I was asked by the New York Times to contribute to a think piece on how to improve the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Ted Hope, chief executive of Fandor, a film-streaming service and former San Francisco Film Society executive director, recalled his first encounter with the organization: a showing of the Coen brothers’ “Blood Simple” at the New York Film Festival. “I was so excited to be in such a beautiful room with so many people who seemed to love cinema as much as me,” he said. “I want every program to recreate that excitement, and it comes from providing context, community and a sense of event — something both fleeting and permanent.”
“I want an environment — like art museums — that when I show up I know I can leave with both a memory and an object that captures, preserves and expands upon my love of cinema. It needs to come with an exhibit, a program guide, study questions, souvenirs, unique opportunities, calls to action as well as a place to hang out and meet people and make things.”
This was just the tip of what could of been a rant of epic proportions. But don’t get me wrong: I love the FSLC and think they were making some real progress behind Rose Kuo. One of things I adored about NYC was how many great institutions and organizations there were promoting and advancing film culture. I would have renamed the town Cinema City if they let me. That said, if someone was serious there is a lot that could be done to take it — or any film organization far further. It takes a real commitment from both the board and staff to do so though, and from my experience, most organizations don’t have much capacity to reach beyond the work they are already doing, and even less funding than is needed to maintain it, let alone advance it. I did not get in to it with the NY Times but there is a lot more that can be said. I think the challenge of change for non-profit organizations though is that unless they secure a large grant to enact such change, it probably requires throwing the baby out with the bath water and risking losing the support that got them where they are to begin with. I think aligning with the times we are living in is well worth that gamble but also understand why others may not quite feel as passionate.
Indiewire did a nice rebuttal to the Times, and Eric Kohn wrote some very nice words. I am excited by the film biz’s recent trend of journalistic talk back and hope it continues. It itself has the capacity to advance some change. The piece added the appropriate perspective. Rose Kuo was taking the organization forward. From our opposite coasts we spoke periodically, and she was constantly strategizing on improving that organization’s relevancy. She like like our fellow EDs at other similar institutions was incredibly passionate and involved with the challenge. I am confident that the necessary change that such organizations urgently need does not come from any lack of insight or inspiration from their leadership. I heard it and lived it consistently. It is a greater structural issue and will require courage, commitment, and collaboration at the board and staff level.
It will also require the industry, the membership, and the cities themselves to provide leadership too. As the industry lives it day and day out, benefits most profoundly from these organizations, they need to step up. Opportunities need to be made. Priorities should be set. Consensus achieved. Just as Indiewire stepped forward and added to the NYT’s first step, it would be a wonderful thing if more of our leaders took some initiative and simply said what they want. Step by step we can build it better together — but it starts with taking responsibility for the world we profit from.
