*Originally published in Worcester Magazine on Jun 14, 2012
Wouldn’t it be great if there was an accessible outdoor location where you could enjoy great food, talented local music acts and a feature-length movie at no cost, all within the comforts of Worcester? For a group of Worcesterites, the initial concept of an urban drive-in behind the Hanover Theatre never quite reached full actualization but what did materialize was Worcester Film Works, an organization that will screen a series of movies on the Worcester Common on the third Thursday of June, July and August. “We talked amongst each other; what would be the best place? The common. Of course, such a central place,” says Gabriel Rollins, one of the volunteers who helped book the bands and artists that open up for the feature film.
Worcester Film Works was created by Jim McKeag and Eric Kuczarski and is supported by approximately eight volunteers. “We had always talked about trying to do something downtown…and Jim had said, ‘I’d love to show some films’ and he took the initiative of getting a meeting of some people together and we kind of ran with it,” explains Kuczarski. “Jim is really passionate about making something happen downtown and the revitalization of downtown, as am I, and film was kind of an excuse to do something,”
With the support of Erin Williams at Worcester’s cultural office lending a hand with directions and guidance on the permit process, as well as support from the city managers office behind them, the permits were secured and the dates were reserved with the parks department. The third and fourth Thursdays of June, July and August are reserved, with the fourth Thursday acting as a rain date if needed. Last year, both the June and July dates went through as scheduled, but the weather had other plans for the August movie, which had to be moved to the following week.
From behind city hall, Image Production Services bring a trailer that is transformed into a stage, with surrounding structures to mount lights and audio equipment upon. The opening musical acts perform on the stage beginning at 5 p.m. and afterwards the stage is used to balance a large screen. The film is then projected onto the screen from behind. The movie begins at dusk. Last year’s films included “Back to the Future,” “Grease,” and “Spaceballs.”
This year’s vendors are still in the process of being solidified, but last year Theatre Café and Sweet Sister Ice Cream were on hand with dinner and snack options, both of which Kuczarski is hoping to see again this year.
Last year, roughly 500 people enjoyed the music, vendors and feature-length film each month on the common and this year the organizers are hoping that number grows. The event, whose main presenting sponsor is Hanover Insurance, has received a lot of positive support from many of the area businesses but especially from Hanover. “They are the ones last year that turned it from an idea into a reality and they were on board this winter, and they’ve been a huge supporter.” explains Kuczarski.
Some of the musical acts performing before the movies will include The Luxury, James Keyes, Big Eyed Rabbitand Airport with more to be announced in the coming weeks. The movies being shown will be “Raiders of the Lost Ark” on June 21, “Jaws” on July 19, and “The Princess Bride” on August 16. So mark your calendars and bring your blankets and chairs down to the Worcester Common for the seconannual Movies on the Common and don’t forget to check their website worcesterfilmworks.org for continuing up-to-date information.