by Pamela Grossman and Victoria P. Lerman
A sidewalk crowd gathered on a sunny morning in lower Manhattan to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new, and unique, movie theater. Slated to open in early 2015, the theater will be housed on the ground floor of the Downtown Community Television center on Lafayette Street and will screen only documentary films—the first theater in the United States to adopt this programming.
The 73-seat digital cinema will provide filmgoers the chance to view a wide array of documentaries and, in addition, will help these films achieve the theatrical runs needed for Academy Award consideration. With this space available, “documentaries will not have to compete against ‘Ironman’ ” for screens, said documentarian Morgan Spurlock, who was present at the ceremony.
Fellow documentarian Michael Moore spoke after Spurlock, opening with a joke at the expense of his own physique. “It’s an honor to be here with Morgan,” he said. “[Spurlock’s film] ‘Super Size Me’ was a huge inspiration to me.” He turned quickly, though, to critical global issues and the role of documentary film in examining them. “We need truth, in these times, more than ever,” he said. “And we need people bringing it to the fore, more than ever.”
We need the truth, in these times, now more than ever.” Michael Moore.
The state-of-the-art cinema will have 4K projection systems and the ability to broadcast live. The project is an extension of many public services already offered here—DCTV has long been known for its workshops, screenings, master classes, and equipment/studio rental. Founded in 1972 by husband-and-wife filmmakers Jon Alpert and Keiko Tsuno, the center is considered one of the leading resources in the country for documentary film.
Financing for the theater is being provided by public and private sources. These include the Office of the Mayor of New York City, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the Office of the New York City Council, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Sony. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer was present for the event, as was Sony senior vice president Alec Shapiro. “We as documentarians,” concluded Spurlock, “will be able to come to celebrate the image, the power, and the impact of what we do on a daily basis and the work we create.”
PHOTO GALLERY
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge)
New York City officials Kate Levin, Scott Stringer, Margaret Chin, and Gale Brewer were joined by acclaimed filmmakers Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine), Matthew O’Neill (China’s Unnatural Disaster, Redemption), and Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) at a ceremony to mark the groundbreaking of Downtown Community Television Center’s new documentary-only theater. The groundbreaking marks a significant milestone for Downtown Community Television (DCTV), a cultural fixture in Lower Manhattan since 1972 founded by the award-winning filmmaking team Jon Alpert & Keiko Tsuno.
Photos : Evan Whitney