The Birks Cinema, Aberfeldy: Newsreel

Dates for your diary: 25th Aug AGM and talk / 14th Aug Aberfeldy Show

2010-08-10T23:19:00.000+01:00

We're busy in the next couple of weeks in Aberfeldy:

firstly, we'll be running a stall at the Aberfeldy Show on Saturday 14th August.
secondly, we have our AGM and guest speaker presentation on Wednesday 25th August at 7.30pm at the Locus Centre in Aberfeldy. There will be a short business meeting, including a status report on how the campaign is going, followed by refreshments and then a presentation by Ron Inglis, Head of Regional Screen Scotland, who will inspire us with a talk about other successful independent cinema projects in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.

The AGM is open to all - the only restriction is that those who are not paid-up Friends will be unable to vote on matters of business. Everyone of course will be most welcome to offer ideas or help of any form, or otherwise get involved in the campaign.

Please do consider this opportunity to get more involved with the project – we would particularly welcome new Trustees and committee members with accountancy, business, project management and community involvement experience. If you are interested and would like to know a little more before volunteering, please do get in touch by email (info@birkscinemafriends.org.uk).

The AGM should finish by 8.15pm, and after a short refreshment break, at 8.30pm there will be a presentation by Ron Inglis, Director of Regional Screen Scotland. He has been involved with our project as an advisor from its very beginning – and has been working in the Scottish cinema sector for over 20 years; he will take us on an inspiring independent cinema journey through Scotland and the UK.

Hope to see you there!

More chances to find out, or help out

2010-07-15T21:44:00.001+01:00

The Saturday stalls in the cinema foyer are proving to be very be very popular, and useful. Lots of interest, a number of new Friends, healthy sales of our key fobs, postcards and T shirts and useful amounts of money raised, through merchandise and also a raffle on the day. We'll be doing these as often as we can, including this coming Saturday (17th).

The more people we have who can help out for an hour or two now and then, the easier it will be to keep these going, and to build momentum for the campaign. It's fun, sociable, easy, gives you a good feeling, a chance to find out more, to spread the word and engage people in thinking how good it would be to have cinema and cafe bar bringing life to the centre of the town throughout the day. It even gives you somewhere to park your bags while doing your shopping!

Another date for your diary - we'll also be running a stall at the Aberfeldy show on Sat Aug 14th and will be looking for help both to run it and to help set up and take it down again.

So, why not come along soon or get in touch to add your name to the list of volunteers?

And in other news ... we've now got a video tour of the inside of the Birks, as it was when we first took over the building at the end of 2009 (courtesy of Willie Leszke). We found lots of poignant reminders of its former glory, from old equipment, to film scraps, to the great proscenium arch and drapes of the old screen, complete with the classic 'B' logo. You can see it on YouTube.

Time to act on the buzz created by the Screen Machine ...

2010-07-08T14:42:00.000+01:00

The Screen Machine was great: such a strange and amazing sensation to walk up some steps by a lorry in an Aberfeldy car park, and into a real cinema. Big screen, fantastic bright, clear projection, great sound and even stunning 3D that had people reaching out to touch things seemingly coming out of the screen.

There was a great buzz among people coming out, asking hopefully when the Screen Machine will be back, and when the Birks itself will be up and running again. It was definitely a successful event for the Friends of the Birks - a lot of people expressed interest in the campaign and many gave generously.

We'll have to work on Regional Screen Scotland to persuade them to make us a regular part of their touring schedule. But in order to get beyond the very occasional visit of the Screen Machine we need more people to get involved.

More people to help run the regular Saturday stalls in the cinema foyer.
More people to help think up and organize other events and fund-raising ideas to galvanize the local community.
More people to help with the odd jobs needed to keep the cinema building in good condition and looking good (or even looking better - anyone for painting?!).
More people to spread the word, talk about the campaign, get people thinking about how good this could be, and willing to act to help make it happen.

Could you be one of them? ... Get in touch!

Have you checked out the exciting new architect's animations (stills below) linked to our website?

The Screen Machine is here! - day 2

2010-07-07T10:24:00.000+01:00

Last chance for now to catch films in this brilliant high-quality mobile cinema, in the car park behind Girvans. By all reports people enjoyed it and were impressed yesterday. Come along and find out how good it is to have a decent cinema in Aberfeldy. We hope we'll get the Screen Machine back quite soon, but of course what we really want is to get The Birks up and running again as a brilliant cafe bar. Hopefully the Screen Machine experience will encourage people to get involved in the campaign to make that happen. See you later!

What's on when today:
Wednesday 7th:
5.30pm - How to Train Your Dragon (3D) - PG
8.30pm - Robin Hood - 12A

For Robin Hood all under-16s must be accompanied by a parent/21+ guardian.
Proof of age (eg Young Scot card, passport, driving license etc) may be requested.

More film details from the Screen Machine website.

Prices
Tickets £6.00 (£4.50 concessions) / £7.50 (£6.00) for 3D.

Online booking is available through thebooth, linked from the Screen Machine Calendar.
Remaining tickets will be sold at the Screen Machine from 30 minutes before the screening.

The Screen Machine is here! - day 1

2010-07-06T11:22:00.000+01:00

Well, the Screen Machine is here and it's enormous! There's been quite a buzz building about it, so we hope it should be pretty busy. Best to book tickets in advance online to be sure of getting in.

What's on when today:
5.30pm - How to Train Your Dragon (3D) - PG. A great family movie!
8.30pm - Sex and the City 2 - 15. The girls are back - an antidote to football!

For Sex and City 2 all 15s must be accompanied by a parent/21+ guardian. No under-15s will be admitted.
Proof of age (eg Young Scot card, passport, driving license etc) may be requested.

More film details from the Screen Machine website.

Prices
Tickets £6.00 (£4.50 concessions) / £7.50 (£6.00) for 3D.

Online booking through thebooth, linked from the Screen Machine Calendar.
Remaining tickets will be sold at the Screen Machine from 30 minutes before the screening.

The Screen Machine is coming!

2010-06-24T15:25:00.002+01:00

Coming on Tuesday 6th and Wed 7th July ...
High quality film screenings in Aberfeldy, with The Screen Machine mobile cinema
The mobile cinema will be in the car park behind Girvans.

What's on when
Tuesday 6th:
5.30pm - How to Train Your Dragon (3D) - PG
8.30pm - Sex and the City 2 - 15

Wednesday 7th:
5.30pm - How to Train Your Dragon (3D) - PG
8.30pm - Robin Hood - 12A

For Sex and City 2 all 15s must be accompanied by a parent/21+ guardian. No under-15s will be admitted.
For Robin Hood all under-16s must be accompanied by a parent/21+ guardian.
Proof of age (eg Young Scot card, passport, driving license etc) may be requested.

More film details from the Screen Machine website.

Prices
Tickets £6.00 (£4.50 concessions) / £7.50 (£6.00) for 3D.

Online booking will be available through thebooth, linked from the Screen Machine Calendar.
Remaining tickets will be sold at the Screen Machine from 30 minutes before the screening.