November 13, 2019

My Fellow Cinezens,

The planned opening date of our new space in Rockport on January 1, 2020 – with up to twice the square footage, for half the rent, and 200 parking spots! – at the Whistlestop Mall, next to the MBTA Commuter Rail station (above the former IGA supermarket) is less than two months away (we’re planning to participate in Rockport’s First Night celebration the night before). It is a vibrant little plaza, with a Walgreens, a thriving mini-market, a fix-it shop, and a variety of boutiques. In the 10-15 minutes it takes you to find parking in Downtown Gloucester on a busy Friday or Saturday night, you can already be at the new Cinema in Rockport and making that essential decision between Junior Mints or Sno-Caps. And we will have two screens to start – one at 30 seats, and one at 50 seats (seat count tentative).

Entirely coincidentally, this has come at the time of our once-every-other-year fundraising campaign. While the cost of this Big Move (and reboot) is less than the cost of a basic 2020 Ford Expedition, it is a cost that is not manageable from cash flow, of which there is presently none (considering that we closed our original location in August after we learned that it was on the market to be sold). In order to reopen as planned, we need to ask for your help in the form of a tax-deductible donation. This is essential help that our amazing patrons provided during past years of need: 2013 for our industry-standard projector, 2015 for our 7-blizzard recovery effort, and 2017 to beef up the staff. And so here we are at another odd-numbered year, and are passing the proverbial hat — rather, the boot (as we’re Vermin Supreme fans here at CACC).

If you’re wondering what we will use your donation for, please check out the following budget:

Additionally, we are looking for donations of equipment — iPads and Macintosh computers of all kinds, and one or two used vehicles with which to conduct a variety of Cinema business in the coming year. All in-kind donations are tax-deductible as well.

The office (upstairs at 37 Whistlestop Mall) is fully operational. This is not only the staging area for our return, but will play host to all the related businesses that have sprung forth from our 12-year odyssey – our movie review site NorthShoreMovies.net, our non-profit community cinema service agency OurTown Cinemas, and our film production company, Newbourne Pictures. You are welcome to come by anytime, and if the door is open, I am happy to give you a live tour (if I am not pinned under an upended couch that has fallen on me).

If you have any questions about anything, please feel free to write or call (all contact info is below).

Thanks for hanging in there with us, and we hope to see you very soon!

With much love,

Robert Newton
Creative Director
The Cape Ann Community Cinema
CapeAnnCinema@gmail.com
(978) 879-8451

CHECKS CAN BE MADE PAYABLE TO:

Fractured Atlas
c/o The Cape Ann Community Cinema
P.O. Box 44
Gloucester, MA 01931