NOTES FROM THE March 22nd, 2008 BELCOURT COMMUNITY MEETING

Programming

•    More film fests, but of shorter span than the Film Noir series – perhaps westerns or sports movies, or specifically for kids
•    We see a lot of ads for films opening in NYC and other markets that never seem to make it to Nashville – we'd like to see those films at the Belcourt
•    Bill Moyers mentioned a documentary – "Body of War" - we'd like to see here; would like to see the Belcourt show more cutting edge films that only screen in a few cities; want to be at the top of the list
•    Classes in dance or acting, maybe for kids
•    A Belcourt-produced film festival for local filmmakers or anyone from Tennessee would be great; Vanderbilt is doing an interesting one right now; is the Belcourt coordinating with them?
•    A local documentary film festival
•    LOVE what you are doing now – love the mini-fests and I see stuff here I would never even hear about otherwise
•    Just recently found the Belcourt – would never have seen La Vie en Rose otherwise
•    How about some more nostalgia-driven themes/series?  Like films of the 50s or Generation X series or something similar to bring in people who have fond/old feelings for the theatre
•    PBT person: clearly film has precedence, which is limiting… would like one stage reserved for live performance
•    What is the film picking/selection process (Stephanie explained)
•    Feel fortunate to have found the Belcourt – have only been here 2 years.  Maybe you could run films geared toward younger audiences to get them in the door and hook 'em
•    Flicks/Flix – producing more dialogue around films, with people who actually know about the subject
•    Have more directors present for Q&A
•    Cindy Steine: Do we compete with Sarratt?  Audience building is better done in a community versus isolation; Stephanie noted that we work with VU a great deal and that the programming is complementary, not competitive
•    Do we have an international film series?
•    Music – Cindy Steine – what about a global music series – contemporary music from genres from around the world?  Groups are pretty reasonably priced.
•    Or how about a series of related global music and films?
•    Generally Nashville is underserved for jazz music; not just local but mid-line touring acts
•    Second Saturday Sci Fi was GREAT
•    Have we investigated other similar theatres in the country for ideas?  (Stephanie: YES -  League of Historic American Theatres and fellow Sundance ArtHouse members are very helpful.)

Facilities

•    Dancer: if we could renovate so that seats could move and performance space could be more versatile, that'd be great
•    Soundproofing/'sound spill' is a big issue
•    Electrical needs help – need one more row of lights
•    Lobby space makes it tough for post-event mingling or conversation
•    Might renovation plans include going green?
•    Communicate cost of renovation so people know what they are being asked to pay for during capital campaign
•    Compare to Moving Pictures in New Orleans – consider couches and easy chairs in one theatre
•    Concrete contractor volunteered to re-do the lobby floor
•    Seating sucks
•    Lighting very bad – impossible to see in dark theatre; hazardous.
•    More screens!
•    Don't like that ticket system [prints personal info on tickets (makes it harder to scalp)]
•    How about a rooftop café or beergarden?  Need a place to hang out after/before films
•    Need inside curtains on '25 theater doors to inhibit light when doors are opened mid-movie
•    How about a wireless network?
•    Find a place for a highly flexible 'black box'

Communications

•    Kathy Conkwright is here and soliciting video stories from folks who have Belcourt stories to tell
•    Never seen any ads for programming outside of the Belcourt – need to expand advertising
•    Cindy Steine: something is missing in terms of getting the word out to the surrounding universities
•    How do you like the web site?  It's where we get most of our info
•    How about a discussion forum so people could chat about what they see at the Belcourt?  Shouldn't be hard to create/maintain
•    Love the emails (most attendees indicated that they get them)
•    Need more public relations and relationships with the newspapers to get more editorial coverage versus paid ads
•    How about co-sponsoring a film program on the radio at one of the universities?
•    Need to get outside of our demo in our communications
•    How about piggybacking on other performing arts events (showing Camelot or Rent movies while they are going on at TPAC, etc.)
•    How about getting venue renters to pool their marketing dollars for bigger impact
•    Distribute fliers at Village businesses to keep people aware of what's going on

Membership

•    Why are you a member? Affordable; love the discount; love the weekly emails; love everything – very important that the theatre is nonprofit.
•    Joined b/c of Janus series; surprised that there aren't more members
•    How about a special event that gets you membership with your ticket purchase?
•    Can people purchase memberships and give as gifts?  Yes indeed.

Random

•    Do we have t-shirts or bumper stickers?  Could do a community design contest for either.
•    Staff is amazing; they "problem solve with grace".  And they care.  Attendees don't mind the 'slacker' reference because you can ask any of them about film and they will be able to answer (compare to Regal staff)