SCREEN THIS!

Why is it that when someone holds a film screening, no one comes? Over the years I have attended various independent film screenings. These have shown a variety of short films, obscure and better known features, and the like. The resounding memory I have of these -- and am constantly reminded with recent examples -- is the generally low turn out... lack of bums in seats. What is striking about this is that I live in Toronto, which is considered to be a 'world class' city and one of the 'arts'. Not that people in smaller towns and cities aren't interested in such film programs because even if they did initiate a 'small house' screening venue attendance would undoubtedly be low as the base populations are so small. But for a city like Toronto this is inexcusable, if not a case study ready to be explored by some student of statistical analysis. Perhaps a place like Toronto has changed. I do remember attending "The Funnel" on a regular basis back in the mid 1980s. This film group was dedicated to experimental film and video works and also to the odd 'live' (mixed media) show. Screenings were twice a week -- Saturday and Wednesday if memory serves me -- and I was there with my fellow classmates almost every screening. And the (smallish) theatre was full or close to capacity.