It was difficult to motivate out of the apt this hot and humid Sunday night, but I’m so glad I did. I met Phoebe at the Kingdom for a glass of chalkboard white and we walked to 3rd Ward for the first relocated installment of Moviehouse. We arrived at 8:01 expecting to sneak a seat but were shocked to find that the screening was full and had begun promptly on time… in fact. there were so many people that they added a second screening at 8:30. We grabbed a couple of Stellas from the bar (which also featured some seriously gourmet popcorn — lime/thyme and chili/chocolate) and waited out front. After a couple of “where do I know you from…” moments for Phoebe (you bartend at the Kingdom….ahhhh, yes, of course!) Aaron Short showed up and introduced us to all the VIPs. Famous friends will get you everywhere.

The program was 30 minutes long (absolutely perfect for my Sunday night attention span) and featured three great shorts. Michael Cera and his date’s horse-headed father? Amazing. The director of the final piece, Leat Klingman, was on hand for Q&A after the screening.

I spoke and did some emailing with (Bushwick-based!) Chris Henderson and Clay Franklin about the screenings and their move to 3rd Ward.

How long has Moviehouse been around?
Chris Henderson: Moviehouse began…in February 2007 (as a monthly program at Galapagos with one full-length well-known feature and local shorts). At the time the idea was to fill the void in Williamsburg of the lack of a dedicated screening space. As the show progressed we became more and more interested in the part of the show (the shorts and discussion) that provided local filmmakers with an opportunity to show their work to an audience that wouldn’t traditionally seek out their movies. The move to 3rd Ward is a logical step as we put the focus of the event on the filmmaking community rather than drawing an audience through a big name filmmaker.

How is your experience at 3rd Ward so far?
Chris: We’re overjoyed to be welcomed to the neighborhood by 3rd Ward. When we began to think about a new partner for Moviehouse, 3rd Ward was one of the first that came to mind. Its nothing short of a perfect fit. For us it is essential to be in a space where high-quality work is not only being presented, but created as well.

As you mention — it seems like a good move for you. How did the audience numbers compare to your turnout at Galapagos?
Chris: The turnout last night matched or exceeded the largest crowds we hosted at previous events. As vital as having a large turnout was who turned out. The audience was engaged, excited, and interested. While it’s lovely to have a big crowd, it’s equally rewarding to be a part of this artistic community.

Clay Franklin: The success of the event can be measured from two important things – the crowd and the content. In the past the crowd was some bar-goers looking to drink and watch the feature, unaware or uninterested in the local content. Last night we saw a crowd eager to wait in the lobby for a second screening of all local shorts — no blockbuster feature involved. We decided to do a second screening the night of the event, because the 100+ RSVPs came in at the last second. A very good surprise. I’m glad to be doing this in Bushwick because it filters out the catwalk of Bedford Ave. You won’t find people stumbling upon our screening and walking away b/c there was no club atmosphere. We ran into that in Williamsburg every time.

Do you get a ton of submissions?
Chris: Our curatorial process involves four elements: public unsolicited submissions, filmmakers we meet at the shows, filmmakers we get to know through other filmmakers and filmmakers we approach after seeing their work elsewhere. Last night’s show is a good example of the diverse ways in which we find what we want to show. Matt Lessner (Darling Darling) sent us his film unsoliticed. Joanne Getson (Astronauts Visit New York) met me at a non-film event at in Manhattan and after discussing her work she sent me a copy. Leat Klingman (Carmen) came recommended from Brian Rogers, the artistic director at the Chocolate Factory Theater.

Congratulations Chris, Clay and 3rd Ward (especially their industrious marketing and program director Nikki Bagli)!

Moviehouse will be every second Sunday of the month and local filmmakers should get their submissions in by October 15th to be considered for the winter season. This Saturday, 3rd Ward presents the Fourth annual Last Supper Festival.