Imminent closure of The Picture House

[trevox]

Listening by Directors has occurred.

The Picture House will be open for seven evenings a week from 26 August. See www.weepictures.co.uk for films. It remains to be seen whether Friday will prove popular - let's hope it improves overall attendances.

There is no reason why other events, like the successful Eduardo Niebla concert, should not still be included in the program whenever.

[John S]

Welcome onboard Trevox.

[Gus]

WC1

You mention that you must tie into a film for at least 3 weeks for getting up to date releases. Surley this only backs up any claims to showing more than one film per day. e.g. a new film shown on week 1 could then be relegated to a 6 o'clock showing in weeks 2 & 3 with even a reduced entry fee. I know this wont make as much money but surely 80% of this money is better than hee haw.

Only my personal opinion but again a lot emphasis has been placed on pirate films being circulated. If your product is not up to scratch then its only too easy too point fingers and look for excuses. Every other business has to change and adapt and look to other sources of income when sales slump and the pictures is no different.

Having said all that it would be a big loss to Campbeltown if anything was to happen to the pictures and it is encouraging to see a Friday night film being given a go. Lets hope this starts an improvement in both attendances and service at the pictures. [/quote]

[Russell Carroll]

After taking time to read all the comments and criticisms about the cinema, the management and the board of directors only one thing springs to mind.

If you all have so much interest in the cinema then why didn’t you ALL attend the AGM last Friday evening instead of leaving it to a handful of people who ARE actually interested in the welfare of the picture house.

Personally I think it is the same apathy that keeps people from attending the cinema and any other function that is held in the town.

It is easier to sit at home at a keyboard and criticise rather than take responsibility for your own actions and your town.

If it were not for the current management the cinema would have closed five years ago!


ANY VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WHAT SO EVER WITH THE CAMPBELTOWN COMMUNITY BUSINESS LTD OR THE PICTURE HOUSE (CAMPBELTOWN) LTD.

[Jonathan]

If you all have so much interest in the cinema then why didn’t you ALL attend the AGM last Friday evening instead of leaving it to a handful of people who ARE actually interested in the welfare of the picture house.

<--------------- ummmm

It is easier to sit at home at a keyboard and criticise rather than take responsibility for your own actions and your town.

Obviously people do care - hence the posts - maybe people are not listening in the right places!!

Personally I think it is the same apathy that keeps people from attending the cinema and any other function that is held in the town.

The Proclaimers & MOK anyone? Unless am mistaken one was a great sucess and the other, certainly parts of it, have sold out within hours. It's not apathy that stops people attending things - get the product right and it will sell.

[Ship called Dignity]

After taking time to read all the comments and criticisms about the cinema, the management and the board of directors only one thing springs to mind.

ANY VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WHAT SO EVER WITH THE CAMPBELTOWN COMMUNITY BUSINESS LTD OR THE PICTURE HOUSE (CAMPBELTOWN) LTD.

Russell,

Heading for work so may post tonight once I have had time to digest all the posts.

However, where is criticism, on this board, directed at the management and the board of directors?

I actually think that the fact so many people posted and viewed this shows that people do care. As for attending the AGM perhaps if the Cinema held it next week and people had had a few weeks to realise what was happening they may have turned up. (no mention in the courier like on here?) A number of people on this board are already involved in other areas in the town...

As for me, my labour of love is the football and despite a few postings regarding the state of Kinloch Green I have never had any response! Perhaps that tells us all something about local feelings

Anyway, WE all know you are ALL doing a GRAND job

[Shake Your Foundations]

It was mentioned earlier possibly showing Star Wars Trilogy and themed nights such as Horror Nights which would be a good idea.

But how about getting back some old classics to draw punters back to the cinema?

For example imagine seeing Jaws , Some Like It Hot , Rocky Horror or Sound Of Music etc. on the big screen?

I know we've all seen them on tele / dvd but imagine seeing these old classics again as the way they were intended to be seen!

Didn't Channel 4 recently run down the top 100 movies? Well there's two years worth of classics if you show one per week, or even last longer by showing one a month!

SYF

[Jonathan]

SYF - how about AC/DC the Movie

[Gus]

Russell,

Just in case you are maybe taking what I am saying the wrong way.....

I think the management/board and everbody else connected with the flicks has done an excellent job in keeping the pictures going so long, especially when it is increasingly easy to pick up new releases on pirate dvd etc.

I dont think anybody is criticising the picture house but only stating personal opinions and stimulating conversation( the whole point of forums like this).

.

Listening by Directors has occurred.

The Picture House will be open for seven evenings a week from 26 August. See www.weepictures.co.uk for films. It remains to be seen whether Friday will prove popular - let's hope it improves overall attendances.

Good to see that discussions such as the previous 4 pages are not falling on deaf ears as Fridays will now be given a go.

Also, please understand that although people cannot or will not attend the AGM for whatever reason is certainly does not mean that they do not care

[elainemck]

Great I'm glad to hear Friday nights are on! On the weekends we are home we will definitely be heading to the Cinema if we make it down the road in time!! I'm sure this has possibly been mentioned but what about Saturday or Sunday matinee even just in winter?? There's not much to do on a rainy Winter Sunday in the toon and a lazy day at the pictures drinking 3 cans of coke will ease away the hangover.... Well that's what I like to do on a Sunday!!!

Shake Your Foundations - what a fab idea!! The Kings Theatre and UGC sometimes do shows/show films like that where everyone can come in fancy dress related to the showing I would definitely come down to the town at a weekend for that!

Imagine Rocky Horror Show....!!

We could even sing along!!

[Stone Cold aka Doags Bs]

Yeah that old films idea sounds really good. If it was every Monday or something? Some right good films I'd love to see at the cinema that I was a wee bit young for at the time. E.g Pulp Fiction, Great Escape, Jaws, Indiana Jones, Star Wars etc... I could see that being a big attraction for the cinema.

[tigerlily]

Nope got it wrong, dont stay in the town, but have seen this happen to another Cinema where I use to stay, and it was sadly missed by all. do come for holidays right enough and love your town.

[Tom B]

If the picture house is in imminent threat of closure, how much extra cash is needed to make sure it stays open? I must confess to not having paid my membership subscription when the reminder letter came in (several) months ago, but will stick a cheque in the post tonight (honest).

Well done to the folks keeping the pictures open, much appreciated.

Couple of ideas which may or not have been considered:

1. How about making the film free one night (say Tuesday) and hoping to make money out of the sweeties? I know the last couple of times I've been in there has been less than 20 people in total in the pictures, and consequently lacked atmosphere. It would be much better if the place was packed. If you let a hundred in for free, but everybody spent £1 - £1.50 on sweeties, would that work out about the same?

2. Have a mum and baby matinee one day, where you show the latest films but you can take your baby who can cry without you feeling bad (because so is everybody elses!) - works in Edinburgh apparently.

3. Until the picture house is happily paying its way again, chase up those whos membership has lapsed (getting e-mail addresses would allow this to be done cheaply and easily). Increase the membership to £10 per year. How about an e-mail to all ex - c/town grammar folks on Friends reunited, am sure a few more would chip in £10 a year. I agree that it would be better for the pictures to be able to pay its way, but until that time comes again, there might be enough people willing to subsidise it a bit.

4. I presume all available grants etc. have been looked in to.

Again, good effort from those involved in keeping the pictures open. It would be terrible if it closed.

[Shake Your Foundations]

SYF - how about AC/DC the Movie

Jonathan, I'd personally go and see it six days a week if it was on!!

AND i'd buy popcorn too!!

SYF

[trevox]

If the picture house is in imminent threat of closure, how much extra cash is needed to make sure it stays open?

From the AGM, £6,500 at this point in this calendar year.

How about making the film free one night (say Tuesday) and hoping to make money out of the sweeties?

The film distributors need their cut (up to 55% of box-office). We wouldn't get films if we had free or cheap showings.

How about an e-mail to all ex - c/town grammar folks on Friends reunited, am sure a few more would chip in £10 a year.

Good idea. In the meantime, the Wee Pictures emailing list (just over 100 strong right now) has been upgraded so people can subscribe and unsubscribe themselves. The regular programme email will likely be upgraded to a newsletter with an exhortation to renew and donate.