Downtown Independent — Local services in Los Angeles

I wouldn't recommend renting their theater for your next screening. The managing director (Alex) and staff are very rude, insensitive, and extremely unprofessional. The Downtown Independent decided to disrupt our partnership and cancel the event less than a month before we were suppose to screen. There reason which was cited as "arriving at the theater unannounced, with no appointment" which wasn't the case. My team had a scheduled meeting to go over logistics and planning for the event on Dec 9th. We were already downtown and I thought it would be a good idea to stop by the location so everyone could familiarize themselves with the venue.

We did not know there was an event going on, but seeing as how the venue is a public theater and the event was also public (film festival), I figured an impromptu visit would be okay. The moment we walked in the managing director greeted us with a smug look and a quick comment that we could stay in the lobby. She then made certain comments to her staff, which prompted them to give us unwarranted looks as though we were criminals.

My team and I had a brief talk in the lobby. I then spoke to Mike (staff member) and asked him if there was any way I could show my team inside the theater to take a quick look, and he told me no. I then went to speak to the host of the event,who told me it wouldn't be a problem. I then paid for a ticket to their festival as a courtesy for allowing me to go in.

As we're making our way inside, the staff member comes running and yelling from the concession stand, shouting that he already told me no and was going to ask me to leave. He ran over to the door of the theater and tried to close the door on my team. I let Mike know I had already spoken to the host of the event and paid for a ticket, and took my team inside the theater.

Then their staff went running and yelling up the stairs. One of the host of the event saw the whole thing unfold, and offered my team and I a seat due to Mike's erratic response. When we exited, no more than two minutes later, The managing director was speaking to one of the members of my team, and I explained to the managing director that I cleared things with the host and paid for a ticket. She then started telling me that I couldn't just come to the venue space without an appointment. I asked her if it is indeed a public space, hosting a public festival, why I couldn't buy a ticket and enter the theater like any other patron since they are making it such a big deal and she didn't have an answer.

By the end of the ordeal, we both agreed there had been a huge misunderstanding and that it was blown out of portion due to their staff and the way they handled everything. My team left the venue and continued our meeting down the street. I had every intention of sending a follow-up email to Alex the next morning, but instead received the news that my event was cancelled. After I requested the owners email "Jim" to make him aware of everything.

Again, I'm an indie filmmaker that wanted to host an event in hopes of raising awareness about other local artist and the homeless community. Sad and disappointed how this entire situation was handled due to the uncalled for behavior of the venue director and staff. Please whatever you do....

This is a really great place. When most theatres are trying to show only the biggest and most overwhelmingly high budget movies and not making any room for independent film and new ideas this place is setting a mark.

The owner is a big lover of independent film, independent music and trying to smash different things together to make for really fun events. Events like double-feature drink alongs, comedy nights and live music with visuals.

If something is on their calendar and you don't know about it. Just go! Chances are you will have a great time.

Oh and they just got BEER ON TAP!!!! If the movie isn't for you then just...

Great theatre. I only go up here to see smaller movies that are not shown in regular theatres. Definitely a great thing to be able to watch movies that aren't available in other theatres here. Their seats are comfortable and they have decent arm rests.

They also have "VibeLights" or something along those lines that provide mood lighting to the theatre. I thought it was a neat feature though the films I have seen there have not completely utilized it.

I will definitely be coming back here as long as they keep offering the show obscure or foreign films that you cannot...