A group of film enthusiasts and professionals met in the Founders’ Theatre at Shakespeare & Company's Kemble Street headquarters on November 28 to discuss ways of luring film to Lenox.
They met with the blessing of the Lenox Select Board, town manager and Chamber of Commerce. The group is already planning a second meeting, to get a feel for further interest. The next session is scheduled for December 12 at 1 p.m. at Kimball Farms.
Tina Packer checked in on the meeting during a break in a workshop she was teaching. Julianne and Stephen Glantz, screenwriters who collaborated on "A Tanglewood Tale" at Shakespeare & Company shared their experience of many film festivals.
Miller’s gathering also included Lenox Historic District Commission Chairman Francis G. Newton; Mary Jane Kreiger, director of residential services at Kimball Farms; Lenox business owner Charles Flint; Dick Houdek, who runs the Walker Inn; and Tom Daly, curator of adult programs at the Norman Rockwell Museum, among others. William Parker writes and directs films; a official Shakespeare & Co. representativewho has done public relations work with Canadian films; another woman moved to the Berkshires from Los Angeles with her husband, who does special effects.
Estelle Miller called the meeting with the mission to form a group that would watch films, she said, and perhaps to invite documentary filmmakers to show and discuss films. They might work toward building a cinema — Lenox residents now have to travel to Williamstown or Great Barrington to find an independent movie house. They might go further and create a film festival in a year or two. She proposed to organize these things. She asked her audience for their expertise.
The discussion of the developing group’s goals ran generally on two lines, which might or might not converge: a cinema and a film festival. Several members remembered a survey the town’s future. The largest single item mentioned was a movie house. The group suggested that a small cinema would stimulate the town’s economy and give foliage seekers something to do when it gets too dark to see the leaves.
Packer said Charlie Schulze, a Lenox entrepreneur, approached her over a year ago to talk about having a film showing place at Shakespeare & Company. She would be amenable, sure, she said in answer to a question, but Shakespeare & Co. has no funds for such a project.
Houdek had researched the basic cost showing a film on the big screen, and produced some figures. The group would have to rent a projector at $25 a day for a 16mm film — larger film projectors cost more — an amplifier at $35, and speakers $35 and another $35 for surround sound. He talked to a guy who books for 25 theaters along the Eastern seaboard, he said. A film that has been out for a while runs $200-300. Without a screen, Houdek calculates that each showing of a 16mm film would cost $600-800. He has a 16mm projector he would willingly allow the group to use, he said, but a a 25 mm or 30mm projector would have to come out of Boston.
He added that he would like to be able to show the short films that win Oscars and no one ever sees, because they cannot find distributors.
Miller has talked to the town clerk, and said the Town Hall auditorium would be available. It has a screen, but no projector.
Packer said the ice hockey rink at 70 Kemble St. will be a prop, set and costume shop, rehearsal and storage space and sound booth, but still has space in it that needs to be used if the building is to earn its keep. It has enough electric wired into it to make films, she said. “The right reverend set it up as a film studio because he wanted to be a televangelist.†The auditorium is still there.
Packer said she is also interested in putting some of Shakespeare & Co.’s productions on film. She showed enthusiasm for the second line of discussion, the film festival. What kind of festival, she asked, was Miller interested in investigating: a festival to attract young filmmakers to show their films, or simply a festival to show enjoyable films to the public? Films from the 1930s to the ’50s, the Great Classic ’20s or a gathering for filmmakers?
She pointed out that many people in Berkshire County make films. The area has a range of filmmaking assets. The Berkshires have high technology — she mentioned Kleiser-Walczak Construction Co. in North Adams. Others in the group mentioned Doug Trumbull of Mass Illusion and the Visionary Institute, which produces PBS documentary series on nonprofit institutions. The Berkshires can offer composers, screenwriters, actors, theater and film directors, and resources for all of the above.
Steven Glantz said film festivals usually offer some of both: public screenings and workshops for professionals. There are so many film festivals, the difficulty is to attract people, find a niche. The Glantzes agreed that even the least respected festivals can draw 800 entries easily. Most festivals get a couple of stars and throw a big dinner for filmmakers, they said: they offer a free trip, free food, networking, but not a lot about the culture of film making.
Juliane Glantz said the group should ask, if they were going to have a film festival in a specific place, what about that place are people coming for? She agreed that the group should think about working with the art the Berkshires already have developed: bring in a famous film composer to conduct a score at Tanglewood, find a part of film making that isn't showcased elsewhere. Most festivals, she said, focus on the director.
She warned against “the other kind†of film festival, a kind she had encountered often while on the road with her first film, which is set in the Berkshires. These festivals belonged to towns that wanted to extend their “on season,†and the least amount of good films went to them. In these festivals, the towns simply “invited all these wealthy people in the community to see the films,†she said. They were only a free trip and free food, in other words. Filmmakers did not respect them.
She added that one problem with shooting films in the Berkshires is putting people up, and it is also very expensive to shoot films in Massachusetts. The film actors’ unions here are some of the toughest in the U.S. Stephen said he would like to see exhibits of costumes and the histories of films and their making, screen writing workshops, actors to staging new or classic scenes. He added that to decide to find a projector and show films is not hard, and Miller does not need filmmakers or sound booths to do so. “To develop film festival will require a lot more thinking, planning and scheming.â€
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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