Saving ‘The Historic’

Are you a fan of Christopher Guest movies like “Best in Show” and “Waiting for Guffman”?

Do you enjoy that interview style of sitcom found in “The Office” and “Parks and Rec”?

If your answer is “totally,” then you will want to catch the screening of “The Historic.”

“The Historic

” is a funny, snarky “mockumentary” about a group of teenagers working at the Historic Everett Theatre.

The story has the downtown Everett theater on the brink of being sold when a former worker-turned-famous Hollywood filmmaker wants to premiere his new flick there.

Now, theater manager Scott and the teenagers have two months to keep the doors open. Meanwhile, this motley crew has to figure out how not to strangle each other.

The crew consists of such characters as a surly assistant manager who tells the camera: “I just make sure people don’t suck at their job, pretty much.”

And the too-cool-for-school projectionist who remarks “I have an IQ of 130. And I push ‘Play’.”

Then there’s the “old guy” known as G-105 because that’s where he always sits. He always orders a small popcorn and small coffee. But no one ever talks to him.

To glimpse the trailer, go to tinyurl.com/44qgbyw.

“The Historic” was created by promising young writer and director Nicholas “Nick” Terry, who at 18 years old already has successful celluloid under his belt.

While at Mountlake Terrace High School, Terry wrote, directed and created “Senior Prom,” which captures the absurdity of high school relationships. The film premiered last year at the Seattle International Film Festival to a full house and warm reviews.

With “The Historic,” Terry pointed the lens at another kind of love story.

“This is a love story to the Historic Everett, showing the life it still has,” Terry said. “And making people aware that these theaters are still out there and that they have a place in our community.”

That isn’t an in-your-face message, Terry assured, but one mixed with humor.

“I’m a big fan of having the movies be funny, funny, funny, but also get you with the emotion here and there,” Terry said.

Terry, who will be attending Shoreline Community College in the fall, said the idea for the film came up when he and his dad, Matt Terry, were driving to a film festival in Ellensburg where “Senior Prom” was screening.

Matt Terry runs the classic film series at Historic Everett.

So once dad and son landed on the idea for “The Historic,” the cast was picked. Most are Terry’s high school friends. The script was penned, most of it is improvised, and music was selected. All of it came free from public domain music sites.

Seven months later, “The Historic” is ready to roll.

Michael Olson, Historic Everett Theatre’s real-life director, has confidence in the movie.

“I knew Nick would literally get the message out that Historic Everett is not going to go anywhere,” Olson said. “It’s the oldest theater west of the Rockies, and we’ve been here for 110 years.”

Olson’s goal for the movie is that people watch it and respond by coming through the theater’s doors.

“We’d love to get donations, but we’d rather see you come in and enjoy a show and get something out of it,” Olson said.

Olson has had to laugh at how Terry’s movie is indeed art imitating life.

Historic Everett struggles financially month to month, but on the bright side, keeps its calendar full with shows, concerts, classic movies, weddings, and even a birthday party where a group of teens dressed up as characters from “Phantom of the Opera.”

Olson is determined that, with help from patrons like Terry, the theater will never go completely dark.

Olson said: “We’re going to fight to the end.”

Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.

See the film

“The Historic” will screen at 7 p.m. Sunday at Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. The show is free with donations accepted. The film should be considered PG for adult themes and subject matter.