LAMORINDA WEEKLY -- Reaching out to some fellow filmmakers who agreed to help her, the recent San Francisco State fiction filmmaking graduate began creating her documentary, which, according to the Lamorinda Arts Council rules, could not exceed six minutes in length.
She interviewed Derek Zemrak, co-owner of the theatre, as well as theatregoers and a longtime projectionist at the theatre.
The original concept for her award-winning documentary, Let’s Go To The Movies, was focusing on the history of this beautiful Orinda treasure, built by movie fanatic Donald Rheem between 1937 and 1941. (In 1982, the Orinda Theatre was designated one of the National Register of Historic Places).
“As I reviewed the footage,” Anderson explained, “I realized how significant the theatre is to the community. That totally stood out for me more than the historical facts. So the focal point changed from what the theatre once was to what it is today — and at the same time reminding viewers that independent movie theaters are struggling ... and this is a serious problem, especially in smaller communities.”
Let’s Go To The Movies received a 2018 Lamorinda Arts Council Best Short Documentary Film by an Adult award, a prize that means a lot to the young budding filmmaker.