Portage Theater review

[JAW4Universal]

I think ICEMANN333 makes an especially good point about it being a monthly event.  That's tough to pull off -- especially when you are renting the theater on top of putting it all together.  As I said in my first post, I was not trying to put the events down so much as voice one film purist's complaint.  We did leave the one Time Tunnel event (as well as the one Horrorbles event) when we were dissatisfied with the DVD projection of the first film, but I  never would have asked for a refund.  Believe me, I root for the little guy.

Print costs are indeed extreme.  I know, as I've looked into it myself from time to time.  I do think that if word got out that you were showing film prints, crowds might increase to eventually more than cover the extra cost.  I could be wrong.  I know the Music Box Massacre and Sci-Fi Spectaculars are jam-packed every year, in part because people want to see these rare screenings.  And for the amount of films shown, the cost (last year's Massacre was around $27, I think) is at least as good a bargain--especially when you throw guest interviews into the deal.  But again, those events are only 2 or 3 times a year, and I think Rusty has the full support of the theater so there's probably no rental fees.  I think the projectionist is a non-issue, as most theaters use non-union projectionists these days.  But maybe the Portage has an agreement with the Union, so I could be wrong there.

Just tossing one fan's thoughts out there.  Not trying to be a downer.  If you're drawing well and most attendees appreciate the events, then I hope it continues for you.  I'm glad the Portage is getting used more often since its renovation.  Hopefully that will help keep their doors open.

[raycastile]

Film projection is going digital whether anyone likes it or not.  Traditional film projectors will soon be relics of the past.  It is up to film buffs to make sure that obscure films survive in the digital era.  It doesn't matter how much it costs or how difficult it is.  As has always been the case, if they really want to, they will find a way.  Just as you can't stop technology from marching forward, you can't stop it from becoming cheaper and more accessible.  Someday, the ability to make HD film transfers will fall into the hands of resourceful film buffs.  Right now, within 5 feet of me, I have equipment that can shoot and edit video of such high quality that it would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars just 10-15 years ago.  To my left, I have three shelf units full of DVDs, a library of maybe 600 horror/sci-fi movies.  A couple decades ago, I would have had to have been a millionaire to own a film collection of this audio/visual quality.  And now here I am, having a virtual conversation with people whose faces I've never seen, whose voices I've never heard.  Time marches on.  And with time, all things become possible.

[MDG]

I'm sure I'm in the minority on this, but there are times when I see a print that's got a little "history," especially if it's a drive-in or grindhouse type movie, and it's almost more enjoyable. Went to a screening of The Big Gundown a couple years ago and it was the stereotypical grindhouse joke--about 10 minutes in, Van Cleef draws, then there's a ragged jump cut to him looking at a dead body.

Not necessarily as satisfying as a new 35mm print or a vintage nitrite or technicolor print but with it's own charms.

[Barlow]

MDG wrote:

I'm sure I'm in the minority on this, but there are times when I see a print that's got a little "history," especially if it's a drive-in or grindhouse type movie, and it's almost more enjoyable. Went to a screening of The Big Gundown a couple years ago and it was the stereotypical grindhouse joke--about 10 minutes in, Van Cleef draws, then there's a ragged jump cut to him looking at a dead body.

Not necessarily as satisfying as a new 35mm print or a vintage nitrite or technicolor print but with it's own charms.

I agree there as well. While I love my remastered Lemora DVD, I still enjoy popping in the old fuzzy VHS sometimes and remembering the days when we didn't have crystal clear movies. It's why I enjoy the Dark Shadows DVDs so much. They look just like they did on tv 35 years ago.