Andrew Poore has been working in movie theaters since he was a 16-year-old kid, selling popcorn to folks at General Cinemas’ Maine Mall Theater in 1986. Today, that theater and its chain are both gone. But Poore is still helping people watch movies.

Today, he serves as the director of operations for the Flagship Cinemas. From an office in Auburn, he runs the chain’s 11 theaters between Maine and Florida. They include screens in Lewiston, Auburn and Oxford.

Name: Andrew Poore

Age: 41

Hometown: Falmouth

Single, Relationship or Married? Married 12 years

Children? Twin 9-year-old daughters

You oversee theaters in several states. Is there something different about Maine movie audiences? Maine audiences have always been loyal to movie going and have a wide range of interest in all genres. 

What does it take to get local folks to the theater? Maintain a well-kept clean theater and offer the latest releases with quality viewing and sound. Rainy weekends are a help too!

How often do you see movies? I usually see at least one movie every week.

What have you seen this season that’s particularly caught your eye? “Moneyball” was a great film for me as I am a huge baseball fan. “Hugo” is a wonderful film and is currently playing that has appeal for all ages. My daughters are reading this book this year in the 4th grade.

What movies are you looking forward to seeing? The American version of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” The original Swedish films were great; I hope this release stays fairly true to the originals. “War Horse” also looks promising; the play has done quite well on Broadway. There is a lot of buzz about “We Bought a Zoo” and “The Adventures of Tintin.”

With the “Harry Potter” series over and “Twilight” nearing its end, what do you think the next big franchise will be? If I had to guess I would say “The Hunger Games.” It’s currently slated to come out in March 2012.

Do you have any Oscar predictions? I think it’s likely we’ll see “The Debt,” “Hugo,” “The Descendants,” “My Week With Marilyn,” “The Iron Lady,” “The Artist,” “J. Edgar” and wild card “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” in the running.

You’ve outfitted theaters with 3D equipment. What will the next big change be for your theaters? The next big change is switching over to all digital equipment. Traditional 35mm film has been around for several decades, but it’s finally being phased out. 

You have tried several projects aimed at introducing older films or smaller, art house films to audiences. What motivates you? Reaching a wider audience. It’s great to have more variety available at the theater for those who don’t necessarily want to see the latest action movie, but rather an independent film or an old classic.

What’s the perfect movie-going experience? Great service, hot fresh popcorn and a great presentation.