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The remodeling of the Collins Center for the Arts is an ongoing, multifaceted project. Along with its physical changes, the CCA has become a fully functional, state-of-the-art movie theater. The upgrade has created a new world of artistic possibilities for the venue, the most prominent of which is their independent film series which began last Thursday and continues weekly.
Brett Zeigler, special projects manager at the CCA, is in charge of film series.
“Presenting film at the Collins Center was conceptualized years ago, around the same time that the idea for the renovation was conceived,” Zeigler said. “Film was one of the original objectives of renovating.”
According to Zeigler, the CCA has chosen to bring independent films, rather than mainstream ones, to line up with the venue’s artistic ideals.
“There is a really remarkable body of film out there that is not generally available in the Bangor region,” Zeigler said. “There’s a whole world of cinema that isn’t even on the radar around here. We were looking to do something with a little more artistic merit than ‘G.I. Joe’ and ‘Spiderman.’”
With only a limited number of dates available and only one showing per week, each movie has to be carefully selected. According to Zeigler, they are chosen based on availability — they receive their movies digitally from two different distributors — and popularity.
“When we’re choosing the actual [films], generally it’s something that did well at a major film festival,” Zeigler said. “It has to look like something that will attract people.”
Their first film, “Anvil: The Story of Anvil,” was not very well attended, but Zeigler is hopeful. He wants to build off the success of Kickin’ Flicks, the campus activities’ film series shows popular films. Kickin’ Flicks has recently moved into the CCA on Wednesday nights after the remodel. Last week, “The Proposal” was attended by several hundred people, according to Zeigler.
“I want to emulate that sort of situation where people think, ‘Thursday night, there’s a movie at the Collins Center,’” Zeigler said.
Only a few physical changes had to be made to adapt the CCA. Zeigler pointed to a hole cut in the roof where the projector was housed — but they added a lot of equipment. According to Zeigler, the projector is brand new and top of the line. The CCA was one of the first venues in the country to get it.
“The projector is capable of 2k resolution,” Zeigler said. “A hi-def TV is 1080, so it’s got about twice the resolution. Blu-rays look incredible and the downloads look really good.”
The theater is capable of 7.1 surround sound, but utilizes speakers already in the theater.
With all the expensive equipment, the CCA is able to keep ticket prices low. Admission is only $6 — Zeigler wanted it to be $5, but the distributors wouldn’t go for it. According to Ziegler, the CCA is able to keep ticket prices low because they are an arts venue.
“In a typical movie theater, they need to make money to keep the lights on,” Zeigler said. Because the CCA has other revenue streams, it can keep the prices low. And because the movies are all digital, there are no costs to ship film either.
Zeigler is excited that he can keep costs so low, even for the concessions stands will be installed soon.
“When I was working out the nuts and bolts, I thought it would be cool if people could go on a date for less than $20,” Zeigler said. “So it’s all kind of priced around that.”
Zeigler is also hopeful that the CCA will be able to work with the academic world to show films for classes.
More information can be found at collinscenterforthearts.com or by calling 581-1775.
Bangor Daily News