Date: 9/28/23 —-- Meeting attendees: John Harris & Eli Cannell

We went over our feelings about the last film screening, and how it went. Feedback from the audience included:

1. The room is stuffy and moldy. This needs to be mitigated next time.
2. For the pre-movie introduction, the stage lights need to be turned on.
3. The film times were confusing to people (5:30 ticket counter open, 6pm door opens, 6:30 movie start). This needs to be simplified.
4. Also, the film time needs to be late enough that people can get there, and early enough that it is done. Our next film is shorter (approx. 50 min), so we decided to keep 6:30pm.
5. The back 3 rows are on the same platform, so it’s hard for people to see the screen and the subtitles. (They needed to sit on the back of the chairs)
6. There is a need for pre-sales, especially for large groups. The details need to be figured out. Eli will look into Eventbrite for foreigners and E-Sewa (or similar) for Nepalis. There will be a website commission for these sales, and the door sales need to be the same or higher than the total cost for pre-sales. We decided to increase the door sales to 350 NPR, and keep student ticket at 100 NPR. We will likely only list regular admission tickets online, and people would need to request student tickets (door sales only).
7. John suggested we have a preview for the next film (like a trailer) before the movie starts.

Eli will talk to Kanchan (Manager of ROKPA) with some requests:
1. Let’s move to ticket commission instead of flat rate (30% of each ticket).
2. The room needs to be cleaned (aired out, the windows need to be cleaned out, mold removed and painted over).
3. The projector needs to be fixed for next showing.
4. The lights need to be labeled so we can easily turn on and off the right lights.
5. We will give tickets to ROKPA to sell more in advanced.

We decided that our baseline ticket breakdown should be 30% ROKPA commission, 30% goes to film producers if possible and 40% to cover operational expenses for current and future events.

Our next will be the documentary Helambu, which is 50 minutes long. Eli will meet the film director as soon as possible (likely Monday, Oct 3rd). The executive producer will be available for a Q&A afterwards. Peter Schmieding and possibly his daughter (who is in film) will be present. Based on his schedule, RYI schedule and our schedules, the likely date for this is Friday, Nov 3rd or Saturday, Nov 4th. We should avoid the Nepali holiday and Reading week, and the 13th of October is too soon. Also, Peter is leaving Nepal on Nov 9th.

In order to do the Q&A, we will need to get some better sound equipment. The microphone and speakers are not good for live audio. We were thinking a short 20 minute discussion (hosted by John, Yueeue or Eli), then an open Q&A format with audience questions. This would probably require two microphones (lapel mics or handheld mics). (Kat recently got quoted 6,000NPR for the complete sound system for the talent show, so we have the money for this). We could possibly borrow equipment from RYI for this. Can Yueeie ask about this?

We will likely have 2 more films before the end of the year (so a 4 total like was planned), so that would need to be scheduled into November and December. Eli will discuss the possibility of showing the short films from the filmmakers that we met at the last showing (we will get the movies to see if they are any good). Possibly show 3 of them, and have a discussion afterwards.

Also, we discussed having some other smaller events. For example, our main paid event is the KTM Underground Film Club, and we can have KTM Underground Film Club Presents events like a Student Showcase, Dharma Film Screening or Critically Acclaimed Film Screening (Film Vault…). These can use our additional funds and rent ROKPA or we can show for free at a smaller venue (someone’s home, etc).