With teenage years come several uncomfortable, yet inevitable, happenings: body odor, impudent attitudes and the realization that perhaps the opposite sex really isn’t so bad after all.
With the excitement of leaving single digits is in the dust, the decade mile marker is fading away, and a new era is approaching for Ragtag Cinema.
Ragtag will hold its annual birthday party Thursday to celebrate its new-found teenager-hood. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m., when members of the community can shuffle in, enjoy free cupcakes from Uprise Bakery and possibly a cold one from Schlafly Beer and Golden Barrel Wine.
“It’s an opportunity to thank the people that show support to us,” Executive Director Tracy Lane said.
After the reception, which will also includes party games, guests are invited to a watch a free “teen angst” film. Although no one from Ragtag will budge when it comes to revealing the film title until the actual event, they claim it is “a classic indie film.”
“Since we are turning 13, we chose a film that had to do with being a teenager,” Lane said.
The event also marks the long lasting relationship between Ragtag and Uprise Bakery, which has provided the cinema’s concessions for several years. Although dynamics have changed, the two have stuck together through Ragtag’s growing process.
“Originally we were two arms of one organization,” Lane said. “When Ragtag first began, it wasn’t non-profit, but for retail business. It was owned by same owner of Uprise, and there was collaboration. Now we are two organizations that share a space, and there’s a very family-like spirit between the two.”
Receiving an IRS tax exemption, Ragtag turned into a non-profit organization in 2004. This was also the same year it created the True/False Film festival. The audience continues to grow with each year, and the festival served as a massive booster in the theater outgrowing its modest North Tenth Street location.
After raising $250,000, Ragtag moved to its current location on Hitt Street in 2008, and with a bigger location came bigger dreams.
With the teenage years lurking just around the corner, Ragtag is focusing on what most 13-year-olds aren’t: education.
“Our immediate plans would be continuing the reel with educational outlets in the community,” Lane said. “We do a great deal of work with educating the community with film and we want to continue to develop that.”
Congratulations, Ragtag. You will soon be allowed to view PG-13 movies without parental supervision!
