Roxy Theatre to launch film society
by Aaron Orlando - Revelstoke Times Review
posted Feb 18, 2013 at 1:00 PM
Roxy Theatre owner Carl Rankin has formed a new independent film society and wants energetic community members to get involved as directors and members to help attract new initiatives, new crowds and new attractions to the heritage Roxy Theatre.
The realtor and businessperson tells me he’s a passionate film fan, but he’s just spread too thin to take on many initiatives needed to keep the Mackenzie Avenue anchor afloat.
Rankin tells me his age a few times (and tells me not to print it as many times) and concedes he needs an injection of youthful, enthusiastic theatre fans who’ll bring new ideas and social networking skills to help the theatre.
Big screen TVs, online access to media and changing socialization patterns are squeezing small town movie theatres. But also, the big studio system takes its toll, demanding a bigger and bigger cut of door receipts, ranging from about 50—70 per cent of the door for big blockbusters.
“You make $5,000 a week on a big movie and you have to give away $3,000. It’s not fun,” Rankin said.
Rankin was inspired by a story in the Globe and Mail that featured the extensive measures community groups on Vancouver Island were taking to preserve their hometown theatres, including raising tens of thousands to keep the doors open on assets that served as de facto community centres. He’s hoping to generate some of that momentum here.
Read on at the Revelstoke Review