Q & A
Patron of the Arts
Warren Ross helped shepherd the Montclair Film Festival from idea to institution .
WRITTEN BY BY ANTOINETTE MARTIN
TUX : ANNE-MARIE CARUSO ; AT HOME : CHRIS PEDOTA
Warren Ross , a60-year resident of Montclair , is so involved in his town that friends nicknamed him “ Mayor .” He says the Montclair Film Festival – newly rebranded as Montclair Film – is the coolest thing he ’ s helped bring to life here since Olympia Dukakis , then afellow Montclairian , started the Whole Theatre Company in 1972 .
An insurance man by trade and arts lover by nature , Ross was thrilled toget acall from the actress ( Dukakis went ontowin an Oscar , in1988 , for Moonstruck ). He arranged insurance for the theater , served on the board and remained apillar of its success throughout its 17-year run . Seven years ago , he got another call about abold artistic notion , this time from TV talk show host Stephen Colbert and his wife Evie . Ross showed upinthe Colberts ’ kitchen for the first talk of an MFF , has served on its board from the start , and now leads fundraising to support MFF ’ s recently opened permanent home onBloomfield Avenue .
The festival had nearly 150 screenings and events last year , attracting 32,000 folks . Is the baby all grown up ? We started with 47 films showing in various theaters around town , which I thought was a lot ! The first year succeeded every which way , and seemed to strike the right chord with everybody . We sold more ads than I thought we would . We had volunteers coming out of the woodwork , doing everything – passionate , hardworking , all ages . Stores put up window displays . Every year it grows , and we think : How can we top that ? And then we do .
Has the mission grown , too ? We now put on events all year . We had 60 submissions for our Kidz Shortz film festival the first year , 100 the next . Our Emerging Filmmakers competition is thriving . People asked for classes in film , editing , screenwriting , media arts , so we provide them . Adult improv classes – always packed . Black History Month screenings . Fundraiser parties , like our ‘ 80s-themed Loser ’ s Lounge at the Wellmont this year . We were a little nervous about that , but 900 people came .
Hence , the need for a permanent home ? It ’ s become a necessity , really . I admit it has always been a personal dream , ever since Iwas akid and used to go to
ITSGOOD TO BE THE MAYOR Ross relaxes in his home study .
the Bellevue Theater to see foreign and art films . They would have people come and talk about the movies , starting great conversations that continued at the shops and restaurants afterward . It was like a town film club . Now we ’ re going to have a much bigger version of that with our building at 505 Bloomfield Ave ., across from the Clairidge and Restaurant Row .
Doesn ’ t that building have quite a history ? It has had afew lives . Itwas aBanco Popular that was bought by Investors Bank , and they donated the building to us . It required a lot of construction to create two classrooms and sound and recording studios , to install AC and create administrative offices . We ’ ve raised a little more than half of a $ 2.6 million capital funding campaign . We found some foundation support and had some nice gifts from a few individuals . We need to continue raising money to pay off the construction costs .
Do you see the Montclair Film Festival helping to revitalize the downtown area ? I love Montclair because of its diversity . It has warmed my heart to see MFF bringing so much life to the entire town , and now the downtown will really benefit . I get calls and emails all year about what ’ s coming , because people don ’ t want to miss it . During the festival , the whole place is buzzing . It was a baby when it started , but now it ’ s an adult taking center stage and lifting us all . ■
MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE MAY 2017
49