Life, as we know it, is changing. Every day the technology Goliaths of Silicon Valley announce new, hi-tech gizmos to modernize our entertainment routines.

The days of movie stores and cassette tapes are fading as movie and music streaming populates the market. However, this has caused an underground resurgence, and vinyl records have made their way back to the store shelves. In a similar fashion, independent single-screen movie theatres in smaller communities have fought hard to retain their rank as cultural landmarks.

It is this phenomenon that Curtis and Silmara Emde sought to document in Out of the Interior: Survival of the small-town Cinema in British Columbia, which screens at the Vernon Towne Cinema Monday, Oct. 2.

害羞草研究所淲hen we started, we weren害羞草研究所檛 sure where we were going,害羞草研究所� Curtis said through a shakey phone connection as he and Silmara brought the documentary on tour, adding that the germ of the idea started a few years ago with a photo project Silmara was working on that followed the depletion of these independent cinemas due to the digital revolution.

害羞草研究所淚t (digital) was expensive,害羞草研究所� Curtis said. 害羞草研究所淚t was a big investment that many couldn害羞草研究所檛 afford.害羞草研究所�

Silmara and Curtis toured the province, starting in their home-base of Vancouver and touring through the Interior, photographing cinemas as they went.

害羞草研究所淧hotography is one of the best ways to preserve something that is fading,害羞草研究所� Curtis said.

What they found as they toured through the Interior, though, was surprising. These independent single-screen cinemas that had largely gone under in Vancouver were steadfast against the digital tide.

害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶚What is keeping all these places going?害羞草研究所� It started really with that question,害羞草研究所� Curtis said.

Their quest for the answer, with Curtis on screen and Silmara behind the lens, took the couple across the southern Interior, from Oliver to Curtis害羞草研究所檚 early-years害羞草研究所� stomping ground, Vernon.

害羞草研究所淥f course Vernon害羞草研究所檚 Towne Cinema features prominently,害羞草研究所� Curtis said. 害羞草研究所淚 grew up in Vernon, so it was there I saw many of the key movies of my childhood and teenage years, so it was an absolute pleasure to explore the mysterious spaces upstairs as well as delve into the history of movie exhibition in Vernon, including the gone-but-never-to-be-forgotten Skyway Drive-in.害羞草研究所�

Through exploring these theatres, Silmara and Curtis learned about more than just the cinema industry.

害羞草研究所淭hese places are really part of their heritage,害羞草研究所� Curtis said. 害羞草研究所淭he cinemas revealed a lot more about the community than we thought.害羞草研究所�

Each theatre害羞草研究所檚 roots in the community were uncovered when Curtis and Silmara delved deep into the museums and archives, uncovering stories about the film industry害羞草研究所檚 role in providing release during the depression to stories of a more local flare.

害羞草研究所淓very theatre has a unique story,害羞草研究所� Curtis said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 partly my story too, looking a it now grown up. We kind of took it for granted.害羞草研究所�

But they couldn害羞草研究所檛 have gotten the information they did without help.

害羞草研究所淰ernon Museum and Archives provide a really incredible service,害羞草研究所� Curtis said. 害羞草研究所淵ou just have to ask and they bring it to you. And not just Vernon, but museums and archives throughout the region were extremely helpful.害羞草研究所�

And it害羞草研究所檚 these stories of tenacious independent theatre害羞草研究所檚 that the couple has enjoyed sharing with British Columbians as they take the documentary on tour.

Mimicking the opening sequence, Silmara and Curtis started their Out of the Interior: Survival of the small-town Cinema in British Columbia in Oliver, receiving positive feedback along the way.

害羞草研究所淥lder people will say thank you, because it brought back memories for them,害羞草研究所� Curtis said.

And, to pay homage to the theatre of Curtis害羞草研究所檚 childhood, the curtains close as the Vernon Towne Cinema fades into the background.

Out of the Interior: Survival of the small-town Cinema in British Columbia screens at the Vernon Towne Cinema Monday at 5:30 p.m., followed by a question and answer period with Curtis and Silmara as part of the Okanagan Screen Arts Society害羞草研究所檚 local filmmaker double feature spotlight. Also playing Monday night is Matt McDowell害羞草研究所檚 Sheila and the Brainstem 害羞草研究所� a fast-paced social satire, which screens at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available at the Bean Scene Coffee House and the cinema. $10 for non-members and $6 for members, with memberships available at the door.