Thursday nights are a big night for the small but growing community FilmBar is cultivating.
Roosevelt Row’s FilmBar is home to the monthly movie screening the Arizona Filmmaker Showcase. Every first Thursday of the month, filmmakers and watchers gather in the small theater to watch four or five short films by local artists.
“I came up with the showcase idea to combine two issues,” FilmBar owner Kelly Aubrey said. “I needed to make money, and a lot of local filmmakers couldn’t afford our rental fee. By allowing them to submit their films and present them for free, I keep the ticket profits and everybody wins.”
The showcase began four years ago, and in Aubrey’s opinion, has been a success. Not only does the event create profits for FilmBar, but it also gives local artists a chance to present their work to family, friends and the public in a formal setting.
The host of the event, Phoenix resident and film critic Matthew Robinson, chooses the featured films from a pool of 5-10 monthly submissions. Submissions are accepted through Robinson’s movie review website the “Dark of the Matinee” and FilmBar’s website. Robinson advertises the event by Facebook and word of mouth and encourages anyone interested to submit a piece.
“We try to be as inclusive as possible,” Robinson said. “We aren’t trying to establish ourselves as an event with any prestige. We like to get first-time filmmakers and veterans alike.”
Thursday night’s film collection consisted of a black-and-white drama, a time-lapse storm chase, a tour of the desolate Wild West and a dream-themed love story.
“I just love seeing everyone else’s work. Tonight, every film was so different,” “Monsoon” filmmaker Mike Olbinski said. “Sometimes they really make you think and sometimes they make you laugh. It’s great to see what other people come up with in their imaginations.”
The event includes trivia for audience members to win free drink tickets, snacks such as nachos and popcorn and a bar area to allow attendees to swap stories, criticism and praise before and after the event.
“Ultimately, an audience’s reaction is the biggest feedback any filmmaker could get,” Robinson said. “If they make a comedy and it gets no laughs, that’s a learning experience and we want to provide that opportunity for growth.”
Aubrey admits that the event isn’t always a financial success, but as long as the audience enjoys the showcase, he doesn’t mind.
“Moving forward, I want a bigger crowd,” Aubrey said. “It’s nice that friends and family come out to support the artists, but not a lot of the public does. I wish there was more public interest. I’m planning to advertise the event more and maybe add some drink specials…whatever it takes.”
Both Aubrey and Robinson agree that in the cultured city of Phoenix, film isn’t spoken for as much as other art forms, and that’s something they want to change.
“I want to build a stronger filmmaking community and a larger conversation about it,” Robinson said. “Anytime people hang out at the bar and talk about their films after the showcase, that’s a good thing building a smaller community in the huge city of Phoenix.”
