Film for Our Community
It Takes a Community
To sell you tickets.
To select our films.
To help you select a film.
To ice down your beer.
To retrieve your membership card.
To get you to the right theater – right on time!
To fold our letters and stuff our envelopes.
To polish our condiment counter.
To help with your membership form.
To pour you a glass of wine.
To deliver our flyers.
To tidy theaters between shows.
To find that lost sweater.
To smile and say, “Hi! Welcome to the Tropic!”
Our Community of Volunteers
Erica Abt
Jon Allen
Matthew Almeda
Jeannee Arkin
Teresa Ashley
David Andrew Avila
MaryJo Banks
Harry Barnett
Mary Baron
Bill Bean
Roxanne Bean
Nancy Bender
Sarah Benson
Barbara Blackmore
John Bollinger
Michel Boutin
Diane Brady
Ian Brockaway
Sharon Brophy
Hannah Brown
Carol Buckley-Fisk
Ed Bulmer
Huguette Bulmer
Bert Butler
Shelley Cambern
Ray Campbell
Suzanne Campbell
Elizabeth Chamberlain
Jaime Chapman
Tom Clark
Jeff Cohen
Steven Cohen
J. David Cooper
George Cooper
Sandi Cornell
Marilyn D'Toste
John Danley
Mary Jane Danley
Ramon Dawkins
Judith Daykin
Erik DeSimone
Our Community of Volunteers
Ken Domanski
Margaret Domanski
James Dwinell
Rita Eaton
Sophie Eggers
Tessa Eggers
Benjamin Egnatz
Preston Everhardus
Ed Flack
Barbara Florke
Larry Florke
Loretta Foreman
Linda Fox-Reinhardt
Jeff Frost
Kate Gaboardi
Michael Gaudiano
Terry George
Ken Gerken
Susan Gerken
Chuck Gilmore
Norma Gilmore
Stacie Gleason
Gayle Glover
John Glover
Eddie Goldstein
Christine Gorham
Runi Goyal
Jackie Gray
Nancy Green
Mary Grusin
Ed Guillory
Judy Hadley
Matthew Hall
Audrey Hannum
Jeffrey Harwell
Ralph Heitman
Diana Heller
Cathy Hesse
Janice Hilliard
Janet Hinkle
Jordan Huthmacher
Loyda Ikatu
Our Community of Volunteers
Florence Ireton
Corky Irick
Dee Johnson
Hugh Johnson
Ann Jonas
Joyce Jones
Armand Julian
Eileen Kawaler
Jill Keeler
Cheryl Kellogg
Marilyn Kitt
Andrea Kopelman
Wayne Kruer
Jonathan Kuhn
Kimberly Kuhn
Howard Lapoint
Sharon Lapoint
Felicia Leamard
Adam Lepine
Mike Lepine
Hal Letts
Christopher Lewis
Duwayne Litz
Jennifer Lopes
Elizabeth Love
David Lybrand
Maria Lybrand
Megan Lynch
Ray Madeo
Femi Manners
Jo Marcus
Mike Marrero
Al Martorelli
Lucy Mayer
Tina Mazzorana
Lisa McCarthy
John McCoy
Dee McTeer
Victor McTeer
Eamon Meisner
Monique Melton-Cordell
Our Community of Volunteers
Alieshka Mena-Farro
Alicia Merel
Holly S. Merrill
Dawn Messing
Aloys Metty
Carol Metty
Linda Mewshaw
Heather Mianecki
Nikki Miklos
Stephanie Miller
Stephen Miller
Brendon Milligan
Annie Miners
Wes Morgan
Nancy Nead
Derek Nelson
Noe Nelson
Rosanna Nichols
Jens Nielsen
Rejean Oldham
Shane Oldham
Jennifer O’Malley
April Hope Owen
John Parce
Amy Pecis
Jacob Pouliot
Walter Price
Andrew Printer
Barbara Pullem
Elvin Quinones
Shirrel Rhoades
David Riban
Steven Richardson
Stacy Rodriguez
David Rooney
Christine Roselli
Bob Rowland
Cindy Roy
Karen Schievelbein
Steven Schievelbein
Marianne Schippereit
Our Community of Volunteers
George Sebren
Kathy Shackle
Maureen Shaw
Cliff Simmen
Jim Simmen
Wanda Simmen
Winn Simmen
Cindy Simpson
Harry Skevington
Viktor Slavov
Sharon Smarsh
Piper Smith
Cassie Sorrells
Roberta Spencer
Joey Stauffer
Molly Stauffer
Ginny Stones
Alex Symington
Morey Talbot
Clara Taylor
MJ Taylor
Steve Teachout
Cookie Thatcher
Linda Townsend
Naomi Van Steelandt
Sid Waldman
Craig Wanous
Lynn Wanous
Bobbie Wanta
Steve Wanta
Nancy Weiner
Matt Wells
Marie Welsh
Tom Wentz
Mary Ann Westerlund
John White
Kimberly Wilson
Steph Wischerth
Terry Wood
Dianne Zolotow
More than 200
Tropic Volunteers
Bring Life into the Tropic
and Bring the Tropic to Life.
We thank you.
(If we accidentally left your name off our list, please forgive us!)
Tropic Cinema’s Volunteer Board of Directors
Holly S. Merrill, Chair
Benjamin Egnatz, Vice Chair
Piper Smith, Secretary
Wayne Kruer, Counsel
Ken Domanski
Terry George
S. Runi Goyal
Kirksten “Corky” Irick
Michael Marrero
Victor McTeer
Linda Mewshaw
Ginny Stones
Board Member Emeritus
George Cooper
Advisory Council
Jon Allen
Judith E. Daykin
Our Staff
Matthew Helmerich, Executive Director
Lori Reid, Theater Manager
Scot Hoard, Programming Director and Web Master
Jane Ireland, Membership Director
Dan Schwab, Chief Projectionist
John Abramson, Volunteer Director and House Manager
Mary Beth Hurd, House Manager
Mitzi Fiedler, House Manager
Steve Raynn, Projectionist
David Norwood, Accountant
Patricia Bollinger, Executive Coordinator
Jeffrey Jacobs, President, Jacob Entertainment, Inc., Film Buyer
Our Films and Programs
In 2014,
Tropic Cinema customers bought
83,287 tickets
for 5,673 performances
of 226 different films and
events.
2014’s Twenty Top Grossing Films
The Wolf of Wall Street
August: Osage County
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Chef
St. Vincent
Philomena
Gone Girl
The Hundred-Foot Journey
Savings Mr. Banks
The Monuments Men
The Interview
The Theory of Everything
Birdman
Wild
Her
The Imitation Game
Maleficent
Begin Again
Dallas Buyers Club
A Most Wanted Man
Top 20 Total
$36,530
$33,788
$30,851
$30,182
$21,494
$18,597
$18,401
$18,320
$17,502
$17,080
$14,872
$14,216
$13,544
$12,297
$12,221
$11,085
$10,448
$9,940
$9,907
$9,197
$360,472
Our Revenue-Supported Tropic
• In 2014, the Tropic’s top ten grossing films
made 33% of the cinema’s film revenues.
• Our top twenty box office films made 49%
of our film revenues.
Our unique and balanced mix of indie and wide-release films
supports special programming including alternative content,
visiting filmmakers and art-house, foreign
and documentary films all year long.
Commitment to Quality Film
2015 Golden Globe Winning Films Screened at Tropic Cinema
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Boyhood – Best Motion Picture, Drama
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
Richard Linklater, Boyhood – Best Director
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman – Best Screenplay
Julianne Moore, Still Alice – Best Actress in a Drama
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything – Best Actor in a Drama
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood – Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical
Michael Keaton, Birdman – Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical
How to Train Your Dragon 2 – Best Animated Feature
Leviathan (Russia) – Best Foreign Feature
Amy Adams, Big Eyes – Best Supporting Actress
JK Simmons, Whiplash – Best Supporting Actor
Johann Johannsson, The Theory of Everything – Best Original Score
Glory, Selma – Best Original Song
Tropic Cinema Played All 14 Golden Globe Winning Films.
Commitment to Quality Film
2015 Academy Award Winning Films Screened at Tropic Cinema
 Birdman – Best Picture
 Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Birdman –
Best Director
 Birdman – Best Original Screenplay
 The Imitation Game –
Best Adapted Screenplay
 Big Hero 6 – Best Animated Feature
 Citizenfour – Best Documentary
 Ida – Foreign Language Film
 Julianne Moore, Still Alice – Best Actress
 Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Best Actor
 Patricia Arquette, Boyhood –
Best Supporting Actress
 J.K. Simmons, Whiplash –
Best Supporting Actor
 Birdman – Cinematography
 American Sniper – Sound Editing
 The Grand Budapest Hotel –
Costume Design
 Interstellar – Special Effects
 Whiplash – Film Editing
 Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 –
Short Documentary
 The Phone Call – Short Live Action
 Feast – Short Animated Film
Special Tropic Programs
• Tropic Cinema screened an eclectic mix of opera and
ballet in our 2014-15 season.
• For the 3rd year, the Tropic partnered with CFFK to present
“4 Nights 4 Justice," a series of films on social justice and
diversity presented by filmmakers.
• Our Kids Saturday Movie Club screened a dozen
Saturday children’s matinees for a dollar and
$2 for their grown-up friends.
• The Tropic collaborated with TSKW, WLRN and other
nonprofits to bring unique films to the cinema.
New Programming Approaches
We’re expanding and exploring
innovative programming options
available only at Tropic Cinema:
 Filmed Museum Tours
 Filmed Productions of Live Broadway Shows
 Special Mini Film Festivals
 Filmed National Theatre and Globe Theater Productions
Our Finances
Earned Income
The mission of Tropic Cinema is to bring the world’s best film
to the Florida Keys and to promote the
“cultural, artistic and economic well-being”
of Key West and the Keys.
While those goals come at a cost, we do our best to contain
expenses to keep our ticket and concessions prices low.
Cost of Goods
Business Expenses
Operating Losses
Net Profit
Our community
makes the Tropic strong
Contributed Funds
Membership Growth
2011-2014
Tropic Cinema has the largest membership
of any Keys arts nonprofit.
According to U. S. Census figures, there are
Tropic members in 22%
of Key West households
We depend on the generosity
of our members,
our volunteers
and our donors
to keep the Tropic vital and viable.
Premium Members for 2014
(Platinum, Green Light Team, Mogul)
Jon Allen
Kurt Fazekas
Holly S. Merrill
Jane and Paul Athanas
George Fernandez and Sam Trophia Linda and Michael Mewshaw
Camille Blatz and John Allison
Judy and Larry Franklin
Noreen and Robert Pollman
Judy Blume and George Cooper
Runi Goyal and Walter Price
Katharine and Miles Prentice
Bill Buntain
Bryan Green and Tony Konrath
Joyce and Wally Senney
Marian Burke
Linda and Fred Greenberg
Bunnie Smith
Meg Cabot and Benjamin Egnatz
Kathy and Jim Haymaker
Csilla and Kevin Smith
Brooke Christian
Mindy and Dennis Holbert
Janet and Raymond Sneath
Thomas Cole
Blake Hunter
Elena and Robert Spottswood
Barbara and Evan Corns
Lynn Kaufelt
Lisa and Todd Stuart
Cynthia Crossen and James Gleick Suanne Kitchar and Richard Hatch Mary Ann and Roger Westerlund
Yleana and Mike Dennis
Rita Linder and Perry Arnold
Dahlia and Jonathan Woods
Frederick Eberstadt
Karen and John Lockwood
Patty Wray and Doug Smith
Peyton Evans
Laurie and Kevin McChesney
Deb and Richard Young
Dee and Victor McTeer
Major Donors for 2014
($1,000 and above)
Robert N. Alfandre Foundation Margaret and Ken Domanski
Jon Allen
The Helmerich Trust
Bill Basiliko and
Janet Hinkle
Marcus Lundell
Blake Hunter
Judy Blume and George Cooper
Suanne Kitchar and
Ross Claiborne
Richard Hatch
Suzanne Coleman and
Sandy and Lee McMannis
Perry Frantzman
Holly S. Merrill
Judith Daykin
Linda and Mike Mewshaw
Dana Pulk Dickinson
Claudia Miller
Michael Dively
Alyson and Robert Mitchell
Ruth Moyerman and
Clayton Rouse
Paula O'Brien
W. Ann Reynolds
Rodel Foundation
Mary Jo and David Rooney
Betty Rubenstein
Karen and Steve Schievelbein
Wally and Joyce Senney
Michael Shanahan
Andy and Jamie Strunk
David Wolkowsky
Mary Lou and Larry Zangerle
Tropic Cinema and our Community
Tropic Cinema is cultural town square for our Lower Keys community.
In 2014, we collaborated with not-for-profit and for-profit organizations for
screenings, meetings and live shows.
AIDS Help, Inc.
American Red Cross
Captain Tony Days
Community Foundation of the Florida Keys
Florida Council of the Arts
Florida Keys and Key West Film Commission
Hometown! PAC
Key West Art and Historical Society
Key West Songwriters Festival
Key West United Methodist Church
Leadership Monroe County
MARC
Monroe County Schools District
Monroe County Police Athletic League
Mystery Writer's Film Festival
Police Athletic League
Reef Relief
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Tennessee Williams Key West Exhibit
The Studios of Key West
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Trophia Butterfly Foundation
Waterfront Playhouse
WLRN Community Advisory Board
Tropic Cinema donated memberships to Keys
not-for-profits to support their fundraising efforts
AIDS Help
Florida Keys SPCA
Literacy Volunteers of America
American Cancer Society
Grace Lutheran
Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce
American Heart Association
Heron Peacock House
Lower Keys Women's Club
Anchors Aweigh
Keys Chorale
Marc House
Bahama Village Music Program
KOA Kids Camp
Mary Star of the Sea
Boys & Girls Club
Key West Art and Historical Society Old Island Restoration Foundation
Coffee Mill
Key West Botanical Gardens
Poinciana School
Dance Factory
Key West Co-Op
Relay for Life
Equality Florida
Key West Firefighters
Rotary Scholarship Fund
Fair Insurance Rates for Monroe
Key West Gator Club
The Studios of Key West
Florida Keys Community College Key West Health & Rehabilitation
US Coast Guard
Florida Keys Council of the Arts
Key West High School
Waterfront Playhouse
Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition Key West Lodging Association
Wesley House
Florida Keys National Marine
Key West Shrine Club
Womankind Key West
Sanctuary
Key West Wildlife Center
Zonta
The Tropic Student Leader Program
The Tropic Student Leader Program
For a third year, Tropic Cinema collaborated with Florida Keys
Council of the Arts and Key West High School to create “policy
leaders” exclusively for Tropic Cinema.
The leaders not only remind Tropic moviegoers to turn off cell
phones and to become Tropic members, they teach KWSH students
hands-on fundamentals of making and understanding film. The
short films screen before every Tropic feature. More than 100
students have been part of the Tropic Student Leader Project since its
inception.
It Only Gets Better
Tropic Cinema circa. 2002
Tropic Cinema Today
The Tropic Dinner Club
doubled in size in 2014
40 Key West restaurants
now partner with us to say “welcome“
to Tropic premium members!
2014 Tropic Elves
Brought All of Us Wonderful Gifts
Among those marvelous gifts were
An Air Conditioning Unit
Alternative Content
Kids Programming
New Theater Flooring
Handless Towel and Soap Dispensers
Visiting Filmmakers
A Wine and Beer Cooler
Improving your Tropic Experience
From the moment we opened our doors in 2004,
Tropic Cinema has worked to make your
moviegoing experience the best it can be.
That work continues today.
It’s All About Community
There’s one reason Tropic Cinema is best.
That reason is you.
Our volunteers, donors, members and visitors
keep the world of film alive in Key West.
Because of our mutual love of the movies, we’ll continue to
make your Tropic experience the best it can be.
Please join our conference call with your questions and comments.
DIAL 712-775-7085
and ENTER Participant Code 386620 followed by the # sign.
Saturday, April 11 at 10:00 AM EDT.
We'll be chatting a half-hour after the presentation.
You can also email questions and comments to
[email protected] at any time.
We'll respond as soon as we can.
Thank you from all of us at the Tropic!