ZACH ZEMBOWER
MICHAEL ZEMBOWER
There are movie stars , and then there are the supporting players who make everyone else look good . In advance of the Montclair Film Festival returning for its 12th season October 20-29 , wemet with facilities supervisor MICHAEL ZEMBOWER and his son , ZACH ZEMBOWER , technology specialist , at 505 Bloomfield Ave . ( and check in with other crucial staffers ). Here , they tell us how they ensure that audience members , not to mention film students , Q & A participants , and guests at Montclair Film events , have memorable experiences — for all the right reasons .
HELLO , MICHAEL AND ZACH . HOW DID YOU BOTH GET INVOLVED WITH MONTCLAIR FILM ?
MICHAEL : Istarted as avolunteer . After Imoved from New York City to Verona in 2009 , Ihad just gotten my New Jersey real estate license and was volunteering for the Verona library . The festival was in its early years , and Ifound that volunteering was agreat opportunity to meet people . Istuck around long enough , and Meredith Ladov asked me ,“ If we get abuilding ( of our own ), would you manage it ?” In October 2016 , Ibecame afulltime facilities supervisor . Bob Silver ( project director of the building ’ srenovation ) gave me the Cinema 505 Bible with contacts .
ZACH : Imoved toNew Jersey from Arizona , where Iwent to college and graduated in 2016 . When my dad got hired at Montclair Film , he knew Iwas looking for work , and said Ishould volunteer . Istarted in May 2017 and volunteered inoperations , pulling up banners and sets . Iwas in the trenches ( laughs ). And Ithought that would be it . But they had the new building ( 505 Bloomfield Ave .) and needed aprojector operator . Istarted part time in ’ 18 — just for the festival — and shortly after that , Meredith asked if I ’ dlike to work full time as an operations coordinator . Even from an early age , Iwas obsessed with digital entertainment , and Iwas always tinkering with TV and visuals . In ’ 19 , Iwas hired as a tech coordinator .
@ montclairmagazine MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE FALL 2023
17