Taking the mystery out of the movies

To the Editor:
    We are often asked for specific movies at the Center Theatre, and asked for more notice about what movies we are bringing in, so that people can make plans and not make the trip to Bangor or Waterville. We are grateful for our community’s desire to “keep movies local,” and wanted people to understand why we aren’t always able to know exactly when we will get the movies that are requested.

    Nearly every film studio has very specific requirements to meet in order for a theatre to get a film the day it is released nationwide (or “on the break”). Generally, to get a movie on the break, we have to keep the movie at the Center Theatre for two or three weeks and we can’t do anything else during that time.
    Because of all the other events going on at the Theatre, carving out two weeks for a movie is fairly difficult and three weeks is out of the question. So it is rare that we can get a movie when it opens nationwide.
    If we wait a few weeks after the movie opens, we can generally get it to play for one week. Of course, the longer we wait to get the movie, the more likely it is that people have already seen it.
    Part of the challenge is that we are well down on the pecking order when it comes to movie theaters. We cannot compete against large theatres which seat more people and offer more showings per day. We usually try to confirm our movies at least a month in advance, but the studios operate on their own schedules and sometimes won’t give us confirmation until a week before we start showing the movie.
    Despite these challenges, many things have improved since we transitioned from 35 mm to digital almost two years ago.
    Digital films come on a hard drive, which are much less expensive to produce, so there are more available and we do get them more quickly. The biggest difference is that we no longer need to use a booking agent, and the Center Theatre handles its bookings directly. It takes another step out of the process and allows the theatre to build direct relationships with the distributors.
    We continue to work on our booking process, and always welcome community feedback on what movies you would like to see. We have started booking more movies than we have in the past, and adding more showings, hopefully allowing more people to attend our films. We always put our Facebook listings and website posts about the movies up within 24 hours of a confirmed booking, so we get that information out as soon as we have it. There will always be challenges, but we are always looking to improve our booking process and better serve the needs of our community.
    Movie tickets at the Center Theatre are $6 general admission, $5 for students, seniors, and theatre members. All matinees are $4.
    Questions or thoughts about movies can be made by calling (207) 564-8943, stopping by the theatre at 20 E. Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, or by going to the website at www.centertheatre.org.
    The Center Theatre is a non-profit performing arts center dedicated to making the arts a part of life in the Maine Highlands.

Angela Bonacasa,
Executive Director
Center Theatre