A new movie theater project was expected to break ground by the first week of September — though, technically no dirt will be moved. Bremerton Cinema, a 10-screen state-of-the-art facility, will be built on top of a two-story parking garage currently under construction by the city of Bremerton at Fourth and Park.

The multimillion-dollar theatre project has been in the works for a couple of years by a company called SEEfilm and it went into high gear recently. James Blissett, one of the four managing members of SEEfilm, is a veteran cinema designer. The principal of Seattle-based architectural firm, The Design Collective, Blissett has been designing movie theatres in smaller markets for 16 years, as well as coffee houses, retail spaces and other projects.

Bremerton Cinema will be SEEfilm’s first project and Blissett hopes the company will grow to five or so in the future. He said he’s dreamed of owning a theater for some time, and Bremerton was a good location because of all the revitalization efforts downtown.

“The area is underserved. The city is doing a good job to revitalize downtown and a cinema is a good way to add (to the efforts),” he said.

Blissett is a strong believer that in smaller markets such as Bremerton, movie theaters can serve as an economic development tool.

“…Movie theatres are the perfect catalyst for economic growth and urban development,” he wrote in an article published in the April 2010 edition of trade publication Film Journal International. “…They bring in large crowds that are necessary to support vibrant commerce, diverse businesses and interests, and establish the strong communities and cultures that once defined America’s small towns.”

The goal for completion of the project is next May. SEEfilm expects to employ about 35 people originally. A builder had not been selected yet as of mid-August.