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Westport Cinema Initiative Holds a Day of Film at the Westport Country Playhouse

People entering the Westport Country Playhouse for the Westport Cinema Initiative event | Photo by Emily Goldberg

With lots of restaurants, shopping, and a beach, Westport seems to have it all. However, many Westporters believe there is one major thing the town is missing – a movie theatre. Currently, the closest movie theatre to Westport is right over the border in Norwalk, but on March 26 the Westport Cinema Initiative (WCI) brought a theatre to Westport for the day. The Westport Country Playhouse hosted WCI’s Day of Film with four different screenings.

“The screenings were to mark the beginning of a year of regularly scheduled screenings in venues around town,” said WCI Executive Director Sandy Lefkowitz.  “Our goal is to gather community support for an independent-art house movie theater in town.”

In order to support their goal, WCI had different community members introduce each film as well as hold a question and answer session, or an event related to the initiative following each movie.

The Playhouse opened the event at 9:30 a.m. with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which was introduced by Bedford Middle School theatre director and performing arts teacher Karen McCormick.

Award-winning documentary Waste Land followed at 1 p.m. with a discussion after the film. Restaurant comedy Big Night was shown at 7:30 p.m. with Local chefs Pietro Scotti of Da Piero, and Steve Carpentieri of Dunville’s holding a question and answer session post-film.

To close the day, Westport Police Chief Al Fiore introduced Texas Chainsaw Massacre at 10 p.m. for anyone looking for a scare.

“Overall it was a huge success and one that really jump started this campaign off with a bang,” WCI board member Brandon Edelson ’11 said. “I believe a lot of people came away not only enjoying the movie they went to see, but also really excited about the initiative, as it was the goal of the screenings.”

“Those who just came in support of the films were film lovers, and so I relate to them. I thought that the programming was varied and excellent and the audience was appreciative and valued the experiences,” Lefkowitz said.

Approximately 400 people attended the event, but one of WCI’s goals is to have more teen involvement. Currently two Staples students serve on the board, Edelson and Doug Russ ’13.

“It is crucial that we have Staples students volunteer in future events and spread the word to their family and friends. If we can show the town that many teenagers believe [a theater] would be a beneficial, and much needed addition to Westport and the downtown area, it will help stress to the rest of the town the firm support that teenagers have for a movie theatre in Westport,” said Russ.

If enough support and donations can be generated, WCI’s ultimate goal is to construct a two-screen art house theatre in Westport.

“I think that our town culture would be vastly improved with a movie theater.  I see that this is a legacy of community that we are working towards,” Lefkowitz said.

WCI’s next event is scheduled for the weekend of July 4, when they will hold a screening of Grease complete with a sing-a-long at the Levitt Pavilion.

 

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