Students work to bring independent films to Kirksville
Diane Poelker
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
Kirksville's independent film scene might begin to roll tape thanks to two Truman students.
Sophomore Andrew Turner and senior Micah Gall are taking action to bring independent films to Kirksville. Late last semester, the two men took a trip to Columbia, Mo., seeking unusual films, which sparked the idea.
"We went down to Columbia to watch 'Before the Devil Knows You're Dead' and 'Lars and the Real Girl' [at the Ragtag theater]," Turner said. "We really enjoyed the atmosphere there. … [We thought] we could get some movies and see if it could be workable [in Kirksville]."
Turner said he and Gall have begun their investigation by gauging interest on campus and looking for funding. Turner said he has been in contact with the American Marketing Association to conduct a survey of the local population. He said he hopes having concrete data like a survey will help secure financing for the project.
"Our biggest hurdle is money," Gall said. "We talked to the small business office about getting grants. … We've looked up stuff on the Internet about the big film festivals … a lot of those places donate money or have grants to get independent theaters running."
Turner said he hopes to have a trial run as early as next fall, adding that ideally, the project would partner with Columbia's Ragtag to obtain the films and the Kirksville Arts Association temporarily would house the screenings. Turner recently contacted Ragtag management member David Wilson and received what Gall described in an e-mail as an encouraging response.
"I'd be happy to talk with you," Wilson said in the e-mail.
However, members of the Kirksville Arts Association responded less enthusiastically. Director Judy Neuweg said members of the community, including Turner and Gall, have approached the KAA in the past about housing an independent theater, but the association has limited resources.
"Right now, because of our space, we're kind of limited," Neuweg said. "We've considered it before, and it's in our long-term plans."
Sophomore Andrew Turner and senior Micah Gall are taking action to bring independent films to Kirksville. Late last semester, the two men took a trip to Columbia, Mo., seeking unusual films, which sparked the idea.
"We went down to Columbia to watch 'Before the Devil Knows You're Dead' and 'Lars and the Real Girl' [at the Ragtag theater]," Turner said. "We really enjoyed the atmosphere there. … [We thought] we could get some movies and see if it could be workable [in Kirksville]."
Turner said he and Gall have begun their investigation by gauging interest on campus and looking for funding. Turner said he has been in contact with the American Marketing Association to conduct a survey of the local population. He said he hopes having concrete data like a survey will help secure financing for the project.
"Our biggest hurdle is money," Gall said. "We talked to the small business office about getting grants. … We've looked up stuff on the Internet about the big film festivals … a lot of those places donate money or have grants to get independent theaters running."
Turner said he hopes to have a trial run as early as next fall, adding that ideally, the project would partner with Columbia's Ragtag to obtain the films and the Kirksville Arts Association temporarily would house the screenings. Turner recently contacted Ragtag management member David Wilson and received what Gall described in an e-mail as an encouraging response.
"I'd be happy to talk with you," Wilson said in the e-mail.
However, members of the Kirksville Arts Association responded less enthusiastically. Director Judy Neuweg said members of the community, including Turner and Gall, have approached the KAA in the past about housing an independent theater, but the association has limited resources.
"Right now, because of our space, we're kind of limited," Neuweg said. "We've considered it before, and it's in our long-term plans."
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