By MICHAEL H. SAMUELS The Tampa Tribune
Published: Aug 31, 2006
HYDE PARK - This is the scene at the end of the movie that is usually a musical montage.
Everyone walks in slow motion.
The camera lingers on faces for seconds longer than normal.
It's the scene when everything is wrapped up nice and neat right before the finale and closing credits.
If only real life were a movie.
After two years of screening quirky art films and first-run features, the sun sets on Sunrise Cinemas today, the victim of an expired lease, new management at Hyde Park Village and redevelopment plans that include condominiums.
For Tampa's indie film faithful, it means finding other places to see the esoteric features they love and no one else understands.
"To me, it's a big deal," said Diane Howe-Eberly, a movie reviewer for radio station WMNF, 88.5 FM. "I loved that place. They had concessions that had coffee. They tried a lot of different things."
That included hosting the Tampa Jewish Film Festival and the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Kathy Gardner, director of the Tampa Jewish Film Festival, said she's heartbroken about Sunrise closing.
"We loved it," she said. "It was very friendly. It's a wonderful location, but now it's time for us to go elsewhere."
The festival, March 15-24, has options to move but has not signed on with any theater yet, Gardner said.
The gay and lesbian film festival, Oct. 5-15, will split its screenings between Tampa Theatre, Channelside and BayWalk in St. Petersburg, said Kathie Michael, the festival's executive director.
Sitting in the plush chairs of the nearly empty lobby Friday, Hyde Park residents Jill and Jason Hechtman said they were disappointed at learning their first movie at Sunrise in some time might also be their last.
"It has this nice, Old World-charm," Jill Hechtman said. "It's romantic. It's mod."
Cathy Nail traveled from Clearwater to see independent movies at Sunrise. Last week, she and friend Judie Clark saw "Quinceanera," the theater's last independent film.
They loved the flick, enjoyed eating afterward at The Wine Exchange next doorand chatting at one of the metal tables outside the theater.
"We're sad," Nail said. "It's smaller. It's not in the mall. There are not kids running around everywhere."
To mark its closing, the theater is holding a party today for customers. All concession items, including beer and wine, will be $1, and loyalty card members can see any movie for $5.50.
"Tampa has been a very generous city to us," said Joel Thom, Sunrise's marketing and advertising director. "They have supported us wonderfully."
Sunrise, sunset.
