I Exhibited Films For A Year. I Lost Money but I Think I Made My Point

<p>If there is hope it lies in the micro-cinemas. I first learned about</p><p>micro-cinema from a theater management class I took when getting my</p><p>minor in film at the University of Arizona. U of A is a party school I</p><p>could not have gotten into a better school even if I knew how to party</p><p>better. They have a decent English department and they offer the option</p><p>of studying film as a minor. We're approaching a time in history where</p><p>we are debating the usefulness of a college education. If you do decide to</p><p>pursue a degree look into ways to get the education you want. I feel like</p><p>U of A trained me for the things I wanted to do. No one has ever asked</p><p>to see the paper or see my GPA.</p><p></p><p>I love the idea of having a small screen through which I can push</p><p>my own taste and agenda. Like a personal radio station. The romance</p><p>of micro-cinema was further instilled in me when I read the book A Year</p><p>at the Movies: One Man's Filmgoing Odyssey by Mystery Science Theater's</p><p>Kevin Murphy. Murphy talks about film exhibition in a lot of contexts.</p><p>This book really speaks to the experience of going to the movies. I'd love</p><p>to have a theater that doesn't have to produce much. One where I could</p><p>go wild with the programming. But the problem with that is alcohol.</p><p>Alcohol makes the world go 'round. You gotta sell alcohol to make that</p><p>business model work. Every single person I speak to eventually reminds</p><p>me of alcohol. I get it. But I have nor have I ever had any desire to run a</p><p>bar. Maybe that's why I chose The Lamplighter. They sell alcohol. I hope</p><p>alcohol will be a draw.</p>