Local luminaries say famous movie lines for Westdale Theatre online fundraiser

Local celebrities are getting ready for their close-ups in aid of the Westdale Theatre.

The Westdale Cinema Group, the not-for-profit organization restoring the historic movie house, has asked well-known Hamiltonians to share their favourite movie lines as part of their crowdfunding campaign. The goal, says Westdale Cinema Group member Graham Crawford, is to breathe new life into fundraising, drive traffic to their website, and celebrate the movies.

The videos were recorded at the theatre and feature politicians, well-known community members, and even an appearance from Stripes, the Tiger-Cats’ mascot.

“They were all really good sports about it,” Crawford said.

The Westdale Cinema Group is releasing one or two videos every day on its Facebook page.

Participants include Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who recites Forrest Gump’s famed musings about a box of chocolates, and Hamilton Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Keanin Loomis, who does his best impersonation of Inigo Montoya from “The Princess Bride.”

Liberal MPP Ted McMeekin, who just announced that he’s running for re-election next year, delivers a deadpan “I’ll be back” while wearing dark sunglasses. A video featuring Hamilton MPP and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath reciting her favourite line from “Norma Rae” will be released sometime over the next couple of days, said Crawford.

In a particularly charming video, Stratford and Shaw Festival veteran Matt MacFadzean delivers the “Tears in rain” monologue from “Blade Runner” while holding his Doritos-chomping young son in his lap.

The Westdale Cinema Group, which purchased the theatre in May, is trying to raise $1.5 million to restore the theatre to its original 1935 finishes, while updating the building to meet modern accessibility and safety standards.

While Crawford won’t say exactly how much the campaign has raised so far, he will say it’s in “the hundreds of thousands already.” The theatre is still on track to open on July 1, 2018 — an aggressive but achievable target, said Crawford.

“The way things are going, that’s looking still very doable.”