How to Start a Film Society

Are you tired of walking out of a cramped mainstream multiplex movie theater after watching yet one more bloated Hollywood extravaganza designed by committee; after listening to loudmouth cell phone conversations all around you; after paying $10 for a box of artificially flavored popcorn and a Coke? Do you wish that you could see films that were made from the heart: independent films, foreign masterpieces, and American black and white classics in your neighborhood? Do you know other people who share your desires and dissatisfaction with mainstream movies and movie theaters?

If you live in a big city like L.A. or New York, there are still art and revival theaters around, but even these are becoming an endangered species.

If you live near a college or university, there may be a good chance that there’s a film society up and running. If not, you may want to pool your friends together and start your own non-profit film society with a membership of film devotees.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A Theater Space
• Film Projection and Sound Equipment
• A Screen
• Seating
• A Group of Devoted Participants

1. Schedule the first film society committee meeting. Invite your friends, family, and local film buffs. The response to this first meeting could be a strong indication of a need for such a venue. If you feel that the respondents have the same level of commitment that you have, the meeting’s agenda should include a selection of officers, such as a chairperson to run meetings and coordinate responsibilities, a secretary responsible for correspondences, a treasurer to handle committee finances, and a publicity officer who will hopefully have strong connections with local media, businesses, and government.

2. Do your research. Prepare an initial rough budget for at least three film screenings. To do so, look at the best possible affordable venues for the first screenings. Price the best affordable available film projection and sound equipment. Include a budget for liability insurance. Above all, research catalogs from film distributors.

3. The goal of the next series of committee meetings should be aimed at initial fundraising. Perhaps you’ll want to plan a fundraiser event to finance at least the first three film screenings. You many also want to beg or borrow from friends and family. Also inquire into grants if the society is established as a non-profit 501 (c) (3).

4. If your fundraising efforts have proven to be successful, carefully select the first three films of your series with the thought of garnering as much unique publicity as possible. My late friend Sherman Torgan, owner of L.A. revival house The New Beverly Cinema, ran a Grindhouse Film Festival from director Quentin Tarantino’s personal collection. While this is a high-end example, your film society can create its own unique festival with enough ingenuity, such as “The Lost Films of Orson Welles” (and there were many) or “The Best Samurai Movies That You’ve Never Seen.” If there’s a local or visiting celebrity affiliated with a film, an appearance with audience Q&A could create lots of media buzz. Publicity and creativity are key to growing your society’s membership.

5. Negotiating skills are also key to a society’s survival. Plan to be constantly negotiating with distributors, screening venues, and vendors.

Resources

• “Ideas on Running a Film Society”, Dennis Doros
• Tips on Starting a Film Society from Access Cinema
• Tips on Starting a Film Society from the Groton Film Society