Medicine Hat News: How long have you been involved with Monday Night At The Movies and why did you get involved?
Jane Bahnmiller: I've been involved and going to film committee meetings since 2003 and I think it was in 2005 when I volunteered to do a little more. Monday Night At The Movies started in the fall of 2000 and a lot of those people were ready to move on. We do have two of the original members though - Hillary Munro and Harvey Burger have been here since the beginning, I've seen their names on minute meetings.
News: Why did you step up your involvement?
Bahnmiller: At that point in time I was retired from being a teacher. When we moved to Medicine Hat — we moved here in '81 — there was a couple of years when the Towne Theatre had a movie on Tuesday nights and it was like an artsy film and I just really, really enjoyed them and I think I only missed one film in two years ... they are special, a lot of those films. They are from other countries and other people who you would never meet if you went there. A lot of the films are speaking in their own language and I'm so glad there doesn't seem to be much dubbing going on anymore because I find it's easy to get into a flow state when you're reading the subtitles and hearing the feelings in their voices. I just really like that, the dubbing really takes away. There are also Canadian films and special little films you probably wouldn't get to see or learn about if you aren't paying attention.
News: How important is it for Hatters to see these kinds of films?
Bahnmiller: I think it's something everybody should try. It might not be everybody’s cup of tea because I've discovered that some people are not real filmgoers. But I think it broadens your view of humanity to see a lot of these films. They are not all serious ... there are some really funny films out there too. We also show American and Canadian independent type films like Lars and The Real Girl. I really would like people to give it a try.
News: What is the most exciting moment during the past few years on the film committee?
Bahnmiller: It was the film Letters from Yamijima. It was part of our film festival in 2006 and there were 240 people in the Monarch Theatre and it was a film in Japanese with English subtitles. There was just so many people there and they were excited about it and that was one of the high moments. It was good to feel like you are getting something in that people want to see.
News: How does it feel to be going back into the Monarch Theatre?
Bahnmiller: Our original home was the Galaxy Theatre but Monday Night At The Movies was only there for one year as there wasn't a theatre that was really large enough to hold the audience. So they moved down to the Monarch, which seats 400 people comfortably, that's why they moved originally. But it feels really great to go back. Last year, I met you at the Film Festival and that's when I started hearing, "I really miss the Monarch Theatre." And I don't think sometimes you appreciate something until it's gone. I didn't realize how much I appreciated it and heard all kinds of people talking about it and the memories they had of being there. That is what I'm looking forward to is the familiar feeling that the place has. I've even heard people say they are looking forward to going back for the popcorn there. I've even heard that people used to grab take-out popcorn from there.
News: What did you personally miss about going to the Monarch?
Bahnmiller: I really like sitting close to the front of the theatre at the Monarch. It's not the same at the Ciniplex when you sit close to the front ... it's not super-duper high tech so I'm not getting blasted with music and bombarded with visuals, it just seems to be a little toned down. The other thing I'm really looking forward to is it's easy in the Monarch to feel a sense of community. The aisles in the theatre are wide and it's easy for people to stop and visit along the way to where they are sitting.
News: I know this is going to be tough, but what is your all-time favourite movie?
Bahnmiller: My all-time favourite movie is Doctor Zhivago because I really liked David Lean as a filmmaker. I like the story that they chose, a love story in the middle of the Russian revolution. I like the way he filmed it. For instance when there was violence in the film, there was a street battle between soldiers and protestors but you didn't see that ... you just saw this splash of blood on the snow and you heard the anxiety and pain in people's voices. That splash of blood in the snow just really does it for me. Later in the movie when they're out somewhere in the Russian countryside, this lady is looking through a frosty window pane and the frost slowly melts into a sea of daffodils ... that's how they show the passing of time and the changing of the seasons. It's amazing, it's things like that, I think I was 17 when I first saw it but I've seen it many times since and it's time to see it again.
News: Worst movie ever and how did you get stuck watching it?
Bahnmiller: The worst movie ever was called The Trojan Women and I went with my husband and a good friend. Oh gosh, it must've been in the early 70s, and there were these women in Troy . . . I think somebody died and they were beating their chests and moaning and puking. It was so bad, I remember Walter turned to us and said, "You know if we leave now, we could get back in time to watch All in the Family."
News: Which movie do you usually recommend to others?
Bahnmiller: It would depend who I was recommending the film to, but there was one from the Film Festival a few years back called the Lives of Others. It is a German film about living in a Totalitarian German regime and it's a very powerful film.
News: Favourite movie snack?
Bahnmiller: I don't usually snack at the movies. I guess if I was going to choose anything it would be popcorn.
News: Movies — good first date or not? And which genre of film would you recommend for a first date?
Bahnmiller: I think it's a good first date because it gives you a common experience to talk about after the film. I would recommend December's film which is called Happy-Go-Lucky (playing at the Monarch Theatre on Dec. 15). It's about a very positive person and it's a comedy and it would be a dandy first date.
News: What are the Film Committee's plans for the 2009 Film Festival?
Bahnmiller: We've set the dates for next year's Film Festival and it's March 4 to 8. That's one change already — we are making the festival a day longer. The reason is because the Monarch will usually show their films from Wednesday to Sunday so we are just going to take over one of their whole weeks. Last year we had to cancel the Student Video Competition because there was a lack of entries, but what we are going to try to do this year is every year somebody approaches me with a film that they've just made and I'm going to try and round up one of those films. We are going to highlight a young filmmaker ... and that is a part of a lot of film festivals is — to showcase people who are just getting started. That keeps the young people getting involved alive and we just want to see if there's anybody in the community who'd like to put a short film in. We'd have to work with them to meet the standards that we have to have.
News: If there was any other building or landmark in Medicine Hat which you would desire to see saved, which would it be?
Bahnmiller: The train station is just kind of there and the antique store closed and I think CP took it over again. In a lot of communities, those buildings have really turned into some cool places. I think the Horticultural Society has talked about it and at one time I think there used to be a horticultural garden that was connected to the train station. I think at one time, too, there was a bear in a cage ... I could probably find it in the history books ... but yeah there was a special garden down there. The train is so vital to our history, I think it would be nice if something happened down there.
News: If you could’ve starred in any film ... which would it have been?
Bahnmiller: Gee, I've never thought about myself being a star. OK, I could’ve been the librarian in Ghostbusters.
News: Who is the most desirable actor (living or dead) in the film industry?
Bahnmiller: Hmm ... most appealing ... actually the fellow I used to try and see, his name was RH Thomson but I'd like to come up with something better. I really like John Cusack. I really like his films or good looking George Clooney, but they are kind of the same type of guys ... dark and spirited, sort of comic actors.
News: Is your husband jealous of aforementioned actors?
Bahnmiller: Oh goodness no (laughs). My husband's favourite movie of all time is the Big Lebowski. In 1980 my husband bought our first VCR for $1,500 and he swore they would never get any cheaper. Downtown Medicine Hat there was a movie rental store, it was the first one I'd ever heard of and it cost $100 to join to be a member. It cost $100 to buy a movie so that's what it cost and that's back when a hundred dollars was quite a bit of money . . . a person would've worked for three days to make that. |
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