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Author Topic: Setting up a cinema in UK that only shows 35mm? Joe Cornick Film Handler Posts: 6 From: Sussex, United Kingdom Registered: Dec 2018 posted 02-21-2019 12:57 PM                     As a 17 year old projectionist, I feel I've arrived on the 35mm film scene sadly a little late. But through some connections, I've been given the opportunity to set up a cinema In my local village hall that has a projection booth. I've installed a century projector twinned with a Westrex tower and a Dolby Digital system. Now I just need to find a screen and Speakers for the cinema. Would anyone know of anyone/where that is looking to sell/re-home any of these? Even just some advice would be really appreciated! Thanks, Joe  |  IP: Logged Florian Kuik Film Handler Posts: 39 From: meppel, drenthe, nederland Registered: Feb 2016 posted 03-09-2019 10:56 AM                     The average customer gives a "sh.." about 35mm and what are you going to run? Almost none of the 35mm goodies are there for screening and the popular prints people will come to, are top dollar these days..  |  IP: Logged Marcel Birgelen Film God Posts: 3357 From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2012 posted 03-09-2019 11:15 AM                     I don't know about the UK market, but there are plenty of resellers of refurbished cinema equipment, many of them can be found on Ebay. Then again, how do you get 35mm films? And what kind of programming do you want to run to make it sustainable? The most remaining 35mm operations around the world are either boutique operations with a certain name and reach or non-profit operations like a film museum.  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 03-09-2019 11:42 AM                     Well, fortunately, screen and speakers are universal, and all the 35mm stuff is already there. What about amplifiers? You can certainly buy second hand stuff, but, you need to define your needs based on auditorium/screen size. While speakers are universal to a certain extent, buying used screens often involves a decision towards unsuitable dimensions. Also, many used screens are dirty, spotty, clogged. Most people would say that a second hand screen should only be considered if it comes for free or pick-up. Clearly, a perforated screen is the best choice for sound, so, cheap alternative screen solutions come with a penalty as well. Does this operation need to bring in money (e.g. to pay a rent)? - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 03-09-2019 08:40 PM                        quote: Marcel Birgelen The most remaining 35mm operations around the world are either boutique operations with a certain name and reach or non-profit operations like a film museum. And they have a reputation and standing with the few remaining holders of 35mm release prints, which basically means the big nonprofit archives, plus a few prints held by the major commercial distributors for special occasions. In the UK, this means the British Film Institute National Archive, which has both a nonprofit restriction (as a FIAF member institution, it cannot loan its prints for commercial screenings), and an absolute ban on cutting the heads and tails of their prints. So a single projector plus tower setup would not be allowed to screen them. It might be possible to build up contacts among the private collector community, but that would take time, and you'd also have to license the screening rights as a separate transaction from obtaining the physical print, which would make each show very expensive to put on.  |  IP: Logged Jonathan Wood Expert Film Handler Posts: 206 From: Oxfordshire, United kingdom Registered: Jan 2008 posted 03-11-2019 03:52 AM                     The BFI has what they call a 35mm ‘distribution list,’ which has quite a few good rep titles . These are generally available to anyone wishing to screen them with the usual contractual obligations. These prints tend to be release prints and can be joined together and ran on a platter or tower as opposed to their archive prints for which they apply strict criteria when loaning them out. We ran a couple of 35mm only festivals about four years back and we had no problem obtaining a good selection of titles . Whether you could make a living out of it is another question. Also Park Circus still hold quite a lot of 35mm as far as I know .  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 03-11-2019 09:52 AM                     Joe - as they are not too far away from you - give Harkness a call, they may have something on special offer, a return, whatever... Also, you may be able to save some money by picking the screen up there. http://www.harkness-screens.com/contact-us Are you okay with a screen that is fixed and can stay there, or do you need a mobile screen that can be put up on the occasion - if it's a multi-purpose venue? - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Kieran Hall Film Handler Posts: 28 From: Coventry, UK Registered: Nov 2017 posted 03-17-2019 04:26 AM                        Yup, can confirm that Park Circus have kept a decent amount of their 35mm, including plenty of "classic"-type films. Studios they don't distribute for (e.g. Universal, Lionsgate, eOne) do also have a few prints knocking around. It's probably worth noting that, at least in our experience, hiring 35mm prints is (at worst) no more expensive than DCP (so long as your courier is per-case and not charging by weight), so if you've got the equipment and the interest (if you want it to pay you a wage that's another issue, but I'm imagining some kind of community cinema/film society sort of thing) then I don't see any reason not to show at least some 35mm. Feel free to drop us a line if you've any questions about getting started in the UK. We're a film society up at Warwick Uni and we still show a fair bit of film, though we'll probably not be able to be too much help on the spare equipment front.  |  IP: Logged Paul Shuttleworth Film Handler Posts: 11 From: Stockport Cheshire UK Registered: Sep 2015 posted 03-18-2019 11:12 AM                     These days it is very difficult to attract patrons to 35mm screenings as the majority of desired films are now on digital. Have you asked PPT or CTA? They may know someone who has some screens and speakers in storage. Have you got a rectifier and have you handled film before? From a projectionist with 10 years experience...  |  IP: Logged Jacob Pearson Film Handler Posts: 12 From: Bradford, Yorkshire, England Registered: Dec 2015 posted 03-22-2019 07:40 PM                     Joe, I may be able to sort you out with some speakers. I will message you.  |  IP: Logged Jacob Pearson Film Handler Posts: 12 From: Bradford, Yorkshire, England Registered: Dec 2015 posted 03-23-2019 09:09 AM                     Private message sent.  |  IP: Logged Peter Hall Master Film Handler Posts: 314 From: London, UK Registered: Dec 2000 posted 03-23-2019 09:10 AM                        Hi - sounds like an interesting project. We've got garages full of 35mm projectors and used sound kit - happy to work out something for you, also rental of DCI kit if you find 35mm a bit restrictive long term. Give us a call - in the office Monday - pop up for lunch sometime ? - Peter, Future Projections (West Norwood so not a million miles away). Always keen to help out new operators, especially if they favor a splicer over a laptop..  |  IP: Logged

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