'Supersize Me' Director Coming to Easton's Movies at the Mill

Easton's Movies at the Mill won't be at the mill this year.

It will however, be bigger than ever before, with the addition of a new filmmaking seminar with director Morgan Spurlock in the afternoon, before the film festival kicks off in evening at Hugh Moore Park.

Now in its fifth year, Movies at the Mill is an annual showcase of short films that also functions as a lavish night out.  For its first four years, it was held on the former Simon Silk Mill property on 13th Street. 

But with the mill under construction, "it's not safe for people traipsing around, watching movies," Mayor Sal Panto said at a news conference Wednesday.

It's not clear how long the festival will call Hugh Moore Park home. Panto said it depends on when construction at the mill begins. 

The festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a seminar for filmmakers at city hall, featuring Spurlock, famous for his McDonald's documentary Supersize Me.

He'll talk about the craft of moviemaking, and also "making the leap from indie to studio" films, said Gershon Hinkson, who oversees Movies at the Mill.

Hinkson, a film-editor, worked with Spurlock recently on One Direction: This Is Us a documentary about the British pop group. 

Hinkson hopes that Movies at the Mill will keep growing, eventually becoming a week-long festival that helps make the Easton area a location for filmmakers.

"It's my belief that in the Lehigh Valley, filmmaking is still a semi-new language," he told reporters Wednesday.

Of course, Movies at the Mill is about more than just movies. It's a chance for people to get dressed up—the dress code is "dressy casual," Hinkson said—socialize and listen to music.

This year's entertainment comes from the Floyd King Quartet, which was supposed to play last year but got rained out.

Movies at the Mill is sponsored by Merchants Bank. For ticket information, and to learn how to volunteer or submit movies, visit http://moviesatthemill.com/. 

The festival is looking for movies, but is also looking for volunteers. Hinkson said the festival is willing to work with local non-profits to give them $500 in exchange for volunteer time.