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07/27/2007
Kernel WilsonFilm fan drives search for the best popcorn
From left to right, Isaiah Roman, 6, and cousin Elias Vasquez, 5, both of Suttons Bay, sample one of three popcorns varieties during a taste test at the State Theatre. TRAVERSE CITY — Buzz Wilson meant it when he said that he wanted the Traverse City Film Festival to have good popcorn. Along with pledging to finance the State Theatre rehabilitation project, Wilson promised to buy a new popcorn machine for the theater. And that is just what he did. After consulting festival co-founder Michael Moore and Roscommon Cinema owner Chuck Pittenger, Wilson visited the Gold Medal Products Co. headquarters in Cincinnati and purchased a new Pop-O-Gold popcorn machine. "I'm a have-fun fan, and fun is movies and popcorn and soda,” Wilson said. "Emphasis on the have fun.” But the quest for perfect popcorn did not stop with the machine. To ensure the ideal combination of kernels, oil and salt, festival volunteers convened at the State Theatre last week to taste-test the different varieties. It was clearly a tough job. Each volunteer received three bags of yellow kernel popcorn cooked with three different types of oil: peanut, canola and sunflower. Once they'd tried them all and cast their votes, they started all over again with white kernels. "We as a film festival are really concerned about having perfect popcorn,” said Susan Socha, venue concession manager for the festival. Popcorn and movies simply go together. "Popcorn's pretty much a requirement for movie-watching,” said volunteer Al Thompson. "When I go to movie festivals, it's pretty much the only thing I eat for the week.” And after testing the varieties, volunteers liked what they tasted. "I think it's awesome,” said volunteer Marc Ryan. "I just think it's the cat's meow.” As a result, theater-goers can plan on Michigan-grown corn, white kernels, popped in canola oil. Wilson is confident that people will be happy with the result. "It will be state-of-the-art movie, sound and popcorn,” he said.
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