BY KEVIN SHALVEY

Because it’s taken longer than seven years to get Red River Theaters off the ground, the board decided it would be apt to name it after a 1948 John Wayne western about a long, arduous journey.

The new theater in Concord is poised to bring independent and local films to the area.

A nonprofit organization, it is expected to open its doors Friday, Oct. 5, said executive director Robbi Farschman. It will be located in the lower level of the Capital Commons Building, at 11 S. Main St..

“I keep telling people, you will not see ‘Shrek 18’ here, and things of that nature,” said Farschman.

For the past six weeks, the interiors of the three screening rooms have been under construction.

The two larger screening rooms will have a total of 291 seats, while the third will have removable seats.

That screening room will be used for  parties, local film festivals and setting up bands to accompany silent films, Farschman said.

“If people wanted to have a party in there, or a reception, we’d be able to move the chairs and make space for them,” she said.

The three-screen theater will bring in movies that until now were only playing in Boston, Farschman said.

“It’s an art cinema. It’s independent film, so you’re not going to se the films we show anywhere else in the area,” she said.

They’ve chosen a flim distributor located in Stanford, Conn., which is close enough to New York City to be tuned into what’s happening there, Farschman said.

The project has garnered support from local businesses and residents, too.

To date, about $1.55 million have been raised to support the project. Farschman said they hope to raise a total of $1.83 million before the theater opens.

And, she said, there will be plenty of positions for local volunteers once the theater opens. There will only be one full-time employee, two part-timers and two projectioners, but there are other positions to be filled.

“When we open, in addition to the part-time positions, there’ll be spots for volunteers to take tickets or usher, or do other things when we hold larger events,” she said.