Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
A Solution for The Curzon Cinema Building?
If we can ever release the historic Premier Electric / Curzon from the grip of the current religious group who refuse to talk to their neighbours, here's a way we could use the space.
Launched in Portland, Oregon, USA last month, Living Room Theaters intends to create a more intimate and multi-purpose approach to cinema-going.
It's based on the "being-space" concept. You know, that US originated trend of live-in bookshops and cafes of commercial living-room-like settings in the public space, where catering and entertainment aren't just the main attraction, but are there to facilitate out-of-home, out-of-office activities like watching a film, reading a book, meeting friends and colleagues, and so on. Just like William Hill and Metrobet, eh!
The new Portland gaff is a small complex with six screening rooms, each seating 38 to 64 audience members in home-theater style recliners and loveseats or at low-lit tables with plush chairs. Customers can sit down and relax in the screening/living room half an hour before the movie starts, ordering drinks from a full bar and finger food from a tapas-style menu.
Unlike ordinary cinemas, Living Room also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual restaurant and bar with capacity for 50 people. On sunny days, a roll-up garage door opens the restaurant for sidewalk cafe seating. Completing the being space concept, free wifi is available throughout the lounge and cafe. All of which will help bring in the grown-up customers Living Room Theaters is targeting; not just when they want to see the latest indie flick, but also for meeting up and hanging out in a comfortable, well-designed space.
Of course, let's not forget the actual movies. Living Room Theaters is all-digital, and offers a proprietary digitising technology that lets newcomers distribute their films without the high costs of making and shipping celluloid prints. Digital screening also enables the theater to premiere films that haven't yet been distributed (on celluloid) in the rest of the country. Programming will focus on independent releases and foreign films.
The company's owners both went to film school and started the business mainly to offer audiences a new movie-going experience. They aim to open 10-15 small cinema complexes across the United States.
Slim it down, squeeze it in to the Frobisher Road premises and Bob’s your uncle.
Website: www.livingroomtheaters.com
Launched in Portland, Oregon, USA last month, Living Room Theaters intends to create a more intimate and multi-purpose approach to cinema-going.
It's based on the "being-space" concept. You know, that US originated trend of live-in bookshops and cafes of commercial living-room-like settings in the public space, where catering and entertainment aren't just the main attraction, but are there to facilitate out-of-home, out-of-office activities like watching a film, reading a book, meeting friends and colleagues, and so on. Just like William Hill and Metrobet, eh!
The new Portland gaff is a small complex with six screening rooms, each seating 38 to 64 audience members in home-theater style recliners and loveseats or at low-lit tables with plush chairs. Customers can sit down and relax in the screening/living room half an hour before the movie starts, ordering drinks from a full bar and finger food from a tapas-style menu.
Unlike ordinary cinemas, Living Room also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual restaurant and bar with capacity for 50 people. On sunny days, a roll-up garage door opens the restaurant for sidewalk cafe seating. Completing the being space concept, free wifi is available throughout the lounge and cafe. All of which will help bring in the grown-up customers Living Room Theaters is targeting; not just when they want to see the latest indie flick, but also for meeting up and hanging out in a comfortable, well-designed space.
Of course, let's not forget the actual movies. Living Room Theaters is all-digital, and offers a proprietary digitising technology that lets newcomers distribute their films without the high costs of making and shipping celluloid prints. Digital screening also enables the theater to premiere films that haven't yet been distributed (on celluloid) in the rest of the country. Programming will focus on independent releases and foreign films.
The company's owners both went to film school and started the business mainly to offer audiences a new movie-going experience. They aim to open 10-15 small cinema complexes across the United States.
Slim it down, squeeze it in to the Frobisher Road premises and Bob’s your uncle.
Website: www.livingroomtheaters.com
Tags for Forum Posts: cinema, curzon, frobisher, local ideas, third space
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sandi on
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Working on it! No problem getting the films, but would we get bums on seats?
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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I would imagine that the demographic in the wider area would suit, but I guess if you're putting your money on the line market research would give you some sense. But the idea of a cinema as a being space sounds like a great one that may attract people for a night out who wouldn't otherwise be attracted.
(PS Do you still want the flip paper?)
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Flip paper - yes please. Can you email me address details off list and I'll pop over and get it.
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Permalink Reply by Adam on
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there is always the option of West Green Learning centre which has a big screen and is used by Haringey Independent Cinema once a month
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There's one already posted from 1938 - see historic photos album. I have a couple more from post thirties modernistaion and in the early 80s which I'll post soon.
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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I like this idea. The Americans do this stuff really well. I'm sure there would be an audience for a small scale version of this. If it could be combined with something for the older members of the community, during the week, and/or baby friendly screenings of indie and foreign movies (i'd be up for that) then you could keep it busy when all the bright young things with their laptops and tapas 'raciones' were at work.
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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Funnily enough this is exactly what I've had in mind for that very venue. A real community space that does all sorts of things. Refurbed so it's welcoming, warm, comfortable. Decent films, not those ones over at Haringey Independent Cinema that are trying to brainwash children with socialist rhetoric!
If only we could get our hands on the place. Maybe there's another venue available ... a church out building that's under utilized for example? A HoL off-line hang out. :)
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There's a small team of us at FilmExposed who have been for a while now, looking into this. Something on the lines of what Liz is saying, screening films with a wider appeal than HIC. I've said in a previous post that it's a shame give Haringey's cultural mix, we don't have cinema which reflects this. My office is stuffed full of indie/global gems which sadly only received limited theatrical release in the WE (including one which was shot on Green Lanes, Lives of the Saints). Also, it would be great to have a dedicated space where new work could be screened.
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Funding
1. youth facilities funding
2. Community Assets funding stream example
Interesting possibilities out there for people with a lot of energy, drive and knowledge for a community centre based concept.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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What about the old snooker hall just up from the Salisbury? No way are you going to get those pofs* out of this old building.
* People Of Faith.
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