That Relaxation

Vapen och Dramatik
Mariken Halle, Ronja Svenning Berge, Clara Bodén

What: Transcribed texts from conversations about the Movie theater.
Who: Two secondary school classes in Östersund.
When :October 2011

Part 1, Absolutely Nothing Actually

Part of a conversation with secondary students about cinema. Östersund October 5th 2011.

Clara
Let´s say we try… No, let me say like this: I was in Rwanda a year ago trying to explain the word “classroom”. No one knew what it meant and it was exiting trying to explain the word from it´s foundation. Then I thought about the word cinema. How would you explain “cinema” to someone who has no idea what it is? What kind of room is the cinema?

The Class
A place where people meet and watch films together. A big big room.

Hopefully a place where you can get inspired as well.

Hang out and have it cozy, eat popcorn and stuff.

Clara
Ok. Is there anything more you could say about the cinema? Imagine we know nothing. How many people are in those rooms? How big are they?

The Class
That depends what kind of cinema it is?

They are usually pretty big.

It also depends on what film it is. If it’s a big film with say George Clooney or so they’ll take the one with the most seats but if it’s a small independent film it’s usually shown in a small Cinema.

It could be one with a hundred seats or three, four hundred.

Clara
What Movie Theaters are there here in town?

The Class
Regina, the big… Cinema City (a Swedish multiplex movie chain) and … eh Grand… or what’s it’s name.

And City Hall.

Clara
City Hall is Regina and Cinema City, that’s the big one and then there’s one more.

The Class
That’s Grand

The small one.

Is that the one on Priest Road?

Yeah, The one over by the Pharmacy.

Clara
Which one do you usually visit?
The Class
The big one. Cinema City. (Unanimously)
Clara
Is there anyone who doesn’t visit Cinema City the most?

(silence, no one answers)

Why do you mostly go to Cinema City?

The Class
It has the most films.

The biggest.

It’s the biggest.

You se the most commercials there. Regina doesn’t show as many commercials.

You pass it by…

Yeah, you often pass it by.

Then on TV. I mean they show commercials for the films on TV. Like those independent films. You don’t see ads for them as often as for the bigger films.

Clara
No you don’t. When I lived here in town and was about sixteen… I think I only knew the multiplex existed. I looked at the posters there. I found it a bit creepy to visit Regina. I was wondering if any of you feel the same way? I mean it was a small cinema, does that matter? Or is it more like “ here you can go as well as the bigger one?”.

The Class
Well, this is how I see it. If it’s a small cinema and there’s a lot of people it feels like everyone is starring at you. I don’t know. I think it’s creepy visiting cinemas like that. But it’s not like you’re really scared as soon as you enter the building.

I think you get a cozier feeling the smaller the cinema. It feels shallower when it’s like (makes a big gesture).

Clara
You get different feelings. It can be fun seeing something on a really large screen with lot of people. It can be a very different kind of experience I think.

The Class
I think it can be pretty fun if you come in to a big theater and there’s one four people there. You’re alone four people spread out people among hundreds of seats. That’s fun. That’s just funny.

Clara
I can feel a bit sorry for those who’ve made the film. Oh no, so very, very few attending. So who is it really who decides what films we see at the cinema? Who puts up all those posters? All those ads you’re talking about?

The Class
Isn’t it the cinemas themselves who decides what’s shown? The ones they think will go the best..?

Some films are sent up from down south.

We don’t get everything. There are certain films shown down there that the ones down there say, you’re not getting these. The ones down there choose to send us certain films.

Clara
Where does this person sit?

The Class
Stockholm.

Sundsvall?

From some larger town.

He who created SF maybe?

Yeah.

They check which are most successful films and those are the ones they send up.

I think it depends on how much money was put in to creating the films. If the budget’s like really big then more countries want to buy the films and show them.

Good suggestions. I thought of something you said? Say it again. (turns towards a girl by the window)

Girl by the window.
He who created SF.

Clara
How do you know it’s a he?

Girl by the window.
Maybe it’s a she. I don’t know.

Guy beside her.
But you always say him, about everything.

Clara
It’s a he. His name is Sture. So you’re absolutely right. People who work with film often talk about that men hold many of the key positions. So it’s not a bad guess. You can just go on guessing. When it comes to SF it’s completely true. But what is SF?

The Class
Swedish Cinema.

Clara
You can suspect that they have a good deal to say. So do they decide over all the Swedish cinemas?

The Class
Not now. They decide over their cinemas.

Clara
And which are their cinemas here in town?

The Class
They’ve bought Cinema City haven’t they?
No, or wasn’t it Cinema City that use to be SF but isn’t any more?
Didn’t it…
Hmm, I thought SF bought Cinema City?
No.
Yes they did, because I had a gift voucher that didn’t work.
It used to be SF and then it wasn’t and now it’s SF again.
Ok, you may be right. Anyhow it’s SF now.
If you visit their webpage it you come to SF.
Clara
I think you’re really well informed. It’s true that they’ve been bought up by SF and before that it used to be a different distribution company. Do you understand what I men by distributing? That you sell or show, there was another company called Sandrews that went bankrupt, maybe you’ve heard of them… so now SF has very many cinemas. It’s the largest film store in Sweden you could say. At Regina it’s not the same people who decide what’s shown. So that does that there are a few different kinds of films shown in different rooms.

Ok. I’d like to try an idea with you. Now I’m here as a filmmaker but say I was here as a decision maker who thought having a film theatre in this town wasn’t necessary. That it was a space that wasn’t important. But I wanted to here with you first what you thought. Is it important that Östersund or any town for that matter has a film theatre?

The Class
Yes. (everyone)

Yes. I mean when there’s a premiere and stuff… I mean Östersund is a pretty small town. When there’s a big premiere of a big film it becomes a thing. A thing that everyone wants to go to.

A lot of people. I mean “community” might not be the right word but that’s what I think anyway.

It’s fun when people to things together.

And then it’s a completely different thing seeing a film alone at a film theatre or at home.

Yeah, it’s a completely different thing going to rent a movie and going to a premiere. Or downloading it that’s what everyone else does.

Clara
Why is I better to see it in a theatre?

The Class
It’s a mightier experience. A bigger screen.

It’s more of a festivity.

More sound. You’re more drawn in to it.

(one guy in the class is writing on his laptop and doesn’t seem to take part in the discussion)

Clara
What are you thinking about?

Him
Nothing

Clara
Nothing?

Him
It’s fun to go to the movies.

Clara
Yes.
When you’re finished watching the film and leave the cinema I don’t think where you end up, on the street outside is the optimal place to be. I’d like to se that you end up somewhere else. In a café or something. So you can sit down and discuss the film afterwards. That’s one of the things with seeing films together that you can actually talk about it afterwards. The films that have made the strongest impression on me sort of just hit you. It can be a really strong experience. And then you’re suppose to “ thanks see you tomorrow”. I wish you’d be meet by something greater than that where you meet each other and talk about it. That’s what I think. How about you? If you could change the cinema. If it was possible or is it perfect as it is?

The Class
I think what you’re saying sound great. It would be fun.

It’s hard to thing of something straight away but I also thing it sounds good too talk about it.

When you leave the cinema you think about the film and it would be fun to discuss it afterwards instead of just walking away from each other straight away.

Clara
Yeah. I think quite a lot about places where in society where you can meet. How old are you 16-17 years old?

The Class
15-16.

Clara
There you go. I’m 28 and I think that film is one of those things that could connect people in different ages and I wish for more places like that in our society. It’s one of those things I ponder. Cinema really is a place where you could meet each other.

Silence

Clara
Okay, but this town not having a cinema you thing would be a bad idea?

The Class
Ja.

Clara
It´s there any thing else than the fact that it’s rather nice and social to go to the cinema? Do you get what I mean? How would you summarize the reasons why we shouldn’t take away the cinema? What are some important reasons that we should keep it?

The Class
Well you get to see films

You find out what films are out there at the moment.

Clara
That it would fell as if you where a bit cut of from something you knew was going on elsewhere?

The Class
Yes.
And it’s very social as well.
You’d loose one of the few social things that exist in this town. It’s not like you visit the grocery store and just “hey what do you think about this rice” and “yeah I like it”. It’s a place where you can talk and…
Clara
Is film…? Let’s say that… or let me ask you this instead: film, is it important? We agree that the place where it’s shown is. It seems important that a place like that exists. But film per say is it important that it exists?

The Class
Yes.

Clara
Why?

The Class
Well often film reflects what’s going on in society. Then it can be good to watch films so you understand a little more of what’s going on.

It’s like if you go to the cinema a bunch of people and the film is boring it’s still been fun going to the movies.

You might choose not to go see a film twice if it doesn’t interest you.

No.

Yes.

Clara
What kind of film interests you? How do you make that choice?

Girl
If the advertisements for it look good I might go see it. But if it seems really bad I wouldn’t pay for it.

Clara
No

The Girl
Also what actors are in it I think matters.

Clara
Okay. Is there any thing else that matters? Ads, actors. Is it if you see a trailer for the film or is it just the poster outside the cinema that makes you want to see it?

The Girl
Mainly the trailer but also the poster.

Clara
Yes.

The Class
If you see the poster it may make you want to go home and watch the trailer to see if it looks good there as well if the poster looks good that is.

It’s the same with a book. If the cover looks good you want to read the back of the book. I mean if the front looks good you read the back and if that sound good you read the book.

Clara
Does any one have an author where you think “okay, my favorite author made an ugly cover but I’m buying it anyway”. Do you have authors that you follow?

The Class
But then you check it out. If the covers ugly you read the back. You can still read the book even if the front is ugly.

You can always skim through it to see if it’s any good just as you look at a trailer for a film.

If you have no idea what a book is about and you’ve heard nothing about it read no reviews and it looks a bit boring then I wouldn’t read it. But if I know it’s by an author who writes in a way that I like then it becomes more interesting.

Clara
Who are some of the authors you like?

The Class (unsure if all the names are accurate)
What’s his name Nicholas… David Frost, Jan Guillou, Hemingway, Ann Rosman, Jk Rowlings, John F langagan, Jonas Gardell, Dan Brown etc.

Clara
Do you have any favorite directors?

The Class
Stanley Kubrick.

What’s his name, Tim Burton.

Clara
Anyone else?

The Class
Jerry Bruckheimer.

Clara
I find that interesting what you said about the actors. That you sometimes choose a film for the actors. There are a lot of things to choose between but you have to know about them. You have to know they exist.

Okay. A few last questions. You say the cinema is a social space. Why is it important to see film together?

The Class
Then you have something to talk about. The next time you meet.

You can go to the cinema with someone you haven’t met in a long time.

The social part maybe isn’t watching the actual film but talking about it afterwards and discussing what you think.

Clara
Then It’s important there is somewhere to go afterwards. Especially in Östersund because it can be freezing cold when you leave the cinema. That’s happened lots of times. You stand outside talking and it gets very cold. The cinema is important for Östersund that we’ve agreed upon but what about for you as individuals? Is it an important place for you?

The Class
Yes.
Yes.

Yes.

Mm.

I think it’s fun if you want to do something with your friends.

Yeah. If you want to have an extra nice time.

Especially sense it’s not a very big town it’s good to have something to do.

Clara
I’m thinking it could be nice if the director was there and talked about the film. You se a film and then you get to meet the person who’s made it. I’m thinking that would be nice. You’d get a chance to give a face to the writers behind it. But is there some one who’d answer no when asked if the cinema is important?

A girl sitting rather far back.
Well I don’t go to the cinema that often. I’m fro Bräcke (small Swedish town) and there the cinema has closed down.

Clara
Yes

Tjej
And I don’t go here that often.

Clara
When I was your age I would have answered like you. I wasn’t that interested in film and didn’t go that often. I had a feeling that “I know if this is interesting” but now I think the cinema has great possibilities as a space and I think quite a lot about what film is and what the point of it is. Is there anything that would make the cinema an interesting place for you?

Girl
I suppose if you go there a lot. Then maybe you think it’s more fun. But I don’t feel that way because I usually don’t stay here in town. I go home instead. So I wouldn’t stay in town just to go to the cinema.

Clara
Do you wish there was…

Girl
Yes

Clara
A cinema in Bräcke?

Girl
There use to be one…

Boy (in the front) I use to work at that cinema.

Girl
When it was open I use t o go there quite a lot.

Boy
They use to have Swedish premieres and World premiers but then they got new projectors, digital projectors and we had everything on film and they couldn’t afford the new ones and Folkets Bio couldn’t pay and the county wouldn’t go in with a grant so they had to close down.

Clara
How does that effect Bräcke?

Girl
Well there’s less to do because in Bräcke there is nothing to do.

Clara
Jag kanske har en sista fråga tror jag. Om ni tänker på alla filmer ni sett och vet. Hur får man veta om film? Är det vänner som säger att gå och se den eller var får ni veta om nya spännande filmer?

The Class
The paper, Internet.

Usually Internet.

Posters.

Internet, TV.

Friends. If your at a friend you can borrow a film and when you’re at the cinema and see news about films you’re like" wow I want to see that". It’s more like that when your at the cinema and see commercials.

There’s an interesting page on the net called IMDB where you can check out upcoming films but only the big ones. Then you can check out what looks interesting.

Clara
It’s really great to come here and talk to you. Well see maybe I can come back and ask you more questions some time but now your going to continue your ordinary lesson so thanks a lot for me.

Part 2, That Relaxation

Clara
When I was in Rwanda a year ago, or actually as was there back and fourth during two years, I ended up in a situation where I was going to describe the word exhibition hall to an assistant of the minister of culture. I thought “an exhibition hall we all know what that is” but then while talking to him I realized he didn’t really know what it was. So I was going to ask you to describe cinema to someone who can’t relate to the word. How would you describe the space that is the cinema?

You don’t have to raise your hand or anything, this is a dialogue, just give me a bid. What is the cinema?

The Class
A large room with a lot of people watching a screen that shows films.

Clara
What are films?

The Class
Well, it’s like picture in a fast flow that puts the character in motion. It can depict a story or so.

When I think of the cinema I think of all those red chairs. Wherever you are they are always so uncomfortable. And that they flip up when you get up your chair.

I think of relaxation because when you’re in a cinema you really have nowhere to go. If you’re stressed out for some reason it can be really nice just for the reason that you’re there and have to stay until the film is over. Kind of an enforced enjoyment.

There are no windows either it’s usually meant to be dark for the sake of the film. I think that’s important.

I think it’s a bit too comfortable. You easily fall asleep. The chairs are comfortable and it’s dark.

Clara
How much time do you spend there? Are you there a whole day just sleeping?

The Class
No.

Or? It depends on how many films you see. One film is about one and a half hour.

Up to three hours. I depends.

Yeah exactly. Lord of the Rings…

Clara
That sounds great. Fantastic. Let’s say I know nothing, so it’s just to go there and hang around in the local.

The Class
No.
You have to pay to get in.
Or, always?
Well almost. Sometimes there’s a free showing.
The important thing is that you keep still so not to disturb the people in front of you.
Sometimes you have to book in advance and then you better do so because it maybe a premiere or something.
Clara
Do you go to the cinema a lot?

The Class
It’s so expensive.

Yeah.

I surely agree.

It’s expensive because you have to have popcorn. So it’s both the ticket, popcorn and soda. Otherwise it’ll get very dry.

Clara
Who has decided there has to be popcorn?

The Class
Mom and dad.

I don’t think anyone’s decided that. Everyone has their own cinema snacks that they prefer.

But it’s the most common.

Yeah, popcorn is the most common snack.

Clara
Okay now I know a little more about the local. What cinemas are there here in town?

The Class
There are three. One that shows more entertainment-mainstream film. One that pretends to show art house films but doesn’t and one that’s more run down and shows art house film and world cinema.

Clara
Do you visit one of these more than the others?

The Class
The one that shows the art house films.

Clara
Which one is that?

The Class
Regina.

Clara
Why do you go there?

The Class
Because for some reason I feel that if I go see a film I want to se something that I can only see that one time, not something that I can necessarily see a year later on TV. It’s more special to see a film you can only se once at the cinema. Not a film that will released on DVD across the country and then will be shown on TV. That makes it feel more special.

Clara
How about the rest of you where do you go? Do all of you visit Regina or do the rest of you go to the… what do you call it, the run down one, the big one…?

The Class
Biostaden, Grand..

The one named Grand is the small one.

And Regina.

Clara
The rest of you where do you go?

The Class
The big one… The mainstream cinema.

…Cinema for the average Joe cinema where all the boring films are shown that all end the same. But that’s the way it is. That’s where you want to go, it’s easier. Then you get more of that relaxation.

Clara
How come?

The Class
Regina is one of those places you never get around to visiting and at Grand they never show anything. . It’s orient towards pensioners. At the Biostaden it’s, even if you miss the new Harry Potter film which eventually will come out on DVD anyway, it’s more relaxed.

Clara
More relaxed you say. I’d like to know what you mean a bit more. Try to explain a bit more about that relaxed feeling, what do you mean?

The Class
My preconceived notion is that you visit Regina for more of an intellectual experience. A film you have to reflect upon and think about. Feel that it’s something special. If it’s a film from the suburbs somewhere it has more of an impact. You think more about it. It’s more of a thing, like going to the opera.

But if you go to the regular cinema and watch a Dolph Lundgren film it’s more like, you watch it and it’s a bit of a throwaway. You’ve had fun, eaten popcorn and done something with you’re evening. You can go home and just drop it, not think about it anymore. It’s nothing more than so. On the other hand it can be great to really sink in to an art house film. But for the sake of relaxation I think it’s better to watch an ordinary film.

I think an art house film can be just as relaxing and entertaining to watch as a mainstream film. It can be a comedy from a different country that’s similar to a Hollywood comedy just a bit different , that’s ended up here. I think that can be relaxing as well.

Clara
Does the venue matter, if it's a place that can take in twenty or fifty people? Does it matter for the experience if it's a premiere with 400 people attending?

The Class
Depends what kind of film it is. If it's a smaller film you thing I might as well have watched this at home but if it's a bigger film and a big premiere then it's more fun if there are lots of people.
It makes the experience mightier.
Exactly. I was in Stockholm and saw The King's Speech and maybe that's the sort o film you don't usually laugh at but there was this one scene where the whole cinema laughed and there where so many people, many more than ever in a cinema in Östersund. There was like this wave of laughter and it was so great it just made you shiver. I shivered anyway and that would never happen here. It can make a fin better even though I thought it was good anyway. It becomes a collective experience with people you don't know because we're all laughing at the same thing.

But small cinemas can be great as well because then you can hear people laughing. Some people have exceptionally funny laughters and that can make the jokes really funny. If you've got some idiot (simulates a laughter) then you can laugh at that and that can be way more entertaining.

It's also funny when you're the only one in the whole audience laughing and everyone els i silent. It's something you thing is really funny and laugh at really hard and everyone else in wonder what the hell he's laughing at?

Clara
We've shown our films a lot the past year and the response has been extremely different depending on the venue. It's nerve wrecking but also fun. So there is a big difference even for the filmmaker depending on where it's shown.

It seems like there are different films shown at the different cinemas regardless of what you choose to call them or what you think of them. But who decides what's shown at the cinema?

Guy in the back
What was the question?

Clara
Who decides what poster are put up down there or at Regina's for that matter or at Grand? Who has made those decisions?

Guy in the back
The people who have the cinema I hope.

Clara
Is there someone there who decides at that one (points towards the different cinemas) and at that one and at the other one?

Guy in the back
What films are shown? I sure hope they decide that anyway. Maybe not at the cineplex that's got to do with politic o what ever.

Girl in the front whisper to person beside her.
That's what I said. Swedish Cinema or something.

Clara
What is it you're hoping, explain a bit more?

Guy in the back
Freedom to choose. Ir can't be fun running a cinema it you only sell tickets and popcorn. There's no feeling in that. It's like running a hamburger joint. There's no challenge because everyone likes hamburgers. It's more fun if you're like… let's squeeze in a chorizo.

Clara
Maybe you should come and lecture for cinema owners. I think that would be good. That's what you hope for and I agree with you. If you're a cinema owner you have to have some ambition, a vision of what's shown.

Guy by the window.
Yeah but Regina which is a Folkets Bio there the members come with suggestions and vote for what films should shown and they hope to bring forward. There the people who work there come with the suggestions but sometimes fin from the central Folkets Bio for the whole of Sweden are forced upon us. This has to shown they say.
Clara
I'm going to try a thought. Are you involved in Folkets Bio? Do you come with suggestions?

Guy by the window
Yes.

Clara
Do you feel like you get any response?

Guy by the window
Yes it's happened a couple of times. You've held a passionate speech and managed to convince all seven persons that it has to be shown. That's happened a couple of times.

Clara
Why is it so important for you to get involved.

Guy by the window
Because what I really want is to see the film myself and then I want it to be shown here in town so I can see it for free.

Clara
Why can't you just rent it?

Guy by the window
Because certain film aren't released on DVD in Sweden. Many are released but some and then it's great to see the film and experience something new that everyone else hasn't.

Clara
How do you come up with the film you want to see? Where do you get those tips? Do you sit at the library and plow through film history or have you got an older sister who says "you should se this, you should se this" or how does it happen? Or have you got lots of friends who watch film ann give you recommendations.

Guy by the window
A lot of film festivals, there you can check out lists of what's being shown. You can for example get a list of 200 films. You can see what's shown and what they're about. This film is being shown in Cannes and it seems interesting. I'll find out more about it.

Clara
How about the rest of you, how do you know what films to see?

The Class
Gut feeling, that's the best way.

Clara
So tell me more about you're gut feeling?

The Class
This seems good, at least it seems reasonably sensible or if it's about something completely insensible, that makes it wonderful. Just you get the feeling it'll be great. Instead of going to se Sex and the City 2, which you know is shit.

I wonder how many people spontaneously decide to go to the cinema. Just like "now I'm going to the cinema". Because when I go to the cinema, which isn't very often, it's something I've looked forward to for a long time. I've gone to se something special, manly because it's so expensive. If it was cheaper I'd go more spontaneously. I don't know how the rest of you feel?

Yeah, a spontaneous visit to the cinema feels more like something you're parents would do. For them it doesn't matter what they have to pay. It's not scandalously expensive to go to the cinema but you get stingy when you think you might see it later cheaper or even for free. You're not allowed to say that but that's how it is. Then I think there's a bigger chance you'd go spontaneously to Regina because there you might not get a chance to see the film again.

Yeah, it's a great everyday luxury to just "what the hell a hundred crowns more ore less". My gut tells me this film seems good, it really highlights you're day.

Once when I was at a film festival and the ticket where like 25 to 30 crowns each and a friend texted me thirty minutes before the film started and asked if I wanted to go. So I answered "Sure" and got there just in time, after the commercials where over. That felt very spontaneous.

About 25 crowns thats a good price.

Clara
Thats's good. I think that says something about the venue. It's not a place that's for free and neither is it a place where you just hang about "what are you up to" I'm in the lobby of a cinema" "No, I'm not going to see a film". That hardly happens. You go there to see a film.

I don't really understand why you, after you've paid and the film is over, you end up on the street straight away. Or I do understand it economically because it makes the place loads of money but I think it's kind of sad. I wonder what the point is of seeing films together? Could you take better advantage of that somehow? If the cinema had all the possibilities of change by tomorrow, what could be done?

The Class
Show the films for free.

Clara
Because then you would be able to see more films? Have film as a bigger part of you're life?

The Class
At least if the price was brought done more people would go to the cinema. Almost double. I know that in lots of other countries you go to the cinema a lot more often because it's much cheaper. There it can cost 20 crowns to go see a film. But here it's expensive. I think it would be good to lower the price because more people would go.

Another change would be to, just like you said, have a café or something so you could talk about and discuss the films. That's almost half the pleasure I think. To compare what you thought of it and remember the funny parts and laugh at them.

Clara
For my part, who didn't have that many friends who went to the cinema, sometime they'd go but not that often, I think it would have been a way to see more film. That is if you think film is important. That's nothing you have to think. So therefore I have a suggestion and I'd like you to consider it.

If I was the one who decide everything here in town about the cinema and I came to you and told you "where're not going to have any more cinemas here in town, I just don't find it that important but before that I'd like you're opinion.". Is that possible: "Östersund, the town without a cinema". Should Östersund have a cinema? Why should Östersund have a cinema? Is it important?

The Class
Yes we should.

It would be boring if there wasn't one. You often go to the cinema in the evening and there aren't that many other things do in the evening and cinema is one of those things.

You'd also feel really small because it's easy to compare Östersund to other cities. It's like we'd like a "Subway" (sandwich shop) not because Subway is good just because Östersund hasn't even got a Subway. It's like what average little town doesn't have that? How bad can it get, not even the simplest of things, not having a cinema. It would be like going back to the nineteenth century. It's just the principle per say. Having a cinema. So at least you've got something to offer.

Clara
Okay, that sound good but I'd shut it down anyway. Are there any more reasons to keep the cinema?

Silence

Clara
Is it really important or is it just the fact that you can relax knowing that Östersund can be a town to count on? Or has film… Is it important that people in a town have a place to watch films?

The Class
I don't know if it's the actual watching of the films. Most people who watch film don't do it at the cinema I think. They watch the films at home or something.
Yes film it is important but I don't know if the cinema is that important. But it in it self is important.
But it's still something special. It's more social than watching a film in the cinema than at home. It feels more special and it's not like "let's turn the TV on and see what's on".
We'd fall behind everyone else. Because the cinemas show the newest films. We'd always be a few months behind everyone else. I mean the whole world. They'd already have seen it and would be hyping it like "That movie". Maybe someone would tell how the film ends on the Internet and you'd be like "okay, I'll watch that film in a couple of months". That wouldn't be especially fun so I think it's good that we show current films.
It's also really difficult if there's a film you've really been wanting to see and you have to go to a different town to see it as soon as possible.
It would be really annoying if you had to go to Sundsvall to see a film. On the positive side it would be even more of an experience to visit the cinema so there are some positive sides to the bunch of negative stuff that come with not having a cinema.
Downloading would increase.
Härnösand is even worse, then Trondheim is a better alternative. I would be about 500 crowns.
But it could still be great fun, going to a different country to se Captain America.
It would feel like living in a third world country. You'd walk 40 kilometers and be like "we've arrived, finally" then you get to sit down and relax and then head back home.
It might raise the status having to go so and so many miles to visit the cinema. It might become a bit special.
But isn't going the cinema special? I mean watching films at home… When you go the cinema, when you're done and you get out and it's freezing cold, there's snow and you're all excited over what you've seen. Being able to share it, that's really great. When you're at someones home watching a film it's more like "shall we go home" after the film is over.
You fall asleep in the sofa.
It does a lo, that there's a big screen and the surround sound. It's cosy, you sit there with a lot of people, with someone close, maybe a date, I don't know. It actually makes the experience so much better.
The feeling afterwards stays with you for so much longer than if you just watch a film at home. You can talk about it the day after. If you watch it at home it's like "okay, that was good" and that's it. Nothing more.
I've seen several good films at home and I've been really excited. If you go to Biostaden it's not like… I don't think it enhances the experience. All you may miss is Kajsa two years old screaming.
But that enhances the experience.
Film can be good. It can be real good but also bad but at the same time with the cinema it's like Linn says the experience as a whole can be greater. I remember more of the films I've seen at the cinema. When I think of the films I remember it's the ones I've seen at the cinema.
It can be bad films you've seen at the cinema but you remember them because the experience was so strong.
Big screen, a lot of sound.
There's something special with the atmosphere int there.
Clara
I think of that quite a lot, the cinema as a venue. It's not been around for all that long with only that as a possibility for people to watch film. Having the possibility to play a VHS-tape and then the DVD came a long, it's nothing that's existed for that long a time. I remember when my parents bought a VHS-player and I'm not all that old. The cinema as a venue is a venue in constant change. It's doesn't exist at all under the same conditions today as say 20 years ago. Then that was the reason for it's existence. Then there was no one to call and say "Hey, come over to my place and watch film", because it didn't exist. Now there are all different kinds of ways of watching film, but what about that venue, the space we call the cinema…

It's also changed when it comes to how you do the recording and the showing. Before you'd send around a great big reel of film and you needed a machine to play it which they had in the cinemas. Maybe then each owner of a cinema thought " send me that reel that's what I've thought of for my town and want to show". Now it works in a completely different way than when things are shown from a file, rather than that at few places, where they show real film. That you record it on film and send a reel around that's shown. I think this space has all the potential in the world and you also have the possibility to "I really don't give a shit about this, this space doesn't interest me in the least" so it's important that the space tries to listen to you and what you what to have it for.

I find I rather interesting, just as you say, that you go there to relax. It's a rather modest demand. I can put up loads of chairs. I imagine that filmmakers want a lot with their audience. That you want someone to care about and then where back to that thing again. Is there some poor bastard sitting there selling burgers when he really want's to be selling chorizos. Or she. How does it work? Who decides? I'm not going to finish with any kind of: "and this is how I want you to do". I'm just here to hear what you think and I think you should consider that. You are the ones who should be heard because you sometimes you get people telling you "the stuff that's shown is what people want to see" and I'm not so sure about that. I think that's making it easy for oneself. But that's just what I think we'll just have to see how true it is.

Was there anything else I want to ask you about? Yes there was. Is there anyone in here who feels "Cinema, I really don't care it doesn't interest me"?

Silence

I think that's interesting. Because I think there are not that many places you can ask a question and get that answer. There are a few spaces/venues in society engage everyone. The cinema has the potential to engage a lot of people and it can include so much. It can be a place to just hang out or maybe go for a date but also somewhere where you have an experience that changes quite a lot. Maybe you have your greatest artistic experience there. What do I know? But that's what I wanted to say.

I'm going to transcribe all of this. It'll take a while but not that long. I'll send it to you so you can read what we've said. I'd like to print it big so people can see what we've said. Thank you for letting me come and talk to you. Take care of yourself.

Afterword

When I finished high school I was 20 years old. Film was nothing special for me. The cinema was just a places where you spent you're time. Once in four years I went to Gällivare to visit the cinema there. Once I went to Malmberget. Film, as I saw it back then, played on the duller strings of a persons intelligence. I never took it in to consideration because I had no friends or any one close with an interest in film who lead me beyond the local cinema or what was on the DVD-shelves. For me film was a social thing, we'd go to the local shop and pick up a film we could all agree on and some candy and go to someones home and turn the lights of in their living room. For a long time film was a good excuse to visit the promise land of "making out" and eat crisps. I didn't require more than that of a film.

These minimal requirements where and are profitable for some. One day we sat there in the dark and I saw a film like nothing else I'd seen. There was something in the film so urgent and important. The photography was also more interesting than anything else I'd seen. This made film urgent and important to me.

When I hear the people who have the possibility to effect the economic framework of film as an art form and the cinema and they say that they have to see to "what the audience wants" I feel sad on the behalf of my high school-me. Because I know I'm part of those statistics and I know that my ignorance at the time lead to choices with no demands on what I saw and that this had nothing to do with what I wanted. I just wanted a social space and accepted what was at hand.

The people who decide over film art and where it's shown I think should have visions for their decisions and for me as an audience in relation to that. I want them to relate ironically to the seriousness of having taken in possession the cinema and turned it's conditions into a venue for my entertainment. When I see the posters outside the largest cinema in my home town I think of what film it to me? What this space that I think most people associate strongly with a cinematic experience wants from it's audience. This text consists of transcribed conversations with two high school classes in Östersund autumn of 2011and what they. We've talked about the cinema as a space/venue. When I ask one guy what kind of cinema they go to he answers:

"

That relaxation, that's what I want to talk about, relate to it, create film in relation to. What can be found within the realms of those expectations? If people go to the cinema for relaxation is this development something the film institutes should encourage considering part of their mission is being responsible for the progress of contemporary cinema. There is a point of having this discussion with people and listening to peoples expectations of the cinema is as a space/venue.