Minto council has approved the purchase of a $62,000 projection system for the Norgan Theatre here.
Recreation services manager Matt Lubbers, in a Sept. 11 report to council, explained that 35mm projectors such as currently used at the municipally-owned theatre are becoming obsolete.
“The motion picture industry has been slowly moving toward digital prints and it is believed 35mm prints will no longer be created in 2013. All of the major motion pictures have been converted to digital and the smaller theatres such as the Norgan will have to follow suit,” stated Lubbers in a written report.
Lubbers explained that Minto was able to obtain a better price on the projector by partnering with privately-owned theatres in Hanover and Goderich on the quoting process.
The Norgan Theatre re-opened five years ago after extensive renovations. Since re-opening, a loan of $150,000 from the town to the Norgan, which is operated by a volunteer committee, has been reduced to $88,000.
“The Norgan continues to be a community success and in order for this to continue, the purchase of a digital projector is required,” the report states.
“Unfortunately, we’ve got some very good equipment that is becoming very quickly obsolete,” said Lubbers.
Deputy mayor Terry Fisk asked if the theatre would realize any saving from the switch to digital.
“Typically, from what I’ve heard, the percentages don’t change very much,” said Lubbers, who noted film companies generally receive between 35 and 60 per cent of revenue from a showing.
Lubbers said “film companies really win when you go digital,” as they distribute movies electronically, rather than creating and shipping actual reels of film.
Lubbers noted there would be some small savings on return shipping, as the Norgan will no longer have to return reels of film. The digital copies of the films simply stop working after a pre-programmed expiry date, he explained.
Councillor Ron Elliott commended Lubbers and the volunteers for arranging the switchover to digital, which he said would enhance the movie experience at the Norgan.
“The picture and sound quality will improve. We believe it will be better for our movie-goers,” said Elliott.
Council approved the purchase of a Barco digital projection system for the quoted price of $61,950. Only one other quote, at a slightly higher price of $62,970, was received.
Lubbers anticipated the new equipment would be in place and the theatre operating again by Sept. 28.
