Local film clubs are being badly affected by the East Dulwich Picturehouse

[IngridB]

The Bigger Picture Film Club http://www.thebiggerpic.co.uk/ , based at the EDT http://eastdulwichtavern.com/, has seen audiences cut in half since the arrival of the ED Picturehouse. This is so sad, like people flocking to a new supermarket chain rather than supporting the local independent shops. East Dulwich is pretty good at keeping going to independent shops, it would be wonderful if they checked what was on at The Bigger Picture before automatically looking at the Picturehouse website.

In a recent article on MostlyFilm The Bigger Picture Film Club has been described as 'about as perfect as you could get'http://mostlyfilm.com/2016/01/18/the-pictures-get-bigger/ Also repeated on Dulwich OnView http://dulwichonview.org.uk/2016/01/20/the-bigger-picture-film-club-is-about-as-perfect-as-you-could-get/

Its quite disheartening for the volunteers... I know because I am one.

For example, on Thursday, TBP is showing the German film Phoenix, with Nina Hoss, an extraordinary film, introduced by an expert in the industry, tickets ?7 with all profits going to local charities. It would be fantastic if you come along and check it out!

[Chick]

This is the first time I have heard of this. There should room for both. Maybe it needs to be advertised more. Good luck with this.

[Jeremy]

Indeed, there should be room for both.

Going to the cinema is great with it's comfy seats, and superior projection/audio. But the film club at the EDT feels somehow more sociable, and with an interesting selection of films (Picturehouse predominantly shows mainstream stuff).

[KidKruger]

i think there's room for both, but probably it's a function of how much free time / evenings folks have to go see a film locally.

[rodneybewes]

IngridB Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The Bigger Picture Film Club

> http://www.thebiggerpic.co.uk/ , based at the EDT

> http://eastdulwichtavern.com/, has seen audiences

> cut in half since the arrival of the ED

> Picturehouse. This is so sad, like people

> flocking to a new supermarket chain rather than

> supporting the local independent shops. East

> Dulwich is pretty good at keeping going to

> independent shops, it would be wonderful if they

> checked what was on at The Bigger Picture before

> automatically looking at the Picturehouse

> website.

>

> In a recent article on MostlyFilm The Bigger

> Picture Film Club has been described as 'about as

> perfect as you could

> get'http://mostlyfilm.com/2016/01/18/the-pictures-

> get-bigger/ Also repeated on Dulwich OnView

> http://dulwichonview.org.uk/2016/01/20/the-bigger-

> picture-film-club-is-about-as-perfect-as-you-could

> -get/

>

> Its quite disheartening for the volunteers... I

> know because I am one.

>

> For example, on Thursday, TBP is showing the

> German film Phoenix, with Nina Hoss, an

> extraordinary film, introduced by an expert in the

> industry, tickets ?7 with all profits going to

> local charities. It would be fantastic if you

> come along and check it out!

Ah, I'd love to see Phoenix again, probably my favourite film of last year. I'll try to nip along.

[intexasatthe moment]

Partner just watched Phoenix today - U3A - very highly recommends http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/15/phoenix-film-first-look-review-christian-petzold-nina-hoss

I wasn't aware of the TBP ,thanks for mentioning .And cheaper !

[IngridB]

We have a full page in every SE magazine, a quarter in Peckham Peculiar, in the Inter School Advertiser, on Herne Hill and this forum, posters in 5 places (including the ED Picturehouse!) and cards in loads of shops.

I agree there should be room for both, but have come to KidKruger's conclusion that its a function of how much free time people have.

Anyway, it would be fantastic if some of you could come along tonight. If you would like to be on our monthly emailing list, telling you the next film, please send me a private message with your email address and I will add you. Thanks so much.

[LondonMix]

People largely ignore adds and I doubt I've ever read the SE Magazine. I am planning to read the Dulwich Diverter so perhpas getting an article written about the place (in addition to an add). A feature article is less likely to be ignored. Also, do you post in the What's On Section in the EDF?

[DulwichFox]

The new Cinema has had much publicity...

Despite drinking in the EDT most nights for many years , I have never been aware of any Films being screened there.

I know they have singers upstairs on some Tuesday nights. ? But Films is a new one on me..

DulwichFox

[Mick Mac]

Surely the film clubs existed because we didn't have a cinema....

I can see some people preferring a club if it includes some "club" advantages over a cinema such as post movie discussions but i'd be surprised if they survived long term tbh.

[Alan Medic]

That may partially explain the reduction in attendees but I would have thought the main attraction was showing films you might not see in a normal cinema.

[Grok]

Plenty of room for both, but the films shown at BPFC are generally poor imo.

[Michael Palaeologus]

Interesting that the ED Picturehouse displays posters for the Film Club.

I was vaguely aware of the Film Club, but had not seen the media identified above.

It could well be that the more Art-house feel of the Picturehouse is pulling some people away, but it might also be that the Film club needs to shout louder and show films that are more attractive to film buffs.

The club is rather unfortunately position between the ED Picturehouse (for less mainstream fare) and the Peckhamplex (for mainstream films shown cheaply), perhaps its day is done if it doesnt up its game?

[Jeremy]

I looked at the current listings for the ED picturehouse... Star Wars, Room, Joy, Danish Girl... it's all mainstream.

[LondonMix]

Jeremy there are a lot of independent / art films being shown over the next 7 days:

"Room", "The Taming of the Shrew"; "Tangerine", the screening of the arts this week which is the ROH Rhapsody / Two Pigeons; Holocaust Memorial Day: My Nazi Legacy; and the National Theatre live production of Les Liaison Dangerous.

I think the Picture House does a good job at getting the balance right.

[LondonMix]

And Room is hardly a mainstream film. Its only had a very limited global release. It cost $6.0m to make and has made about $6.3m at the box office since October last year. Living in artier parts of London can distort ones perception of what is mainstream.

[Mick Mac]

Take that Jeremy!

[Jeremy]

Yes but weekend and evening screenings are all mainsteam. The Big Short, The Revenant, Our Brand Is Crisis, etc. Which is fine with me.

Room is Oscar nominated and has some pretty recognisable names in the cast (even for a philistine like me) so I consider it fairly mainstream.

[LondonMix]

Fair enough. The Oscar nomination has given it a boost in terms of recognition.

They do have documentaries and indies in the evenings usually- my husband and I have seen a lot there.

I think it might be the run up to the Oscars that is distorting everything-- they are basically showing all the Oscar line up films which I guess are in higher than normal demand this time of year.

Spotlight will be released shortly as well adding to the screening pressure. Once the Oscars have passed I imagine it will go back to normal-- i.e. more of the indie films in the evening and weekend.

[DaveR]

I know the OP means well, but this is exactly the wrong way to go about this. I seriously doubt you're going to boost your audience by criticizing people who go to the Picturehouse. You need to choose the right films, stress the fact that it's a fun night and a charitable act all in one, and get the message out more effectively.

[Jeremy]

I think you're right DaveR, it's a different offering. Picturehouse can offer something the film club can't. So, make sure you provide something that the Picturehouse can't.

[Otta]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Surely the film clubs existed because we didn't

> have a cinema....

>

> I can see some people preferring a club if it

> includes some "club" advantages over a cinema such

> as post movie discussions but i'd be surprised if

> they survived long term tbh.

Yep, this was my thought.

I'm another that has never heard of this film club at the EDT, but unless they were showing something really interesting (probably like a documentary or something like that) I'd go to the nice warm and comfy cinema every time.

[Mick Mac]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> I think you're right DaveR, it's a different

> offering. Picturehouse can offer something the

> film club can't. So, make sure you provide

> something that the Picturehouse can't.

Partly in agreement - The picture house offers a lot more aside the movie itself - a great venue for a drink or snack - you feel good just walking into the place - hard to compete with when people are choosing their local movie options.

There must have been a fair proportion of people who used film club as a substitute for a local cinema - you might struggle to attract them back, in reality, irrespective of how you sell it. Obviously we hope the film clubs survive but I would have my doubts.

[IngridB]

LondonMix Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> People largely ignore adds and I doubt I've ever

> read the SE Magazine. I am planning to read the

> Dulwich Diverter so perhpas getting an article

> written about the place (in addition to an add).

> A feature article is less likely to be ignored.

> Also, do you post in the What's On Section in the

> EDF?

Thanks for this LondonMix. We do post our films every month on the What's On section of EDF, but had never heard of the proposed Dulwich Diverter. Jut checked it out and contributed to its KickStarter. I will definitely see if it is interested in a general article.

Have you heard of Dulwich OnView? http://dulwichonview.org.uk/ We put up 2 general articles there last week, http://dulwichonview.org.uk/2016/01/20/the-bigger-picture-film-club-is-about-as-perfect-as-you-could-get/ http://dulwichonview.org.uk/2016/01/19/south-east-london-film-clubs-website/ and I think it made a difference to our audience figures, which were up. So happy about that.

[IngridB]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The new Cinema has had much publicity...

>

> Despite drinking in the EDT most nights for many

> years , I have never been aware of any Films being

> screened there.

>

> I know they have singers upstairs on some Tuesday

> nights. ? But Films is a new one on me..

>

> DulwichFox

There is always an A4 poster promoting the film and saying in big red capitals 'TICKETS SOLD HERE' from about 3 weeks before every film (so the next one is going up soon). Its on the notice board to the right of the bar. We put these posters in the toilets (I rely on the barmen to put up the ones in the male toilet), they write the info in chalk on their A frame black board for about a week before each film, and on the night they erect a huge entrance sign to the outside entrance to the upstairs.

We print postcards with the next 6 films and distribute them locally as much as we can. We try so hard!