Strand seeks film premiere
ZELIENOPLE If things go right for Ron Carter, he could be hosting the premiere of a major Hollywood movie here in Butler County at the newly renovated Strand Theater.
The theater, which has been under heavy renovation and restoration since 2001, is still being worked on. That hasn't deterred Carter, however, from dreaming big and making an effort to win an online competition that could bring Hollywood stars to Zelienople.
The contest Carter is promoting is for the new Marvel Comics-based action movie "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." The movie's producers thought of an interesting way to promote their movie; the American ZIP code that garners the most online votes before April 17 will host the movie's premiere on May 1.
Anyone can vote for Zelienople on the movie's Web site at www.x-menorigins.com. Voters can enter the site and go to the "navigation" tab, where they'll find a subsection called "hometown premiere" where they can cast a vote.
People also can vote for Zelienople on the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau's Web site.
Jack Cohen, executive director of the bureau, said there's no reason for people to think Zelienople doesn't have a chance to win the contest. He told a story about a similar contest several years ago promoted by Dell Computers, a contest the tourism bureau ended up winning.
Cohen said the tourism bureau's prize was free advertising space on gigantic billboards in Times Square in New York City.
If it's possible for them, Cohen said, it's certainly possible for supporters of the Strand Theater in Zelienople.
"By being positive and working hard toward the goal, we can make it work," he said. "The overall publicity for the county would be wonderful if we pull this off, if we can rally behind our community."
Carter, executive president of the Strand Theater Initiative, also said there's reason to be optimistic.
He said larger metropolitan areas that are separated into multiple ZIP codes could become different factions, providing more of a chance for a small community like Zelienople to win the prize.
That's why he started the "totally off-the-wall campaign" last week to bring the movie's premiere to Zelienople. Carter already has received an outpouring of support from people in the tourism bureau and other organizations as far away as Pittsburgh.
He's also encouraging anyone he comes across to go online and type in Zelienople's ZIP code, 16063, to vote in the contest. It's an opportunity, albeit a long-shot opportunity, he just can't pass up.
"No words could describe my level of excitement," Carter said. "With the theater renovation under way and about to reach its conclusion, this is the kind of thing from which legends can be made."
Carter said he's optimistic about Zelienople's chances but realizes the contest is countrywide. He also said it's worth a shot even if the Strand Theater doesn't host the premiere.
"I have to temper optimism with realism," he said. "But I figured we'd go by the philosophy of why not give it a shot? What's the worse that can happen?"
For now, he said, Zelienople's greatest hope is that people all around the region will jump on the bandwagon and vote in the contest.
"To really make an impact, the only way is to spread the word in any way possible," Carter said.
