Big changes ahead to the movie theater industry won't really effect us as moviegoers, but they could cause a number of small theaters across the country a lot of trouble.

Folks at the Family Drive-In Theatre in Stephens City are optimistic that they will be able to keep their doors open.

The future isn't so certain for other small theaters.

The movie industry is doing away with 35mm film and going digital.

Theaters have to buy the expensive new equipment by the end of next year at the latest.

The Owner, James Kopp, says, "For small time indoor theater owners and for drive in owners it's a real big transition. The equipment is very expensive. For us here at the Family Drive-In Theatre, we estimate it's going to be $140,000, about $70,000 a screen."

Kopp says the community has really stepped up to help with the high cost, raising $16,000 so far.

He tells TV3, "We hate to ask for patron help but we're in the situation that the bigger theater chains get 80 percent of the projectors paid for by the movie studios, whereas the small town theater owners don't get any assistance at all and a lot of us are going to our patrons for help."

Kopp says the digital switch isn't all bad though.

It will allow them to have alternate content like concerts.