To: All media for immediate release
Re: The Bijou's Leap of Faith Party
From: The Bijou Film Center
On Mar. 3, 2016, the Bijou Film Center's first membership drive was launched. Founding memberships cost $50 each. For our Leap of Faith campaign the goal is to have 360 “originals” by Apr. 16, 2016. On that Saturday The Bijou's “Leap of Faith Party” at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery will take place between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Live music and short films will be presented.
Three bands will perform live at the party on Hardywood's stage: Grass Panther; Big Boss Combo; The Green Hearts. For kids of all ages, Shane Brown will screen 8mm and 16mm short films – old comedies and cartoons – in the adjoining lobby area. The emcee will be Chuck Wrenn. DJ Carlito will be serving up tunes between acts. Admission will be free of charge.
The Bijou's Mission: The ultimate goal is to establish the Bijou Film Center in Richmond, Virginia. Its centerpiece will be a small independent cinema. That art house theater will strive to present the best of first-run independent and imported films available. They will be sandwiched between short runs of selected classics. There will also be a small adjoining café/coffeehouse. Beyond the exhibition of our gourmet film fare, we hope to be a friend to those interested in the preserving of old films and the making of new films.
Background: For more information pertaining to the Bijou Film Center please go to The Bijou's website. The Bijou's Facebook page and its Bijou Backlight blogzine are also chock-full of posts and comments.
About The Bijou's Name: Jake Wells, a former baseball player/manager for the Richmond Bluebirds, opened his original Bijou at 714 E. Broad St. in 1899. His second Bijou opened in the next block east on Broad in 1905, it was located where the Library of Virginia is now. Writing for the Richmond News Leader in 1952, George W. Rogers credited Wells with having been the “father of Richmond movie houses.”
Registration: Online membership is available at Eventbrite. Checks can be mailed to the Bijou Film Center, PO Box 4994, Richmond, VA, 23220. Membership registration will also be easy to do at the Leap of Faith Party.
