Ten years ago, Michael Shields gathered together friends who shared his love of cinema, to discuss what films were not being seen in Key West and what they could do to remedy the problem. The first meeting led to more gatherings at the library, the group grew in size, and eventually sprouted into the Key West Film Society. Today, Shields is excited about his new plans to return independent films to a small venue in Key West. He is also proud of the part he played in forming the film society.

Shields was instrumental in forming the film society and moving it from small venues to the creation of the modern Tropic Cinema in Old Town. About two years ago, many on the island were surprised, including Shields, when he was ousted from his involvement with the new cinema.

“It was an unfortunate parting of the ways,” he said. “And it created a lot of ill feelings in the community. But, I am looking forward, not backward.”

Shields new project reminds him of the society’s first days.

“What all this reminds me of,” Shields said from his home, surrounded by books and posters dedicated to film, “is the society’s early days at the Woodenhead Gallery, which was next door to the Key West Art Bar.”

Along with gallery owner and artist Barbara Grobe, Shields will be showing digitalized classic films on a large screen on the outdoor patio of the Key West Art Bar, located in the old Flagler Station at Caroline and Elizabeth streets.

People who love film want to do more than watch a movie and then go home, Shields said.

In March 1999, about six months after its first meeting, the film society screened “Life is Beautiful,” at the San Carlos on Duval Street.

“We couldn’t stay inside the San Carlos to discuss what we’d seen, so we hung around outside and talked about the movie,” Shields said. “After the screening at the Art Bar, everyone will be invited to stay and participate in a discussion of the film.”

Shields, said more than 300,000 have been to the Tropic in the last four years.

“That’s a lot of people and it tells me there is local interest in film,” he said.

The Art Bar can sit 25-40 people on its patio.

“We’ll see what emerges,” Shields said. “See what the audience wants. I can see this going in many directions.”

Shields said he realizes that people have different opinions on what is good/bad cinema and he expects those opinions to turn into interesting conversations during the discussions after the film.

Essentials in Cinema will begin to show a film every Tuesday, in September, at sunset, and for the $10 fee, people will receive a beverage and pop corn.

“Cinema is theatre, to be experienced, to be shared with the audience,” Shield said. “We don’t want to replicate what is already going on in Key West. Using the Art Bar, we intend to be interactive, like the early days of the film society.”

Shields said he plans to show films that have affected film history.

“A good film,” he said, “you can see again and again and walk away with something new each time. You get an appreciation beyond entertainment, because entertainment is not always the criteria.”

Essentials in Cinema will explore film history, Shields said, and try to broaden the appreciation the public has of film. Foreign films often have different approaches to story and studying the approaches may bring a better understanding of the film to the audience.

One of the goals of Essentials in Cinema is to broaden the appreciation of good films, Shields said.

“As an example, we will revisit Alfred Hitchcock,” he said. “What makes his films so powerful? He never won an Oscar, but look at his movies.”

“Sins of the Fleshapoids,” by Mike Kuchar, a 1960s low-to-no-tech film, Shields said, will be one of the first to show.

“It’s was a precursor to ‘Blade Runner,’” he said, “but without the big budget.”

Another film to be shown in September is “The Life and Art of Ernest Ludwig Kirchner.”

“It’s a film about an early ‘20s avant-garde artist with English dubbing and subtitles,” Shields said. “It’s a powerful film.”

Kirchner was condemned by the Nazis.

“Anything threatened to be banned, or was banned, is worth watching,” Shields said. “Studying the film, and knowing what we know about what happened back then, makes the film educational on the morays of that time.”

“The Holy Mountain,” by Argentinean director Alejandro Jodorowsky is set in 1968 Mexico, was filmed in the early ‘70s and was banned in Mexico.

“The movie was re-showcased in 2007 at the San Francisco Film Festival,” Shields said. “It too says something important about that time in Mexico.”

Barbara Grobe and Shields have been friends for years and when she opened her gallery and told him of her plans for art classes and seminars, he suggested movies.

“Barbara has a good eye for what’s new,” Shields said. “She has an eclectic mix in the gallery and films fit it perfectly.”

Shields, founder of Java Studios, a media and community development company, is a board member of Reef Relief, Monroe County Library, and Leadership Monroe.

“Part of what Java does is work with these organizations to help expand their media development,” he said. “I try to get social issues and the arts on some common ground, to work together for better understanding.”

Essentials in Cinema is a creation of Java Studios, he said. It’s about getting the community involved with art, in this case film.

For schedule information on Essentials in Cinema, go to www.keywestartbar.com, or call 305-296-0424.