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On Tuesday night, local blogger Michael Petrelis wrote that the Castro Theater would be ceasing regular film programming as of the new year to become a live event venue and only host film festivals. Social media buzzed; as the blog Joe My God noted, even Roger Ebert got the news, tweeting that it was "a crushing blow."
Thankfully, the Castro isn't actually fading to black.
A spate of recent personnel changes fueled this rumor, which Petrelis said came from a Castro employee who did not want to be named.
A current Castro employee said a statement is coming soon that will put an end to the furor.
On the venue's Facebook page, the theater wrote, "Just to set the record straight, the Castro Theatre will continue to show Rep films, Film Festivals and occasional live performances. Any rumors out there are totally false."
Marc Huestis, who has been producing film events at the Castro for almost two decades, also confirmed that he has bookings planned in 2012.
"Nothing for me has changed and the Castro has been a fine place to do business and create events. Better now than in days past," he wrote in an email.
The recent staff changes actually appear to be good news for film fans: booking will be done on the premises rather than with a part-time worker based in Los Angeles.
But while the Castro isn't doing more than tweaking its operations, big changes have been afoot this past year in the rep house world. Repetory programming basically got its start in the Bay Area (as did famed film writer Pauline Kael, who used to write the calendar notes for a small Berkeley theater) but technological changes (first Betamax, then Netflix) have forced many out of business. This year, Gary Meyer's Balboa Theater, which shows a mix of first-run and classic films, came close to going out of business and the Roxie, in the Mission, has shifted to a non-profit model. The Red Vic, of course, ended its decades of screenings this past year.
But maybe microcinema, another trend to emerge from the Bay Area's alternate film world, will rise again? Currently, beloved video store Lost Weekend is raising money on Kickstarter for a small theater in their basement dubbed the "Cinecave." It's not the Castro, but then again, nothing is.
© The Bay Citizen, 2012
S Fisher
The phrase Microcinema may not be trendy anymore but there will always will be human scale spaces to screen films in San Francisco as long as people keep making and screening work. Venues such as Oddball Films, Other Cinema, New Nothing Cinema, The Vortex Room, screenings at the Red Poppy Art House and other venues have been around for years and continue to screen work not covered by larger more mainstream venues.
Gary Meyer
Last night a lot of people were concerned about the report on the Castro. Those of use close to the theater scene doubted it was likely.
Thanks to Bay Citizen for setting the record straight. There is a place for solid journalism in this world...a much needed place among all the self-serving bloggers.
The live performance business is a risky one to do pretty much full time. The UC Theatre is Berkeley has been moving in that direction but the experienced people behind it has spent several years trying to satisfy the city and evidently now need more money.
The Castro would need to build out the stage as there is little room behind the screen. And a major sound renovation would be required. And since the projectionists are union, no doubt the change would require union stagehands. This can get costly.
But there is change afoot...in a good way.
According to the Castro's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Castro-Theatre/199403516808
Keith Arnold who used to run the Fine Arts in Berkeley has been appointed General Manager and programmer...no more booking from Los Angeles. Keith is a smart guy and knows his film.
I hope he is around for Lost Landscapes Thursday so we can welcome him home.