Matthew Morgis

Cafe Metropolis was an influential place to many people in the NEPA music scene. From bands to fans of music, it was more than just a venue. It was a place to go; it gave kids of any age someplace to hang out and something to do. Cafe Metropolis was a place where many bands played their first show, and in some instances their biggest show.

One fan of the popular venue, Stephanie Ogozaly, captured the legacy that Metropolis left behind when it held its last show in September by filming a documentary of the site during its closing days. The now-finished documentary will premier Saturday at the Vintage Theater in Scranton.

“I had the idea to make a documentary about the place for a while,” Ogozaly said. “I always thought, ‘I’ll get to it later’ until one day I saw they were closing on their website. Then I realized I had to change the focus from what I wanted to do originally, but I still wanted to do something that other kids like me can enjoy.”

Cafe Metro was originally located in the Hotel Sterling, beginning in 1996. After a few years, the venue moved to South Main Street where it was a home for not only aspiring local artists but also a stop for bands on the national touring circuit, including Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory, My Chemical Romance, Gym Class Heroes and Coheed and Cambria.

The film, titled “The Metro,” contains footage from the last month of shows as well as interviews with bands. The bands interviewed and featured in the film are Tigers Jaw, Title Fight, Strand of Oaks, The Menzingers, Kite Party, Three Man Cannon, These Elk Forever, Motionless In White, Machine Arms, Fake Estate, Keystone Ska Exchange, Echo Whiskey Charlie and The F.N. Nobodies. In addition to the bands, Ogozaly interviewed the venue’s staff and some fans.

From start to finish the film took roughly three months to complete. Ogozaly started to film in September, finished interviewing and gathering additional information by October and the post-production took her until the end of December.

“I really only had three days to get started, so it was kind of hectic,” said Ogozaly. “Everyone was extremely supportive, and I quickly found my groove. Once I was done filming I had hours and hours of footage to go through, and that alone took a solid month.”

Ogozaly, who has a degree in journalism, hopes this film will open the door for her to get involved with more projects as well as take on some of her own. The next project she will head up is a documentary about cassette tapes.

Ogozaly said she will enter “The Metro” in a few film festivals to get the word out about what a great venue we had here in NEPA.

“I wanted to get it in a few festivals this year, but the submission dates were back in December when I was still editing this,” she said. “Also, I think after the premier I will have it online so anyone will be able to see it.”

“The Metro” is a remembrance of the last moments of Cafe Metro. It is not meant to be a full history, but a look back for the people who enjoyed it and a little memento for the kids that would have enjoyed shows there.

“I’ve been going there since I was 16,” Ogozaly said. “I grew up there and learned to love that music. It’s nice to be able to give back.”