What’s the Big Deal About Movie Theaters?
It’s fun to play pretend and be a movie critic. From the first time I sat down in the Roxie Theater, I knew this would be an enjoyable experience for me. I’ve always loved going to the movies! I recall times I would go out to the movies with my family members and that was the closest we got to a trip to Disneyland. Buying the tickets, taking a road trip to the “big” theaters such as the AMC or Marcus Cinema, getting the overpriced popcorn, candies, and sodas. They were some of the only times when our family felt a collective sense of joy. I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing the end of the Twilight Saga in theaters with my cousin and mom. I was so much younger than them but when I was sitting with them in those reclining seats, I felt like an equal to them. They respected me and treated me like I was mature. We related more with each other and had a shared interest that we could talk for hours about. It was nice to feel connected.
Even though I grew up in a small town with almost nothing to do, we were lucky to have a rundown, downtown movie theater. I’ve seen countless movies in that building because they were so cheap, eaten many bags of popcorn, and cried endless amounts of tears into said bags of popcorn. Some of those memories include being taken on dates by my lovely, late grandma, Peggy. She knew how to treat her grandkids to special treats and was one of the better role models I had to exemplify what love looked like. Some other memories in the Elroy movie theater were watching an R-rated movie for the first time with friends. We felt so badass when we were let into those showings even though we weren’t 18—one of those small-town living perks. They were some of the best times I spent with people I’ll never forget, even though I sometimes try hard to forget about my hometown.
From all the hours spent in theaters, I felt like I had a good understanding of the reason for seeing movies in person. Sitting in a dark room packed full of people while watching everything on the big screen is more fun and makes for a better viewing experience. And then before the film Young Hearts played at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater, the president of the Frameline Board got onstage and gave the most eloquent and clear explanation behind the purpose and the importance of going to the theater. They said that studies have shown there is a biological response when you sit in a theater with a group of people and experience the same thing. You feel all the emotions more intensely; everything comes at you higher, harder, and faster. There is simply something about sitting in a theater that connects people.
Now, when I signed up for this immersion, the last thing I thought I was going to get was a profound scholarly speech about why movie theaters matter. But it made so much sense and has changed the way I interact with the movies I view in the theater. While sitting there awaiting the film to start playing, I look around at the people surrounding me and think about the shared experience that we’re going to have together—even though I know none of their names. I think about how every single person in that room has a different lived experience. I think about how each film will strike people differently and be more or less meaningful to them than me. And how beautiful is that?
