Green Light: St. Pete’s Art House Theater Mixes It Up

Recently I sat down with the owner of St. Pete’s indie Green Light Cinema, Mike Hazlett, who explained his mission simply: “We want to bring perspective and art from all over the world to the St. Pete community.” It’s been a journey to get here.

Mike tells me he first learned the movie business in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he managed a 900-seat theater for eight years and worked at learning all aspects of the industry. He then moved into running a 2,000-seat movie theater in Portland, Maine for another seven years. Performing arts and film, he tells me, are in his blood. 

Mike and Sue Hazlett eventually moved to St. Pete. With children grown and Mike retired from running large movie theaters in Boston, they were looking for a change. They had vacationed on Florida’s west coast and thought St. Pete was “such a cool city.” When they arrived, however, they were surprised there wasn’t an independent movie theater in town. 

But while Mike and Sue dreamed of bringing indie cinema culture to town, their timing couldn’t have been more challenging. Green Light opened in the midst of the pandemic, which ultimately limited the number of patrons they could allow, while many movie productions were delayed or cancelled. Additionally, people’s habits were changing and streaming was becoming more of a factor. Needless to say, the first few years have been tough for Green Light. Mike told me year-over-year audience numbers are up, however, and 2025 promises to be even better.

What generates strong attendance? Mike says, “Oscar shorts are very popular and award season – January, February, and March – bring the strongest attendance. There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Oscars and the film industry.”

While summer might seem to belong to the “blockbusters,” however, Mike says there’s always a niche for indie film. 

“The good news for us is we curate films, seeking out the best films for our audience,” says Mike. “We have good relationships with big distributors. This insures we are showing the cream of the crop of independent films.”

I spoke with Jeff Mann, St. Pete resident and film producer who showed the documentary Americonned at Green Light. Jeff and the director featured in a panel discussion after a public showing, and also rented the theater for a private screening for friends and invited guests.

“Green Light brings the whole indie film experience to St Pete, which was sorely needed in our community,” says Jeff. “It provides a great space to enjoy great art with each other, something that is important in today’s era of streaming alone at home.” 

And in a world where every other movie seems like a recycled superhero story or franchise fare, it’s up to independent theaters to bring cinematic diversity. Green Light gives locals a chance to see new and old indie films, shorts, classics, foreign films, documentaries, and even local films that you’re not likely to find streaming. 

Says Green Light patron Robin, a retired USF faculty member, “The most powerful film experiences I have had were in independent art theaters. My favorite is The Colonial in little Bethlehem, New Hampshire. The community kept it going, even upgrading the bathrooms and install air conditioning. Known for its arts scene, St. Petersburg’s lack of such a venue was surprising. Green Light is filling this void!”

Like many indie theaters, Green Light is more than a big screen. Since opening, they’ve fostered partnerships with community organizations and local cultural institutions, including The St. Pete Downtown Neighborhood Association and Radio St. Pete. The theater also offers a space for acting classes. SAG actress and coach Eugenie Bondurant’s Station 12 Studio runs once a quarter for eight weeks, and more than two hundred acting students have gone through the program in the last two years. Mike says they’re always looking for special event opportunities in the future, making Green Light a true cultural hub for the community. 

Green Light has gained a thing or two from the big area theaters, however. The cinema’s red velvet seats actually came from the AMC Sundial just blocks away. “I was walking past one day and saw that they were throwing all these great movie seats into the dumpster,” says Mike. “I guess it was while they were converting to the big recliners. I was like, ‘Time out, guys!’ The next day I came back with a big truck and a bunch of guys. It saved me a chunk of money. And the best part? I have another hundred in storage.”

Learn more about Green Light Cinema and their upcoming features and events at greenlightstpete.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.