The ‘IPH experience’ got bigger: See inside new 145-seat NoDa movie auditorium
Normally in the cinema, the lights dim, the projector cuts on and the curtain reveals the screen. Today, a lot of theaters have lost that timeless feature. At the Independent Picture House, that experience is coming back.
In May, the IPH promised a bigger and better experience at the NoDa-based movie theater, kicked off with a fundraising campaign of $795,000. Now, with state-of-the-art equipment, 145 seats in an amphitheater setting, a new multi-purpose event space and a nifty opening curtain as the film begins, the bigger and better is here for local film fans.
“It’s my new favorite auditorium,” Brad Ritter, the IPH executive director, said while standing in the middle of the new space. “I watched ‘Anora’ here. It’s kind of cool to sit here by yourself and watch a movie. We’re spoiled.”
State-of-the-art movie watching
As patrons make their way into the auditorium, it’s its obvious that this is bigger than the other three theaters, which contain 105, 77 and 17 seats respectively. But while it may seem like a larger space, there is an intimacy to it.
The amphitheater set-up allows for a more bowled arrangement for the seating, almost as if you were taking in a play or lecture.
Compared to other theaters in town, that’s something that only the IPH can offer.
“The IPH experience,” IPH development and marketing director Claire Lechtenberg added. “You’re not going to… run into a rude patron who is consistently talking throughout a film or on their phone, or anything like that. And it is probably the cleanest theater in Charlotte since it’s brand new.
“This is where we’ll have a good portion of our talk backs, if not all of them. So individuals will not only be able to enjoy an independent or art house, or foreign film, in this brand new space, but they’ll be able to connect with experts and each other after that film.”
With more opportunities for talk backs, Lechtenberg also hopes the old school, after movie discussion will make a comeback with more lobby rooms and opportunities for people to chat up their fellow moviegoers after a film ends.
“People are going to have criticisms of films in general, especially when they’re dealing with heavy topics, but overall it creates conversation,” Lechtenberg said.
“What IPH offers is a space for community members, no matter their experience, no matter their background or opinions, a place to talk to each other respectfully and to share different perspectives. Because ultimately, that’s the power of film — you’re able to see a perspective that you typically would not be shown.”
Community rentals could expand IPH programming
Along with film screenings, this 4,639-square-foot space can be used for poetry, theater, music and comedy performances. It also will be available to rent for private and public film screenings.
Lechtenberg said when the theater hosted a recent talkback following a screening of “The Piano Lesson,” an August Wilson adaptation that they partnered with BNS Productions on. (BNS Productions) was already coming up with ideas on how to utilize the space for future productions after the team showed them the new auditorium.
“Rory Sheriff is with BNS Productions, the only Black repertoire theater company in Charlotte. He is a huge August Wilson enthusiast and they’re aiming to do all 10 of his plays. So he led a talk back after our screening and we showed them the space, (and they got) very excited.,” she added.
“For something like (a theatrical production), we could even take out the first two rows, and you have a really large stage here,” Ritter added, pointing in front of the screen. “All a dance company would need to do is bring in a temporary Marley floor since (the auditorium floor is) concrete and you don’t want it to be too hard on their dancer,” Lechtenberg said.
Even with the advancements to make non-movie related productions happen at the IPH, Lechtenberg said movies are their priority.
“First and foremost, we’re a cinema. We’re always going to focus on and prioritize the cinema going experience. If we are to ever have any type of lighting (for theater or other productions), it just cannot obstruct our projector,” she said. “The new auditorium’s projector is a laser one, which is similar to what we have in the micro cinema but much larger.”
“Lasers last forever while the other projectors, we’re replacing bulbs probably once a year,” Ritter added. “(The new projector) gives off more light. We’re only showing it at 70% of what we could be showing because it’s already so bright. We switched (this auditorium) to Dolby speakers and the projection engineer (was) just blown away by the sound.”
Fundraising still needed to reach IPH goal
When the announcement was made, a fundraising campaign took off with a goal of $795,000 needed for the new space. Last time he checked, Ritter said they were at $727,500 with the majority of that money coming from individual donors and a few family foundations.
IPH is still offering seat donations with the ability for the donor to get a name plaque on their chair. It also will have the right to reserve a seat ahead of any screenings at any auditorium, which isn’t typically offered at the theater.
The new auditorium is open and hosting screenings, including the IPH’s Holiday Film Series with showings of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “The Muppet Christmas Carol” along with hotly-anticipated movies such as the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” and the latest adaptation of “Nosferatu” from filmmaker Robert Eggers.
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This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
