Jeff Thompson got tired of hearing people bellyache about the lack of a movie theatre in Squamish and decided to do something about it.
As a result, every Friday starting on Sept. 6, Squamish residents and guests are invited to Friday Night at the Movies at the Squamish Adventure Centre, where officials recently purchased a new, high-definition projector system for the theatre.
The series, which runs 13 consecutive Fridays through Nov. 29, will featured films from Canadian distributor Mongrel Media, run by Hussain Amarshi, who just happens to be a friend of Thompson, a Squamish resident.
My motivation is rather than continuing the conversation about 'I wish Squamish had a theatre,' I wanted to see what I might be able to do about it, Thompson said.
Tickets to the films, which get underway at 8 p.m., cost $10 each. Beer and wine will be available, so while not all the films are necessarily geared toward adults, the events' atmosphere is geared toward those looking for a Friday evening drink, movie and conversation, Thompson said.
Doors will open at 7:10 p.m. and attendees are encouraged to come and enjoy a chat and an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage in the Adventure Centre's common area before the screening starts, he said.
They can gather on a Friday night and spend a couple hours sharing something as a community, Thompson said.
The films run the gamut including documentaries, vampire flicks and psychological thrillers, he said. Kicking things off on Sept. 6 is Searching for Sugar Man, the true story of Rodriguez, the greatest '70s rock icon that never was, according to the filmmakers.
Rodriguez, discovered by two celebrated music producers in Detroit in the late 1960s, is said to have struck the producers as a budding superstar with his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics. His first album, though, bombed and he disappeared into obscurity. A bootleg recording of the musician's work, though, found its way into apartheid South Africa and over the next two decades he became a phenomenon there. The film follows the story of two South African fans who set out to find out what happened to their hero.
Ticketholders are required to be 19 or older. For info call 604-815-5084.
