we have heard so many fascinating things today and yet of course if you are an
today and yet of course if you are an
today and yet of course if you are an awake human being your mind has wandered
awake human being your mind has wandered
awake human being your mind has wandered at some points you’ve thought about some
at some points you’ve thought about some
at some points you’ve thought about some things that you have to do you might
things that you have to do you might
things that you have to do you might even have done some of them on your
even have done some of them on your
even have done some of them on your phone I would actually suggest that we
phone I would actually suggest that we
phone I would actually suggest that we lean in to this modern inclination to
lean in to this modern inclination to
lean in to this modern inclination to interact with screens in a variety of
interact with screens in a variety of
interact with screens in a variety of ways in public spaces what do I mean by
ways in public spaces what do I mean by
ways in public spaces what do I mean by this well I think about it a lot where I
this well I think about it a lot where I
this well I think about it a lot where I work
work
work Northwest Film Forum in Capitol Hill has
Northwest Film Forum in Capitol Hill has
Northwest Film Forum in Capitol Hill has anyone ever been there cool it is an
anyone ever been there cool it is an
anyone ever been there cool it is an independent of film and Art Center
independent of film and Art Center
independent of film and Art Center located in the heart of Capitol Hill
located in the heart of Capitol Hill
located in the heart of Capitol Hill where we show independent movies from
where we show independent movies from
where we show independent movies from all around the world all year round our
all around the world all year round our
all around the world all year round our audiences are out of this world we teach
audiences are out of this world we teach
audiences are out of this world we teach a ton of film and media workshops for
a ton of film and media workshops for
a ton of film and media workshops for filmmakers at all stages of their
filmmakers at all stages of their
filmmakers at all stages of their careers we put on the largest kids
careers we put on the largest kids
careers we put on the largest kids festival on the west coast that travels
festival on the west coast that travels
festival on the west coast that travels nationally we offer a ton of support
nationally we offer a ton of support
nationally we offer a ton of support services for artists and we conduct
services for artists and we conduct
services for artists and we conduct bizarre rituals in the lobby where we
bizarre rituals in the lobby where we
bizarre rituals in the lobby where we dance in a circle to music until
dance in a circle to music until
dance in a circle to music until somebody wins a cake it’s a really good
somebody wins a cake it’s a really good
somebody wins a cake it’s a really good way to close out a Film Festival and not
way to close out a Film Festival and not
way to close out a Film Festival and not just the one for kids I started at the
just the one for kids I started at the
just the one for kids I started at the forum as a college intern actually and
forum as a college intern actually and
forum as a college intern actually and then a few years later I was hired to be
then a few years later I was hired to be
then a few years later I was hired to be the film programmer the one who gets to
the film programmer the one who gets to
the film programmer the one who gets to pick the movies that are shown in the
pick the movies that are shown in the
pick the movies that are shown in the theater this was my first job out of
theater this was my first job out of
theater this was my first job out of college pretty rad dream job right well
college pretty rad dream job right well
college pretty rad dream job right well when I arrived I inherited a box office
when I arrived I inherited a box office
when I arrived I inherited a box office in a state of deep decline as it turns
in a state of deep decline as it turns
in a state of deep decline as it turns out people don’t go to the theater to
out people don’t go to the theater to
out people don’t go to the theater to see obscure independent art house movies
see obscure independent art house movies
see obscure independent art house movies the way that they used to I mean does
the way that they used to I mean does
the way that they used to I mean does anybody know how many views netflix has
anybody know how many views netflix has
anybody know how many views netflix has per week guess I’ll give you a hint it’s
per week guess I’ll give you a hint it’s
per week guess I’ll give you a hint it’s how many views YouTube has per day 1
how many views YouTube has per day 1
how many views YouTube has per day 1 billion so I started experimenting with
billion so I started experimenting with
billion so I started experimenting with new kinds of events to get people to
new kinds of events to get people to
new kinds of events to get people to come back out to the theater like a
come back out to the theater like a
come back out to the theater like a showcase of new Pacific Northwest music
showcase of new Pacific Northwest music
showcase of new Pacific Northwest music videos or an unorthodox live score for
videos or an unorthodox live score for
videos or an unorthodox live score for movies like alien or predator pretty
movies like alien or predator pretty
movies like alien or predator pretty soon this experimentation started to
soon this experimentation started to
soon this experimentation started to inspire newer bigger questions for me I
inspire newer bigger questions for me I
inspire newer bigger questions for me I started to think about how the movie
started to think about how the movie
started to think about how the movie theater isn’t the only brick-and-mortar
theater isn’t the only brick-and-mortar
theater isn’t the only brick-and-mortar cultural institution that they
cultural institution that they
cultural institution that they is a somewhat uncertain future today I
is a somewhat uncertain future today I
is a somewhat uncertain future today I mean there’s the obvious ones like the
mean there’s the obvious ones like the
mean there’s the obvious ones like the you know music record store or the video
you know music record store or the video
you know music record store or the video rental store which by the way I hope
rental store which by the way I hope
rental store which by the way I hope y’all are taken advantage of the fact
y’all are taken advantage of the fact
y’all are taken advantage of the fact that the best video rental store in the
that the best video rental store in the
that the best video rental store in the world is in your neighborhood give it up
world is in your neighborhood give it up
world is in your neighborhood give it up for scarecrow it’s awesome you should go
for scarecrow it’s awesome you should go
for scarecrow it’s awesome you should go there but there’s also I mean the museum
there but there’s also I mean the museum
there but there’s also I mean the museum the library the community center the
the library the community center the
the library the community center the concert venue the college classroom in a
concert venue the college classroom in a
concert venue the college classroom in a world that’s more digital by the day the
world that’s more digital by the day the
world that’s more digital by the day the future of these physical public spaces
future of these physical public spaces
future of these physical public spaces these buildings are kind of up for grabs
these buildings are kind of up for grabs
these buildings are kind of up for grabs right now but we still be using them for
right now but we still be using them for
right now but we still be using them for the same purposes in the future well we
the same purposes in the future well we
the same purposes in the future well we need them at all when it comes to arts
need them at all when it comes to arts
need them at all when it comes to arts and cultural institutions I hope that we
and cultural institutions I hope that we
and cultural institutions I hope that we really actively face this question what
really actively face this question what
really actively face this question what do we want to see happen with these
do we want to see happen with these
do we want to see happen with these places in the future for us for those
places in the future for us for those
places in the future for us for those that come after us what would happen if
that come after us what would happen if
that come after us what would happen if the movie theater does sort of fall off
the movie theater does sort of fall off
the movie theater does sort of fall off that precipice into extinction do we
that precipice into extinction do we
that precipice into extinction do we relinquish it to a relic of the past a
relinquish it to a relic of the past a
relinquish it to a relic of the past a nice cultural tradition while it lasted
nice cultural tradition while it lasted
nice cultural tradition while it lasted and then we got Netflix or would we be
and then we got Netflix or would we be
and then we got Netflix or would we be missing out on an opportunity to breathe
missing out on an opportunity to breathe
missing out on an opportunity to breathe new creative life and purpose into these
new creative life and purpose into these
new creative life and purpose into these buildings to make what might actually be
buildings to make what might actually be
buildings to make what might actually be known as a true public sphere a way of
known as a true public sphere a way of
known as a true public sphere a way of bringing people together I just I
bringing people together I just I
bringing people together I just I started to think about how cultural
started to think about how cultural
started to think about how cultural spaces like the forum have a
spaces like the forum have a
spaces like the forum have a significantly new role to play in
significantly new role to play in
significantly new role to play in building the modern public sphere and
building the modern public sphere and
building the modern public sphere and that it’s up to us to define what that
that it’s up to us to define what that
that it’s up to us to define what that looks like so the challenge before me is
looks like so the challenge before me is
looks like so the challenge before me is not how do I get people to come out to
not how do I get people to come out to
not how do I get people to come out to the movie theater today it’s more like
the movie theater today it’s more like
the movie theater today it’s more like how can people use this space to come
how can people use this space to come
how can people use this space to come together to learn about themselves and
together to learn about themselves and
together to learn about themselves and each other and their world through art
each other and their world through art
each other and their world through art today Northwest Film Forum is more than
today Northwest Film Forum is more than
today Northwest Film Forum is more than a movie theater because we’ve really
a movie theater because we’ve really
a movie theater because we’ve really embraced the forum in our name a public
embraced the forum in our name a public
embraced the forum in our name a public meeting place for open discussion the
meeting place for open discussion the
meeting place for open discussion the goal is to reinvent the role of the
goal is to reinvent the role of the
goal is to reinvent the role of the movie theater in the cultural fabric of
movie theater in the cultural fabric of
movie theater in the cultural fabric of the city’s life of course we will always
the city’s life of course we will always
the city’s life of course we will always champion and show independent films
champion and show independent films
champion and show independent films including ones you can’t see on Netflix
including ones you can’t see on Netflix
including ones you can’t see on Netflix nothing that we show you can but in
nothing that we show you can but in
nothing that we show you can but in order to remain meaningful and relevant
order to remain meaningful and relevant
order to remain meaningful and relevant to the future into future generations as
to the future into future generations as
to the future into future generations as a theatre we’ve got to adapt of course
a theatre we’ve got to adapt of course
a theatre we’ve got to adapt of course the thing that sets the movie theater
the thing that sets the movie theater
the thing that sets the movie theater apart is the ability to physically
apart is the ability to physically
apart is the ability to physically convene people together to really build
convene people together to really build
convene people together to really build a public sphere when you start to think
a public sphere when you start to think
a public sphere when you start to think about the theater this way all of a
about the theater this way all of a
about the theater this way all of a sudden so many more possibilities open
sudden so many more possibilities open
sudden so many more possibilities open up for what you can do when you’ve got a
up for what you can do when you’ve got a
up for what you can do when you’ve got a great big multi-purpose canvas and a
great big multi-purpose canvas and a
great big multi-purpose canvas and a whole ton of seats and it also helps to
whole ton of seats and it also helps to
whole ton of seats and it also helps to have a bar in the lobby so what does
have a bar in the lobby so what does
have a bar in the lobby so what does this look like at the Film Forum enter
this look like at the Film Forum enter
this look like at the Film Forum enter the Seattle process let’s talk about it
the Seattle process let’s talk about it
the Seattle process let’s talk about it some more this is basically the daily
some more this is basically the daily
some more this is basically the daily show for Seattle it’s a local politics
show for Seattle it’s a local politics
show for Seattle it’s a local politics comedy talk show hosted by comedian
comedy talk show hosted by comedian
comedy talk show hosted by comedian Brett Hamill and featuring guests like
Brett Hamill and featuring guests like
Brett Hamill and featuring guests like Senator Pramila jaya paul socialist city
Senator Pramila jaya paul socialist city
Senator Pramila jaya paul socialist city councilperson Shama so want the black
councilperson Shama so want the black
councilperson Shama so want the black lives matter organizers who interrupted
lives matter organizers who interrupted
lives matter organizers who interrupted Bernie Sanders here in Seattle guess
Bernie Sanders here in Seattle guess
Bernie Sanders here in Seattle guess what their stage entrance was like on
what their stage entrance was like on
what their stage entrance was like on the show it was great nobody in the
the show it was great nobody in the
the show it was great nobody in the audience knew who was coming at the
audience knew who was coming at the
audience knew who was coming at the process the screen becomes a canvas for
process the screen becomes a canvas for
process the screen becomes a canvas for tweets and jokes and games and
tweets and jokes and games and
tweets and jokes and games and intertitles and Skype sessions and
intertitles and Skype sessions and
intertitles and Skype sessions and videos and a way of bringing up the
videos and a way of bringing up the
videos and a way of bringing up the sordid past of a guy running for City
sordid past of a guy running for City
sordid past of a guy running for City Council who used to be a male model as
Council who used to be a male model as
Council who used to be a male model as you can tell this show isn’t really like
you can tell this show isn’t really like
you can tell this show isn’t really like eating your Civic vegetables while
eating your Civic vegetables while
eating your Civic vegetables while tuning in to talk radio people come to
tuning in to talk radio people come to
tuning in to talk radio people come to the show on dates with work friends with
the show on dates with work friends with
the show on dates with work friends with organizing friends with the desire to
organizing friends with the desire to
organizing friends with the desire to meet somebody new to be inspired by a
meet somebody new to be inspired by a
meet somebody new to be inspired by a leader in their city – laughs who knows
leader in their city – laughs who knows
leader in their city – laughs who knows maybe to cry all the things they go to
maybe to cry all the things they go to
maybe to cry all the things they go to the movies for right another example the
the movies for right another example the
the movies for right another example the future is zero this is a live game show
future is zero this is a live game show
future is zero this is a live game show that we do in the theater where we
that we do in the theater where we
that we do in the theater where we actually remove the screen entirely to
actually remove the screen entirely to
actually remove the screen entirely to reveal this elaborate two-story set that
reveal this elaborate two-story set that
reveal this elaborate two-story set that we built the contestants each time are
we built the contestants each time are
we built the contestants each time are artists from different disciplines and
artists from different disciplines and
artists from different disciplines and on the far side there you can see Ken
on the far side there you can see Ken
on the far side there you can see Ken Jennings the king of jeopardy himself
Jennings the king of jeopardy himself
Jennings the king of jeopardy himself just competed a couple weeks ago we
just competed a couple weeks ago we
just competed a couple weeks ago we actually tried to rig the game so that
actually tried to rig the game so that
actually tried to rig the game so that he couldn’t win he’s still won
he couldn’t win he’s still won
he couldn’t win he’s still won contestants compete in games like alt
contestants compete in games like alt
contestants compete in games like alt right or alt writer where they have to
right or alt writer where they have to
right or alt writer where they have to look at a series of photos of
look at a series of photos of
look at a series of photos of nondescript dudes and glasses and guess
nondescript dudes and glasses and guess
nondescript dudes and glasses and guess whether they’re a member of the ultra
whether they’re a member of the ultra
whether they’re a member of the ultra right or a writer for an alternative
right or a writer for an alternative
right or a writer for an alternative publication like pitchfork exhibit a
publication like pitchfork exhibit a
publication like pitchfork exhibit a Exhibit B in another game they have to
Exhibit B in another game they have to
Exhibit B in another game they have to catch popcorn that’s thrown from a
catch popcorn that’s thrown from a
catch popcorn that’s thrown from a cannon powered by a leaf blower on the
cannon powered by a leaf blower on the
cannon powered by a leaf blower on the second story of the set and yes that is
second story of the set and yes that is
second story of the set and yes that is the editor for film of the stranger
the editor for film of the stranger
the editor for film of the stranger Charles Mackay who was forced to wear a
Charles Mackay who was forced to wear a
Charles Mackay who was forced to wear a hat for the entirety of the game
hat for the entirety of the game
hat for the entirety of the game so both the future 0 and the Seattle
so both the future 0 and the Seattle
so both the future 0 and the Seattle process have this live studio audience
process have this live studio audience
process have this live studio audience feel and both of them combined art and
feel and both of them combined art and
feel and both of them combined art and goofy creative fun to grapple directly
goofy creative fun to grapple directly
goofy creative fun to grapple directly with political issues that are affecting
with political issues that are affecting
with political issues that are affecting people’s lives today the Seattle process
people’s lives today the Seattle process
people’s lives today the Seattle process even spawned a spin-off show called the
even spawned a spin-off show called the
even spawned a spin-off show called the shadow Council which is basically a
shadow Council which is basically a
shadow Council which is basically a people’s legislative body where the
people’s legislative body where the
people’s legislative body where the audience becomes the governing body that
audience becomes the governing body that
audience becomes the governing body that can propose via the democracy bucket and
can propose via the democracy bucket and
can propose via the democracy bucket and debate pieces of legislation such as the
debate pieces of legislation such as the
debate pieces of legislation such as the unsalted snack regulation act that
unsalted snack regulation act that
unsalted snack regulation act that states that all unsalted snacks should
states that all unsalted snacks should
states that all unsalted snacks should be required to have the word unsalted be
be required to have the word unsalted be
be required to have the word unsalted be in the largest font on the bag
in the largest font on the bag
in the largest font on the bag guests have included current mayoral
guests have included current mayoral
guests have included current mayoral candidate and former Ted u X speaker or
candidate and former Ted u X speaker or
candidate and former Ted u X speaker or u-dub X speaker Nikita Oliver so how do
u-dub X speaker Nikita Oliver so how do
u-dub X speaker Nikita Oliver so how do we create this public sphere for art and
we create this public sphere for art and
we create this public sphere for art and action at the forum it means moving away
action at the forum it means moving away
action at the forum it means moving away from having an ordained curator choose
from having an ordained curator choose
from having an ordained curator choose every movie in every event that’s
every movie in every event that’s
every movie in every event that’s happening and opening up new channels of
happening and opening up new channels of
happening and opening up new channels of access for the community and the public
access for the community and the public
access for the community and the public that were intended to serve to tell us
that were intended to serve to tell us
that were intended to serve to tell us what they want to see multiple events
what they want to see multiple events
what they want to see multiple events have started in Facebook common threads
have started in Facebook common threads
have started in Facebook common threads for example I think it’s pretty clear
for example I think it’s pretty clear
for example I think it’s pretty clear that we can no longer do politics on
that we can no longer do politics on
that we can no longer do politics on creatively
creatively
creatively that’s where art and art spaces come in
that’s where art and art spaces come in
that’s where art and art spaces come in to keep it fresh to give us ways to plug
to keep it fresh to give us ways to plug
to keep it fresh to give us ways to plug into our civic surroundings through
into our civic surroundings through
into our civic surroundings through creative expression we all know that
creative expression we all know that
creative expression we all know that online conversations are different from
online conversations are different from
online conversations are different from offline ones and it’s so critical I
offline ones and it’s so critical I
offline ones and it’s so critical I really believe in this in the unique
really believe in this in the unique
really believe in this in the unique capacity of artistic events in the
capacity of artistic events in the
capacity of artistic events in the physical public sphere to drive
physical public sphere to drive
physical public sphere to drive political action art has always played a
political action art has always played a
political action art has always played a crucial role in pushing society forward
crucial role in pushing society forward
crucial role in pushing society forward by creating change and how people view
by creating change and how people view
by creating change and how people view and experience the world from you know
and experience the world from you know
and experience the world from you know the even recent times of Picasso’s
the even recent times of Picasso’s
the even recent times of Picasso’s Guernica to punk music to the entirety
Guernica to punk music to the entirety
Guernica to punk music to the entirety of AI Weiwei’s career art has always
of AI Weiwei’s career art has always
of AI Weiwei’s career art has always driven social change in the world
driven social change in the world
driven social change in the world there’s so much room for creative play
there’s so much room for creative play
there’s so much room for creative play for how we can mobilize art to create
for how we can mobilize art to create
for how we can mobilize art to create and build understanding and strength and
and build understanding and strength and
and build understanding and strength and empathy and others it just takes a
empathy and others it just takes a
empathy and others it just takes a little creativity to bring it back into
little creativity to bring it back into
little creativity to bring it back into public spaces today given the heightened
public spaces today given the heightened
public spaces today given the heightened need for political action on a daily
need for political action on a daily
need for political action on a daily basis today the forum set out to harness
basis today the forum set out to harness
basis today the forum set out to harness the potential to build a collective
the potential to build a collective
the potential to build a collective creative resistance on a national level
creative resistance on a national level
creative resistance on a national level the Seventh Art stand is an active
the Seventh Art stand is an active
the Seventh Art stand is an active cinematic solidarity in support of the
cinematic solidarity in support of the
cinematic solidarity in support of the people affected by the travel bans it’s
people affected by the travel bans it’s
people affected by the travel bans it’s a nationwide series of films from the
a nationwide series of films from the
a nationwide series of films from the countries in the Travel bands that
countries in the Travel bands that
countries in the Travel bands that happened actually throughout this month
happened actually throughout this month
happened actually throughout this month in over 50 movie theaters college
in over 50 movie theaters college
in over 50 movie theaters college campuses museums and community centers
campuses museums and community centers
campuses museums and community centers in over half of the states it was in the
in over half of the states it was in the
in over half of the states it was in the New York Times which was pretty cool and
New York Times which was pretty cool and
New York Times which was pretty cool and it was supported by people like Ramin
it was supported by people like Ramin
it was supported by people like Ramin Bahrani and Woody Harrelson and Steve
Bahrani and Woody Harrelson and Steve
Bahrani and Woody Harrelson and Steve Buscemi and Laurie Anderson it was an
Buscemi and Laurie Anderson it was an
Buscemi and Laurie Anderson it was an act of cinematic solidarity to
act of cinematic solidarity to
act of cinematic solidarity to show the people whose voices and stories
show the people whose voices and stories
show the people whose voices and stories and faces aren’t seeing enough on us
and faces aren’t seeing enough on us
and faces aren’t seeing enough on us movie theater screens that we’re there
movie theater screens that we’re there
movie theater screens that we’re there with them that we believe in supporting
with them that we believe in supporting
with them that we believe in supporting them because without the freedom to
them because without the freedom to
them because without the freedom to speak to act to interact the possibility
speak to act to interact the possibility
speak to act to interact the possibility of democracy vanishes and public space
of democracy vanishes and public space
of democracy vanishes and public space is where democracy happens visual
is where democracy happens visual
is where democracy happens visual storytelling may be the most powerful
storytelling may be the most powerful
storytelling may be the most powerful single form of communication in the
single form of communication in the
single form of communication in the world today think about it the word
world today think about it the word
world today think about it the word video has become literally synonymous
video has become literally synonymous
video has become literally synonymous with the word story on Instagram and
with the word story on Instagram and
with the word story on Instagram and snap this is an incredibly powerful tool
snap this is an incredibly powerful tool
snap this is an incredibly powerful tool let’s wield it wisely you’ve heard me
let’s wield it wisely you’ve heard me
let’s wield it wisely you’ve heard me talk about just one way of thinking
talk about just one way of thinking
talk about just one way of thinking about reinventing one kind of cultural
about reinventing one kind of cultural
about reinventing one kind of cultural institution the movie theater but think
institution the movie theater but think
institution the movie theater but think about what can happen when you take any
about what can happen when you take any
about what can happen when you take any number of contemporary modes of
number of contemporary modes of
number of contemporary modes of expression in exchange and bring them
expression in exchange and bring them
expression in exchange and bring them into public spaces to infuse them with
into public spaces to infuse them with
into public spaces to infuse them with new creative purpose that are more
new creative purpose that are more
new creative purpose that are more relevant to more people today and in the
relevant to more people today and in the
relevant to more people today and in the future I think we live in an incredibly
future I think we live in an incredibly
future I think we live in an incredibly exciting time to do this and it really
exciting time to do this and it really
exciting time to do this and it really is up to the next generation to take
is up to the next generation to take
is up to the next generation to take these buildings and make them new again
these buildings and make them new again
these buildings and make them new again of course this could look like a million
of course this could look like a million
of course this could look like a million different things in a million different
different things in a million different
different things in a million different ways but the common ingredient is
ways but the common ingredient is
ways but the common ingredient is actually physically coming together IRL
actually physically coming together IRL
actually physically coming together IRL in real life in public and I can’t wait
in real life in public and I can’t wait
in real life in public and I can’t wait to see what you all do with that thank
to see what you all do with that thank
to see what you all do with that thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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