Screenings of films produced by Natural History NZ film Masters students in the early 2000s was an especially welcome addition to the normal programme. Having the filmmakers there to talk to about their many and varied challenges in producing their films, was fascinating as well as informative. About the same era it was discovered that there were a few homegrown film makers such that a Waitati Film Festival was possible one night a year. This usually included films by Dell McLeod, Laura Bruch and some Cranky Town offerings. One film came from the national competition in which filmmakers are given a subject and have to make a short film on it within 48 hours. Steven Belsten screened his film from the 48hr Film Festival, because many of our WFS members had been recruited as extras. This provided lots of hilarity as well as pride in our community.

An added draw card from the mid 1990’s to shortly before his untimely death in 2005, was the presence of Gary Pearson, loitering at the back of his van outside the entry door. Contained therein were a microwave oven and pie warmer powered via a cable appearing out from a shed. Hot samosas and pies were eagerly bought and consumed by patrons. This service more than made up for the management’s failure to provide an attractive lady to cruise up the aisle with a tray of lollies, ice creams, pies etc,. But Gary was yet another member of the Society who was an interesting character. He was a fireman who doubled as an owner and odd-jobber of a number of rental properties. These may well have been the source of the magazines, second-hand clothing and various domestic appliances, crockery and cutlery that he brought to screenings for members to pick through and take away.

The combination of an exceptionally high tide and a prolonged heavy downpour was disastrous for Rosi’s property on the night of 26th May 2006. On one side the adjacent Waitati river flooded its banks and on the other there was severe flooding of the paddocks with water pouring across Harvey Street through the property to the river. The whole place was inundated with fast flowing, muddy water causing considerable damage. Jürgen Gnoth heroically arrived to raise any vulnerable equipment above the water line. Unfortunately both he and Rosi became trapped sufficiently for a helicopter to have to be called to lift them out and deposit them on the higher road. The Society’s recovery crew arrived the next day when the water had receded. They found a dirty tidemark about 800mm up the walls and a muddy sludge on the floor, but fortunately no equipment damage as all of it was above water level. Clearing up was an unpleasant task. Fortunately Rosi had the property insured such that extensive repairs were covered financially. Such is the nature of these occurrences that after the repairs the facilities were a marked improvement on their state before the flood.

Rosi “retired” to the warmer climes of the North Island in mid 2006. Ownership of the property was taken over by Bill Maslin, who at first seemed to believe that the Society had first rights over the use of his facility! Once the situation was explained to him he was exceedingly delighted that screenings would continue in his shed. As well as the floods and Rosi’s departure, 2006 was a landmark year because it had been 30 years since the incorporation of the Society. The occasion was celebrated accordingly. Sadly Bill Maslin’s ownership was only to last to 2009 when he reluctantly sold the property. The new owners were a pair of previously globe-trotting nurses. The Society’s relationship with the new owners was never a settled one as they were shift workers and found the WFS screening nights caused disturbances to their sleep. Despite a number of attempts at accommodation to their requirements during 2013, it became evident that the Society was unable to meet their needs. So regrettably the time had come to leave the venue that had been enjoyed for 20 years.

Consequently investigations into alternative venues were instigated. It was surprising how many possible options there were within the relatively small community. However, regrettably, some sites were too far from the village, others too near the noise of State Highway 1 and one had too many owner’s restrictions placed on its use. Finally it was agreed that the best choice was to create a film theatre in the former Waitati Store by the bridge over the Waitati river. Not only was it centrally located within the village but also its owners, Mark and Rayna Dickson, welcomed the idea, which made it easy to formulate mutually agreed conditions. The building had always been a store, run since WWII by Lindsay Scott. After his retirement in the early 1980’s the new owner was unable to run it as a financially viable business, so it closed down in about 1984 and ownership passed to “Pam”, a madam who converted the outer barn into a discrete out-of-town bordello. After a few years “Pam” moved on to re-establish her business on the hill above Doctor’s Point beach. Mark and Rayna Dickson acquired the property in 1995.

In its existing state, the shop itself was not suitable as an auditorium. It was too large, had no insulation nor heating and few electrical power outlets. Consequently, the usual trusty members of the Society willingly set about a substantial conversion. Leonie Rousselot was the overall manager/facilitator of the conversion. Free carpet was obtained from an earthquake torn Christchurch and expertly laid by Paul Clements. Amongst other things, Gerry Thompson and this author constructed an insulated wall to reduce the size of the room. Brigitte Nohl sewed thick curtain materials and hung them to cover the shop windows and door. Using his high level of electrical skills yet again, Hank Rebmann installed a ceiling mount for the projector and a sound system (by this stage all films were supplied in the form of DVDs). Importantly he wired a central location from where lights, player, sound and projector could be controlled. Bill Maslin provided extra power outlets. In order to fund all this activity the Society’s expenditure had fortunately been low for several years, so sufficient funds were available to cover the costs.

Before too long the auditorium was ready for the first screening of the 2014 season on the 4th of March. And what a successful screening it proved to be with the audience comfortably seated in a pleasantly warm environment viewing a high quality image with accompanying excellent sound. After a few additional minor improvements it was universally agreed that it was a superbly appointed venue. The only omission, and it is a serious one, was the absence of a bar for patrons to extend their visit beyond the end of the credits. But it was an unavoidable omission because having alcohol available in such relatively prominent building was not an option. Ed Case ensured the continued availability of bottles of commercial beer, but his “bar” had to close with the credits. Some say that the absence of such an integral part of the Film Society’s offerings coincided with the beginning of the current demise of its membership roll.