DeadCenter Film moving headquarters to historic Paramount building
DeadCenter Film is moving its headquarters to the historic Paramount building on Film Row, a move that will allow the nonprofit organization to expand into three offices, launch a Virtual Cinema and program film screenings in The Paramount screening room.
A grand opening celebration is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at 701 W Sheridan Ave., Suite 110, in downtown Oklahoma City.
“We are thrilled to expand our business and still remain on Film Row,” deadCenter Executive Director Lance McDaniel said in a statement. “Our in-house Virtual Cinema and year-round film screenings will breathe new life into this gorgeous, historic building.”
DeadCenter Film is an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit that leads free film classes to 3,000 high school and technology students each fall, provides year-round screenings and educational opportunities for working professionals, and hosts Oklahoma’s largest film festival each June.
To celebrate the
announcement, McDaniel said deadCenter is offering all-access passes to the 2019 festival for $100 all week. The 2019 deadCenter Film Festival is set for June 6-9. To get more information or buy passes, go to dcff2019.eventive. org/welcome.
The 2018 deadCenter Film Festival celebrated the event’s 18th year, with attendance growing 10 percent to 33,000 people, representing 28 states and four foreign countries. Overall, 22 screenings sold out, including all Oklahoma-made feature films and shorts programs.
Also, deadCenter launched a new technology conference this year called techCenter at 21c Museum Hotel that attracted an additional 2,000 people in 2018. The event featured virtual reality, augmented reality and drone exhibits from several local companies and a Virtual Cinema concept that highlighted virtual reality films from around the world. The new Virtual Cinema at The Paramount will include VR films that will be available for visitors and school groups year-round, according to a news release.
The Paramount on Film Row traces its history to 1907, when major studios set up film exchanges in cities across America. Movie theater owners from across the region would travel to Oklahoma City to view films, buy product and supplies for their theaters.
Oklahoma City is the only city that has preserved their film exchange buildings, with the cinema inside The Paramount existing as the only remaining screening room.
For more information on deadCenter, go to www.deadcenterfilm.org.