The Art of… DC Movie Club
Get to know the "(mostly) unpretentious" club
DC Movie Club, “an inclusive and (mostly) unpretentious club to discuss movies and make friends,” celebrated its first anniversary on October 8 with a viewing of “the iconic Japanese zombie film One Cut of the Dead.” The club gathers to watch hidden gems, cult classics, and blockbusters. But the club doesn’t stop when the credits roll, viewings are paired with companion films, happy hour discussions, and a recently launched newsletter where cinephiles can share their hottest takes.
The organizer behind the club told me how it started and how it’s going.
Read along and then join the club.
Imagine there’s a movie club prequel. We open with the creator of movie club, seen from behind sitting in the theater. What is being projected on the screen?
Thinking about the mindset I was in when I started DC Movie Club, I'd say something romantic and hopeless (note: not 'hopelessly romantic') would be screening. Something like, "Past Lives", or "Before Sunrise." Maybe even a Tarkovsky film ("Mirror"?) because I'm angsty like that. I started movie club out of heartbreak and the loss of my small film community, so it only makes sense to screen something to match the mood and be 100% guaranteed to make me cry (though tbh, most movies make me tear up).
How has film impacted your life and why create a movie club?
Film really started to have an impact on me in college. I took Film 101 (or something of the sort), and my professor (Matthew Solomon? I think that sounds right) geeked out HARD over George Mèliés. I remember learning about early filmmakers, the Lumière brothers and Muybridge watching things like "Badlands," "The Hole," "The Shining" (my first foray into horror! [Not-so] hot take is that “The Shining” wouldn't be nearly as scary without the score), and of course, "Hugo." That class is where I fell in love, with film yes, but also in real-life human love. Now that I'm writing this out, I suppose my relationship with film has always been romantic. That sounds a bit pretentious (sorry!), but hey, nostalgia is my drug of choice. Anyway, that class profoundly affected me; so much so that I have an abstract tattoo of Melies' "A Trip to the Moon" — the film I always cite as 'the film that got me into film.' Anyway, I loved the discussions and passion surrounding film, and think those first few film classes really paved the way for this club. A film community is the best kind of community IMO.
What did you want the club to be and what has it become so far, one year in?
I have no idea what I was thinking when I first started this! I remember sitting on the floor with my friend, on stop 3 of 4 of an annual Apartment Crawl™ when the idea came to me. I went home that night, subscribed to Canva premium (so legit), and started designing/planning. I had zero expectations, and still kinda do, so I'm open to this growing in any direction. It's amazing to see a recurring group of people come week to week, watch them develop friendships with one another, and grow my Letterboxd community (I LOVE seeing what everyone is watching). I would've been happy with 5 people, but with meetings hitting 18+, it's amazing to see how far we've come. It makes me feel like the future of movie club could really go anywhere! And that's exciting!
Have there been any plot twists? Anything that happened that surprised you along the way?
Plot twists... for sure. But good ones! Not gonna get into the specific detail on my mind (mysterious!), but a pleasant surprise is being able to sell out Suns Cinema for the 1-year anniversary celebration the other week. Suns is my favorite place in the city, and having the ability to partner with them was really special for me. I've gotten some really great feedback from members who also loved that experience, so hopefully we can continue to collaborate! Also reaching full capacity for the Academy Award watch party last year! I think that was a huge turning point for the club, and I'm super excited for that event this year. It really highlights that people are craving this kind of community! And I'm super excited to be a part of it.
I noticed that the movie theater venue changes for different viewings. Have theaters noticed the club? Do you have a relationship with any theater or prioritize a type of theater (i.e. not a chain, local/regional)?
We typically go to E Street, mostly because it's central and I love supporting an indie theater. I need to be better about actually establishing those relationships. I remember reaching out to them after the club first started growing to ask if we could be their 'official' movie club. They're part of a national chain, so that was a no-go. I should probably reach out to them again. The Miracle Theater always 'likes' when I reshare their posts on Instagram. So, no not really, BUT if any theaters are out there reading, HI! Would love to be in a relationship with you! Seeking: a theater to rent out for a formal "Paddington 3" red carpet event.
At the screening I attended, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, someone asked if you would ever do a face reveal online. Do you think there is a benefit to being an organizer that someone can know ONLY if they come in person? What motivated you to stay behind the lens instead of in front of it?
It's so funny because the 'mystery' of my face was fully unintentional. I feel like the only way to show my face would be to flip the camera after my lil Instagram stories at meet-ups (and that would be quite alarming!). I have no qualms against showing who I am, how cool would it be to be recognized as "the movie girl"?? Pretty cool. But yeah, obviously come in person! You can make new friends, chat about film, and see my beautiful face. You're welcome.
This time next year, what do you hope has changed about movie club, and what do you hope stays the same?
You know, so much can happen in a year. A lot happened in this one!! I cannot even begin to fathom what my life, the world, movie club will look like in a year. But I'd love to be able to host more community events (like trivia, screenings, parties, etc, etc). Maybe some merch? Would people wear merch?? But yeah, I think continuing to build community is really important. I hope the regulars continue to come, I hope newbies don't feel nervous about showing up and not knowing anybody. And I'm always open to ideas! I'm just one person with a really busy schedule, so maybe accepting some help and expanding the BTS would be a smart move.
