WANTED: Enlightened Property Owner for Westport Cinema

Westport Cinema Initiative’s moment in the spotlight may have ended, for now.

But behind the scenes the not-for-profit group is pressing ahead with fundraising plans and its search for a suitable permanent site in Westport. And, all the while, it will be showing films.

Earlier this month, the WCI got caught up in a row at the town hall as planning and zoning bosses tried and failed to make downtown regulation changes which would encourage a small theater to be built – by WCI, or any other group.

At two highly-charged meetings, a stream of residents picked holes in the amendment, with most focused on the allowance for taller buildings. But most critics also voiced their support for a theater – something that Westport hasn’t had for more than a decade.

Sandy Leftkowitz, director of the Westport Cinema Initiative, is taking the pluses.

"There was clearly support for a movie theater back in Westport,’’ said Leftkowitz. "It said to me that we had a very strong group of people interested. I have a very positive feeling.’’

Now the WCI is committed to capturing that interest and furthering its vision for a small, independent, not-for-profit theater in the town.

Jonathan Steinberg, president of the WCI and also State Representative for Westport, said that finding a suitable site would provide a pivotal boost to the group’s campaign.

Having a site is a "key catalyst,’’ said movie-lover Steinberg. "It becomes tangible.’’

Steinberg, who grew up in Westport and remembers "an embarrassment of riches’’ for movie-viewing in town, said WCI is focused on downtown but wouldn’t exclude looking at sites on the Post Road or in the Saugatuck area.

The ideal scenario is for a property owner to gift a site to the non-profit, he said. The property owner would get tax benefits and the WCI would own the site and not have to pay any rent. In that case "we think we’re most of the way home,’’ said Steinberg. "All we have to do is worry about operating expenses.’’

One mooted site is the dirt lot behind popular Main Street eating spot Tavern on Main. Another possibility was the Post Office at 154 Post Road East, just yards from the building that housed the last movie theater in Westport and is now home to an upscale furniture retailer.  A WCI "ally’’ put an offer in for that property but was outbid, Steinberg said.

As the search for a site gears up, so does the fundraising. The group has prepared pitch documents and is initially focusing on high net worth individuals to help gather the several million dollars need to build a 200-seat theater.

Steinberg says the group has done ample research on running costs and construction expenses. "We’ve gone into this with our eyes open,’’ he said. "We’ve talked to people who’ve been successful who want other people to be successful. We’re not doing it on a wing and a prayer.’’

The Avon Theatre Film Center in Stamford and Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, New York have provided inspiration for Westport’s campaigners. Both those cultural centers have opened as not-for-profit ventures in the last 15 years.

For a Westport theater to be successful, both Steinberg and Lefkowitz stress that community involvement is critical – and not just for the membership revenues.

"Everybody should feel proud to have such an entity in their community and hopefully find ways to support it,’’ said Steinberg.

One way of showing support now is attending WCI’s nomadic screenings. Last week the group presented 1970s comedy classic `Animal House’ at the Toquet Hall, complete with an appearance by producer Matty Simmons and an after-party at Bobby Q’s.

Next on the screening schedule is documentary `Farmageddon’ which will be shown at Christ & Holy Trinity on Church Lane on November 18th. Westport Farmers’ Market will co-present the feature and the event is being sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

In Lefkowitz’s vision, the new community theater would collaborate and coordinate with other Westport cultural organizations such as the , the Westport Youth Film Festival, Westport Historical Society and the library. Not to mention getting involved with schools in Westport and surrounding communities.

Steinberg is confident that the project will get all the support it needs. "We believe that Westport is a special community when it comes to the arts and cultural institutions,’’ he said. "We’re banking on that.’’