photo by heLiostuDio
Success and Passion at the
Fargo Theatre
emily beck grabs opportunity at Fargo’s beloved cinema by ashLey thornberg
You wouldn’t know it by her confident smile, or the sheer amount of caffeinefueled words that tumble out, seemingly all at once, but Emily Beck is a little gun shy when it comes to talking about her achievements. Achievements that are many, considering she’s barely 30 years old. But, after just four years at the Fargo Theatre, she is the new face of the iconic theatre. Beck took over as executive director in June 2011 for a number of good reasons, not the least of which is passion. When she talks about movies and the Fargo Theatre, that initial shyness melts away. And then, it’s almost hard to get questions in—she’s just that excited by her work. “I just always wanted to work here … really passionate,” said Beck. She knew early on that if she was going to work in Fargo Moorhead, that the Fargo Theatre would be “the one place that would be an option.” Her passion began long before she started as the theatre’s film programmer four years ago. Spending her childhood between Valley City and Fargo, Beck was active in Trollwood Performing Arts School and holds a degree in Film History and Criticism from Minnesota State University Moorhead. In fact, she was working for another movie theatre when she wrote to the Fargo Theatre’s longtime executive director Margie Bailly expressing her love for the Fargo Theatre, and asking Bailly to “just keep [her] in mind.” The company wasn’t hiring at that time, but Bailly kept that letter at her desk for months, and when there was an opening, Beck fit right in. “It must’ve made an impression.” Since then, she’s had plenty of opportunities to prove herself. Like many small non-profits, employees “wear a lot of hats.” As executive director, Beck’s duties range from selling popcorn to writing grants, which she does with the same fevered enthusiasm. “I love the theatre,” she said. That’s a theme echoed by fans of the historic building. “It means a lot of different things to different people.” Beck said some come for a sense of history or to relive childhood memories. Some come get their film fix and still more come to see live music in an intimate setting. The recent addition of a second screen now allows a movie to play uninterrupted, even if there’s a live concert. This allows the theatre to book even more events. The expansion happened when Bailly was at the helm, but like her predecessor, Beck always has more plans in mind. She is working to expand the Fargo Film Festival. In its current state, the festival is a five day celebration of all things film. It showcases local, national and international talent in seven film categories. It also digs deeper, offering presentations and panel discussions on the industry. Beck wants to take advantage of the area’s rich pool of eager enthusiasts and volunteers to expand the festival in both length and depth. Never one to shy from multiple challenges—she reupholstered her own office