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Thank You to our Members and Friends. Your 2,687 gifts have saved the Ambler Theater.
- January 4, 2013

We are happy to announce that on January 1, 2013, the Ambler Theater officially unveiled its new Digital Cinema projectors and equipment. We have successfully converted from film to Digital Cinema. Thank you for making this happen.

Thank You. Thank you to everyone who helped make this campaign such a great community-based success. Thank you for your support when we needed it most – when the future of the Ambler Theater depended on it. Together we have met this challenge and together we will move into an exciting new digital future.Please view our HONOR ROLL for a list of all campaign supporters.

The Campaign was a Huge Success. As of December 31, 2012, our Digital Cinema Campaign raised a total of $376,000 from 2,687 gifts, 86% of which were from members. Thank you for your support. This total exceeded our goal. Our success resulted from 18 months of work by our board and staff and from the generous support of our members and friends. All funds raised were needed and all funds raised were earmarked for Digital Cinema. (See below for more information on the campaign, its history and goals.)

The COST OF DIGITAL CINEMA INCREASED. Our fundraising success is fortunate, because the actual cost of our Digital Cinema installation increased. As of December 31, 2012, we've spent $367,000 on the Digital Cinema conversion (leaving $9,000 for final work). All of our expenditures have been prudent and forward-looking. Our original budget, set 18 months ago, was $300,000. The actual cost increased for two reasons. First, we did a more complete conversion, including a 4K resolution projector (with 3D capability) in the big theater, 2K resolution projectors (with 4K upgradability) in the other two theaters, new screens (better suited for digital cinema) in all theaters, and various other items. Second, the scope of electrical and computer work was more extensive than anticipated.

They're Computers. Digital Cinema is entirely computer based, and, like all computers, the pruchase price is just the beginning of the cost. We will now need to budget for servicing and, ultimately, for replacing these new projectors (in 5-10 years). Welcome to the brave new digital world!

MORE INFORMATION. We have more information about our campaign and conversion below. We also have written up "The Ambler Theater's Digital Cinema Conversion" in a separate blog post, which is a "case study" to converting to Digital Cinema for Art House Theaters. We suggest that you read the details below, first.

THANK YOU, AGAIN. The Ambler Theater is a nonprofit, community-owned theater. It is your theater and we couldn't have met this existential challenge without your support. Thank you!

• What are we doing with the money raised?
All of the $376,000 raised has been earmarked for Digital Cinema. It is all needed. We have spent $367,000 as of December 31, 2012 (and counting). The actual cost was greater partially because of the scope of electrical and computer networking was more than initially anticipated. We also did a more complete conversion than planned, including 4K resolution and 3D capability in the big theater, 2K resolution (with upgradability) in the other theaters, new screens (better suited for digital cinema) in all three theaters, and various other upgrades. The remaining $9,000 will be spent in early 2013. Digital Cinema is entirely computer based, and, like all computers, the purchase price is just the beginning of the cost. This will be an ongoing expense for years to come and will have to be budgeted accordingly. Welcome to the brave new world of Digital Cinema!
• How does Digital Cinema look?
Digital Cinema offers an amazingly sharp and bright picture. We've been 35mm film cineastes for a long time. But we've been stunned by the beauty, depth and clarity of movies projected on the latest Digital Cinema projectors. We think that this is a step forward into the future of visual presentation. Plus, many older, classic films are gaining new life after being digitally restored and shown on Digital Cinema. Yes, some holdouts will always prefer 35mm film (just like some people still prefer vinyl records for music). But, on balance, we think that the switch to Digital Cinema is good in terms of the visual aesthetic experience.
• Why is the Movie Industry switching to Digital Cinema?
The movie industry has been trying to facilitate this change for over ten years. Their reason is economic. It is much cheaper for them to make digital hard-drives of movies versus film prints. Of course, the cost of purchasing the projectors for Digital Cinema falls on theaters. Currently, more than 85% of the screens in the US use Digital Cinema projectors. The change-over is happening very quickly now. It will be completed in 2013. Distributors are clearly and frequently saying to theaters: "Switch now or be left behind."
• What would happen if a theater doesn't
  add Digital Cinema?
Yes, this question is moot for the Ambler Theater, since we have now converted to Digital Cinema. But we'll answer it, so that you know why we've been so adamant in making this conversion. Starting in 2013, big art house hits like Moonrise Kingdom, The Artist, and The King's Speech will only be available in the Digital Cinema format. Digital Cinema is a very specific format for which specific and very expensive projectors are required. There will be virtually no 35mm film prints. These big arthouse hits bring a lot of happy people to the Ambler. They are also essential to our economic viability. They pay the bills that allow us to show smaller independent and foreign films as well as special screenings like Hollywood Summer Nights and filmmaker appearances. That's why it was imperative that we made this Digital Cinema conversion. And why we are so happy that our members and friends have made it possible.
• What are other theaters doing?
Art House Theaters across the country are also faced with this same problem. We are members of a group called The Art House Convergence, which is a loose consortium of 100+ independent theaters. We've been talking with our peers for over a year about how to address this challenge. Most small, independent theaters are approaching this challenge the same way and are likewise preparing to convert. We are fortunate to have such strong support from our members and friends that we can make this expensive change. Some smaller theaters are not so lucky. Some may not make it.
• Won't there be any 35mm film prints in the future,
  and what will happen to our current 35mm projectors?
There may be a few film prints made. But those very few film prints will not be a reliable source for the movies we need to show to survive. However, we are maintaining our 35mm film projectors in one auditorium (Theater 2, the medium sized theater), and we'll use them in the future for special 35mm film screenings.