In a way, Warren Etheredge owes his desire to transform cinema-goers into cineastes to actor Kirsten Dunst. It was while leaving Pacific Place after one of her films that he overheard a man and woman talking in the elevator. “He asked her what she thought,” remembers Etheredge, “and she said, ‘About what?’” And, just as clearly as the elevator dinged open, the curtain of his mind pulled back to present him an idea: that smarter audiences make better movies.
And thus, seven years ago, the Warren Report was hatched, Etheredge’s brainchild to get people off of the couch and into a theater, gallery or other venue to watch and talk about movies. For a $20 annual fee, members can attend some 200 screenings in the area by reserving a seat online. Many of the events include post-film discussions, sometimes with the actors or director. As part of the Warren Report, Etheredge, a Manhattan transfer, started Act Now!, a monthly documentary series addressing the planet’s big issues – education reform, sweatshop labor – with a forum after each doc to discuss solutions.
Says Etheredge: “I wanted to inspire people to contemplate the life that passes before their eyes.”
To learn about the Warren Report, or the Act Now! series, check out www.thewarrenreport.com.