Setting up an Independent Cinema

[robertzombie]

I've always said that if I won the lottery I'd love to set up a tiny exploitation cinema. You know, 1 screen, 1 ticket booth, about 50-100 seats, etc. I had a look on the ICO on how it could be done and it looks pretty complicated! If you want to screen a DVD you have to get permission from the releasing company, that would be a pretty hefty task if you were screening say, 3 films a week and had to get permissions from each individual distributor!

Anyone ever tried it?

[BioZombie]

Hi Rob,

I know how difficult it is to get permission for screenings, but it's not impossible. I managed to contact Briain-Trenchard Smith, and he gave me permission to screen Man From hong Kong free of charge at the UCLAN Cult Film Society.

The problem is most companies want some money to screen the titles, which for a small organisation can be difficult to come up with. There are Screening Licenes though that cover a wide range of DVD companies ad can be bought for a whole year, filmbank.co.uk is a good place to start.

Setting up a film society or single screeings is definitely hard work, but it can be done.

[skankenstoned]

I was considering starting a monthly cult film club with psycho butcher and have a licenced venue ready and waiting. Would the fact that the bar has a film licence be enough or do I still have to seek permission?

[BioZombie]

I think it all depends on the licence the bar has. As far as I know (and I am going to have to say I'm no expert) you purchase a licence, say for example from www.thefilmbank.co.uk, then that gives you the rights to show any dvd released by the companies the companies the license provider has a deal with.

For example I dont think the licence provided by Film Bank covers Arrow & Shamless, you would need to deal with them direct to be allowed to show one of their films.

As I said I am no expert, if anyone knows more about this I would love to find out more too.

[robertzombie]

Originally Posted by skankenstoned

I was considering starting a monthly cult film club with psycho butcher and have a licenced venue ready and waiting. Would the fact that the bar has a film licence be enough or do I still have to seek permission?

Do keep us posted if it's going to be in or around Bournemouth as I'm there every now and then

[Mr White]

Ahhh. I just assumed you guys just screened whatever you wanted? It being quite a small gathering i'm surprised the screening rights is a concern.

[BioZombie]

Originally Posted by Mr White

Ahhh. I just assumed you guys just screened whatever you wanted? It being quite a small gathering i'm surprised the screening rights is a concern.

Technically when you buy a VHS/DVD/Blu-Ray you are only have the rights for home viewing (you can see exactly what rights you have by reading that annoying scrawl that appears at the head of the film).

Anytime you want to have a public screening you need to have a licence to do so, either a PVSL (Public Video Screening Licence), which will cover you for quite a large range of titles (but not all), or permission from the comany who currently own the rights to the film.

At least that is what I understand.

The problem I'm dealing with at the moment is what to do when you cant find out who owns the uk rights (or if no one owns them).

[Mr White]

This something i would like to do, maybe on my own, or with another local movie fiend. I don't want to be hampered too much by red tape tho. What about showing non BBFC certificated flicks? Are these rules you guys strictly adhere to?

[BioZombie]

What are you thinking of setting up Mr White, an actual permanent cinema, or a film club/society?

[Mr White]

Not a permanent cinema. Just a club of sorts. It would one night a month at best. Possible local coomunity centre or purb.