Angel Reddest stands out in front of Nunpa Theatre in Kyle, South Dakota, as patrons file out after the special showing of “Songs My Brothers Taught Me," a movie filmed on Pine Ridge reservation with several local actors.
Nunpa Theatre makes an impact on Kyle and the entire region
By Tom Crash
LCT Correspondent. KYLE – “You know, I just love movies,” said Angel Reddest, owner of Nunpa Theatre in Kyle. “That’s really why I started a theater. There were other businesses that would have made more money but it’s been worth it, I really enjoy it.” After about three years in planning, "we did it bit by bit," added Reddest who opened the theater on November 2, 2012. The theater has two screens -- one seats 200 while the second screen seats 160 movie goers. The theater employs seven workers, all part time. "For the first two and a half years, we’ve made the business work. It pays the bills, holds its own," added Reddest. "But it depends on Hollywood, how good the movies are that they make each year." Reddest has found that movies that work best include horror and scary movies, animated movies for the kids and comedies. "Breaking Dawn Part II was the biggest draw ever, Annabel and Godzilla did well as did Fast and Furious 6 & 7 and Catching Fire," she said. "Worst movies for draw were Monument Men and 42, which I thought was a really good movie, but few came, and Rush, an awesome movie but didn’t do well," Reddest added. “More than anything else, Nunpa Theatre provides entertainment, all of our communities are looking for something like this,” said Ivan Sorbel, executive director of the Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce. “The theater gives people something to do, it’s a great addition to Kyle and the entire region and it provides jobs.” Reddest described the sometimes difficult process for securing new films. "You make choices for getting movies, sometimes you get them, sometimes it might take two-three weeks," she said. "Big movies with a lot of prints you can get the first week but you have to keep those a couple of weeks." "We wanted 'The Boy Next Door' -- thought it would do well but we had to wait to get a print," she said. "That was the same with 'The Fury' with Brad Pitt." "If we have to wait that extra time, our viewers may go somewhere else to watch the movie," she said. Independent movies are the hardest to get, she noted, like "Dear White People" and a Native American film out of Arizona-'Legends from the Sky." Nunpa Theatre sometimes has special showings like the recent “Songs My Brothers Taught Me” that was filmed on Pine Ridge. "Probably every single school on the reservation has brought students to at least one film," said Reddest. "We charge matinee prices. It brings in extra business." Reddest said she has learned a lot about the business since opening the theater. "An 80 year old theater owner located near Eagle Butte told me, 'If you were near a reservation, you’d do well, Indians love the movies.' Well that’s true," stated Reddest. 'Families love to come to the movies and bring their kids – when I first opened, many people thanked me for opening a theater." "Sure there are complaints, a kid being bad in the theater or talking too loud and my pet peeves include people leaving their gum on the seats or on the floor or people putting their feet up on the seats," she said. “Our biggest challenge is communicating our movie times, we tell people to check Facebook or call the theater, our movie times change each day,” said Reddest, who has two children -- her son just graduated high school and works at the theater and a daughter who will be in the 8th grade. “I like to provide a nice place where people can come on a date, have a nice time, I like that," Reddest said. "Like I said, I just love the movies, I really liked ET and the three Star Wars movies and I’m really looking forward to the new Star Wars movie,"added Reddest who said there are no plans to add another screen. To those planning on coming to Nunpa Theatre, Reddest emphasizes: check Facebook or call the theater at I605) 455-1501 for movies and showtimes. Find the award-winning Lakota Country Times on the Internet, Facebook and Twitter.
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