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Show »*C , i ..Friday, ^Joy. 7,200 ~j- r-j features@statesmanjusu.edu II: Irtfn,'. By STOREE POWELL staff writer In a world that is ever increasing in commercial, profit-oriented entertainment, Tony Jay Rudman, vice president of Westates Theaters said the Logan Arts Cinema takes a step back to offer a public service. "We have been losing money for the last five years," Rudman said, "but we play the independent films as a community service." The downtown art theater at 785 N. Main St. is operated by the Westates Theaters of Salt Lake City. The Arts Cinema offers a unique movie experience by playing independent art films, which aren't offered anywhere else in Logan. An article in Time magazine, titled, "Can a Film Change the World," explains art films as films made outside of the Hollywood system that often focus on political or humanitarian issues. They can raise awareness on important topics, including stereotypes. Film Investor Ted Leonsis states in the article, "Filmanthropy changes the metrics of measurement from box office and revenues to number of volunteers and amount of money raised." Filmanthropy is what the Arts Cinema does. Despite requests from locals to keep the Arts Cinema open and playing art films, the theater often has a crowd of 20 during the week, and an audience of 30 on the weekends, said Rudman. "We would love to just break even. While we feel attached to the Logan community, we don't have public funding - it is Westates money," Rudman said. With such small audiences, it is difficult for Westates to plan for the theater's future. The most recent opening night, for a film called "Man on Wire," the theater took in only $134, Rudman said. Richard Davidson, the Logan city manager for Westates, said that a film's success depends on the movie itself. He also explained that they choose many of their movies based on customer requests, which can be made on the Westates Web site. "It can be like a roller coaster. Some weeks are complete slumps," Davidson said. The theater has the most success with atypical demographics, not the usual 18 to 35-yearold audience. Usually, they seat the same crowd every week, often including many elderly people, Davidson said. Whatever the movie, the cozy one-screen theater makes for a unique viewing experi- ence. Though the theater was built in the 70s, it has been updated and kept up, while still retaining a few nostalgic qualities. The psychedelic orange floors were replaced, as well as the seats, when Westates bought the theater in 2003. The sound is offered in DT, Digital Theater Systems, for quality. Tickets are taken inside, though the voice box on the glass window is intact, where tickets were taken from customers outside. Also, the projectors are not digital, but the old fashioned, rather tricky thread-through type, Rudman said. "We haven't switched to digital yet. We will have to eventually," said Rudman. "We haven't done it not because of the money, but because we feel the film offers a certain quality that digital can't, it captures the essence of what it is." Kate Black, sophomore majoring in American studies, is one of the employees who not only runs the theater on her shift solo, but also can thread the projector. "It isn't too hard to do," she said, despite all of her responsibilities. Black sells the tickets, concessions, threads the movie and anything else that needs done. Since there are only a few employees and the theater serves a regular crowd, the workers know almost everyone who comes in, offering a very personal service. "Besides keeping Logan artsy, the Arts Cinema is personal, and that's an important part in a commercial world," Black said. Black, Rudman and Davidson all speculated on why the Arts Cinema and independent films are less popular. Black mentioned that the theater is often cold, a complaint of customers. But she explains the reason behind that is it is difficult for Westates to funnel money into an unpacked theater. Davidson said that besides being in old downtown, the independent films aren't for the typical audience. "Generally, our audience here know more about film and what's out there, rather than just the top ten," Davidson said. Black also said, "The independent films I think are better quality, they are more intellectual." Rudman said while these films are quality, many people, including the new generations, just don't seem to care about art films. "We can make more onHigh School Musical' in one night, than we can here at the Arts Cinema with a movie such as 'Duchess'," Rudman said. Rudman pointed out the theater doesn't play movies that are unrated or rated NC-17. "It is frustrating," Rudman said. "People ask us to stay open and then they don't support the films." Rudman said he thought that people had other things to do and that the suffering economy might play a role in the small audiences. However, the Arts Cinema is the only theater that offers a student discount, making tickets $5, Rudman said. The lack of support is forcing Westates to think hard about the theater's future. In March 2009, they may not extend the lease if the theater continues to lose money. The goal is to just break even, Davidson said. The theater is still struggling, even after building owner Jim Lindal lowered the rent, Rudman said. "I am optimistic we will be open in the future. We are doing all we can," Rudman said. The Arts Cinema is a piece of Logan history, and a movie connoisseurs dream, Davidson said. "There is value in not the norm," Davidson said. "The quirky things like the Arts Cinema makes Cache Valley interesting." -storee.powell@aggiemail.usu. edu Art cinema 1 ,-iyJ. T H E LOGAN ART CINEMA, located at 78S N. Main St, offers an alternative way for Cache Valley citizens to enjoy movies that feature political or humanitarian issues. CODY GOCHNOUR photos Helicon West: Because students are creative, too By HEATHER GRIFFITHS stoffwriter For anyone who ever wrote anything they thought smacked of genius, Helicon West might just be the answer. Helicon West, named for Mount Helicon in Greece, which in Greek mythology was inhabited by muses, provides an opportunity for students and community members to share their work in a welcoming literary circle, said Star Coulbrooke, director of the Writing Center in the Ray B. West building. The program was named by professor Michael Sowder after first being called Writers Read Weekly in 2004, Helicon West is an open microphone event where all writers, from bloggers to poets, fiction to non-fiction can get together and share their writings to give them "voice," Coulbrooke said. Writing is a private and solitary activity at its core, but giving a voice to one's work can strike that chord in others, perhaps inspiring them to write themselves, and Helicon West is the environment where people can share their most creative and cherished thoughts, Coulbrooke said. People read anything from poetry to short plays, journal entries, essays or excerpts from essays or flash essays, to fiction and non-fiction. The only constraint to make sure everyone that wants to have a chance to read is able to, Coulbrooke said, is that all readings need to be seven minutes or shorter. Helicon West is open to all community members throughout Cache Valley, as well as people from throughout the state of Utah, she said. Everyone is encouraged to come and read or simply enjoy the experience of listening, Coulbrooke said. Coulbrooke said everyone who participates at Helicon West has the potential to have their works published in the broadside poster which is distributed by the Writing Center. The broadsides consist of actual writings that are performed at Helicon West and are displayed on the first floor in the Ray 6. West building. Helicon West takes place every other Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the True Aggie Cafe on 117 N. Main. The next event is Nov. 13 and will be featuring guest speaker Professor Jennifer Sinor in the USU department of English. Sinor is the author of "The Extraordinary Work of Ordinary Writing " a book that centers around the diary of her great-great- great aunt, a homesteader in the Dakotas in the later 19th century. She is also the co-editor of "Placing the Academy: Essays on Landscape, Work, and Identity." Her essays have been published in many literary journals including Fourth Genre, The American Scholar, Ecotone, Brevity and Bellingham Review. Her work has also appeared in such publications as The Chronicle of Higher Ed and The Wasatch Journal. The last Helicon West for the fall season will take place Dec. 11 and will feature Emily Sorensen hosting the winners 2008 USU Creative Writing Contest. -heather.c.griffiths@aggimail. usu.edu ELISE DONEY, SENIOR MAJORING I N ENGLISH, leaves the True Aggie Cafe after performing at Helicon West Thursday. TYLER LARSON photo |
