Michael Moore on film exhibition

This Michael Moore interview in the Herald is really interesting. Michael Moore as film exhibitor. Who would have thought?

Of course, he can afford to run the theater at a loss, but then again, he can afford to try things like 25-cent matinees. At that price, you're almost compelled to buy something at the concession stand!

It's also interesting that he has a deed restriction that he can't show a film showing on more than 200 screens. Interesting handicap.

I would be interested to see if he's really as successful as he says. After all, this is Michael Moore making these statements.

I had the priviledge of working with Michael Moore on the State Theatre project and to see his vision reach fruition. But to set the record straight, Michael Moore does not own this theatre. It is owned by the Traverse City Film Festival, which is a 501c3 corp. which Mr. Moore co-founded in 2005.

The Traverse City Film Festival acquired the theatre from the Rotary Charities for $1 and the extensive renovation of the property was financed through the gifts of private individuals. Mr. Moore was instrumental in securing this financing and additional contributions from other organizations and the private sector. To my knowledge, Michael Moore did not personally finance any portion of the project.

Since it opened in November 2007, the State Theatre has enjoyed phenomenal success, due in large part to the unusual demographic of Traverse City which has responded with great enthusiasm to both the Film Festival and the theatre.

Does this make Michael Moore an exhibitor? You decide.

I was aware that Mr. Moore did not single-handedly restore the State (as he rather implies in the article) which is why I used the phrase "major role" when I posted the piece. He is, though, one of the three members of the Board of Directors of the Traverse City Film Festival which, as noted above, owns and operates the theater, so I guess that makes him an exhibitor.

From the Boston Herald story, Michael Moore said "...because I just refurbished a hundred year old movie theater that I run in the small town where I live."

"I’ve turned it back into the way that it was, a beautiful movie palace. So, now I’m an exhibitor and I go through all of the stuff of having to deal with these guys, the studio, on the exhibition end."

Sure sounds like it's his theater and like he's running it.

But then again, it is Michael Moore!