The Future of the Paramount
Yesterday Fairfax Media published a story regarding the future of the Paramount Cinema.
While we are relieved that the Paramount has been saved for NZIFF this year we are alarmed at any impression the Dominion Post article has generated that the venue will necessarily be lost to Wellington once the current tenancy ends. The future of the building is yet to be determined. We hope it will continue to be a venue for NZIFF and a wide diversity of Wellington communities and presenters. A statement put out by the Wellington Film Society last night provides a clear outline of the story behind the Fairfax headlines. We’re reproducing the statement here and encourage you to read further and support the movement to continue the life of the Paramount as it turns 100 this year.
Wellington Film Society statement sent out Thursday 30 March:
Hi Everyone
This note is coming out to you a little earlier than the normal monthly newsletter because of news today (below) about the future of the Paramount Cinema.
I would first like to clarify today's news report which had the rather eye-catching headline "Wellington's Paramount Theatre picture palace to close after 100th anniversary". The truth is rather more prosaic, which is covered in the article that follows - the current operators of the cinema, CPL, have decided not to continue their lease, and will exit the Paramount at the end of September. It's an important distinction to make - it is the operators of the cinema who are leaving, with the future of the cinema itself still an open question.
Of course this does concern us, as our programme runs until the end of November and we have enjoyed a warm relationship with the current cinema operators who have been strong supporters of Wellington Film Society. It is absolutely our intention to run a full programme this year and the news has the potential to affect eight of our screenings which are scheduled in October and November. We have begun making plans to ensure we can keep this commitment to our membership. We will keep you informed on how those plans progress.
Then we look into next year and beyond for an ongoing venue for Wellington Film Society. Our first choice is to remain at the Paramount for screenings - it is a venue which accommodates our membership size while keeping the cost of membership at an affordable level. But it is not just about us - it is host to diverse groups across the Wellington community, from the NZ International Film Festival in winter, to the University of the Third Age through the year, to live music, the Opera Society, Lit Crawl and the Abundant Life Church. These are only a few of the many arts-based and community groups that use the venue.
It is for this reason that we feel absolutely committed to retaining the Paramount as an events venue for the wider Wellington community. This is not driven by sentiment for a 100-year-old cinema but by a real need for a venue of this size in central Wellington. We will certainly be driving this message home forcefully and directly and we hope to see our civic leaders display commitment beyond their words for the well-being of the arts and culture community in the Capital.
We will need your help by sending this message out loudly and clearly - we have a large and strong membership so I ask that you let your voices be heard, whether through your own contacts, through social media or if you wish to become involved with our own concerted push, let us know.
We'll get the ball rolling with a hashtag to get this campaign started #Paramount100notout - we're planning to put plenty more runs on the board!
As you know, we are into our 71st year of screening films and have seen a lot of change over this time. We are under no illusions that this is a challenge which we feel resolutely that we can overcome and continue sharing our love of cinema for many years to come.
"The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."
Chris Hormann
WFS President
#Paramount100notout
email: filmsociety@gmail.com
website: Wellington Film Society
