With our showings ( throughout the year ) at the Clairidge , we are trying to strike a balance between art house and international films and documentaries and bigger studio titles . Unlike other theaters , we pick the movies and schedule them ourselves . We know Montclair . We don ’ t necessarily pick the biggest movie ; we pick the movie the community would like . That said , we showed Top Gun . I don ’ t want to not give people what they ’ re interested in . People wanted to see Top Gun , there ’ s no other movie theater in Montclair , we ’ re going to show Top Gun . |
BRENDAN FRASER IN THE WHALE |
|||
COURTESY OF MONTCLAIR FILM |
HOW HAS THE CLARIDGE BEEN DOING SINCE YOU TOOK OVER THE LEASE LAST YEAR ?
HALL : In terms of audience numbers , we are doing about the same as the Claridge did before . We ’ re not full , but nobody ’ s full . This summer was supposed to be agreat summer for movie theaters , and it was — July was our best month since we opened , by far . But it ’ s not super sustainable long-term unless people come back . We need people to feel safe to come back to the movies , and to think it ’ s valuable not to wait until it comes out onPeacock orNetflix .
We are doubling down and making it a great experience , and hoping that people continue to come back . Our membership program , which provides discounts , is another way we are encouraging people to come back .
GOTTUNG : We try to keep it affordable at $ 20 a ticket or $ 15 with membership , significantly less than tickets at big screen theaters . I think it ’ s important for people to know the Clairidge is a nonprofit theater and is connected to Montclair Film . I don ’ t know that everyone is making that connection .
WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING IN TERMSOFFUNDRAISING ?
HALL : We haven ’ t had a fundraiser in more than two years because of COVID . We may do another NJPAC event again in the spring . I don ’ t know if we ’ ll do the dance party with
|
the Loser ’ s Lounge . It ’ s expensive to put on , and we have to walk the line between raising money and making it accessible .
THIS YEAR , MONTCLAIR FILM HAS TWO CO-DIRECTORS . HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT AND WHAT DOYOURNEW ROLES ENTAIL ?
HALL : Our development director retired in ’ 21 and we took that as an opportunity to reimagine our leadership roles . I pushed hard for adding another co-director to handle development while I focus on programming . In addition to fundraising , Beth , who most recently was with the KIPP charter schools nonprofit in Newark , is also overseeing our educational programming . ( Gottung was also adirector ofdevelopment at Montclair State University , and the field hockey coach with the most wins in school history .)
WHAT ’ S HAPPENING WITH MONTCLAIR FILM ’ S EDUCATION ARM ?
GOTTUNG : When flooding from Tropical Storm Ida destroyed the basement classrooms at MF headquarters at 505 Bloomfield Ave . last
|
year , Montclair landlord and developer David Placek donated space for us to use , and we did some classes virtually . We are finally back 100 %, and have new offerings in filmmaking , editing , animation , screenwriting , podcasting and storytelling . Our popular story slams have resumed .
Thanks to generous donors , we are broadening our reach into communities around Montclair . We now teach two film courses in Newark and one in Paterson . Our new Impact series has high school students coming to watch films about social justice issues followed by a conversation with a moderator . During the festival , Montclair High School 11th graders will participate .
WILL THE FESTIVAL CONTINUE TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER ?
HALL : Yes , we are never going back . The October dates give us much better access to films . Because our festival is after Venice , Telluride , Toronto , and New York , we ’ re able to feature films that end up being a part of the award season discussion . That has really upped our industry profile , establishing Montclair as an important stop on the fall festival circuit . ■
|