Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (June 07/02) - A night at the movies in Inuvik used to be a choice between what's on TV or what is rented from the video store, but a fundraising initiative at SAM school changed that about three years ago.

The school began showing new release movies as a source of new funds and to give kids some good entertainment, said gym teacher Shane Brewster.

"We saw a need for it and we found a place where we could get top movies before they were released on video," Brewster said.

They found a company in Vancouver and one in Toronto that handle mostly kids movies and offer them for rent before they come out on video.

Brewster said the movie idea isn't new, but getting the new releases is.

"We used to run movies for kids here all the time at Christmas, but it wouldn't be like a top movie," he said. "They were older movies that were already out on video."

When they found that they could get new releases they thought the movie night would be a good fundraiser.

Brewster says the movies have brought in another source of funds for the school's extra needs, but also requires a lot of extra work from a team of volunteers.

"On a good weekend, we can make between $1,000 and $1,500," he said. "We also spend five hours on Friday making popcorn and getting ready and Saturday for four hours."

"It's not like we're making a ton of money, but it's a good fundraiser."

The sound system was bought used from Axe Music in Edmonton and also doubles as the P.A. system for assemblies. They use the 16- millimetre movie projectors the school already had.

The two projectors sit at the back of the gymnasium and powered by an extension cord. When the reels need to be changed, one machine is unplugged and the other is plugged in and quickly focused.

"They are your typical 16 millimetre- projectors," Brewster said. "They haven't changed in 20 years, so it's mono sound -- there's no such thing as 16 millimetre stereo."

The school is looking towards getting a new system for next year that will allow for better sound quality.

"We may be looking at DVDs or VHS, that would give us better sound quality," he said.

Historically, kids movies have drawn a better business than movies for the older crowd.

"Our kids movies do great," he said. "We average about 300 kids per weekend."

On the first showing of Lord of the Rings, Brewster said about 100 people turned out and Saturday was a little better.

"We ran Harry Potter as an adult movie about a month ago and only had about 15 or 20 people show up."

He says popcorn and the candy concession also help out towards raising money.

Lord of the Rings caps off the movie nights at SAMs until school starts up again next fall.