it!
There were some decent suggestions from the audience, and more than a few half-baked ideas. The guy next to me proposed that the Oak Street should be an oasis from capitalism and asked why there isn't an endowment. Uh, yeah. It's kind of hard to have an endowment, when you're $130,000 in the hole
I agree to a certain extent that MN Film Arts should be buffered from the marketplace. But at a fundamental level, if money in is not greater than money out, there will be major consequences. The Oak can't show movies that only bring in $700/week.
There seems to be two big problems that need to be solved for the Oak Street Cinema to survive. First, MN Film Arts needs to get out of debt. Jamie Hook screwed them pretty bad by missing grants, but it seems the organization has been in trouble for some time. Second, the Oak Street needs to start playing movies that people will actually go see.
The first part is tricky. I would be happy to give MN Film Arts some money, but I want to be assured that it will go to good use. I need proof that the organization will still be around, and run by competent people. The organization could use a dedicated development director, but with no money it's tough to hire. They are in a major Catch-22. Tim Grady pledged to put $75,000 of his own money into MN Film Arts. I thought a lot of people in the audience were really unfair to Tim. It's a credit to him that he maintained his composure.
On the second point, most of us are guilty. I have a lot of great memories of the Oak, and the idea of it closing boggles me, but I couldn't name the last film I've seen there. Movie attendance is down nation-wide. People are watching DVDs or playing video games instead.
In the end, there were more questions than answers. I'm anxious to see what happens.
More coverage of the meeting:
- Star Tribune: A drama unfolds at Oak Street Cinema
- Pioneer Press: Oak Street Cinema is 'bleeding money'
- MNSpeak
- SaveTheOakStreet.com
- The Bug
posted by Luke Francl @ 11:38 PM |
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10 Comments:
Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that they found out about it from the media. I think the staff should've called them at least. That's an indication of just how bad things have gotten at MFA.
Question does the MN Film Arts or others associated with the Oak Street Theater pay a living wage and health benefits for the staff?
Dave
Well, if the staff and board aren't even in communication no amount of money will fix that.
It isn't just them. I think movies in the traditional sense are just about done. Disney (aka Buena Vista Distributing) is toying with the idea of simultanious release of first runs in theaters and on DVD. (Could the new Pixar deal blaze that trail?)
Theaters (or more correctly movie houses) add very little value to the experience of seeing a film and present a number of problems. To survice they need to get creative and generate some real value adds - here's an example of an attempt... http://www.originalalamo.com/downtown/frames.asp?b=/online_tix/show_details.asp?show_id=3243
I'm not sure the program is viable, but its interesting. They also have had showings of the Jerk complete with Pizza in a Cup and Smokey and the Bandit with a semi full of beer. (Of course Texas is a little more lax on drinking age enforcement - not sure that would work here.)
Anyway, Tempus Fugit.
-Censored
the board knew about the meeting the same day that the staff called it, and tried to cancel it.
WEll my question about a living wage was more of a poke at the owners of this site as this is a point hey advocate. My guess is that the staff is not payed a living wage and does not get health benefits. But that's ok because the theatre is doing "good works".
From reading the articles my guess is the theatre is doomed, having a lineup of Casablanca and getting only 10-20 customers is what I would expect. Given that most adults over 25 have already seen it, can get it for home viewing. Like all entertainment venues they must compete for the descretionary dollar and time. A potential customer must choose between going to see a classic movie again at a theatre that is out of the way for most or doing everything else. At best I would go there if I needed to impress the fairer sex beyond that there is little to draw. Fresh ideas and offerings as Censored pointed out are one way, Casablanca is not.
Dave
Doc,
I will conceed a certain romaticism to going to the movies, but there's also ringing cellphones, people who talk, traffic snarls that make you get there late, not to mention commercials, $20 for popcorn and soda and a hundred other annoyances.
Unfortunately, and all too often these are part of the experience as well. There are better alternatives and they are being choosen.
-Censored
There are good experiences in the cinema and bad ones. The important distinction to know, for those running movie theaters, etc, is the DIFFERENCE. It is foolish to say, "oh but going into the darken auditorium with a group" of 25 other lonely and desperate souls is a magnificent experience -- NOT! Sounds like an old porno house in the 70s, sticky floors and all. There are great experiences, great audiences, great moments in having community together, bring together artists, ideas and community but this takes a lot more than just screening a list of old movies that you can buy on DVD or rent from Netflix.
Its not Oak Street that you need to fret over, its the Cineplex.
http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=USATODAY.com+-+%27Bubble%27+hits+theaters%2C+TV%2C+DVD+on+same+day&expire=&urlID=16911086&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Ftech%2Fnews%2F2006-01-18-bubble-theater-threat_x.htm&partnerID=1665
-Censored
Yeah, that was unclear at the meeting whether it was a loan or a gift.
On April 10, the Oak Street's founders, along with many former staff and volunteers, will host a free event at the Varsity Theater to explain the Oak Street's current situation and ask the public for support for their plan to take over the funding and operation of the publicly owned theater. There will be a classic short silent film, accompanied by Prairie Home Companion pianist Rich Dworski.
Anyone who wants a say in what happens to The Oak, this is probably your last chance.
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