The really tall elephant in the room?

So the Deacs have crushed my soul once again. I promise not to go all Edgar Allan Poe macabre on you, but while the wound is open, I'll talk about a subject that's been a bit of a sore spot for some people - the screen height. If I were a chiropractor looking for some new clients, I could understand some cries of shenanigans. However, when you're not building a megaplex out in the suburbs and working with an existing building, you've got to do the best with what you've got. I'd say we accomplished our goal of cozy and intimate. You wouldn't know it used to be a conference room and offices and a clothing store before that if I hadn't just told you, right? In fact, in the basement in our storage room, you can see tons of phone numbers written all over the wall. That means it used to be the order room for the store, or a sketchy gas station restroom that I once happened to be occupying at 7pm when I noticed a note that said "Be here at 7 pm on .... for a good time" on some date that I've successfully blocked out of my mind. It's the only time I've considered driving off without paying for my gas.

That history is part of the charm of the theater for us, but it also presented some challenges. The aforementioned basement left us without many options for sloping the floor as we've become accustomed to with newer theaters and stadium seating, since a new foundation couldn't be built to support tons of extra concrete. After consulting with our architects and theater design experts, the best move was putting the screen up a little higher to make sure someone's Marge Simpson hair didn't sully the view of the person sitting behind Marge. It's reminiscent of the old North Point Theaters non-traditional floor, so just more charm! We tried to make sure the seats were extra padded to help the viewer snuggle in, and forget all their other worries, including the slightly set up screen. It seems to have worked for the most part, but some have still wondered why, so I hope that explanation suffices.

One of our other goals in opening a/perture was to be able to showcase some of the amazing talent we have in our own backyard. We're fortunate to be accomplishing that in two ways this coming week. Local creative advertising type-guru Mike Foley will be world premiering his short film Becoming Abe on Thursday, with a screening of the 10 minute feature beginning at 4pm. Here's Mike's own description of the film from his website:

"the mike foley art true story of Peter Holland, a Hollywood outcast who escaped the boulevard of broken dreams only to reconstitute his life as Abraham Lincoln in the Blue Ridge Mountains--Lover's Leap, Virginia.

Not pretty enough to be a leading man, is Peter ugly enough to be someone special? Written, directed and produced by Mike Foley Art in association with Once upon a Blue Ridge. Edited by Michael Murphy. Music by Peter Holland, Redroom Studio, DF&O Sound Lounge. Produced by NOBODY with a FURNACE, heat your SINGLE-WIDE with the oven door DOWN STUDIOS."

Also, we're lucky to have another great film with tons of local ties beginning its one week run at a/perture this Friday, February 19th - Wesley!

"The feature film Wesley is based closely on the actual events of Wesley's life, a story that already reads much like a Hollywood screenplay. Wesley is a compelling and controversial main character that women found intensely attractive; there is adventure on the high seas, a terrible storm and near-shipwreck. In the newly settled Savannah, Georgia, there is an incredibly romantic but star-crossed love affair that ends tragically. Wesley is crushed, and on his return to England we experience his spiritual struggle and finally renewal. We are then swept away with his preaching in the fields and his efforts to help the lowest classes of society. His ministry is controversial, there is mob violence, confrontation, and tension followed by his victorious preaching to thousands in his home town.

In short, this true story has everything that Hollywood loves to put into movies! The movie has the seafaring adventure of Master & Commander, the bittersweet romance of Sense and Sensibility, but at the same time tells a compelling story of conversion, faith, dynamic social reform and ministry."

It sold out just down the road at the Stevens Center a few months ago, so make sure you catch it here. Trailer included for your viewing pleasure, and the official site is here for further information.



42.8571% of the way there. See you again tomorrow!