Digital Gym CINEMA
Location: 100 Market Street, 2nd Floor, San Diego.
Phone number: (619) 230-1938
Website: digitalgym.org
Social media:
facebook.com/digitalgymsandiego
One way to escape for a few hours from the real world is immersing yourself in a movie.
No matter the genre you choose, you can get wrapped up in a film and forget about everything else going on around you. Better yet, having the opportunity to learn what goes into making a film can be a real learning experience.
San Diego Downtown & Uptown News recently caught up with Ethan van Thillo, executive director and founder of Media Arts Center San Diego, for an email Q&A.
DTN/UTN: How did the business get started and what has been its main goal or goals?
van Thillo: Our one-of-a-kind arthouse cinema, Digital Gym CINEMA, initially started over 12 years ago in North Park, but then moved to Downtown San Diego a little over 2 ½ years ago. Fortunately, when UCSD Extension was planning to build their new space here at UCSD Park & Market, they invited our non-profit, Media Arts Center San Diego, to house our movie theater here and present independent films, classics, documentaries, and foreign films seven days a week, all year round. In addition to screening movies daily, we also have filmmaking workshops for 6-year-olds on up. Our movie theater screens close to 25+ movies per month with the goal of bringing people together to see movies on the big screen with great sound/projection; and hopefully encourage those in Downtown to meet each other, be entertained, maybe discuss the topics/themes in the movies; and celebrate our shared humanity.
DTN/UTN: Getting one’s message out there is important. How does Media Arts Center San Diego work to get the message out from those most needing to be heard in our society?
van Thillo:
Since we started the San Diego Latino Film Festival 32 years ago, our non-profit has been fortunate to have so many wonderful partners in the community. The key to sustainability and getting our message out into the world is our daily efforts to partner and co-host screenings with our community-based organizations such as the San Diego Italian Film Festival, San Diego Asian Film Festival, Film Geeks San Diego, Consulado General De México, UCSD Park & Market, Medium Photo, San Diego German Film Festival, San Diego Underground Film Festival, San Diego Film Week, Magnolias, FilmOut San Diego, San Diego Humane Society and countless other groups.
DTN/UTN: What does MACSD do to get younger people involved in making sure youth have a voice in San Diego?
van Thillo: MACSD started engaging youth 32 years ago with our free Tu Cine! Student Outreach Screenings at our annual San Diego Latino Film Festival. Each year, over 1,000+ elementary to high school students attend free movies and meet participating filmmakers. Additionally, about 23 years ago we started our hands-on filmmaker workshops for youth. We host filmmaking camps throughout the year during fall, winter, spring & summer school breaks. Plus, we have Saturday Teen Producers Project workshops here at UCSD Park & Market, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; as well as do in-school and out-of-school workshops at the City Heights Library, Hoover High School, Roosevelt Middle School, Alba and many more sites. Finally, we also host free screenings for schools here at the Digital Gym CINEMA throughout the year; and host interns from many high schools, colleges and universities.
DTN/UTN: Film making and how people view them have changed in the last few decades, especially since COVID. Where do you see the industry going over the next decade?
van Thillo: The pandemic forever changed the way we view movies and entertainment. All of us are so used to just staying at home and watching episode after episode on one of the many streaming platforms. That said, MACSD’s Digital Gym CINEMA now acts as a very special venue where we can all gather and see movies in a communal setting; as the filmmakers intended they be seen. There’s nothing better than seeing a movie on a big screen, with great sound, eating popcorn, and hearing the cries, laughter and/or screams of others sitting around you. So, I encourage everyone reading this article to re-connect to the movie-going experience and come on into the Digital Gym CINEMA. Enjoy watching movies at Downtown’s last movie theater. Additionally, our youth media arts education programs are more important than ever. It’s crucial that we teach youth media literacy and how to critically analyze what they see in the news; and on tv, film, YouTube and other social media sites. So, despite all the new technology innovations, pandemic, and/or government turmoil, our work, mission and programs are more relevant than ever.
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