Key to the mission of the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation is the idea that we are a creative and educational resource; "to entertain, educate and build community - around film." In addition to being one of the nation's most successful independent art house cinemas, the theater also hosts many community outreach programs, from special screenings of current films for new parents and babies to filmmaking workshops for teens, screenwriting salons, and senior citizen matinees.
A.I. New England School of Art
Film appreciation classes are taught year round in association with The New England School of Art whose programs prepare students for exciting careers in the media, arts and design fields. They learn in a hands-on environment from faculty with professional experience.
In addition, the students and faculty curate The NAKED EYE STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL for three nights of exclusively student work shown on The Coolidge Corner Theatre screens. The Festival's mission is to celebrate and expose the quality and range of work in our colleges and universities to the Boston area and is affiliated with the Provincetown Film Festival and the Independent Film Festival of Boston.
Balagan
A long-established monthly series, created and curated by Alla Kovgan and Jeff Silva, showcasing an impressive range of experimental film and video made by local and international filmmakers. The series often includes post-screening discussion. Frommer's travel guide to Boston lists it as one of the best reasons to visit Boston.
Teen Cinematheque
In the Summer of 2004, the Coolidge Corner Theatre launched an exciting new pilot program designed especially for teens. Monday through Thursday for three weeks, two programs were presented: an open-to-all series of film screenings featuring films that focused on issues and characters relevant to young people, and a hands-on filmmaking seminar for those with dreams of making their own films and exploring more about the history of cinema.
The film series, Teens on Screen featured a different theme each week. Following each film, panels of teens, educators, parents, and film critics led lively and engaged discussions. The hands-on filmmaking seminar was designed to deepen young people's understanding and appreciation of cinema - on the screen and behind the scenes. Following the morning screening, students took part in hands-on training in digital video production, using Apple i-Movie and Final Cut Pro. Together they planned, shot and edited short
videos on teen life.
Off The Couch Co-presented by the Boston Psychoanalytical Society.
Prominent psychoanalysts lead invigorating monthly discussions after Coolidge feature films. The Off the Couch series encourages active interaction about the psychological aspects that motivate plot, character, and even the directors of today's films. Recent films presented in this series include: Black Book, Lives of Others, and Notes on a Scandal.
Science on Screen Co-presented by Museum of Science, Boston and New Scientist Magazine
We believe that an appreciation of science is essential to an understanding of science, and both are crucial to building the next generation of researchers, inventors, and innovators. Science on Screen is a monthly series showcasing notable figures in science that introduce a feature film or documentary, which touches on a particular scientific or medical field, and talk about some related aspect of his or her work. These guest speakers provide specialized insights into the film, and engage in discussion with the audience. Some film/speaker pairings in the series:
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Daniel Schacter
Alphaville - Sheila Jasanoff
Richard Feynman: No Ordinary Genius - Stephan Wolfram
Forbidden Planet - Rodney Brooks
A Clockwork Orange - Marc Hauser
Screenwriter's Salon Co-presented by Central Productions and Grub Street Writers
An informal reading series designed to help screenwriters in the process of crafting a great screenplay by offering a forum to bring the page to life through actors and an engaging workshop discussion with the audience.
The Salon has brought actors from Boston Casting and Alarm Clock Theatre to perform a staged reading of scenes from Grub Street's fall and winter term screenwriting classes. Following the reading, there is an audience Q & A discussion with the students and instructor on how the scripts evolved and where they're going.
Box Office Babies Co-presented by WarmLines Parent Resources
A bi-weekly series for parents and babies. New parents and their infants are invited to the Coolidge for special baby-friendly screenings of selected current features on the giant screen. There's no worry of babies disturbing other patrons and there is plenty of room to stretch out, park the strollers, and move about the room doing the all-important baby dance. Changing tables are provided in the restrooms at the rear of the theater. WarmLines parenting educators offer monthly post-screening information on issues of child development and answer related questions. Discounted admission.
Senior Matinees Co-presented by Jewish Family & Children's Service
The price of movie tickets continues to rise and the Coolidge recognizes the value of a dollar, particularly to the senior community. That's why each Wednesday the doors open early and any film screening up until 4:00 pm is offered to seniors (62 and up) for only $3.00. Additionally, anyone with a Senior Member Coolidge Corner Card, gets a free small popcorn at the concession stand! Representatives from JF&CS will be on hand after selected screenings to offer educational presentations to seniors.
Divas in the Dark Co-presented by Boston Lyric Opera
A bi-monthly series of Opera-based films shown on the silver screen, preceded by live aria performance and/or introduction by professional opera educators. Complimentary light refreshments provided. All shows open to the public, with free admission to students with and seniors.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Film Club
A monthly film club spotlighting contemporary features and documentaries with a special focus on the needs of those with hearing disabilities. All films are shown on DVD format in the 45-seat Screening Room, which is equipped to b compatible with telecoil (T-coil) hearing aids. Headphones that are linked to the T-Coil loop are also available for those without T-coil hearing aids. In addition, films are shown with subtitles
Film Clubs In The Minimax
By offering highly affordable rental rates, and being available to consult on programming, the Coolidge encourages patrons to form their own cinema society and meet in our most intimate venue, the 18-seat MiniMax, to discuss current Coolidge features and documentaries or their own films.
Classroom Trips
The Coolidge staff can set up a special daytime screening of current feature films for school groups Monday - Friday. The reduced admission price is $5 per student, and free to teachers. Area schools have responded very favorably to this program, using selected screenings, such as Paper Clips, Boys from Baraka, and Hotel Rwanda to tie in with their current curriculum.
Brookline Booksmith Readings
Hour-long events presenting touring authors who read excerpts from their latest books, offering the audience an opportunity to ask questions.
A sample includes:
Walter Isaacson - Einstein: His Life and Universe
Howard Zinn - A Young People's History of the United States
Michael Ondaatje - Divisadero
Works-in-Progress Filmmaker Screenings
Local filmmakers have access to our 45-seat Screening Room and smaller MiniMax theater to invite peers, friends, and family to view their new work and offer feedback.