Moviehouse sounds alarm over proposed film distributor merger

MILLERTON — The Moviehouse on Main Street, a long-standing fixture in Millerton’s business community, is continuing its revitalization as the film industry sees continued shifts toward centralization with recent mergers.

As a small independent theater, The Moviehouse provides not only a traditional movie experience but also highlights local artists outside of film. Despite the shifting landscape in the industry, as seen by the merger between Paramount Skydance Corp. and Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., the theater is devoted to sustaining arts in the community.

One challenge facing the industry at the moment is the attempted merger of large film distributors such as Paramount and Warner Bros. A dozen states, including New York, filed a lawsuit on July 13, seeking to block Paramount from purchasing Warner Bros. for $110 billion. The lawsuit cites concerns over costs for movie theaters and moviegoers, and a possible monopoly over the industry.

On July 20, the court approved a temporary restraining order blocking the merger until a ruling is decided in the lawsuit. The court’s injunction cited the deal’s likelihood to succeed, irreparable harm and public interest.

For movie theaters across the country, but particularly independent theaters, this causes concern over the future of the industry.

Movie theaters typically keep about 50% of ticket-sale revenue, with the other half going to the distributor. Critics argue that a merger could further reduce theaters’ negotiating power—particularly for independent cinemas—by leaving them with fewer distributors to negotiate with.

Moviehouse General Manager Jeremy Boviard voiced concern for movie theaters nationwide as the merger looms. He said distributors exercise a large amount of control over theaters.

“It is an uneasy relationship just because they already have so much more power,” Boviard said.

This raises issues over not only the financial aspect of a decrease in films, but the cultural impact as well.

“You don’t really want only a handful of gatekeepers deciding what type of artistic experiences people are both creating and then experiencing,” said Boviard. “It ties into freedom of speech and the feeling that there are spaces for lots of different voices to be heard.”

Despite these challenges, The Moviehouse is devoted to providing access to films and the arts.

“Human beings, at least in our society, are really looking for ways to connect with other people,” said Boviard.

The location has served as a theater since 1915 but was renovated and reopened as The Moviehouse in 1978. After shuttering in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the theater transitioned to a non-profit in February 2022 under the name Millerton Community Cinema Arts Inc. The organization runs the independent theater as well as local arts events such as filmmaker Q&A’s and screenings of indie films.

This switch to a nonprofit allowed the organization to receive grant funding. In June, it received a grant for $99,000 from the New York Council on the Arts in order to upgrade the theater.

“The transition has allowed us to just further our missions and our goals,” Boviard said. “We as a community discover and raise the profile of things that otherwise wouldn’t get this platform to be seen.”