Movie theaters across the state are having the same problem, they’re empty. But one in Ithaca is taking a creative approach. Instead of selling tickets to a velvet seat, they're selling them to your couch.

The usual smell of popcorn and sounds of cinema are nonexistent in the Cinemapolis in Ithaca.

“We’re a living wage employer, so we really wanted to make sure that our staff was able to survive during this period so everybody is staying on the payroll during the closure so every little bit is helping these days,” said Cinemapolis Executive Director Brett Bossard.

Their indie films are moving from the big screen to the small one in your home. You can buy a virtual ticket to the movies, allowing you to rent a digital copy for several days and support a small non-profit.

“And a portion of the proceeds from every sale of those virtual tickets are coming back to support the theater," said Bossard. “If you are interested, click early and watch while you can, because we will have new ones coming along every seven days."

With those proceeds going towards the theater, the community can still support Cinemapolis during a time of need.

“Fans of Cinemapolis can still support what we do here and hopefully keep us around, so when the pandemic has moved on, we’ll be able to kick open the doors and bring people together around great film again," said Bossard.

The theater is also staying alive with gift card purchases and membership subscriptions. Click here to browse the available films.