Deadline met by theater backers; digital projector system will be purchased
Deadline past.
Goal met!
As the deadline for the Kickstarter campaign for the Rogers City Theater’s digital projector past this morning (Sept. 28) the final tally showed the good news. The drive brought donations from 558 backers who pledged nearly $117,000 towards the project.
Rachel Goodstein received a fortune cookie two days before the Kickstarter campaign was launched to seek pledges to purchase a new digital projector for the Rogers City Theater.
The fortune at dinner stated that “her goal would be achieved in 60 days.” She said it was a good omen.
It was more of a foreshadowing, as the $100,000 goal was reached Sept. 19 at 3:30 p.m. There had been an explosion of pledges over the final three days.
Sept. 17 ended up being the most successful day of the campaign with $10,585 of pledges. On the goal-clinching final day, $7.077 pledges were received from a record 47 backers. It put the endeavor over the top on day 51 of the 60-day campaign.
On the Sunday before hitting the goal, Goodstein was back at the Chinese Thai restaurant in town and received another fortune she kept that stated, “You will receive unexpected support over the next week. Accept it graciously.”
Goodstein has been promoting the project since before its launch date, July 30.
“Thanks to the community, and the world, for responding to our story and our request,” said Goodstein.
The shift now has turned to getting additional pledges to replace as many theater seats at $200 each.
There are only a few days left to send in pledges to support a seat, which are expected to have cup holders. Each seat is about $200 apiece. As of Tuesday afternoon, 527 backers had pledged $108,808.
Seats will be replaced starting in the front center section and working to the back of the theater and then to the side sections. As of Monday, they had enough for three-and-a-half rows of seats.
Theater owner Karl Heidemann, who is in Germany with family members, has not only been grateful for the support, but anxious to get the equipment.
“I suppose I just have to be patient and let the campaign run its full 60 days,” said Heidemann. “I am just so grateful to everybody, for all the work that has been done.
“I am so glad that other people feel the way I do, about how important the theater is to the town.” He said the result of the campaign has been emotionally uplifting.
“I don’t want to break down and cry here, because I am on a long distance line,” said Heidemann on the phone from the foothills of the Bavarian Alps.
A lot of credit has gone to Goodstein, who not only spearheaded the campaign, but also continuously promoted it.
“Without her, this would not have happened at all,” said Heidemann. “She introduced me to Kickstarter, and said she would run the campaign. Of course, I am busy showing the movies and running the theater, I said I did not know if I had time for it. She took it over and deserves all the credit for this.”
Heidemann has owned the theater for 10 years and made multiple improvements to the facility during that time period, including the replacing of the heating system and the addition of a new sound system. He has tapped into his retirement savings and could not afford the equipment on his own.
Heidemann said a new digital projector is going to bring 3-D capability and state of the art equipment to enhance the moviegoers’ experience. “It is going to be first class in terms of the quality of the picture and the sound, I am really excited about that.”
Heidemann said he has looked at a few options. “I have done a lot of research on it, but we have not made any final decisions about the equipment,” said Heidemann. “Rogers City is going to be a destination theater for northeast Michigan.”
Former theater owner Dick Vogelheim commended Heidemann’s improvement efforts at the
On the Kickstarter comment board, Karl’s niece, Kim Adams, who is an associate producer at Pixar Animation Studios, said this before the goal was reached: “Almost there – I’m teary because I think we’re going to make it!!!
And, Elaine Heidemann (her mother), our pledge sends sincerest gratitude to Karl for his absolute love of the theater and the community and unwavering commitment. He is so inspiring to our family.”
There have been many congratulatory remarks to all involved.
“It is a compelling story, it’s an important need,” said Goodstein. “In my career in filmmaking, I met Alan Shepard, the first American in space. When they were selecting who would be the first American in space, astronauts had to write an essay about who would be the best person to go. He wrote, ‘I know it can be done; it is important that it be done; and I want to do it.’ That’s how I felt about the theater.”