r/bullcity • u/Serett • 2d ago
Downtown Durham to Get New Arthouse Cinema
https://indyweek.com/culture/skin-and-bones-theater-durham-shadowbox-studio/"Over its hundred-some years, 118 West Parrish Street has been home to a handful of commercial ventures—bicycle shop, furniture store, home goods store. Next summer, it’s poised to offer something new to downtown Durham: an arthouse cinema.
Alex Maness and Jim Haverkamp, the duo behind experimental arts space Shadowbox Studio, say they hope to open the venue next summer. Named Skin and Bones Theater, the 50- to 60-seat flex space will be used for film programming, lectures, readings, and other events. Shadowbox Studio, located off Club Boulevard, will continue to operate separately."
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u/PowerfulPotatoe 2d ago
Doesn’t the Carolina fill this role? They play a lot of the same programming Chelsea does…
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u/Serett 2d ago
The Carolina has pivoted hard toward repertory/retro films over the years. Which are also great and deserving of exhibition, but partially as a result, there are plenty of new foreign, indie, and arthouse films every year that don't get shown in Durham or the Triangle at all (not to mention how voluminous retro options are even if both show those types of movies too), and that is to say nothing of some of the other artistic events the space could hold per the full article.
Whether either or both are commercially viable, who knows--movie theaters of any type increasingly aren't, and that goes double for niche artsy theaters not focused on the biggest Hollywood blockbusters--but that's the owners' problem and Durham has the type of community that's capable of and potentially interested in this sort of thing. All consumers can do is attend more good movies (and purchase memberships or make donations, as applicable) if they care about having spaces that show them.
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u/Tiny_Past1805 2d ago
I'm totally psyched to see Dr. Zhivago at the Carolina in December! I figure since Lawrence of Arabia screenings are rare, seeing anything with Omar Sharif in an actual theater is a close second. 😄
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u/Serett 2d ago
So jealous of that screening! I don't live in Durham anymore and haven't for nearly a decade, I just want stuff like this to succeed because I love and miss the city and occasionally entertain moving back someday, but I've been flying in once a year for Hurricanes playoff games and try to catch movies at the Carolina Theatre (and Alamo over in Raleigh) during the trips. Saw that Dr. Zhivago was upcoming on my latest trip. But, at least I got to catch Ace in the Hole and Das Boot back in May, which were both stellar, and look forward to trying this new cinema on the next trip.
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u/Pluto-Had-It-Coming 2d ago edited 1d ago
I loved The Carolina Theatre until I noticed their fees were worse than TicketMaster's. Hopefully this place is a bit more competitive.
Edit: Yes, how dare I share my experience. Downvote me for this unspeakable sin.
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u/bleeding_eyes 2d ago
Can you still skip fees if you buy at box office?
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u/Pluto-Had-It-Coming 1d ago
I’m not sure, but even if I can I don’t really want to support a business charging fees that high to anyone.
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u/Serett 1d ago
If you don't want to go to the Carolina Theatre, don't, but I don't know why you'd expect anyone else to respect you conflating their movie theater operations and fees with their concert/live show operations and fees. Truth is, whatever their live show fees are, their movie fees are (i) under $2.50 for online orders, which is in the ballpark of other cinemas or (ii) $0 at the box office before a movie, which is typically perfectly convenient because seating is GA and it tends not to sell out.
Now, you're absolutely entitled to hold their live show fees against the whole venue if you want, however, when you critique their fees without further clarification in a topic specifically about movie offerings, the reasonable implication is going to be that you're saying their movie fees are excessive. Whether your intention or not, I'd hope you can see how that's misleading, and people who know that might be inclined to downvote.
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u/Pluto-Had-It-Coming 1d ago
Yes, I am aware the fees on movies are lower than the fees on other types of shows. I don’t want to support a business that charges fees that high.
If you’re telling me that there are two businesses which operate in that building and one only does movies and one only does plays/comedians/etc, then I withdraw my criticism.
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u/Serett 1d ago
I'm telling you if you want to criticize their live show fees in a topic about movies, say that clearly from the start instead of leaving open the false implication that their movie fees are high.
You've edited your post once to object to downvotes--surely you can do it again to make your position clear, and then I'll withdraw my downvote. Won't even require reciprocity on that, and I'll even help with the drafting:
"I loved The Carolina Theatre until I noticed their fees were worse than TicketMaster's. Hopefully this place is a bit more competitive.
Edit: Yes, how dare I share my experience. Downvote me for this unspeakable sin.
Edit 2: To clarify, only their live show fees are high, not their movie fees. But I don't want to support any aspect of a venue with fees that high for anything."
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u/Pluto-Had-It-Coming 1d ago
My dude, they charge what I believe to be exorbitant fees. The fact it’s only on a portion of their shows doesn’t make it less exorbitant.
I criticized their business, not their live shows.
DoorDash charges bonkers fees for delivery, but not for pickup. Even though they don’t charge them for pickup, I still won’t use it because I don’t want to support a business that charges fees like that.
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u/ncphoto919 2d ago
Carolina theater has dropped the ball on showing new indie releases it’s good to see someone picking up the slack.
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u/techaaron 2d ago
Does anyone know how I would get in contact with Alex Maness and Jim Haverkamp for some local art community collaboration?
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u/CorrectCombination11 2d ago
Chelsea Theater in CH has easier parking and cheaper.
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u/paulgt 2d ago
its not even open yet how do you know its cheaper?
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u/CorrectCombination11 2d ago
Think dt durham rent will allow for $12 tickets?
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u/pigBodine04 2d ago
Dog wait till you hear about Chapel Hill rent
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u/BullCityLife 1d ago
Sounds like it’s in Not Durham…why go to Not Durham when exists in Durham🤔🤷🏻♂️
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u/cheerwinechicken 2d ago
It'd be great to get some indie films screening!