Historical film studio Warner Bros. Pictures was recently purchased by Paramount Skydance after a bidding war with Netflix. Paramount now owns exclusive rights to Warner Bros. films and properties, including productions from DC Comics and HBO. This acquisition can leave moviegoers with an illusion of choice when it comes to choosing the platform through which they experience a good movie.
With streaming titans like Netflix prioritizing at-home releases over theater distributions, it is hard not to be at least somewhat worried about the present and future of the film industry. This, coupled with a dip in domestic ticket sales after COVID-19, means the great experiences of moviegoing are at risk.
Luckily, a lively film scene like the one in Tallahassee affirms that there are still people in the world who care about preserving the traditions and adventures of moviegoing.
Cinematic opportunities at FSU through the ASLC, La Società Italiana
Tallahassee residents continue to have access to a rich and largely independent film scene through local shops, theaters, and organizations that sustain the magic of the beloved American moviegoing experience.
The Florida State Askew Student Life Center (ASLC)’s wide variety of film screenings provides students with entertainment and community. Films of all genres and ages are shown at the theater, as curated by programmers and chosen by members of the ASLC Film Committee.
The Askew Student Life Center houses an on campus movie theater that provides students with a cinematic experience for free.
“I would definitely recommend going to the theater because tickets are free for students, and they show such cool movies,” interior design major Asia Bennett said to the FSView. “It’s also a nice way to make new friends. Everyone around me is from FSU, so I feel very comfortable.”
The ALSC allows students to explore other cultures through seasonal film festivals. The Middle Eastern Film Festival, the “Cinehasse” film festival by the Hispanic Graduate Student Association, and Black History Fest at the ASLC all celebrated different parts of FSU’s community through film.
ASLC hits: ‘Cinehassee’ Film Festival highlights Hispanic culture, bridges cultural divides
Beyond the ASLC, FSU students have other opportunities to explore different cultures and see films with their friends through La Società Italiana, or the Graduate Student Italian Society, which screens Italian films for members and Italian students. The team behind La Società Italiana selects overlooked films that both appeal to students and highlight important aspects of Italian culture.
“Many of the films we screen are not easily accessible in mainstream theaters in the United States or through U.S. streaming services,” La Società Italiana President Anais Perez said to the FSView. “Through La Società Italiana, students can watch Italian films that they might not otherwise encounter. Students can watch the films together and often engage in conversation about Italian culture, themes in the film, or their impressions afterward.”
Cap City Video Lounge: A haven for physical media
Cap City Video Lounge has to be one of Tallahassee’s premier spots for film culture. Located in Railroad Square, the video store is the last of its kind in the city — and certainly the only place in Tallahassee with a poster of Bernardo Bertolucci’s incestuous classic “The Dreamers” plastered on its bathroom walls. The shop provides shelves upon shelves of physical copies of films ready for rental.
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Cap City Video Lounge is also characterized by its excellent customer service. Finding a film is always easy with the help of their enthusiastic staff, who never fail to thank guests for shopping with Cap City, coming in as they’re on their way out. Past the shelves of DVDs, their mini theater provides exciting screening opportunities too.
“I never have an issue renting any movie at Cap City [Video Lounge],” psychology major Brendan Falabella said to the FSView. “I even had no trouble renting ‘Spring Breakers’ on Blu-Ray days before Spring Break. I love their huge wall of ‘Trash Cinema.’”
Filmic offerings of the Challenger Learning Center
The Challenger Learning Center on Duval Street is yet another moviegoing hub in Tallahassee. Filmed-for-IMAX releases are regularly screened on the center’s massive IMAX screen, providing guests with the immersive, blockbuster-enhancing cinematic experience.
The Challenger Learning Center also works closely with Tallahassee Film Society to bring independent, international, and documentary film screenings to the city. Tallahassee Film Society regularly offers screenings of films that are otherwise unavailable in mainstream theaters or on streaming services.
More: International voices celebrated at Tallahassee Film Society screenings
With plans for expansion always in the works — FSU’s acquisition of an abandoned Governor’s Square Regal theater to showcase student, faculty, and alumni films comes to mind — the many corners of Tallahassee’s film community suggest that there is light at the end of the tunnel for the future of film.
Hayden Milanovich is a Staff Writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at contact@fsview.com.
This article originally appeared on FSU News: How does Tallahassee combat the rise of film industry monopolies?