Carter
Meiselman
Carter
Meiselman, CEO of Eastern Federal Corp., spent eight years in New
York as an investment banker before joining in January 2001 the
circuit his grandfather started in the early 1930s. Meiselman was
appointed CEO after his father Ira’s death that spring. Eastern
Federal currently operates 194 screens at 21 sites in South Carolina,
North Carolina and Florida.
What
about you would most surprise the majority of your fellow exhibitors?
For someone who is 6’5” and from North Carolina (a basketball-crazy
state), I am not a very good basketball player. People are always
surprised by this.
What
would you wish for if a djinn offered to grant one wish (assuming
you couldn’t wish for more wishes)?
Lower film rental!
What
would you be if you weren’t a cinema operator?
Relief pitcher, Atlanta Braves.
Who is your
favorite filmmaker and why?
David Fincher (“Fight Club,” “Seven,” “The
Game”). Very spooky and stylish.
Which
TV show do you hate to miss?
“The Sopranos.”
What’s
your favorite book?
Shel Silverstein’s “The Missing Piece Meets the Big O.”
What
kind of lunchbox did you have as a kid?
Probably “Star Wars.” It was like a religion for people
my age.
What’s
your favorite movie theatre in which you and/or your partners have
absolutely no investment?
Angelika Theater in Dallas, Texas.
What’s
the best thing about running a cinema company?
People are always interested in what you do because everyone loves
talking about the movies. I have a friend in the ribbon manufacturing
business. No one ever wants to talk about his job with him.
What’s
the worst?
Once a theatre becomes unsuccessful, it is extremely difficult to
turn it around.
What’s
the best thing about living in North Carolina?
Charlotte is a clean, fun, safe, pretty, growing town. I live two
hours from the beach and two hours from the mountains. I lived in
New York for 10 years, and its amazing the improvement in quality
of life since I have been back in Charlotte.
What
drives you?
We have a 70-year tradition at Eastern Federal. I would love to
live up to the high standards set by my grandfather and father.
What
was the single best piece of advice you ever got?
My dad told me to never make hasty decisions. He also told me to
trust my first instincts. Managing the two successfully is the trick.
