Paul Turner | A Journey to the Darkside

 

    Paul Turner and the theatre he co-owns and operates, Darkside Cinema, is a fixture in the Corvallis community. Since 2005, The Darkside has been Corvallis's go to for great independent cinema, and we are lucky to have it here. This last year of Covid-19 has hit the Theatre community hard, and Darkside was no exception, but Paul has made the most of the situation and has kept the theatre a float through uncertain waters. I sat down with Paul on a sunny Tuesday April afternoon at the Darkside to catch up on the year and he was kind enough to let me get some photos. 

    Paul moved to Corvallis in the mid-90's and owned the Avalon Theatre (present day location of SkyHigh Brewing) for 10 years before opening the Darkside. It is Paul's love of film and independent cinema that has kept him in the business all these years, and he has found creative ways to stay a float in uncertain times. Once he knew that the Darkside was looking at an extended hiatus, he found ways to adapt. He set the theatre up for private showings, following all the newest and latest Covid rules set by the state, and made the movies he would show in the theatre available to rent at home. He is looking forward to having people populate the empty seats once things get stable again, and is eager to get the employees of the Darkside back to work, doing what they all love.. sharing great Cinema with the community at large.

      Independent Cinema is just one of Paul Turner's many passions. Since he was young, he has had the love of motorcycles pumping in his veins. The thrill of the road and the solitude of riding has been a great and wise teacher to him. Paul has written several books, and the latest one is called, "Bugs and Bikes and Squids, Oh My! Vol. I", and is a collection essays concerning motorcycles. Many of his books and writings are focussed on, and I quote,  "Running an art house cinema while riding a motorcycle". You can read some of his writings on his blog,  Other Stuff., and his books are for sale on there as well. 

  Thank you Paul for spending an hour with me catching up and letting me take photos, it was a pleasure to talk to you. Support small business and local independent cinema. You can learn more about the Darkside Cinema at their website, https://www.darksidecinema.com/ .