February 19, 1998

You wouldn't think that which movie is showing at 10PM would be enough to start a fight. You also wouldn't think that Enzian's decision to show Robert Duvall's The Apostle instead of Doug Wolens' Weed in that time slot would raise questions about the theater's committment to their mission. But that's exactly what's happened: as Weed debuts for Orlando audiences on Friday, it will do so only after midnight on its first two nights (the rest of its week-long run you'll be able to catch it at 10PM).

Filmmaker Doug Wolens, who's efforts at self distributing his film have drawn attention and support from the independent film community, didn't find out about the revised screen schedule until Monday. He's pissed and his letter to The Slant shows it: his task of drawing an audience to his film has been made all the more difficult (when was the last time you saw a movie at midnight?). You might think this clouds his judgement, but remember this is the kind of difficulty that plagues independent filmmakers everywhere (and isn't even the worst horror story I've heard.)

The Slant forwarded Doug's letter to Enzian's Marketing Director, Rich Grula, to get the other side of the story. Rich argues that it's a common situation for Enzian: when films do well, they get "held over", causing conflicts with films scheduled to debut in the next week. Supporting either of these films furthers the Enzian's mission as a not-for-profit arts organization: The Apostle is drawing new audiences who have never seen a film outside the multiplex, while Weed would never have been seen by Central Florida audiences if it wasn't at the Enzian.

People in the independent film community disagree all the time without compromising their respect for one another. Avid readers of The Slant might remember an earlier time when Doug Wolens and former Enzian Marketing Director Michael Monello squared off in disagreement over Michael's "Great Orlando Art-Film Conspiracy". Unfortunately, this controversy is now as much about the uncertainty many in the indie film community feel over Enzian's transition (another familiar topic for the Slanted) - Doug booked his film through former Enzian marketing director Michael Monello, who is no longer with the theater, and he doesn't personally know the new staff.

The deeper issue here is if and how Enzian is changing as it undergoes this transition, and that's an issue that concern all fans of film in Central Florida. Neither Doug nor Rich points out the real core of the issue for me: is Enzian's value to Orlando the diversity in films it brings to us, or diversity in crowds it brings to the films? The Apostle opens Friday at two of Orlando's largest multiplexes. On Friday and Saturday night at 10 PM, Enzian's screenings of Duvall's film don't offer any additional choices for Central Florida (you can catch the same film at Cineplex or AMC) while those of us going to Weed on opening night will join the small, unhappy crowds driving home at 2:30 (or later) in morning.

Brian Clark I've worked as a professional musician, a pizza deliverer, a graphic designer, a record promoter, a database programmer, a youth empowerment coordinator and a recording engineer (not necessarily in that order.) Other Articles I've Written