 |
|
The Business of Midwifery |
 The La Leche League and Citizens for Midwifery have teamed up to raise awareness around the lovely midwifery alternative to the traditional birthing process. Along with sponsoring the 7 p.m. showing of The Business of Being Born on both Monday, January 21 and Tuesday, January 22, members have assembled expert panels to address questions an hour before the show. “Having more options for care during pregnancy and labor begins with consumers’ voices,” says Tressie Landreth, a certified nurse midwife here in Paducah. “Seeing the film and discussing questions with the panel members will allow everyone to have an informed voice about midwifery. That is a large part of the midwifery philosophy: education and informed, active decision-making by the woman and her family about choices in care.” The La Leche League meets at 6:30 p.m., the first Thursday of the month, at Heartland Worship Center. For more info, email Landreth. |
On Monday, January 21, and Tuesday, January 22, the cinema will shout Action! on its seventh birthday bash in its very hip alleyway location between the first block of Broadway and Kentucky Avenue.
At 7 p.m. both nights, the La Leche League of Western Kentucky and Citizens for Midwifery (see sidebar, right) will show The Business of Being Born, with a panel discussion beforehand at 6 p.m. The groups will donate the ticket sales back to Maiden Alley for use in birthing a new ticket purchase feature on the cinema’s Web site.
The birthday festivities continue later that week when The Great Debaters take to the screen at 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday, January 25 – the cinema’s official birthday, complete with birthday cake – and again at 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 26 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 27.
The Business of Landing Movies
Both movies are big wins for the cinema, which competes against multiplex theatres for attention from movie distributors. It’s especially challenging when it comes to first-run films.
“We’re just one little theatre and, at this point, we only show movies Thursdays through Sundays,” says Maiden Alley’s fabulous Executive Director Heather Ryan. “So we have to work really hard to get the movies we want. We even use a booking agent. Our agent represents 10 screens – so we benefit because he has strength in numbers.”
Such was the case with Oprah-backed The Great Debaters, which stars, and is directed by, Denzel Washington. (Oh la la, who doesn’t love them some sweet, sweet Denzel?) The movie is based on the true story of Wiley College professor Melvin B. Tolson, who in 1935 inspired students to form this Texas school’s first debate team. The team went on to challenge Harvard in a national championship.
While Ryan made tons of calls to try to secure the movie, it was her booking agent who delivered the good news that the cinema was granted screening rights. Ryan was ecstatic. “This never happens with big films,” she says.
The La Leche League of Western Kentucky (advocates for breastfeeding) and Citizens for Midwifery (advocates for, you guessed it, midwifery!) did all the legwork to secure The Business of Being Born, a documentary by actress and talk-show host Ricki Lake and filmmaker Abby Epstein. Disappointed by the traditional birth experience with her first child, Lake sought the help of a midwife and delivered her second child at home, in her bathtub. The movie explores the maternity care system in America.
Join Maiden Alley, Or At Least Buy Popcorn
Ticket sales account for just 60 percent of Maiden Alley’s budget. The best way to support the cinema is to join. Varying levels of membership buy varying levels of goodies. Download the PDF for details.
 |
| Maiden Alley Executive Director Heather Ryan ensures the cinema shows a mix of great movies. She welcomes suggestions and also turns to her favorite resource, The Internet Movie Database! |
And last, Ryan is always open to movie suggestions. If you come across a great movie that would make a great fit for Maiden Alley, just send an email to info@maidenalleycinema.com.
“We like to mix up our schedule with some comedy, drama, chick flicks – mainly movies that you otherwise wouldn’t get to see in Western Kentucky,” Ryan says. “We’re definitely interested in films made outside mainstream Hollywood. We want the films made by filmmakers who’ve put their heart and soul into them.”
