Documentary illuminates Rosebud Theatre

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Rosebud Theatre has published an online documentary focused on the hamlet of Rosebud and its unique arts community that is now challenged by show cancellations made in response to COVID-19.

The documentary, Rosebud, Alberta, produced by Calgary filmmakers Eric Pauls (director, Eric Pauls Productions) and Michael Janke (cinematographer, Six Two Six Productions), with score by Pauls and Sarah Houston, tells the story of a community centered around the Rosebud Theatre.

The film is being hosted on the theatre’s website, which first premiered online on May 28 in an effort to generate support for the theatre after it cancelled its planned spring and summer productions.

The idea for the film came after Pauls and Janke spent time working in the hamlet together, said Janke.

“We both ended up going to Rosebud together to work on some soundtrack pieces for another project, and that was his (Pauls’) first introduction (to Rosebud),” said Janke. “That led us to us both bouncing around the idea of some sort of a story revolving around the town.”

After applying for funding for the project, the pair received a grant through the Canada Council for the Arts, “and that led to the film becoming a reality,” he said.

The film premiered at the Edmonton Film Festival, but the filmmakers were unsure of how to further release the film considering COVID-19 shutdowns, said Janke. So, they decided to release it online on the theatre’s website, to help get word out about the theatre and its impact. 

“It became a perfect opportunity when we realized we didn’t know the future of the film,” he said. “So, we thought this is probably the best possible future for it in a way to share the story of the people in the town, especially during this time.”

The film gives a depiction of a day in the life of the theatre hamlet.

“The idea behind the project is that we wanted the viewer to feel like they were stepping into Rosebud on any given day of the summer, and see what you would encounter if you stumble upon the town not knowing what was going on there,” said Janke. “We walk them through meeting a bunch of people on the streets, and eventually arriving in the theatre and witnessing all the things leading towards that curtain going up at night.”

Janke contends showing the film online might help the unique arts community in a difficult time.

“It’s hard to find another place that has the heart and the storytelling that they put on stage,” he said. “The influence of the arts there really stretches not just across Alberta, it’s Canada-wide.”

Cancelling the theatre’s spring performance, main summer run, and summer studio show means that about 130 performances have disappeared – and the visitors to the hamlet that comes with them, said Morris Ertman, Rosebud Theatre’s artistic director. The theatre typically receives over 35,000 visitors per year.

While the theatre is not running, Rosebud’s economy has largely shut down.

“It’s like a company town,” said Ertman. “Almost everybody that is there, whether it’s bed and breakfast operations or gift shop operators, all those people make their living from Rosebud Theatre, effectively.

“When we cancelled shows, it means that all those operators just don’t have that income.” 

The theatre has managed to keep its staff employed, though at 75 per cent of their normal wages, thanks to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, he said. This federal program was created in response to the impacts of COVID-19 to assist employers that have seen a 30 per cent decline in monthly revenue.

That means staff are busy improving the theatre, said Ertman. “We’re busy fixing things, sprucing up the place, cleaning out the shops,” he said. “Everyone is being put to work bettering the environment of Rosebud, so that the moment we are able to come back online and produce a show, we will be ready.”

While the theatre has shut down everything they can, there are still costs of operating the theatre.

“We still have to take care of all of the assets that we have,” said Ertman.

To help with the situation, the theatre is asking for donations, which will be matched up to $50,000 by two benefactors.

“The donations will help sustain us through this time, by funding the ongoing costs of administration and building upkeep,” said Ertman. “It’s just to balance things – even with this, we still face a red number at the end of the year.”

While Ertman does not “begrudge” the shutdown, as “we all have to do what we all have to do to stay healthy,” it is “tragic,” he said.

“Public gatherings like theatre and concerts are the first to be shut down and they will be the last to open up,” said Ertman. “That, to me, is incredibly sad for the sake of the people that count on these kinds of events to give them respite, entertainment and life.”