Film society may lead to cinema

Cromwell woman PKay Maracin has more than 20 years’ experience working in the international film industry and is now starting a film society in the town in the hope of eventually running a movie theatre as well. Picture: Peter Edwards

The first monthly meeting of Cromwell's new film group will be held tonight and Mrs Maracin is excited about sharing her more than two decades of film industry expertise and potentially, beginning to make her vision to open a movie theatre and wine bar in the town a reality.

She envisaged her new film group as similar to a book club, with members discussing films they have seen, viewing films together and previewing upcoming films.

It would be informal and fun, rather than people feeling they had to learn something or ‘‘be enlightened''.

She hoped the enthusiasm generated by members would help towards her movie theatre concept.

‘‘If I could convince the council, or anybody, that my vision is a smart one, then you already have a group of people who are excited about it.''

American by birth, but ‘‘more European at heart'', she believes she is better equipped than anyone to get a theatre up and running in Cromwell, she just needs the financial backing to do it.

‘‘I don't have the funds . . . I have the passion, the knowhow and the tenaciousness,'' Mrs Maracin said.

‘‘I know about as much about film as anybody in this area will ever know.''

In the mid 1990s, she created and launched Europe-based international box-office and entertainment financial reporting company, Screenline.

After selling her company to Baseline StudioSystems, a subsidiary of the New York Times, three years ago, she remained as an employee in a contract set to expire at the end of this year.

Mrs Maracin had regularly holidayed in New Zealand since first visiting in 2002 for a Lord of the Rings location shoot and felt an ‘‘immediate affinity'' with the country.

She was able to move her job to New Zealand from Europe last year and after marrying Cromwell man Peter Edwards, Mrs Maracin has since become a permanent resident of New Zealand, with a clear objective in mind for her adopted community.

‘‘I think Cromwell is a big enough town, especially going towards the future, to be able to welcome film.''

She hoped to have an opportunity soon to speak to the Cromwell Community Board with regard to its proposal to upgrade the town's memorial hall, which she believed could make a good venue for movie screenings.

The proposal is still in its consultation phase and she aimed to present her idea to the board before any final decisions were made.

Mrs Maracin has already secured websites and patented a name for her business, and plans to draw on her industry contacts in Europe to make her idea happen.

- The Cromwell film society will hold its inaugural meeting today, Thursday September 3, from 7.30pm to 9pm at the Victoria Hotel. Phone 445-0013 to register interest.