Digital wall is 1st of many improvements at Flying Monkey, under new ownership

PLYMOUTH — Under new ownership as of just over two months ago, the management team of the Flying Monkey Movie started brainstorming ideas to enhance the experience at the venue for their patrons.

A brand new digital wall has been and installed, with General Manager Gina Leary said it has already been a noticeable upgrade for both movie and concert experiences.

The wall was purchased from Gateway Productions, and Gordon Painter, director of technology and engineering, loved the venue so much, he spent a whole week in Plymouth through the installation process.

“He understands nonprofits, and that we are making these improvements to entice more shows, more guests, and sell more tickets to create revenue to build more houses,” Leary said. “We are the fuel to help the engine of Pemi building houses.”

Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity is the venue's new owner.

The digital wall installation was completed July 17, and "Forrest Gump" was the first movie screened on it. They also hosted the Wire Jays and Classic Stones Live the following week for musical acts.

The Common Man family of restaurants donated the Flying Monkey to Pemi-Valley Habitat June 8. The two organizations have a long history of collaboration. Pemi-Valley Habitat already averages one house per year through the proceeds of their Re-Store. Leaders hope the partnership to allow for building an additional two houses per year, according to a five-year plan.

The digital wall

Leary said in conversations with Pemi-Valley Habitat leaders, as they were taking over management of the Flying Monkey, they discussed outdated equipment and building infrastructure. They had meetings about the best upgrades, and came up with a big three to focus on, and the first was a digital wall.

“We had a really old projector that was 20 years old, and being held together with electrical tape,” Leary said. “It kept shorting out, and we had some issues with it.”

Leary said the team of volunteers with Pemi-Valley Habitat came in and installed the back wall, and painted everything black. Painter then came in and installed the digital panels. The result is a high-resolution, 2.6 mm Esdlumen LED video wall, 10 feet high and 19 feet wide, with a screen resolution of 2304x1152 pixels.

“It has been a huge gamechanger,” Leary said. “Technology-wise, it elevates things on our end.”

Leary said a goal after the transition was to focus on bringing in musical acts with bigger production values. She said some of the artists coming in have a visual backdrop design, and the digital wall will enhance it.

She said the resolution is not only light years better, but it is not projected, which caused issues in the past, as the image would sometimes end up on band members. The artist has the capability of remote queuing and pre-sets, as well.

The equipment is now housed stage left, all in one spot, and paneling itself is easy to replace.

Leary said a pre-show reel can be created to advertise and promote local businesses, as well as sponsors. It can also provide trailers for upcoming shows and movies.

“There is a lot to utilize, especially from a marketing perspective.”

More improvements

From a guest experience, Leary thought the digital wall should be tackled first, but there is a grander scheme. Upgrades have already been done to the historic building, which she said has “lots of nooks and crannies,” and the façade was given a facelift.

The second major improvement will be updated space for dancing. Leary said while some shows are made to sit down, patrons often express their desire to dance. This was in issue in the past, but the remodeling will allow for people to cut a rug, and ensure it is done safely.

A third phase of improvements includes stage lighting. Leary said the majority of the can lights are stationary. The idea is to update the lighting to movers, to allow for flexibility. An example is if a band has a lead singer who moves around, the lights will be able to follow them more easily.

Leary said they reached out to vendors for quotes, and a lot of people came to them with advice of their own.

“Technicians, production engineers, and local people who work with Pemi provided quotes and what was needed,” Leary said.

This is where the relationship with Gateway Productions, and Painter, becomes even more beneficial. Not only did the venue get a “very reasonable price” for the digital wall, but Painter spent the week of July 14, in town, to help install the screen and get a sense of the layout.

Painter originally came in to assess the building’s space, measured it, and gave options and quotes. He came back and helped install the wall, along the team from Pemi-Valley Habitat and Flying Monkey staff, working under his direction.

“He has been a tremendous source of information,” Leary said. “We will be using Gateway for lighting, as well.”

Positive feedback

The digital wall caters not only to the concertgoer, but the movie buff, as well. Movies, both new and old, are offered on Wednesday nights, and this is when the digital wall can really shine.

Leary said management has already heard positive feedback. She said it puts the Flying Monkey into the same realm as other theaters implementing similar structures, such as The Rex Theatre in Manchester, which has a large LED wall of its own.

“It is a night-and-day difference for movies,” Leary said. “The quality, picture, the brightness of the screen, everything.”

Frank McClain, executive director of Pemi-Valley Habitat, said in a prepared statement the project is a good representation of collaborating and investing in community spaces.

“This new addition will help ensure that the theater remains a vibrant and exciting destination for the community and for performers for years to come.”