Living Room Theatres
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01. 9.07
I so want this to come to my city. Portland, Oregon's Living Room Theaters shows indie and foreign films in digital cinemas with comfy chairs and couches, not to mention decent food, wine and local beer. The film-maker founders wanted "to change everything we didn't like about conventional and art house movie theaters - from the film selection to the lobby ambiance, food, seating and service." And green: it is "the first all-digital and only-digital theater in the country. This new concept offers significant environmental advantages. By eliminating celluloid prints and traditional distribution, we eliminate the use of chemicals like silver nitrate and reduce non-biodegradable materials and pollution. Digital projection is also more energy-efficient, from transportation to projection."
To top that, "We used natural materials and light to transform our funky historic building into a stellar space. A dramatic sculptural cedar wall invites you in via a "curtain" that flows from the exterior to the interior. The stunning fireplace, soaring windows and "make yourself at home" arrangement of tables, chairs and sofas in the lounge invite you to linger and connect." They also use green building materials, energy efficient projectors, and natural lighting & ventilation.
We talk so often about Product Service Systems, where you need not own something like a big plasma screen for movies if you can go and get a better experience in a place like this. Congratulations to ::Living Room Theaters via ::Myninjaplease
Great concept (though, as a former cinema student and someone who learned to edit on a flatbed film editor, I have an innate fondness for celluloid...oh well, it will pass).
It looks like a good mix of the experience of watching films in an audience setting whilst potentially having a broader selection of smaller-market films. This should be a lovely match-up with the growing base of independently produced films.
Also, anything is an improvement over the trend toward gargantuan multiplexes. I have sat through my share of films in these theatres with only a handful of other viewers. What a waste of multiple resources!
Eh, having lived in Portland all my life, and having gone dacing in what was a club in that venue, I have to say that I'm not that interested in this. There are plenty of brew/pub/theaters in Portland already, the only neat thing is the digitial only aspect.
I just walked by this place a few days ago, wondering what it was. Portland is changing so quickly these days!
There is a world of difference between seeing a movie in a brewpub compared to a venue where the focus is top notch appreciation for film, with bright clean projection and good sound. Sure a brewpub film experience is good for a few yuks while quaffing brews, but they are going for something totally different here, i.e. film appreciation with the plus of a clod beer, not the other way around.
Damn...I had this idea years ago! Would like to see that. Personally i'd like a chaise-longue for when I'm watching a film
Living Room charges $13 to see a movie, which I think is loony.
Portland is blessed with a number of great art-house theaters already, along with a ton of second-run houses. Prices to see a movie range from $3 - $7 at these movie theaters -- even the pricey first-run Fox Tower charges "only" $9. The premium to see a movie at Living Room is WAAAAAY too high.
Maybe one movie comes out a year that I would consider paying that much of a premium for to see it in particular glory, and at this point I don't know that their technology is going to make movie-watching glorious to the tune of a 45% premium on even the highest prices I would otherwise pay to go to the movies.
Like someone mentioned above it's more about the experience of appreciating art than anything else. The price may be high, but if you are like me and LOVE movies (especially everything that isn't Hollywood), what better way to appreciate them than in a comfy couch with some wine. Plus, it seems that the layout of the restaurant / bar makes it easy to meet people that share that same love of film. I really wish there was something like this where I live, I would give it at least a look.
BTW, this place makes probably the finest blintzes I have ever eaten. The staff is friendly and prices are reasonable.