Documentary will explore Winnipeg’s love for Phantom of the Paradise

WINNIPEG — For hundreds of Winnipeggers, Phantom of the Paradise was the soundtrack of their childhood. The movie opened on Boxing Day in 1974 and played for about a week in most cities, but on and off for a year in Winnipeg. It’s an anomaly that a filmmaker in Toronto wants to learn more about.

“The bulk of the people who were going to see it were 9-14 year old kids, so it was a very interesting phenomenon,” Malcolm Ingram said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The bulk of the people who were going to see it were 9-14 year old kids, so it was a very interesting phenomenon," Malcolm Ingram said.

Ingram has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to raise $50,000 to make Phantom of Winnipeg, a documentary that will explore Winnipeg’s love for the film.

“I love that kind of misfit community, like essentially a bunch of people discovered this movie and I think it’s carried on, there’s still events that happen to this day,” Ingram said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I love that kind of misfit community, like essentially a bunch of people discovered this movie and I think it's carried on, there's still events that happen to this day," Ingram said.

Ingram had no problem finding eager fans to connect with here. Doug Carlson will be an associate producer with the film and is also a part of Phantompalooza.

“It wasn’t a case of have you seen this movie, it became how many times have you seen this movie,” Carlson said.

Carlson is just one of many Winnipeggers who will be involved in the making of the film.

“There are Phantom of the Paradise fans in Winnipeg who watch this movie every day,” Carlson said. “It seems to be one of those things that people who understand it and like it and love it cannot get enough of.”