Jim Healy has been paid to watch movies his whole life. His first job was at a movie theater. Today, as the director of programming at the UW Cinematheque, he works to bring the international world of film culture to UW students and the greater Madison community. He calls it a dream come true.
“I like getting paid to watch movies. That has always been the lifelong goal,” he says.
In his role with the UW Cinematheque, a collection of UW-Madison academic departments and student film groups dedicated to showcasing the best in international cinema history and fine films which would otherwise never reach Madison screens, Healy curates a film schedule with varied cultures and formats— including DCP (Digital Cinema Package), 35mm and 16mm, both on reel-to-reel projection systems. He also regularly works with departments, campus groups and groups from the larger Madison community, such as the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Language Institute, to establish events and screenings which accurately represent different cultures and languages.
“The hope is that when we are putting together a whole calendar, we present a vibrant, relevant selection of films,” says Healy. “Over a four- or five-month period, we want a schedule that represents as many areas of film history and National Cinema as we can.”
The UW Cinematheque was established 25 years ago by a group of professors and graduate students within the Department of Communication Arts. As a response to the lack of film societies on campus in the ‘60s and ‘70s into the very early ‘80s, the Cinematheque was designed to give students and community members who didn't have access to movie reels and a room with a screen and a projector a place to enjoy and participate in international and historical film culture.
“It was an opportunity to use the space in Vilas Hall, which was converted into a 35 mm exhibition hall and had the best projection facilities so that students and the community could see the film the way they’re supposed to be presented,” says Healy.
Today, the Cinematheque continues to be a resource for students and community members to indulge and explore their love for film. Every screening is free, which Healy says is a way to embrace the Wisconsin Idea and make film history more accessible.
“It's set up within the Department of Communication Arts, but is also an outreach to the whole community,” he says. “As a movie lover, the resources that Cinematheque provides are unbelievable. We are keeping alive an art form and international human culture and making it free.”
The list of movies screened at the Cinematheque includes classics such as the 1972 film The Godfather and the 1950 film One Way Street. However, the Cinematheque also offers a variety of films in different languages and origins. This summer, that includes Taiwanese, Hungarian and French films. Healy notes that when he curates a film series, he has the audience in mind, striving to reflect the audience and expose them to new aspects of film.
“I think that [the schedule] should reflect what the community is,” says Healy. “I hope that we can accurately present a schedule that reflects the large and diverse Madison community. More importantly, I hope that we can expose American students to new worlds within the film community.”
As a long-time lover of movies, Healy recognizes film and film culture trends. Although international and historical film is often overshadowed by blockbuster films with large advertising budgets, he says an increase in young audience members since the COVID-19 pandemic has given him hope for the next generation of film lovers.
“There's this idea that film culture is whatever is going on in theaters right now,” he explains. “If that were true, the only movie we’d ever be talking about is the one with the most money to spend on advertising. My hope is that we can be here for students to discover the truth about film culture. That we can lead them down that rabbit hole and be there for their journey along the way.”
For those students or community members who may be intimidated by the rich history of film culture—especially international film—Healy says that the Cinematheque is a great place to explore.
“The most important thing is that when you come to the Cinematheque, you will have an experience. You will be moved. You will be taken somewhere,” he says. “Maybe you’ll feel great, maybe you’ll feel sad, but you’ll have an experience that will enhance the world. That’s the purpose of art. That's what I think good movies are worth.”
The Cinematheque Summer Series starts on June 28th. For more information, visit cinema.wisc.edu 2023 calendar page.