The college experience is a vibrant stepping stone for artistic enthusiasm, exposing students to new perspectives, cultures and methods of creative expression. From literature to fashion, music to poetry, we adapt to independence by developing passions that fuel our identity. Sometimes, these interests become formative pieces that help establish our lives, careers and relationships.
When I sat down amongst a spirited, sold-out crowd to watch “Everything Everywhere All at Once” during my freshman year, I realized my love for cinema was more than a hobby — it was an opportunity to apply my passions to my education and future career. Now as a film-obsessed writer who can’t escape the theater, I’ve grown curious about the typical UO student’s relationship with film.
Though I try to get to the theater as much as possible for new releases, the bulk of my film and television consumption stems from streaming services. After all, juggling school work and a social life is chaotic and time-consuming. In an increasingly digital world, the convenient accessibility of streaming platforms widens the margins for media intake — a context that has fundamentally altered the way society engages with film. Considering the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in tandem with the streaming boom, movie theaters are no longer the primary way people watch movies.
UO junior Tayten Torgrimson, a journalism major, said that his admiration for film grew once he arrived on campus and experienced the abundant, versatile content available on streaming. “[Streaming] has made me watch older films and shows,” Torgrimson said. His increased consumption translates into movie theater visits, where he typically books tickets for “whatever is popular at the time,” Torgrimson said.
Sophomore Wilder Lewis, also a journalism major, echoed a similar idea, observing an upturn in his passion for film since coming to UO. Lewis described his occasional trips to the theater as chiefly social activities, seeing films he “and [his] friends have a mutual interest in … that would be better viewed in a theater.”
Outdoor Program Director Hira Shamsuddin rarely goes to the movies unless a significant event piques her interest. “I attend in-person film festivals when I can,” Shamsuddin said, emphasizing the “community aspect.”
Though their relationships with cinema may have matured and tightened since joining the flock, students evidently require a social or communal event to win them over. The quaint indie flick might seem appealing for a comforting night in, but not for the big screen. More popular films, specifically blockbusters curated for the movie theater experience, are more likely to put butts in seats.
Edward Schiessl, managing director of Eugene’s premier indie theaters, the Art House and Metro Cinemas, encourages students to broaden their horizons with moviegoing. Beginning as a projectionist in high school, Schiessl “always wanted to do something in film,” he said. When the opportunity to purchase the Art House, formerly known as Bijou Art Cinemas, fell into his lap, he jumped at the opportunity.
“This is a place I came to sneak out on school nights to watch midnight movies,” Schiessl said. “It’s always been an important part of my social life.”
A cozy, two-screen cafe-theater hybrid with Spanish mission style architecture, the Art House offers a diverse assortment of films, events and live performances.
In 2013, Metro Cinemas was built in the heart of downtown Eugene as a supplemental sister cinema — the city’s first and only locally owned and owner-operated multiplex. Following an expansion in 2019, the theater now boasts seven auditoriums with deluxe stadium seating. Topped off by stellar food and drinks and darling, cinema-minded decor, Metro Cinemas is the go-to place for all your film needs.
Schiessl recognized the university’s support throughout the years, highlighting various collaborations and events with the cinema studies department. “It’s always been a really positive relationship,” Schiessl said. “We do whatever we can to familiarize students with both theaters, to get them in the habit of going out and seeing movies while supporting any events we can.”
Schiessl commented on the college demographic’s relationship with film, reiterating several points made by students.
“The movies we see younger audiences turn up for are big screen movies like superheroes and dinosaurs,” Schiessl said, introducing the concept of “eventizing” hyped-up movies designed for social outings. “The typical indie movie tends to skew older.”
But it hasn’t always been this way. “If you look back 20 years ago, [the Art House] was 70% student population,” Schiessl said. “The advent streaming after that dwindled [the percentage] until students were 20% of our audience or less.” Schiessl underscored the damning effects of the pandemic, which further decimated student representation at the theater.
In the wake of streaming service dominance, Schiessl discussed its ramifications for the theater industry. Studios are sacrificing money at the box office to put movies on streaming, leaving “no time for word of mouth to build,” Schiessl said. “Many people won’t go see films in the theater because they know they can watch them at home in a few weeks.”
But the streaming wars don’t just harm theaters; their impact also radiates to audiences. “Very rarely will [a studio] take a risk on any more provocative or original material,” Schiessl said. Unless the project is backed by an established brand, character or franchise, it will be difficult for theaters to draw people in.
However, there are some positive takeaways from these evolutions. Streaming platforms provide smaller filmmakers with a lower cost of entry to get their work out there, building a home for niche content and subject matter.
“[Streaming services] give us more diversity of voice in the filmmaking world,” Schiessl said.
While Netflix, Hulu, Max and the rest of our favorite services are available at our leisure, it’s essential for students to get off the couch and immerse themselves in the movie theater environment.
“It’s easy to forget how much better a movie experience can be when you’re in a captive situation,” Schiessl said. “Things are scarier and funnier when you experience them with a group mentality.”
Venues such as the Art House and Metro Cinemas offer students a human opportunity to experience art with their community in a way Regal, Cinemark or streaming cannot. We live in a city and attend a university littered with opportunities for collective artistic encounters. Explore your creative passions and talk about them with your peers. There’s something out there for everyone, whether under the dimmed theater lights or elsewhere.
