PORT TOWNSEND — The addition of a giant television monitor and a powerful surround sound system has given the Port Townsend Film Festival’s office the ability to become a screening room to host formal and casual events.
“So much of our work with filmmakers happens outside of the confines of the Rose and the Rosebud,” said Executive Director Janette Force, referring to the nearby Rose Theatre that has become the festival’s default screening location.
“This gives us a way to share films and view works in progress without interfering with the Rose’s schedule.”
The festival moved into larger quarters on the fourth floor of the Baker Block Building, 211 Taylor St., in 2012 with hopes that it could expand its ability to host events.
In addition to the 80-inch screen and the sound system, the office installed eight light-suppressing window shades to approximate theater darkness in the daylight, and plans to fill in a half wall to complete the process.
Force said the new room can be used when a visiting filmmaker is showing off a work in progress or during hosted events when a finished work is shown.
Conference tables now in place can be moved to accommodate about 30 people, she said.
The configuration is superior in one way to a regular movie theater,” she added.
“It changes the movie experience when you can move the chair so you can see over the head of the person in front of you,” Force said.
The original plan was to install a projection system in the 1,000-square-foot room, but its dimensions and ceiling structure made that difficult.
The new system includes “off the shelf” components, Force said, and can show video from DVD and Blu-Ray players along with hard drives and the Internet.
While most of the daytime showings will be work-related, Force expects the staff to take occasional movie breaks.
“We can do that here — stop everything we are doing to watch a film,” Force said.
A new event this year is a Women in Film weekend festival March 28-29.
Eight documentaries directed and created by women will be screened at the Rose Theatre, 235 Taylor St.
Passes are $65 and will be available Feb. 19 on the film festival website at www.ptfilmfest.com.
Also scheduled is the annual Oscar party, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St.
The party will be hosted by Luke Burbank, host of “Live Wire” radio program in Portland, Ore., who is a former NPR host and host of his own podcast, “Too Beautiful to Live.”
The party also will feature the Rex Reed Jazz Trio and will include champagne, hors d’oeuvres and several large viewing screens.
Tickets cost $85 and are available online at www.ptfilmfest.com, by phone at 360-379-1282, or in person at 211 Taylor St., 401A.
Force is planning for the main event, the 16th Annual Port Townsend Film Festival on Sept. 25-27 and has sent out several invitations to potential special guests.
The guest is usually announced in July. Up to that point, he or she is referred to as a “sardine.”
“This is a very exciting time,” Force said.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen.
“We could have an embarrassment of riches and end up with a whole can of sardines.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
