As its sign goes up, Charlotte’s only art house theater sets opening plan after delays

Here’s a sure sign that Charlotte’s only art house cinema is getting closer to opening after months of delay — green ombre letters spelling out its name started to go up on its NoDa building this week.

The Charlotte Film Society decided to create a permanent home to show movies after Charlotte’s last remaining art house, Regal Manor Twin in Myers Park, permanently closed in May 2020.

The film society originally intended to open its three-screen cinema at 4237 Raleigh Ave. last fall, in time for its annual film fest. But due to material and labor shortages and other delays, construction of nearly 5,900 square feet adding on to a 36,000-square-foot industrial building fell behind schedule.

The new theater is called Independent Picture House. Its opening date is now expected by late spring, likely by the end May or June 1, theater executive director Brad Ritter told the Observer during an exclusive tour of the site Tuesday. He is also the film society president.

“The goal is to be open every day,” said Jay Morong, Independent Picture House creative director and film society board member.

On Tuesday, the sign for Independent Picture House was partially installed. The 4-foot-tall, 22-foot-long sign letters change from lime green to dark green, said Gary Blanton, owner of Gary’s Signs in Matthews.

“It’s very different,” he said. “It’s going to to light up this whole parking lot.”

Inside Independent Picture House

Inside the building, the 40-year-old nonprofit’s vision is coming to light.

Despite bare black and white walls, swirls of dust amid the sound of drilling, and plywood risers and hardware for screens in the theaters, construction is well underway.

The concession counter in the lobby is taking shape with a scattering of orb pendant lights. A large overhead vent for popcorn is installed and candy counter spaces are cut in. The walk-in cooler is installed, ready to tap local brews and ciders.

In the lobby to the left will be a carpeted lounge with several high-top tables. Ritter said the color design will be black and white with pops of color, drawn from the theater carpet still to be installed.

“We want something very inviting,” Ritter said. “We want people to stick around and talk about the movie or just catch up.”

The screening rooms

There are three auditoriums taking shape:

▪ The “micro cinema” to the right of the lobby provides the film society a way to show more films and to be “experimental and adventurous with our programming,” Morong said.

The smallest of the three theaters, it will have 17 electric recliners that Ritter likened to Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen.

The 17.5-by-7.5-foot screen will have adjustable masking curtains, which Ritter and Morong said is critical to presentation and different film formats. “It helps frame the image,” Morong said.

Smaller indie pictures and foreign films can be shown here. It can also serve as a place for filmmakers to rent to see their work on a big screen for private showings or before sending it off to film festivals.

“This room was important to add space for flexibility,” Morong said.

▪ Past the five unisex bathrooms off the lobby are two auditoriums in the back. It’s similar to the setup at the former Regal Manor Twin, which was home to the film society’s showing of independent films.

Theater one to the left has seating for 77 with six risers.

Theater two to the right has eight risers and will seat 105.

Both will have rocker-style seating, Ritter said, similar to Regal Phillips Place. And, the screens are both about 21-by-11-feet. Maroon and black curtains are hung on the walls but protected in plastic while construction continues, including adding speakers, wall sconces and carpeting.

“We’re quickly seeing more work getting done every day,” Ritter said of construction.

More than movies at the theater

The Independent Picture House also will use event space to host receptions with filmmakers. There also are plans to collaborate with its neighbor in the same building, the Charlotte Art League, connecting an artist or artwork with a film or filmmaker.

Charlotte Arts League has space for 25 artist studios, 25 artists’ display walls, a show and installation hall and outdoor lawn for gatherings and performances.

The second floor, above the cinema where the projector rooms are, the arts league will have two podcast studios, a digital artist studio, conference room and co-working space, according to the group’s website.

The building also has space for a restaurant and possibly a brewery with patio seating, another lease space and an event hall and venue for gatherings such as weddings.

The site, dubbed Trailhead Arts District by developer Flywheel Group, is adjacent to the Sugar Creek stop on the LYNX Blue Line about a quarter-mile away.

“It’s a group of art initiatives coming together and (Independent Picture House) is a big part of it,” Flywheel Group president Tony Kuhn said. “There aren’t a lot of art houses being built.”

Flywheel Group’s office will be on the second floor in the Independent Picture House building.

Nearby area redevelopment plans also include a live music venue and amphitheater and site plans by Flywheel Group show a brewery, plus a place for indoor climbing and fitness facility, and office, restaurant and retail space.

“The idea is that you could ride the light rail in and spend all day here,” Ritter said. “There will be a lot to do and see.”

Independent Picture House still fundraising

The film society has held several fundraisers to cover capital and operational costs over the past two years. The group has doubled it’s goal to $2 million, Ritter said, and has so far raised $590,000.

The group’s “Take a Seat” campaign to help cover the cost and installation of the 199 rocker-style seats in the two auditoriums and recliners for the smaller theater is ongoing, Morong said. A $350 contribution pays for a seat and installation, and donors will get their name on the screen and be able to reserve seats.

The group also expects to soon launch annual memberships, with details still being worked out.

Independent Picture House is all about collaborating with its neighbors, Ritter and Morong said.

“We want it to be a place people feel like it’s ours,” Ritter said. “This is a community theater.”

This story was originally published March 23, 2022 at 11:39 AM with the headline "As its sign goes up, Charlotte’s only art house theater sets opening plan after delays."