This week we sat down with the Executive Director of Cinema Saint Louis, Bree Maniscalco, to talk about her work and her love for the Hi-Pointe theatre and the Backlot screening experience. Put simply, it was an incredible half hour that could barely be condensed into the three and a half minutes we're presenting, but even this snippet of the conversation shows the passion the staff of CStL have for the production, presentation, and preservation of film. While we've written at length about the experience of being at both of these theatres, there is far too much to be said about the mountain of work done behind the scenes to provide such experiences.
From this May's Q-Fest and Ani-may events to the upcoming Wes-Fest exhibition, the staff are committed to allowing the public to view things outside the mass market film industry. You don't have to buy a ticket to the latest big studio slog to sit in a comfortable, yet sensible, theatre seat and enjoy a piece of cinema that was lovingly crafted by a crew of hardworking individuals, that's what the Backlot is for. It's for lovers of film and the human connection that goes with it, unconcerned with the event and spectacle.
There was, at one time, the concept of "the night on the town"; a romp through city streets that might take you from the riverside boardwalk, off to a cozy place for dinner, whisk you to the theatre for a film, and end with you sharing a starry night sky with your partner at the park. This idea has mostly been buried by the ballooning costs of these supposed "luxury" activities, but there's a valid argument to be made that cinema isn't a luxury. Cinema is an accessible art-form that anyone can engage with, regardless of their artistic background. It shouldn't cost you six fingers and half of your soul to get a ticket and engage with a filmmaker's craft.
That's why we've been on this tangent exploring the Hi-Pointe in such depth. It's a lovely historic venue, built to service her community. That's the intention of her new stewards at CStL, as this quote from Bree shows:
"Looking to the future of film, we're trying to really find ways to bring the next generation into the theater and show them why this matters, why it's different, and how impactful it can be versus just watching something on your phone or your computer or your TV at home."
They want that service to not only meet what the community needs, but foster new growth in the midwestern film community, whether you're a filmmaker or just there for what is on the screen.
