Larry and Liz McNamara are hopeful that an appearance on ABC News Ten will focus the spotlight on their efforts to save the 76 year-old Strand Theater.

The couple were interviewed today by Channel 10’s Amy Cutler today at the Strand. In an on camera interview Larry told Cutler he “feels optimistic” about the Strand’s chances of staying in business.

He’s hoping The Strand will be eligible for a new North Country initiative that is making funds available for small town cinemas to make the transition from 35 mm film to digital.

On Thursday,  Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration announced it would offer $400,000 in loans to help some small movie theaters trade in their film projectors for digital models.

The funding is for the North Country Regional Economic Development Council and will be  available to theaters in northern New York.

In June the council approved the reassignment of 2012 funds to the "Go Digital or Go Dark" campaign initiated by the Adirondack North Country Association and the Adirondack Film Society.

The Strand needs to raise about $60,000 to fund the conversion. You can watch the report here.