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    Studio 35 May Add Second Screen at Clintonville Theatre

    During its 77 years in existence, Clintonville movie theater Studio 35 (once known as The Indianola) has always been a single-screen venue. If all goes according to plan, that may soon change. Owner Eric Brembeck is making plans to add a smaller second screen to the second floor of the building, which currently only houses offices and projection equipment for the venue’s main screen.

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    “Having a second screen will allow us to do a lot of new things,” explained Brembeck. “We’re very community oriented, so we plan on using the space for rentals, sporting events, community movies and to show films by local filmmakers. But big studios are also pushing to keep their movies on screens longer. If I get a film like Jurassic World, it does great for two weeks, but by the third weekend no one is still coming. The studio requires us to run a movie like that for at least four weeks, so If I can move it to smaller screen and show something else on the big screen, that allows me to compete with the cineplexes.”

    As a business, Brembeck says that Studio 35 is not just competing with other movie theaters, but also with a wide variety of entertainment choices that consumers can make on any given Friday or Saturday night. Several local independent movie theaters have converted to a nonprofit model in recent years, including The Gateway Film Center and The Drexel, but Brembeck said that there is still a strong business model behind a for-profit independent theater.

    “We’ve proven that there is — you just have to work hard at it every single day,” he stated. “I can’t worry about what I did yesterday… I just have to worry about tomorrow and figure out what the next thing is that people want to experience.”

    Studio 35 underwent major renovations in 2012, which saw the complete reconstruction of the bar and concession area, upgrades to sound and projection equipment, and major updates in the main 241-seat auditorium. By comparison, the second auditorium is expected to only seat around 70 patrons. 

    Brembeck said currently the project requires parking variances and neighborhood approvals before they begin work on construction drawings and financials. He is planning to construct the second screen in mid-2016, and is hoping to work around construction so that the theater could remain open uninterrupted.

    For more information, visit www.studio35.com.

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    Walker Evans
    Walker Evanshttps://columbusunderground.com
    Walker Evans is the co-founder of Columbus Underground, along with his wife and business partner Anne Evans. Walker has turned local media into a full time career over the past decade and serves on multiple boards and committees throughout the community.
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