It’s happening! The documentary “Secret Mall Apartment” will premiere on March 21st, here in Providence, at the Showcase Cinema in the Mall! I was lucky enough to catch a sneak preview at the library downtown last June. That event was hosted by artist Michael Townsend and director Jeremy Workman, in a theater full of hometown friends, family, and the original “Mall Eight.” By that time, the film had been a hit at the SXSW Festival, coming away with $10 million and actor/director Jesse Eisenberg attached to the project, so everyone was in a great mood.
And everyone agreed that the movie should have its official premiere in the mall cinema. One problem, Townsend had been banned from ever entering the mall ever again. At that time, The Dose made a plea to mall officials to do the right thing and host the premiere.
It’s not as if the movie would inspire copycats — who would ever try this again? People will respond well if the owners demonstrate a sense of humor about the whole thing. I’m sure it was hell for management and the security crew at the time — imagine that phone call — but that was a long time ago, and it looks like two of the guards have participated in the film.
I like to think we helped make this happen. One correction: It appears from IMDb that the guards were played by actors. At any rate, this is a win/win for all involved. IndieWire spoke with Eisenberg and Workman in anticipation of the theatrical release:
“Secret Mall Apartment” tells the story of eight Rhode Island artists who created a secret apartment inside the busy Providence Place Mall in 2003. The group lived there for four years and filmed (almost) everything along the way.
As the official synopsis teases, the secret apartment became a “personal expression of defiance against local gentrification, a boundary-pushing work of public/private art, a clubhouse in which large-scale charitable art projects were planned, and, finally, a 750 square-foot ‘F you’ to The Man.”
And you don’t have to be from Providence to enjoy this movie. It has won nine Grand Jury Awards or Audience Awards during its festival run.
“Secret Mall Apartment” is first opening on March 21 at the Providence Place Mall, where the story takes place. The film will premiere March 28 at the IFC Center, April 2 at the Drafthouse LA, and will also have a national rollout.
The film runs 91 minutes; Showcase is running it five times a day. Official trailer.
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Eisenberg and Workman.
Somewhere over there. In their interview with Collider, Eisenberg and Workman indicated that it was located below the food court.