When New Jersey-based director Brian Bill was working on the documentary “Tide and Table,” he knew the film needed to premiere in Petersburg. His company, Two Doors Down Productions, visited Petersburg several times this year to document the town’s vibrant food and close-knit community. Bill said it felt important to have the community’s approval before the film hit a broader audience.
The production reached out to Petersburg’s only movie theater, the Northern Nights Theater, which partners with the local school district to provide job training for high school students. But the nonprofit theater has been struggling to stay open and pay the bills as operating costs keep rising.
Bill connected with theater manager Cyndy Fry to see if they could show the film in the space.
“When Cyndy talked about how the theater is in need of just constant repair, that’s when we decided, let’s treat this as a fundraiser.” Bill said.
In an interview with KFSK, Fry said that money has been incredibly tight.
“We’ve just been literally treading water all year, trying to make sure that we can keep the theater in operation for our community,” Fry said.
Two Doors Down made tickets free for the three showings of “Tide and Table” on Dec. 5-6. In return, they asked attendees to donate any amount toward the theater. The production also donated $3,000 of their own.
The community pitched in more than $5,000, so the showings raised $8,000 for the theater. The final total will likely be higher — merchandise proceeds are still being tallied.
Fry said the fundraising has been “amazing,” and that the funds will ensure that the theater can keep operating. Before the fundraiser, the theater only had $1,500 in its account.
“It’s hard to express how much gratitude we have for this donation,” Fry said, “This event was really unexpected.”
This money comes at a costly time of year for the theater. Big bills like insurance are due in the fall, but Fry said the fundraiser has put the theater in a very different spot than last year.
“Last year, at this time, we identified that, man, we don’t know if we’re going to make it,” Fry said.
Fry said she hopes to put some of the money aside to replace the auditorium’s seats, which were installed in the 80’s. That would benefit more than just the movie theater: the space is also an important place for theater, dance, and musical performances.
Bill said that’s why the fundraiser was so important.
“It’s a vital part of the community, the way it’s used for not just showing of films, but also for the arts and for education,” he said.
Bill said he has no plans to make any revenue from “Tide and Table,” and that this isn’t the end of their relationship with the Northern Nights Theater. Instead, future screenings of the documentary in the Lower 48 will also serve as fundraisers for the theater.
