O Cinema – You add a beat to the Heart of Miami

Among, the undeniable rush of tourist to Miami, and influx of new residents, there lays a hidden gem to be discovered. For those who think Miami is all glitz and glamour or sand and sea, most will be amazed to discover Miami’s true cultural underbelly. “We bring to O Cinema what wouldn’t usually make it to Miami,” mentioned Kareem, co-founder of O Cinema, and O Cinema knows how to bring it. Kareem and Vivian, also a co-founder, are true pioneers. Some may think that it was only natural that an indie movie theater would spring up, but what most won’t know how difficult and challenging it is to start a new movement in Miami. With it’s official open in Feburary of 2011, O Cinema, seats about 50 patrons in it’s theater house and showcases carefully selected documentaries.  As a returning patron, I always find it interesting to see the type of crowd that attends O Cinema. From the high shot guy taking his done up date, to the Jamaican family catching the 11:55pm showing of the “Marley” documentary, to the hipsters, young professionals and senior citizens. Aside from being a indie movie theater, O Cinema also has three side rooms that they allow resident artists to display artwork from. Trust me catching original Miami artwork is a unique experience, given that most Miami artist leave to NYC or LA. So if you get the chance catch it while it’s still here and be the first to see and hear about it.

Events at O Cinema range from Dinner and a Movie from restaurants such as Michael’s Genuine. Yes, that’s right Michael’s Genuine, dinner and a movie from the very Michael Schwartz’s restaurant. Enjoy your movie with a small cafeteria like tray in front of you while watching one of O Cinema’s carefully picked documentaries to go with it. Beat that Cinebistro! Even with your overstuffed chairs, and high tech ordering devices they still can’t match the simple quality, and unpretentious feel that O Cinema delivers. Okay so I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking an indie Cinema, so what? What’s so important about this, that I have to leave the cozy confines of South Beach to go and check it out? Compare Miami’s Wynwood area (where you’ll find O Cinema in), if you may, to the West Village in NYC or to Sunset Strip in Hollywood, it’s one of those areas where ideas and people collide and create an energy in the air that can only be experienced in person and, this is why you go out of your way to Wynwood and to O Cinema. This is why you go and watch a movie at a cinema that is bond to have many years of success and attract the kind of people that you’ll only read about on the web. You go so you can go back home and tell your family and friends how you went off the beaten path and got a chance to experience real Miami culture. Cuz, let’s face it most people come to Miami so they can go back home and brag about what they saw, what they ate, did, or who they saw. Don’t leave Miami and go home only to fill your family, friends, and co-workers with shallow stories about expensive night clubs and lavish hotels. I’m sure they get enough of that on TV or through what Hollywood Movies that portray Miami as. Go back home and tell them about O Cinema in Wynwood, the people that you met there and the food you tasted from one of the authentic local restaurants in the area. Let the real Miami culture rub off on you.

O Cinema Miami