Dear Concerned Ratepayer (re letter ‘What about our Arts Centre’, SGST February 27). Films in Wonthaggi have been 'sporadic' for a long time. Council spent a lot of money upgrading the building (WUCAC) and recently upgraded the screen, I believe. And yet, apart from school holidays, films have only been screened on one day-a-week and the centre is often closed on other days. Who made that decision? Why? What a waste of a community facility which could be as vibrant as Berninneit is supposed to be.
How are films selected for showing? Who decides? Is there any consultation with the community? Will WUCAC and Berninneit show the same films or offer more variety?
Many films, but not all, are available with captions for those with hearing difficulties. Generally, there is only one screening with captions so, if you are not free, bad luck. Given the demographics in Bass Coast, this is an access and equity issue.
The theatre itself is excellent and the staff are all lovely, very friendly and helpful but, I question some of the decisions that have been made and wonder what policies and guidelines are being applied. Is there a plan for the future of cinema in Wonthaggi? Surely, we deserve the same level of service as Cowes?
P.S. I've been making these comments to Council since 2017 and addressed Council in November 2018. I've attached my speaking notes FYI. I have never received any explanations or answers to the questions I've repeatedly raised (notes included online at sgst.com.au).
Anne Heath Mennell, Tenby Point
Presentation to council
Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to talk to you today. My name is Anne Heath Mennell and I live in Tenby Point in the Waterline area of Western Port Ward.
I must apologise before I begin for reading my submission. I’ve reached the age where I can no longer recall facts and marshall a coherent argument from memory.
I want to talk to you about the operation of the cinema at the Union Theatre or, more accurately, the lack of operation of the cinema.
During renovations of the theatre, we were assured that the cinema would resume operations once renovations were complete. Since then, films have been shown in the June and September school holidays, but nothing in between.
Despite many enquiries as to when regular programming would resume, there has been no information on when, or if, films would be shown outside of school holidays even though there have been plenty of opportunities when no other events were scheduled, and the theatre was dark.
In the South Gippsland Sentinel-Times of 25 September, there was an article on the return of the Wonthaggi International Film Festival on October 5-7. This has been a regular event in the past, organised and programmed by the Bass Coast Fine Film Group, primarily for its members.
However, according to the article, the program for this event was ‘put together by Chris Wutzke, arts and culture officer at the Bass Coast Shire’.
People seeking more information were directed to the Film Group website, rather than the Council website, which suggested it was still primarily a Fine Film Group event.
Then, on October 30, the South Gippsland Sentinel Times advertised a ‘Classic Movie Marathon’ on Saturday 3 November. This involved showing the Back to the Future trilogy all on the one day. The ad said that ‘The local council’s agreed with geeks everywhere that Back to the Future is the best science fiction series ever released’. That may be so but not everyone is a sci fi geek and, although this day was apparently organised by Council, there has been no indication since as to when some other general interest films might be programmed. It should be noted also that the ad said that there were no concessions available on ticket prices for this Council organised event, which I think is an issue which also needs to be discussed. I hope it isn’t an indication of a change of policy.
In the absence of any general interest films being programmed at the Theatre, the Library has been showing such films once a month. This has been so popular that there are now two showings instead of one on the last Friday of the month. Since June this year there have been 40+ attendees at each session and 80 attendees at the first double session at the end of September. This suggests that there is a demand for general audience, popular films, including during the day.
I have anecdotal evidence of someone on the Island who has driven to the Warragul cinema, a 200k round trip. The Phillip Island Film Group is popular but so constrained by space that it has had to close its membership. People in Inverloch, Cape Paterson and even Wonthaggi can drive to Leongatha relatively easily to attend the cinema there, however that is not feasible for people in the Waterline area. Leongatha is a long way across the hills on narrow roads and not an easy drive at night. It has been suggested that the mini-buses at the Corinella and Bass Community Centres could be used to bring people into Wonthaggi to the cinema, which would be a much more accessible option for older residents.
I understand that the equipment in the Theatre is now almost completely automated, which requires the minimum of staff time and effort, beyond selling tickets. Council now appears to have staff with skills and experience in programming and I understand staff are now located in the Theatre. Given Council’s investment in both equipment and staff, I imagine it would want to see a return on that investment. I was expecting to see regular programming of general interest films during the week long before this and there has been no explanation as to why it has not yet happened.
Not everyone wants to see foreign language films on a Sunday morning, not everyone is a child or a science fiction geek. There are plenty of people in the shire who would just like to see a general interest film, including on weekdays.
There are now only five weeks left before Christmas and then we will be back into school holidays again, with an understandable emphasis on children’s films. After that, there is a short window before the autumn and all the local musical theatre groups book in for rehearsals and performances over winter.
In conclusion, I would like to ask whether Council has a policy on the operation of the cinema and programming guidelines to guide the development of a general interest program? If so, were they developed in consultation with the community and is there any programming in place for the remainder of this year and early 2019? If not, what are the reasons and what can be done to resolve any problems quickly so that people can once again enjoy this community asset?
I hope Council can reassure us that regular programming of general interest films will begin in the near future before some of us forget what going to the cinema was like.
Thank you for your time and for listening. I do hope to hear some good news soon.
I gather it is normal practice for you now to ask me questions but I’m afraid I have nothing more that I can really add to what I’ve already said. Instead, I would like to use the remaining time to seek answers to my earlier questions.
Does Council intend to offer a regular program of general interest films?
Why has this not occurred before now, what are the problems and how can they be resolved quickly?
Ladies in Black Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man A Star is Born
Crazy Rich Asians The Girl in the Spider’s Web
The Wife Boy Erased
