Troop greeters film to screen in Bangor
8/4/09 | 9 comments
on DVD

Troop greeters film to screen in Bangor


By Jessica Bloch
BDN Staff

BANGOR, Maine — As a student in the Bangor area, Old Town native Aron Gaudet now estimates he saw hundreds of movies at the theater complex located near the Bangor Mall.

Next month, Gaudet’s successful documentary about three senior citizens who serve as troop greeters at Bangor International Airport will open for a theatrical run at the very cinema where Gaudet spent so much time as a youngster.

The award-winning “The Way We Get By” will play at the Bangor Mall Cinemas 10 for one week starting Friday, Sept. 11. Times have yet to be determined, but the trailer for the movie will play in the weeks leading up to the opening.

“There was a stretch in high school and college when I was seeing two to three movies every weekend with my friends, and 90 percent of them were probably there,” Gaudet said Tuesday, hours after the deal was completed with Boston Culinary Group, which owns the Bangor theaters. “So it’s pretty cool to have our movie screening there.”

Bangor will be the first location to have DVDs of the film for sale.

“The Way We Get By” had its Maine premiere in April at the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono. It has been screened at many small theaters throughout the state since then.

“It’s amazing to see the audiences that have come out,” Gaudet said Friday. “The word is out in Maine, and people are excited to see it when it comes to their town.”

For Gaudet and the film’s producer, Gita Pullapilly, who are engaged and planning an October wedding in Stockton Springs, the Maine showings are special. The two filmmakers’ attention now, however, is focused on a commercial run in Los Angeles that will help keep the movie eligible for a potential Academy Award nomi-nation.

According to the rules for the 82nd Academy Awards listed on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Web site, feature documentary films must complete a seven-day commercial run in theaters in Manhattan and in Los Angeles County by Aug. 31, 2009.

“The Way We Get By” played in Manhattan for the minimum run last month. Starting Aug. 14 the film will screen for a week at the Laemmle Music Hall in Los Angeles.

Oscar nominations will be announced on Feb. 2, 2010.

Gaudet said awards aren’t his motivation in getting “The Way We Get By” into theaters, but he acknowledged the film has garnered acclaim and attention at film festivals all over the U.S. and Canada. The New York showing has prompted future commercial screenings in Chicago and Boston.

“We just wanted to give the film the best chance to succeed and get to a wider audience,” Gaudet said. “At the same time, you want to qualify for any end-of-the-year awards. It would be bad to not even be eligible. [But] I’m not really thinking about stuff like that. There are a ton of great documentaries out there, and sometimes people don’t realize how tough the competition is.”

Still, “The Way We Get By” has received some impressive awards, including the Audience Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, N.C. It was the same prize won last year by the film “Man on Wire,” which went on to win the Oscar.

Gaudet said money hasn’t exactly been his motivation either. Since July 17 the film has made $34,202 according to www.boxofficemojo.com, most of which, he said, goes to theaters and others who help arrange for showings.

Meanwhile, the movie will screen this weekend at a film festival in Kosovo and closer to home in Rangeley and Damariscotta.

For information, go to www.thewaywegetbymovie.com

jbloch@bangordailynews.net

990-8287

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Comments
9 comments on this item
On 8/5/09 at 6:59 AM, jeffysmom wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

it's about time! I've heard so many good things about the film. Looking forward to finally seeing it.

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On 8/5/09 at 7:14 AM, MaineMimi wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I attended the screening in Waterville back in April, and I was very impressed! Please don't miss the opportunity to see this in Bangor. Many have heard about the "Troop Greeters" who have been a source of pride for the community. This documentary about their individual efforts will touch your heart, and make you prouder than ever of these wonderful people.

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On 8/5/09 at 8:11 AM, Gunner wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I have seen this documentary 3 times and plan on purchasing the DVD. You cry, laugh and cheer every time. It is an amazing , amazing

movie. If you ever have the opportunity to attend a flight of troops at the airport, you will never forget it. You will see grown men and women

tear up and then put smiles on their faces because they are being acknowlidged and thanked for what they are doing for our country.It

is an experience that you will never forget. I have seen people waiting for their flights take part in the handshaking, they too get very emotional.

What they have done with this documentary is unbelievable. I know each of the characters in the documentary personally, I am

very proud to know them, they represent the Troop Greeters perfectly.

If you have a chance to see this documentary, you will never regret it or forget it.

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On 8/5/09 at 8:44 AM, Sunshine2 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I am looking forward to seeing this film! My husband is in the Army National Guard and was actually one of the Soldiers at the initial screening in Orono. He will be re-deployed next year. Our children and myself are already looking forward to his warm welcome home before he has even left! Thank you to everyone for their enduring support for the Troops and their family and friends. Even a smile and a knowing nod goes a long way for a Soldier and/or his/her family member(s). Thank you.

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On 8/5/09 at 12:45 PM, wtsawyer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Mayor Palmer allowed John Bragg, Tim Woodcock, Warren Cook and myself to show the trailer to the full Bangor City Council recently and discuss the impact of this wonderful film to the City.Three of the Councillors had already seen the full film. If you know a City Councillor, PLEASE tell them that you support the film, and ask that the City support efforts underway to promote it's circulation even further. I believe the Federal Government is even considering making the full film available to Service Personel around the globe!

The film-maker and producer are to be commended for their excellent work... now they need additional support for the film to have the widest circulation possible, and the City of Bangor will be a big winner as a result.

Please, too, recognize not only the sacrifices of the folks shown in the film; but also their courage in allowing their innermost feelings and otherwise non-public lives to be so intimately covered in the film.

The next time you're in Bangor City Hall, please note all the accolades the Troop Greeters have received over nearly twenty years! In fact, there's a letter posted from then Joint Chiefs of Staff head, General Colin Powell, back in 1991.

How can anyone in the area forget the John Bapst band and the sax-playing sargent during return flights of our soldiers?

This is a wonderful opportunity for all Mainer's to celebrate our neighbor's effort to not only "Get By"... but also "Do the Right Thing".

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On 8/5/09 at 2:42 PM, newsnow wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I am a basic "shut-in" and I do not live in the Bangor area - How and/or when can I get a copy of the DVD for this. I have been in the Airport when troop planes came in and/or went out - while I was picking up my daughter and her family several times- and it is so emotionally moving to actually see those young men and women using the cell phones and taking advantage of the snack food etc that was given them!! Like someone said, their eyes light up and sometimes there are tears in their eyes. Any info on how I can get a copy - please let me know??? --- geowalk@live.com

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On 8/5/09 at 5:34 PM, PatofBangor wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I've seen this wonderful documentary twice; once at the Collins Center for the Arts where I had the honor of meeting the three troop greeters in the film, and then again at the Alamo Theatre in Bucksport with my daughter. There aren't enough words to describe the feeling you walk away with after you've seen this film. I'll never forget it, and I'll never forget Bill Knight, Jerry Mundy, and Joan Gaudet for their extraordinary dedication to our servicemen and women. They will be a very hard act to follow.

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On 8/6/09 at 2:07 PM, justmyopinion625 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

newsnow: go to the waywegetby.com pretty sure you can purchase a dvd from their official site :)

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On 8/11/09 at 1:58 PM, newsnow wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Thank you for the info, justmyopinion, I have been in the hospital for the past few days and just got home -read your message!! Thanks again I will try that!!

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