The Main Street Moviehouse will be showing independent films,
some of them winners of Monday night’s Golden Globe Awards.
With show times scheduled for 5:15 p.m., Mondays in February and
March at the theater will offer a chance to see an independent film
that night each week.
“We are proud to be able to show these great films for Bradford
and the surrounding community,” said Michael Clement, president of
Dipson Theaters Inc. who manages the Main Street Moviehouse. “We
are excited and look forward to the continued success for the Main
Street Moviehouse.”
Films and dates in February include: “The Constant Gardener”
shown on Feb. 6; “Good Night, and Good Luck,” shown Feb. 13;
“Shopgirl,” which will be shown Feb. 20; and “Pride and Prejudice,”
will be shown Feb. 27. The “Constant Gardener” features Rachel
Weisz, who won best supporting actress award at the Golden
Globes.
March movies include “Proof,” to be shown March 6; “Capote,”
which will be shown March 13; “The Squid and the Whale,” which will
be shown March 20; and “The Merchant of Venice,” to be held on
March 27.
The theater is owned by the Downtown Bradford Revitalization
Corp. and was remodeled and opened in 2002.
Jim Guelfi, DBRC committee chairman, said Monday that they have
been waiting until after the holidays to offer the chance to see
independent films at the moviehouse again.
“We need to see how things go and maybe we can show more,” said
Guelfi.
He explained that movie companies have control of what movies
come to the theater and how long they have to be run. He said if a
movie is run on the national opening day, it has to remain at that
theater for one month.
Additionally, he said, 70 percent of the gross of a first run
movie goes to those movie companies while the remaining 30 percent
goes to the theater or owners. Of that, expenses are paid,
including heating, lights, maintenance and everything else.
“Concessions is how they make their money,” added Guelfi.
He also said that Clement has the clout to bring the independent
films to Bradford because of his contacts in the Buffalo (N.Y.)
area.
“We are fortunate to get these films. We couldn’t get them but
for Michael’s contacts in the Buffalo area,” said Guelfi, adding
that it is a little unusual to have a schedule of planned showings
of the independent movies.
He also said that the closest those movies will shown to
Bradford is in the Buffalo area.
“We want people to have the movie experience, too. Sure it’s
easy to rent a movie and watch it at home, but there’s nothing like
going and seeing a movie,” he added. “The theater has the best
Dolby Sound in a 65-mile radius.”
He also said the single most expensive item in the renovations
was the sound system and added that the moviehouse has a screen
that’s larger than most.
He went on to say that under the presidency of Chris Hauser, the
DBRC was able to accomplish the renovations and operation of the
moviehouse. Guelfi said the DBRC gets the proceeds and they in turn
pay Clement a monthly fee.
Guelfi said the timing of the independent films was made so that
people could see the movies after work and then go out to dinner
afterward if that is what they wanted to do.
He said the movies run two hours at the most with most of them
showing for about one and a half hours.
“If it works, it will be a continuing thing- if it goes well,
and as long as the films are out there,” added Guelfi. He explained
that they need at least 100 patrons to see the films to support
bringing them to Bradford.
He also said that they have received a lot of contributions,
especially for the Free Family Film Fest, which starts this weekend
when children will be admitted free.
At this time, he has two sponsors for the independent film
showings, including Rich and Ann Kessel and Pure Tech Group, but
could use at least two more.
“That way we won’t have to fight for the 100,” he added.
And for those interested, Guelfi said, there are only 500 copies
of “Brokeback Mountain” available for showing and said that when
more become available they should be able to get a copy to show in
Bradford.
