(Dec. 18, 2014) First Hollywood came to Berlin to shoot movies such as “Runaway Bride” and “Tuck Everlasting.” Now, Berlin Arts and Entertainment is planning to project Hollywood onto the town – literally – during a “Movies on Main Street” program next year.
“Every other town around us has movies at the beach, movies at the park, whatever. We really wanted to do something similar,” Arts and Entertainment President Heather Layton said.
Layton spoke with members of the Berlin Parks Commission and found its members had also considered the idea. Anna Mullis, executive director of the Worcester County Arts Council, helped Layton narrow her search for grants. Patty Gregorio from Salt Water Media volunteered to write grant applications.
As it happened, Mullis and the arts council also awarded the grant to fund Movies on Main Street.
“Both of us are here to promote the arts in Berlin,” Layton said. “It just so happened that this community movie project Berlin Arts and Entertainment was hoping to provide [met] requirements of this art council grant.”
Next, Layton approached Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen, the town’s liaison to the parks commission, who enthusiastically supported the idea.
“The parks commission has actually been interested in doing something like this for quite a while. We just haven’t been able to work the logistics out,” Bohlen said. “When we spoke I told her Henry Park probably had the best location, because it had such a large, open area. We also talked about, if we were doing it with the parks commission, that’s where the parks would be most interested in holding it.”
Layton hinted that the group could also show movies at other locations.
“Tentatively we’re going to show one movie at Stephen Decatur Park, one movie at Henry Park, and we’re shooting for ‘Runaway Bride’ on Main Street,” Layton said.
The grant will cover the cost of renting equipment, including a projector and an inflatable screen, as well as pay for the licensing fees required to show a movie in public. Moonflicks, from Northern Virginia, would provide the equipment.
Movies will screen once a month, in April, May and June. Layton said the group is also eyeing a Kickstarter campaign to buy the equipment.
“That would allow us to do this more often, even on a year-round basis, as weather permits,” she said. “We want to appeal to all age groups and to families.”
Layton hopes to close out of the first series by screening “Runaway Bride” in downtown Berlin, surrounded by the shops and landmarks that appear in the film.
“We’re super excited about that,” she said.
“Every other town around us has movies at the beach, movies at the park, whatever. We really wanted to do something similar,” Arts and Entertainment President Heather Layton said.
Layton spoke with members of the Berlin Parks Commission and found its members had also considered the idea. Anna Mullis, executive director of the Worcester County Arts Council, helped Layton narrow her search for grants. Patty Gregorio from Salt Water Media volunteered to write grant applications.
As it happened, Mullis and the arts council also awarded the grant to fund Movies on Main Street.
“Both of us are here to promote the arts in Berlin,” Layton said. “It just so happened that this community movie project Berlin Arts and Entertainment was hoping to provide [met] requirements of this art council grant.”
Next, Layton approached Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen, the town’s liaison to the parks commission, who enthusiastically supported the idea.
“The parks commission has actually been interested in doing something like this for quite a while. We just haven’t been able to work the logistics out,” Bohlen said. “When we spoke I told her Henry Park probably had the best location, because it had such a large, open area. We also talked about, if we were doing it with the parks commission, that’s where the parks would be most interested in holding it.”
Layton hinted that the group could also show movies at other locations.
“Tentatively we’re going to show one movie at Stephen Decatur Park, one movie at Henry Park, and we’re shooting for ‘Runaway Bride’ on Main Street,” Layton said.
The grant will cover the cost of renting equipment, including a projector and an inflatable screen, as well as pay for the licensing fees required to show a movie in public. Moonflicks, from Northern Virginia, would provide the equipment.
Movies will screen once a month, in April, May and June. Layton said the group is also eyeing a Kickstarter campaign to buy the equipment.
“That would allow us to do this more often, even on a year-round basis, as weather permits,” she said. “We want to appeal to all age groups and to families.”
Layton hopes to close out of the first series by screening “Runaway Bride” in downtown Berlin, surrounded by the shops and landmarks that appear in the film.
“We’re super excited about that,” she said.