.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

HAY RIVER - Michelle Schaub is a familiar face for movie-lovers in Hay River.

A long-time resident of the town, Schaub became the manager of the family-owned Riverview Cineplex when her aunt, Donna Borchuk, retired after 10 years on the job, last July.

Trina Alders, left, and Michelle Schaub, right, manage Hay River's Riverview Cineplex and are film buffs in their own right. While kids' movies and action and adventure do well, Alders said she likes the sappy ones. "I just saw Marley and Me and I cried for three hours," laughed Schaub. - Herb Mathisen/NNSL photo

"I've always loved movies, so I jumped at the chance," said Schaub.

Schaub and co-manager Trina Alders sat in the smaller of the two theatres earlier this month to talk about what it takes to manage the silver screen.

"Children's movies are huge," said Schaub.

Contributing to the popularity is the large number of youth in town. She said the schools will sometimes come in for special viewings.

Alders said teenage movies and action-adventure – "for the guys" – also do well.

Schaub said she chooses the movies the theatre will get about a month in advance, through negotiations with a Calgary company. She said the theatre is typically about three-weeks behind opening nights in the south. The reason is the number of prints for each film that fit their type of projector are limited.

She said some Oscar-winning movies, for instance, just recently got to the theatre.

However, many more widely-distributed movies arrive on opening weekend, and when this is the case, the theatre will keep the films for two weeks or so.

The films are delivered every Friday, with opening night on Saturdays.

Schaub said she always takes recommendations from movie-goers, adding, even movies that came out 10 years ago can be brought up.

"We can bring them in for a private show," she said.

She said one of the perks of managing the theatre is when films arrive on six or seven reels, staff have to splice them together and, as a result, get to see the flicks before anyone else in town.

"You get a private movie showing," she said.

Schaub counts Mamma Mia! as one of her all-time favourites, but said she is always excited about what will be coming next. The theatre is trying to branch out from merely showing movies.

"We try to do a lot more than that," she said, adding it holds conferences, meetings and the facility can be rented out for parties.

Schaub and Alders are also trying to get the word out to local musicians and artists that it can be used as a performing venue.

For instance, the theatre recently partnered with the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre in Yellowknife to host a violin performance.

"It was a really great show," said Alders.

Schaub said the theatre is looking at perhaps devoting one evening a month to showcasing performers.

As for fresh ideas for the movies, Alders said they have recently started a date night on Mondays.

When asked whether ushers are told to be on higher alert than usual to watch for all the potential smooching, Schaub smiled.

"Nobody's had any problems with that," she laughed. "Thank God."