Business & Tech

Lamorinda Theatres Fundraiser This Weekend To Help Purchase Digital Equipment

Lamorinda Theatres is having a fundraiser Saturday to raise money for needed digital projectors, which have been mandated by big film studios. The association has already raised enough money to purchase one projector...

The Lamorinda Theatres Association will host the Moraga Fun Fest this Saturday at the Rheem Theatre to raise money to purchase new digital equipment to meet requirements. 

The live benefit concert will be held at the Rheem Theatre’s main theater and tickets are $35. According to Rheem Theatre manager Lindsay Pirkle performers include Jay Whitlatch of Aspect, Dream Posse’s Kiki Stack & Friends and Juice. Performances will begin at 7 p.m.

Recently, large film studios announced that theaters across the country must have digital projectors by 2013. Each digital projector is priced at $70,000 to $80,000, according to Derek Zemrak of the California Independent Film Festival Association, which runs Lamorinda Theatres.

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At the Orinda Theatre, the owners of the Orinda Theatre Square have agreed to purchase the equipment.

However, there are four other theaters in need of digital equipment at the Rheem Theatre and Zemrak said they have raised enough money for one projector so far, and it has been installed.

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Zemrak expressed optimism that Lamorinda Theatres will eventually be able to purchase all of the equipment needed and will raise enough money to get another projector installed at the Rheem venue by the end of the year.

“Every little bit helps. We’re gonna do it, it’s just a matter of how long it’s gonna take us,” Zemrak said. 

Zemrak said he was very grateful for both the corporate and individual donations given to the cause.

“I think it’s great that the community is behind it and they realize the important of these two beautiful theatres,” Zemrak said.


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