Propose a Screening

Renting The Pioneer Theater

What is "The Pioneer Theater?"
The Pioneer is a 99-seat movie theater dedicated independent, alternative, foreign, genre, and "other" cinema. It is located at 155 East 3rd Street (between Avenues A and B), in Manhattan, New York City, right around the corner from the Two Boots Pizzeria and Video Store.

What formats can be shown?
The theater can screen 35MM, Beta-SP NTSC, DVCam NTSC, miniDV NTSC, and VHS NTSC. We strongly discourage you from screening on VHS, because it is low quality. We also do not screen on DVD. DVD is not a stable format, and it also is not high quality. We do not, alas, have HD, HDV, DigiBeta, Beta-SP PAL, DVCam PAL, or miniDV PAL decks.

If you want to screen from miniDV NTSC or DVCam NTSC, you must be certain that the tape is in STANDARD PLAY, not in long play. If the tape is encoded in long play, there will be problems. Be sure it is in Standard Play.

However, the projector can accommodate any of these through an auxiliary input, into which you could plug your deck if you want another format, though special arrangements must be made for that. So please be in touch if you are interested in using our auxiliarty input.

Aspect ratios:
For 35MM, we can handle 1.85, 1.66, 2.35, and 1.33.
For video, we can handle 16:9 and 4:3.

Projectors:
Two Century MSA 35mm projectors, Super Lume-X Xenon lamps
Sanyo PLC-EF31N video projector, with these inputs:
- DVI
- Component - R/PR, G/Y, B/Pb, H/HV, V
- Composite
- Y/C
- SVideo

** We do not show 16mm.

Video decks:
Sony Betacam PVW-2600
Sony SLV-N60 VHS deck
Sony DSR-40 DVCam deck

How much does it cost?
Everything depends on the details.

How many people can attend?
99 people can attend each screening, matching the number of seats in our theater. We do not allow standing room.

What will we provide?
A professional and completely private movie-theater experience, complete with concessions, projection staff, and any other special requirements you may have.

How far in advance should I call to book a rental?
As far ahead as possible.

The Pioneer requires payment of the entire rental fee in advance to confirm a rental. We accept cash as well as MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. Contact Ray at 212 254 7107 or send an email to film@ pioneerev.com.

What if I need to cancel my screening?
There are no refunds.

How do I book a rental?
Check out the times of previously booked shows here.

Where there is no film listed, or you see [to be announced], often there is availability - although sometimes there are unlisted private events, or our entire schedule has not been posted for that week. Please note that 9pm showtimes and 7pm showtimes on Tuesdays are almost never available.

There is no general rate to quote. Everything depends on the details that you propose. Please gather as many details as you can, including format, time you require from the moment you enter until the moment you exit, and then call to propose.

When you have a time to propose, contact Ray at 212 254 7107.

If you're interested in renting the Pioneer for our Birthday Matinees, E-mail Ray at film@ pioneerev.com.

Note that all rentals are set up at door-to-door terms. That is, you must pay for all time you spend within the theater, including "set up" and "tear down" time.