Seven-Screen Art Theater - Woo hoo!
Topic: Film & TV
Posted: Fri, Mar 25, 2005 
I've complained about it before on our "About Indianapolis" page -- although we're the 12th largest city in the U.S., when a film opens in limited release, say in 20 or even 100 screens, it never hits here in Indianapolis. For people who love films that can be frustrating, and for fans of the Oscars, it's tough to see some of the nominated films before the awards. Often a smaller or independent film won't be released here until it's taken home a statue. We've needed a larger, newer theater for independent and art films for a long time. The two art theaters in existence in Indy have done great work for a long time, but both are beset with flaws.
Castleton Arts has only three screens and it's last interior revision was in 1991, which means it's a bit shabby and missing some of the recent movie theater amenities, like stadium seating so you can see over the heads of those in front of you, and wider seats to accomodate those of use who've spent a lot of time sitting in theaters instead of exercising.
The Keystone Arts Cinema is independently run, which means they don't have some of the same constraints about what films they bring and you can often see really unique, edgier stuff. On the other hand, they're independently run, which means they don't always have access to films that larger theaters can get. In addition, their location is fairly out of the way for most Indy residents. And their interior is ancient. If Castleton lacks modern amenities, Keystone lacks... well... any. And not to pile on the Keystone Arts theater or anything, but I've attempted to sign up for their email list four times and never ended up getting anything. A simple weekly message in my inbox about current and coming soon films would do wonders in getting me to visit regularly.
So, on to the main point of this article -- the announcement by Simon Property Group, Inc. that Landmark Theatres is going to build a seven-screen theater to feature independent and art films in the Keystone At The Crossing Mall, to open in December.
That's fantastic -- thrilling, actually. Stadium seating, ample seats, digital projection, a bar that serves theater goers, plus a full selection of art films to see.
Except for, you know, where they're building it. Considering the recent announcement of a Crate and Barrel store going into that same Mall, coupled with the already stop-and-go bottlenecked traffic around the only two entrances to the mall on both week days and weekends, I can't imagine how anyone will be able to get to the theater to see anything.
Given the traffic congestion around this mall and around the Castleton mall and around the Allisonville and 37/69 exits, I wonder sometimes (often aloud) whether our city planners actually do any planning of the city. You know, thinking about traffic flow and zoning issues before handing out permits to build stuff like this. Maybe I've just played way too much Sim City, but I envision all the little people in their little cars on 86th street with the little jewels above their heads turning red because they can't turn into the mall.
The other thing I wonder is how the suburban crowd that is the life's blood of the Fashion Mall will react to some of the movies that will be screened here. I'm picturing a "traditional family values" protest already. The Fashion Mall isn't really the mall of choice for the culturally aware in Indianapolis, and I'm not sure they'll brave the location, even to see good films. Sure, Castleton Arts is north of Castleton Mall, but it's possible to get to it without having to actually interact with the people who patronize that shopping establishment.
Even if there isn't a place to put a theater like this downtown, I wonder if there isn't room somewhere further south in the Keystone corridor, where there's a commercial blight going on that needs some attention.
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Comments
1. Mar 25, 05 12:51 PM | Norm Stephens said:
While I look forward to a better Arts Theater ... fighting the traffic at the Keystone At the crossing Mall is less than attractive. I suspect the Theater is being located there as a result of the high traffic volume.
2. Mar 25, 05 01:36 PM | Matt said:
I would think that a theatre like this would be a good idea downtown.
3. Mar 25, 05 03:57 PM | Rachel Wolfe said:
I look forward to this theater, too, but not the parking. That's gonna suck. And I hold Castleton Arts in a special place in my heart, for that's where I saw Star Wars in 1977, the first movie I remember going to -- the line wrapped all the way around the building.
4. Mar 28, 05 05:33 AM | Steph Mineart said:
I have mixed feelings about Castleton Arts, but that's only because I worked there the summer right after college, before it was an art theater. It wasn't a very fun job, and that's where I learned to start bugging my friends to pick up their concession stand trash and throw it away rather than leaving it on the floor when the movie is over. You wouldn't believe how much people litter, or how hard that is to clean up after. That's also how I know when their last remodel was.
5. Mar 28, 05 08:22 AM | Jim Chalex said:
I honestly don't understand it when people get upset about Indianapolis traffic. There are so many cities that have got it so much worse (San Francisco, New York, Chicago, etc.) Maybe it's all relative, but if the biggest problem with a new 7-screen arthouse is a little bit of traffic, I'll take it in a New York minute.
6. Mar 28, 05 01:26 PM | Steph Mineart said:
True they have it much worse in many larger cities. On the other hand, that's one of the reasons I don't live in any of those cities. And with the exception of LA, they have lots of alternative forms of transport that we don't have. And several of the larger cities have the "mini-village" effect going on, where people can live, work and shop in a pedestrian or bike-friendly small area and not live ten or more miles from where they work.
7. Mar 29, 05 12:23 AM | John Beeler said:
It seems a bit ironic to be cheering for _independent_ film in Indianapolis, and in the same breath chiding independent business (Keystone). I'm not disagreeing with your assessment of their facilities, but let's be honest: if more people solicited the theater, I think they'd gladly upgrade the theater.
Besides, I've spent time at indie theaters in Boston and had friends who go to the arthouse theaters in NYC. One of those theaters in Boston was worse off than Keystone, with fold out church potluck steel chairs, but was highly trafficked. I've heard similar reports of theaters in NYC. While there are Landmarks in Boston and NYC, they're generally looked down upon because they are just another chain.
Frankly, between Castleton Arts and Keystone, I can't think of a film in the last 2 years that I wanted to see in the theater and couldn't, and I am a huge indie film fan. I can't help but wonder if you just haven't been paying attention?
I like the idea of Landmark Theaters (cf. latest issue of Wired and the CEO's digital crusade), but if it's at the cost a place like Keystone, I'm not sure it's worth it.
8. Mar 29, 05 03:09 PM | Steph Mineart said:
My interest in independent and art film isn't because I care that it's produced "independently" -- I don't give a crap about that -- but rather because the stories they portray are usually more interesting or outside the mainstream than studio films. It's not about the politics of filmmaking, but the art. So the "ironic" point that you're making doesn't exactly translate from one "independent" business to another.
Perhaps we're looking for different things in independent film, because I know there are several films I wanted to see that never made it to either Keystone or Castleton. It's possible that I didn't do complete research at times (darn that full-time job taking up 45 whole hours a week when I could be looking for movies to see!) but I check out what's playing on a more than regular basis for an average film goer.
Regarding Keystone Cinemas, I like to support an independent business, but there's also a level at which they should strive to meet some of my needs as well. Of course I don't expect an independently-owned theater to have stadium seating, but it would be great if they cleaned the floor and bathrooms once in a while. And my point about the mailing list -- I actually went in and talked to the owner and asked him if he could help me get on the list since the link from the site didn't ever work and the two times I signed up in the lobby didn't get it either. I went out of my way to try to get info from them so I could patronize their business more regularly, and despite their assurances, it never happened.
Or in other words, I'll to go to a locally owned coffee shop before going to a Starbucks, but I won't come back if they have shitty coffee. If their coffee is better I'm all in.
9. Apr 1, 05 09:06 AM | John said:
"Or in other words, I'll to go to a locally owned coffee shop before going to a Starbucks, but I won't come back if they have shitty coffee."
I can see that.
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