The End of 35mm Film at Plymouth's Willow Creek 12

The inevitable change sweeping the movie theatre industry across America, and all over the world for that matter, is inching closer and closer to Willow Creek. In roughly one month the 23-year-old multiplex will begin the conversion into the digital age.

The transition into that pristine and flawless presentation will not be cheap for the 34-year-old Minnesota based Muller Family Theatres, which acquired Willow Creek 12 in 2000, but it’s the necessary next step. Some will disagree, including yours truly.

The “digital revolution” was brought on by many factors, but mainly a push from the film studios strongly advising exhibitors that have not made the digital conversion, to take immediate steps in that direction. There seems to be some forceful action here. One studio was giving theatre owners a specific date to convert by Jan. 1, 2013, is when some will stop printing their movies on 35mm film. The date has been tossed around for about 15 months now, but was recently pushed back to Jan. 1, 2015. (My source was a letter on the website: film-tech.com.)

Is it in the best interest for all multiplexes to convert? Yes and no. There is an alternative advantage. Once a theatre is digital, they have the ability to screen mostly anything -- operas, concerts, sporting events, the Oscars -- unless it’s written in the leasing contract that they aren’t allowed to.

Depending on the experience, there is a quality advantage as well. Many projectionists these days are not properly trained, nor do they have true interest in the field before taking the job. Many theatres will find digital refreshing in the sense that you cannot possibly scratch any more films, because celluloid will no longer be at play. I must admit that this is a plus, unless you’re a theatre like Willow Creek that takes care of all film prints and equipment. Granted we’ve scratched a few films over time, because it’s bound to happen. Most recently was “The Woman in Black”, which I happened to do. Aside from that, I can’t remember the last film we scratched.

I have been the Assistant Head Projectionist at Willow Creek since 2004, having worked at the theatre since 2002. My younger brother, Corey Ayd, is also a projectionist. Dave Hilsgen -- some call him Grand Master Projectionist, others call him Yoda -- has been with Willow since its birth in 1989, and in the entertainment industry since the early 70’s, running film at many theatres across Minnesota.

It’s a strange thing to imagine, Willow Creek not running film. It will take about three weeks to convert to digital. Other companies are making the change; Mann and Landmark will be next. Landmark Uptown has already closed down for a complete and much needed overhaul.

This short article was written with a biased point of view, no doubt. You see, when digital projectors go in there is no longer a need for film projectionists. The machines will run on their own. The responsibility of the booth will soon belong to the managers. As a film enthusiast and hardworking projectionist that makes presentation a priority, this conversion doesn’t sit too well with me.

Through all this negativity I have, one simple thing remains true, and will always remain true with any intense amount of change: We need to embrace it.

There is a texture and quality about film that will never be beat, but if digital cinema is as truly spectacular as the studios are making it out to be, we need to embrace it, for there is no other option.