IRL Movie Club - Right for Your Cinema?

 

A film used for the IRL Movie Club

In Real Life Movie Club is a nationwide initiative to connect independent exhibitors through in-person screenings and conversations. 

Annie Roney is IRL's mover and shaker but credits social author, Robert Putnam for the idea behind her venture. IRL's premise is simple: for $5 at participating theatres, attendees get to watch an independent movie and then stay for a discussion with the rest of the audience. 

"Robert Putnam showed in his writings that when people stop gathering in social communities and talking to each other, democracy unravels", say Roney.  Also, a documentary filmmaker, Roney frequently thinks about the relationship between the decline in movie viewership to the state of our communities.

Many independent exhibitors often try to bring in filmmakers for post-screening discussion. IRL Movie Club is an excellent substitute for this, in what appears to be a win-win for the theatre and patrons. How it works is that IRL subsidizes participating theatres' event costs to keep the admission at $5. People who feel they belong tend to repeat their attendance, and many with friends in tow - again good for the theatre.

Nationally, since its inception in November 2024 starting with 23 participating theatres the number has grown to 67. 

You might want to get on-board with the IRL Movie Club. Look into it - everything and anything you can do to make your cinema more connected with the local community is a winner - and this initiative costs you nothing.

By: Jim Lavorato

2025 Razzie Awards

There's the Oscars and then there's the Razzie Awards - awards for the worst films of the year. The Razzies Awards are given out one day before the Oscars.

This year the Worst Picture was 'Madame Web' which won three Razzies in all, including Worst Actress (Dakota Johnson) and Worst Screenplay. According to Johnson, "I had never done anything like it before. I will never do anything like it again."

Worst Actor went to Jerry Seinfeld for his starring role in 'Unfrosted' which he also directed and co-wrote with Amy Schumer. She received Worst Supporting Actress Razzie.

Francis Ford Coppola won Worst Director for 'Megalopolis' but unlike the other Razzie winners he chose to accept the Award via Instagram saying, "it is a badge of pride." Jon Voight won Worst Supporting Actor in 'Megalopolis' 

On the flip side, the Razzies also award the Razzie Redeemer, an award given to a former Razzie winner who has gone on be celebrated in future work - this year the Redeemer went to Pamela Anderson. She won a Razzie in 1996 for her performance in 'Barb Wire' but one the Redeemer for her award recognition in 'The Last Showgirl'.

The Razzle, the members who vote on the award recipients, consist of 1,217 movie buffs, film critics, and journalists from the U.S. and 24 other countries.