The Robinson Film Center: Feature Presentation
Photo by Robinson Film Center
Picture this: you’re in your room on a Friday night. You’ve been clicking through Netflix or some other service for a little longer than half an hour and been paying attention to what’s clicking past on the screen for even less time. You feel your phone start to vibrate from inside your pocket and when you pull it out to look at the screen you see a text. “Want to go see a movie?” Tickets are expensive on a college budget, and Marvel isn’t coming out with anything on the big screen for at least a month. Sneaking in snacks is a hassle, and you want something a little heater than popcorn. Worry not, reader. The Robinson Film Center (RFC) has you covered.
What makes the Robinson so special? Where is it? What is the RFC? Allow me to elaborate. Founded in 2008 by the members of the Red River Film Society, the Robinson’s mission for the past 14 years has been to “educate, enrich, and entertain through the power of film” by acting as the sole non-profit art house in Louisiana. Located at 617 Texas Street in the downtown area of Shreveport, the RFC prides itself on showing the obscure and the awe-inspiring.
As of the publishing of this article, the films “Death on the Nile” and “The Worst Person in the World” are playing, with upcoming plans to show “Anything Goes: The Musical” on the 27th and 30th of the month, “MAMMA MIA!” on the 29th, and “The Outfit” opening on the 1st of April. Outside of these showings, recently the Robinson has reinstated their “Friday Night Freak Out” event, where a film with a more explicit or outlandish reputation—such as “Titane” or “Strawberry Mansion”—is shown on the third Friday of each month. But outside of the realm of Hollywood productions, the Robinson also shows films from local artists, most recently set to occur being the “StorytellHERS” event that will take place at 8 p.m. on the 31st of March. This event will feature filmmakers such as Tralicia Allen, Christine W. Chen, Camille Gladney, Melissa Goslin, Debi King McMartin, Jaya McSharma, Melissa Munds, and Vernae Ewing Thompson.
Interest piqued? Well luckily for any current Centenary students reading this, not only does the RFC often collaborate with Centenary’s very own Film Society for events but also offers discounted ticket prices to students who show their IDs. Now you might be thinking, most theaters offer student discounts, what makes RFC worth the trip? Well outside of being a movie theater, the Robinson also has a full-service restaurant and bar on the second floor: Abby Singers Bistro. Not only can you enjoy an ambient meal before your movie, but during as well, as the Bistro delivers not just to go but to the theaters themselves. Talk about dinner and a show!
As part of their aim to educate through film, the RFC offers education programs including the Teen Film Council—offered for grades 10 through 12 students to shoot and show their own short films over an 18-week class. Classes like “The Novel Experience,” “From Stage to Screen, Shakespeare in Movies,” “Screenwriting Workshop” are all offered for 6th through 12th grade, as well as multiple other film studies programs, social studies programs, and elementary programs to cover the many technical and emotional aspects of film for all ages.
But education doesn’t stop after grade 12, as any college student would tell you. The RFC also offers numerous events for more mature audiences, including a Book Lovers Supper Club, where people discuss novels and their adaptations over a lovely meal ripped straight from the pages of whatever book is being currently discussed. Another more adult example includes the Film Appreciation classes. The most recent is the Film After Dark series, a three-part class that was held during February and hosted by Wendell Riley, the LSUS director of media.
If you go to their website in the about section, RFC has very helpfully provided the following statistics detailing the extent of their impact on the community. This impact includes an average $2,800,000 contribution to the local economy with a total of 32,000 tickets sold this year alone. These are not numbers to sneeze at by any means, and though some might scoff at the more obscure choices for showings, statistics clearly show how lightly these comments should be taken.
So now that you know more about the Robinson Film Center, the next time that you feel the buzz of your phone on a dull Friday with the question: “Want to go see a movie?” glowing back at you from your phone screen. You’ll know the proper response: “Let’s see what’s playing at the RFC.”
For more information about what’s playing, what classes are being offered, the impact of the RFC, etc., check out their website! http://robinsonfilmcenter.org