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Dear Laemmle Fans,

Our society has seen plenty of turmoil and confusion in the first half of 2020, so I’ll keep my holiday message short and sweet this time: Happy 4th of July, America. There won’t be any fireworks to catch our attention and fascinate us this year, but maybe a movie will do the trick instead.

New releases this week include bio-docs on U.S. Congressional Representative John Lewis, popular photographer Elliott Erwitt, and Hong Kong activist Denise Ho. There’s also an Israeli drama, a collection of animated shorts, and a deep dive into the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for July 3 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

                           

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

As coronavirus case loads around the country and here in Los Angeles rise, I’ve been reminding myself of the good news as well: baseball is back, the Supreme Court has extended discrimination protection to transgender employees, and local bicycle sales are booming. And while Laemmle Theatres still can’t offer an official timeline, we’ve begun to prepare for reopening once allowed to do so by county authorities.

In the meantime, we continue to bring you the best in independent cinema, starting with revealing new documentaries about two influential 20th century musicians: jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald, and vocalist Shannon Hoon (of Blind Melon). There’s also several new international releases, including award-winning dramas from South Korea, Germany, Italy, and Britain.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for June 26 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

                                    

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

We’re proud to present a a diverse lineup of films this week on Laemmle Virtual Cinema, beginning with the timely and critically acclaimed Miss Juneteenth from director Channing Godfrey Peoples, as well as (In)Visible Portraits, a historical analysis of the female experience in Black America. There’s also bio-documentaries about an Israeli underwater photographer, Johnny Cash’s first wife, and a long distance runner from Sudan.

For those who missed it last week, we will continue to offer the immensely popular Bill Nighy comedy Sometimes Always Never, already a top performer in our virtual program. I’d also like to thank everyone who participated in our recent online survey about reopening. Your feedback meaningfully informs our strategies and priorities as we move forwards together.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for June 19 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

    

    

    

            

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

As you may have seen in the news, the state of California will be allowing cinemas to reopen. We are starting to plan for the reopening of several venues, but to be clear, we will not be open this weekend.

Please continue to monitor these emails for timeline updates, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. You can also help us by filling out this anonymous online survey about the issues most important to you, as you consider whether or not to return to public moviegoing.

In the meantime, we continue our virtual programming this week with Bill Nighy’s Sometimes Always Never, a Scrabble-themed drama that’s sure to impress and entertain. There’s also the most recent film from prolific Israeli filmmaker Boaz Yakin, an animated festival-favorite from Europe, and newly released documentaries on existentialism and aging, as well as growing up indigenous in Australia.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for June 12 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

                        

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

I’m truly overwhelmed by the positive responses I’ve seen in our community to the BLM protests. The awakening it seems to have inspired in the previously silent American majority is a reminder of our collective strength. And with the arrival of June and LGBTQ Pride Month, I’m also reminded of another landmark occasion in the history of civil rights progress in America: the Stonewall Riots of 1969.

To honor the moment, we’re offering a diverse selection of new virtual theatrical releases, including a modern twist on the parenting drama, a closer look at religious intolerance to homosexuality, and an amusing documentary about the cult following behind the erotic drama Showgirls. There’s also three newly remastered versions of pioneering queer films that helped pave the way for greater inclusiveness and representation in today’s cinema (available as a combined rental beginning Friday 6/12).

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for June 9 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

   

           

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

The national attention has shifted rapidly from the Coronavirus pandemic, to the ongoing protests in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. For our company statement, please see our most recent blog post.

On the bright side, afternoon curfew means there’s plenty of time to catch up on new Laemmle Virtual Cinema releases, beginning with Willem Dafoe in Tommaso, from Abel Ferrara. There’s also Elisabeth Moss as the titular horror novelist in Shirley, as well as three new foreign language dramas. Lastly, we have American indie The Aerialist, along with art documentary Into Her Own.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for June 5 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.

                                    

Dear Laemmle Fans,

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

Why do we need to say that? Isn’t it clear to everyone that this is an accepted truth?

Sadly, the answer is no. If you truly look at our country today (never mind its history), it’s clear that American society does not value, love, or protect black lives to the same extent it does others. This is not a charge leveled at any one individual, institution, or even system. Rather it is something that we need to wrestle with as a whole nation.

There are those who say that we must have “law and order” before we can address the issue of systemic racism. First, I would argue that “law” and “order” are not one and the same. For too many, “order” represents a maintenance of the status quo. But given the historic and endemic inequities in our society, the last thing we should be aiming for is a maintenance of the current order.

Change is needed. And it is needed now!

As for the “law”, it should be clear that the “rule of law” is only applicable when justice is applied fairly and equally, not only by the police, but also by prosecutors, judges, and juries. When the law is enforced in a discriminatory manner, we should not be surprised when those who most disproportionately feel the brunt of that discrimination lose respect for the institutions that are charged with enforcing that law.

All should be afforded equal protection under the law, regardless of the color of their skin.

Justice must be blind. If it is not, it loses credibility, and that should be unacceptable to us all. If we truly wish to see love and justice flow like a mighty stream, then we must root out all discriminatory practices, by exploring meaningful ways to address the current situation, and to redress past wrongs.

Freedom of expression is a core American value. Here at Laemmle Theatres, we are a company that believes in the right to raise our voices in collective assembly and protest. That should be clear from the films that we play, films which help us learn more about how others live, love, and think. These stories help us see that there is more which unites us, than divides us, and we are proud to exhibit them.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t do more.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a look at ways to further ensure that our programming choices remain diverse, democratic, and societally impactful. We’ll also be initiating conversations with local community leaders about how we can best engage underserved audiences, and help expose underrepresented populations to the liberating and creative joys of arthouse moviegoing and filmmaking.

While trying to fall asleep the other night, I watched John Ford’s classic western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The film is perhaps most famous for the memorable line, “when the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” It’s a great quote, but it reminds me that as much as we all want to believe in the goodness of our country, it’s time that we reassess some of the things that we take as fact.

There is a real danger to us all “when the legend becomes fact.”

Instead, we need to remove our blinders, check our privilege, and identify the hidden prejudices that we practice. Only then can we truly begin to understand what it feels like to stand in the shoes of those who have been victimized by racial discrimination. This reckoning is the first step in a long process that will, hopefully, lift our communities and inspire the collective humanity within us all.

I’m going to try to do that.

And I hope you’ll all join me in a sincere effort to make our country the “more perfect union” that our founders envisioned.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

Cinemas around the country are beginning to re-open, and although we’re still at least a few weeks away from that here in Los Angeles, it’s been fascinating to see the ingenious solutions being put forth to address the various public safety concerns.

In the meantime, we’re offering virtual access to Algerian drama Papicha, alongside re-releases of forgotten masterpieces The Grey Fox and Mysteries of Lisbon. There’s also several new bio-docs available, including profiles of Nelson Mandela, Fernando Botero, and George Plimpton.

I’d also like to thank everyone who participated in our recent audience feedback survey, which will remain open throughout next week. We hear your suggestions, and are actively looking for ways to improve the virtual experience until we can reopen (and maybe even after).

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Laemmle Virtual Cinema
New Releases for May 29 • Click posters for “Watch Now” instructions.