The Mission’s own Roxie Theater can be seen in an increasingly brighter light these days after raising $60,000 last December through a Kickstarter campaign.
“It’s amazing to see from my end that places like The Roxie and more grassroots venues survive because of [the] passion of the staff,” said Chris Statton, head of operations at The Roxie.
In addition to a new website, increased art and culture programming for the public, a continuum of exclusive independent films and upgrades to their smaller screen are planned for the road ahead.
“Our website is really old and it’s difficult to put up the content that we want. It’s our first renovation,” Statton said. “Now, we are going to focus on the Little Roxie, our little screen. It needs tender loving care and has a funky charm, and our goal is to upgrade the inside of the theater itself and the projection booth.”
People from across the Bay Area enjoy the theater’s select catalog of indie movies and its atmosphere of close-knit camaraderie. “It’s community oriented … they put on shows that aren’t shown anywhere else,” said Jeff Cleary, a San Francisco resident and Roxie fan.
The theater experienced trouble over the years as film exhibition evolved into big-budget multiplexes, home rental and online viewing.
In 2005, the New College at 777 Valencia took on the theater’s funding and saved it from almost disappearing. After the school filed for bankruptcy in 2009, The Roxie turned into a nonprofit organization, and Chris and Kate Statton, the couple who is now helping shape the future of the celebrated landmark, took control.
“I came on at the beginning of 2010 to develop it (the Roxie) as a nonprofit. … The highlight of this whole experience has been the support from the San Francisco arts community around the Roxie,” said Statton. “My main goal is that we never compromise our programming. I try to make sure our programmers have the freedom to program the films they believe in because they have their finger on the things that are happening.”
While speaking about the five-screen cinema complex that Alamo Drafthouse, a Texas-based theater chain, will open early 2015 on 21st and Mission streets, Statton said:
“The type of films we exhibit are different from what’s going to be shown there. … It will allow the public to see how unique the Roxie is. It will define us really clearly in that no one programs like we do in the entire country.”
The Roxie will be hosting “Lights, Camera, Action,” an awards/fundraiser dinner on May 29 in support of its operations. The Roxie Theater is located at 3117 16th St., San Francisco. More info: www.roxie.com