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Movie W relocation FAQ

1. Why did the University support Movie W for 36 years?
   Movie W was started in 1975 within the Studium Generale.One of the goals of the Studium Generale is the cultural development of students and employees of the WUR.
   In 1983, Movie W became a separate foundation to facilitate the rental affairs and finances around showing the movies. Besides Movie W, the Studium Generale organised activities like the Jazz Foundation and the theatre room 't Hemeltje were organized by the SG. Nowadays the very successful Roomservice event with poetry, theatre, dance and music is still organised by the Studium Generale.
   Movie W's contribution to the Studium Generale has always been judged positively by the Studium Generale Commission.. This commission evaluates the content of the Studium Generale program. In the future, Movie W wants to continuate their contribution to the Studium Generale Program. If WUR values the cultural development of students and employees, it is reasonable to support a restart of Movie W.
2. Why is Wageningen UR terminating the support for Movie W?
   The letter in which WUR announced they would terminate their support for Movie W, no reasons were given on which this termination was based. The immediate cause seems to be the relocation from the board center to the campus " The Born". Wageningen UR wants to clear the entire Duivendaal terrain. The rumour is the board does not consider Movie W a basic activity of the WUR. Still, in the above mentioned letter the board indicates they are willing to talk about an appropriate, yet sole contribution for a relocation of Movie W.
3. Why does Movie W wants to go to 't Venster and considers the Heerenstraattheater as less appropriate?
   From March 2011 on, Movie W has looked intensively for alternative housing. This resulted in two serious options; 't Venster and the Heerenstraattheater. With both organisations we have discussed intensively and in a good atmosphere. In the end, we had to choose as we could only negotiate seriously with one party.
   
   Movie W decided for 't Venster because:

   • We think the identity of Movie W will be best preserved at 't Venster, because it will remain clear for the public we are an independent arthouse cinema.
   • We can use the auditorium the entire night. This increases the options for extra screenings or special evening lectures or Q&A. Moreover, we can use the room for extra activities together with Studium Generale, the Boerengroep, Otherwise and RUW.
   • 't Venster is prepared to hire out the room for ten years. This period is essential for us, as it marks the transition from filmreel to digitized movies. The requirements of this transition, necessitate Movie W to have a place that is available for at least 10 years.
   • We hope to reach a new audience through 't Venster.

   If we would go to the Heerenstraattheater we would get one screening a night only. Of course we would have to pay rent in both cases. Collaboration with the Heerenstraattheater did not seem cheaper than collaboration with 't Venster.
4. Why does Movie W need a lot of money to move?
   At this very moment Movie W does not pay rent to the Wageningen UR. For this reason we can keep our prices low and while showing a wide range of films. A wide range of movies is more expensive than showing one movie during a longer period. At any of the new locations we have to pay rent. We have to earn this rent by ourself. Movie W wants to do this by raising our ticket prize, and finding sponsors. For this a transition period is needed.
   Also we need to make a new theatre room, which costs a lot of money:

   • Moving the grandstand with chairs is a lot of work and needs technical adjustment.
   • The equipment we use is high-tech and vulnerable and has to be moved by professionals.
   • We need a projection room which suffices all the securities regulations. Sound, ventilation, tremor and fire safety have to be optimal.
   • We need a new screen
   • In 2012 all cinemas will transfer to digital systems, and film reels will no longer be available for new movies. This means Movie W has buy a digital projector. This development happens besides the relocation, but costs money nevertheless.

   Relocation and refurnishing of the auditorium will cost around 60.000 euro. This is without the cost of 14.000 for a new digital projector.
5. Why Movie W asked the Wur board 200 k, and shortly after less then 100 k?
   Movie W made two business plans, both for a period of ten years. The first one was not approved by the board. This was announced in a letter from the board October 24, 2011. In the letter the board stated the total amount could not only be paid by Wageningen UR. A second argument was the plan did not show how Movie W could go on independently with less financial support within a reasonable time.
   According to Wageningen UR we asked too much money, and it was not clear after which period we could continue without support from Wageningen UR.
   For this reason, we have radically changed the budget, and increased the profits from ticket sale, catering and sponsors. We have arranged a lower renting prize at 't Venster, and resulted in a significant reduction compared to the previous budget. Beside that we lowered the depreciation of our inventory with 20 k over 10 years. This is possible because in principle we expect replacements to occur over longer periods, and we hope to find different funds in the future. According to this new plan we would be financially independent after 5 years.
   Unfortunately the WUR board also disapproved our second plan.
6. Why Arthouse cinemas always need financial support, and how are they financed outside Wageningen?
   Arthouse cinema are cultural organisations that screen "vulnerable" movies. Vulnerable means movies with a special artistic or historic value. These movies generate less money compared to commercial movies. This means subsidy is needed to keep the cinema going. In other cities, the city councils support those cinemas financially. We talked with the city council several times, but they told us they have no money for Movie W.
7. How are the contacts between Wageningen UR and Movie W, since Wageningen UR has announced Movie W has to leave?
   On the 1st of March 2011, the executive board of the Wageningen UR informes us they will terminate providing accommodation for Movie W. Nevertheless, the board is willing to discuss 'an appropriate contribution in the new accommodation'. The contribution will be non-structural. While having meetings with a representative of the board, Movie W is looking for alternative accommodation. We choose for 't Venster.
   
   In September 2011, the board of Movie W writes a business plan for a restart. This plan covers the relocation, and the following 10 years. For this, Movie W asks a non-structural contribution of slightly more than 200.000 euros from the Wageningen UR. Subsidies are asked from the 'Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds', the 'VSB-fonds', the 'Filmfonds' and the Rabobank. This business plan is judged to be 'very safe' by an external expert.
   
   On October 24, 2011, we receive a letter from the board in which the plan is rejected. In the letter the following arguments are given:

   • The 'the whole contribution asked for' 'cannot be supported by Wageningen UR alone' The risk should be carried 'by several partners'.
   • The plan does not show that Movie W 'can continue with a decreased financial support, within a reasonable period'

   
   Needless to say, the board of Movie W is unpleasantly surprised by this response. After all, in the plan the risk is shared between several parties, that is the Wageningen UR, the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, the VSB-fonds, the Filmfonds and the Rabobank. Also it is the first time that in the conversations this demand is given. Unfortunately, the municipality cannot contribute, as had become clear in a meeting that Movie W has had with alderman Hoefsloot, in August 2011.
   Also Movie W is asking too much money, as we have understood from a reaction by the spokesperson of the board in the Resource.
   The second reason is that according to the Executive Board the plan does not show that Movie W 'can continue with a decreased financial support, within a reasonable period'. According to us, this is based on a misunderstanding. Of course we have no intentions to knock at the Wageningen UR's door after these ten years.
   
   Second plan
   
   Based on this reaction, we decide to adjust our business plan. We considerably lower the contribution asked from the Wageningen UR en we make sure that now the plan shows we can continue without financial support from the Wageningen UR, within a reasonable period. We do this by cutting drastically in the budget, and by raising the income from ticket sales and external funding. Further, we accomplish a lower rent at 't Venster. According to the new plan we will be independent from external contribution after five years. For this we need a one-time contribution of about 95.000 euros from the Wageningen UR.
   Even this second plan is rejected by the Executive Board, in a letter dated November 16, 2011. The Executive Board doubts the financial attainability of the plan, because:
   

   • There is no clarity yet on the contributions we have asked for by the funding organisations.
   • Considering the exploitation 'there are uncertainties'.
   • We take 'a risk by prolonging the period for depriciation of the equipment.
   • Further the board states the financial contribution is 'still one-sided' from Wageningen UR.

   
   The letter does not mention whether we ask too much money. However, in a reaction by the spokesperson from the Executive Board in the university paper it is clear we do ask too much.
   
   Movie W thinks that with this response, the Board of the Wageningen UR misses the fact that:
   

   • Although it is still unclear if we manage to get the total funding we applied for, we expect to have more clarity before the end of the year. We have one granted application already from the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds
   • Movie W is forced by the decision of the board to become an entrepreneur, which means taking more financial risk and unclear future prospects. The type of uncertainties business plans normally consider, especially on the long term.
   • The investment for Wageninge UR is shared between different parties and is no longer expected solely form the WUR. It was already clear the city council cannot contribute. 't Venster clearly commits to the plan by hiring us the space for ten years and accepting a lower rent.

   
   Meanwhile the Board of the Wageningen UR has said they will fund up to a maximum of 50.000 euro for the restart, but only if Movie W presents a solid plan the end of Februari. That's why we're looking for sponsoring, als o from our audience. Your support is vital for the continuation of Movie W!
   

Movie W in the press

This year a lot has been written in the press on Movie W. Here you can find an overview of articles in the Resource of the WUR
Read more...