Boxoffice-November.2001

typical day, movies are
jwn at 7:15 p.m. and 9:30
/.m. in the main auditorium,
after some live entertainment—musical
acts, typically—a tradition the theatre
has continued without fail for over 25
years. After the performances, a popcorn
box is passed around for donations
and the screening begins. Comfortable
couches and love seats, rather than traditional
fold-down movie chairs, make
up the 135-person seating capacity.
"You just have to get more and more
creative about how you can make use of
the space," Eric says. "We do a lot of
alternative events. We have live entertainment,
talent shows, and a number of
film festivals. For the Rhode Island
"Voujusthaueto
get more and more
creatine about
how you can make
use of the space."
-Eric Bilodeau
Convergence Festival, we're the film
venue every night at seven o'clock. We
have had an amazing French film festival
for the last four years in coordination
with Brown University: We do a retrospective
of one director and then
[screen] recent films from France that
have not been shown in the U.S. That
has been a terrific success for us."
The daily bill of cinematic fare at the
theatre is high-quality American independent
movies and international
films
that might not otherwise be seen in the
Providence area. The Bilodeaus have
even forged a working relationship with
another local art theatre, the 500-seat
Avon, about two miles away. Though
technically competitors, both owners recognize
that working together to support
and encourage the viewing of outstanding
alternative cinema serves both of
their long-term goals. In fact, the Cable
Car will on occasion pick up a film from
the Avon once it has run its course there.
"'Memento' was a big hit for us over
the summer, and was a perfect example
of our relationship with the Avon
Cinema," Eric says. "They were showing
it for about three or four weeks,
which is longer than they like to show
78 BOXOFFICE
most things, and when
they let it go, we showed it
for about three months. I
don't know why I let it go,
to tell
the truth."
In addition, Eric notes
that the theatre had wonderful
success this summer
with such films as "Amores
Perros," "Sexy Beast," "The
Princess and the Warrior,"
"The Road Home," "Under
the Sand" and the Frenchlanguage
hit "The Closet."
While
the quality
of the product
available this
summer to many independent
cinemas was very high,
operators like the Bilodeaus
are seeing the direct
effects
of overscreening on their
operations. In years past,
Eric believes, films like
"Run, Lola, Run" or
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon" would have originated
their runs in the traditional
art-houses rather
than the mall multiplexes.
"Lately we're feeling a
little more pressed upon
when you wind up having
foreign films going to the
mainstream cinemas. When
they have empty screens and
need to procure films for
those screens, they begin to dabble in the
product we tend to show."
Nevertheless, the Cable Car has its
unique and immensely profitable sidebusiness
to fall back on during slow
periods. "The movie side of it can really
be an up-and-down thing, and this is
where the cafe kicks in," Eric says.
"When times are tough, the cafe seems
to pick up—especially during the school
year when the kids are around."
To keep fresh and up-to-the-minute
on the current independent film scene,
Eric consults BOXOFFICE's lists of
upcoming releases and takes the time to
CABLE CAR CINEMA & CAFE
204 S. Main St.
Providence, Rl 02903
Ph: 401-272-3970
cablecarcinema.com
Eric Bilodeaus...
Most Useful Boxoffice Feature:
Independent Charts.
Favorite Boxoffice Feature:
Movie Reviews/Review Digest.
Earliest Movie Memory:
"Watching my first PC movie:
'Brother Sun, Sister Moon.'"
Car owner Albert Bilodeau and
manager Erie I
make regular trips to Boston and New
York, particularly the Angelica Film
Centre. ("We [were] making sandwiches,
cakes and espresso drinks long
before the Angelicas of the world were
doing it!" Eric exclaims with a touch of
competitive spirit and pride.)
"We like to bring in films for our regular
clientele that wouldn't have been
shown in the Providence area at all, and
at least give them some kind of viewing,"
Eric says. "Those films [can] wind
up being huge hits or great critical surprises.
It just really makes being in the
business a pleasure."
WM
Favorite Movie: No favorites,
but I cannot watch 'Young
Frankenstein' too many times."
Favorite Concession Item:
Milk Duds.
Advice To Other Exhibitors:
"It's always better to hold a film
that's grossing consistently
week to week than to let it
go for an untested new release
—even if it is the 1 4th week
of the run. A bird in the hand
is worth two in the bush..."