Have you ever seen a movie? Yes, we all have. But have you ever seen a movie while floating on the water? Probably not. If you happen to find yourself on Kudu Island in Thailand however, this fantasy could be made a reality.

Ole Scheeren, a German architect based out of Beijing, China designed a floating movie theater to give viewers a truly unique experience while watching films. By using local lobster fisherman rafts with tires, Scheeren created a floating screen and a separate platform for the audience to sit back, relax and enjoy the show. The screen was placed in front of two beautiful rocks in the archipelago in the Bay of Bengal for a film festival called “Film on the Rocks Yao Noi.” After the film festival concluded, the rafts were given back to the fisherman and life as usual went on in the small villages of the region. It may be brought back for next year’s festival. Scheeren explains his vision for the project:

“A screen, nestled somewhere between the rocks. And the audience… floating. Hovering above the sea, somewhere in the middle of this incredible space of the lagoon, focused on the moving images across the water. A landscape of pieces playfully joined together. A sense of temporality, randomness. Almost like drift wood. Or maybe something more architectural. Modular pieces, loosely assembled, like a group of little islands. A congregation of rafts as an auditorium. Archipelago Cinema.”

*see more images on our Facebook site*

Another Bring and Buy sale to help raise funds for the refurb purse. Tables available if you wish to sell anything taking up room around the house or garage.

Make a day of it and bring the kids; telephone or email for table bookings on:

Tel. 07557905414

email: info@obanphoenixcinema.co.uk

Help the cinema, make some money, spend some money and have a nice wee day out

Happy New Year!

Belated, I know and humble apologies for this. However it has been a very busy time of year and things tend to slow down at Christmas and New Year. Normally this is through choice, but the cinema was put on hold because of various reports needing carried out on the building. The Health and Safety Executive require all non domestic buildings to have an Asbestos report done prior to any refurbishments or before it reopens, which was announced at the point we were all geared up and in full swing. However, this has now been carried out and the building is ready to receive it’s makeover.

There are a few reasons for this update and we hope by doing this can spread the word a little more. We are STILL receiving conversations that some people in Oban are unaware of the current takeover of the old Highland Theatre. Some people aren’t aware of any remedial works going on, they aren’t aware of any fundraising and apparently don’t know the level of help required. So in a bid to level the information and to catch everyone up on the goings on, we will tell you now and will follow it up with a public meeting (TBC) and that way we know, everyone who is interested, knows exactly what is going on. There is also the fact that the cinema will open kin the same guise that it shut down; but this is not true and the Phoenix will re-open as a cinema and a cinema only. This is due to financial restraints, fire safety, health and safety and the fact that cinema requires a certain style of building, soundproofing to enjoy the experience which will best serve the needs of screening blockbusters, classics and local cinema to everyone!

WHO WE ARE:

• Oban Phoenix Cinema

• A company limited by guarantee

• A Scottish charity

• A non profit making company

WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR:

• Purchased the old highland Theatre (this took the longest to achieve, from April to September and involved a lot of legal paperwork)

• Fundraised through local lines and grand funding (form filling, holding events, spreading the word, which takes a lot of time)

• We receive help from HiE, LEADER, Creative Scotland, First Port, Private Investors, Crerar Hotels + many more local businesses and individuals

• Built a web site, and utilise Social Media to promote the brand and the idea

• Commenced refurbishments

• Put in place a project manager

WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED TO DO OR ARE CURRENTLY UNDER WAY:

• Revamp the front of the building (new windows, refurbish the doors, lights and paint)

• Revamp the concession area (new tills, food sales i.e. popcorn, hot dogs etc, paint, lights) This includes a new ceiling because of water damage from a burst pipe.

• Revamp the toilets (new ceiling, new tiles, cistern refurbishments, new plumbing, cold storage tanks, hot water refurb, pipe lagging etc)

• Revamp the foyer area with new paint, carpets, lighting and seating

• Revamp cinema 1 ( new floor, new seats, new carpets, better lighting etc

• While these are some of the things that are very apparent to the eye, there is a lot more work out with the context of the cinema that needs done. There are roof repairs, asbestos management, plastering, roofing, guttering, landscaping, fire procedures, disabled access, alarms, store rooms, digital equipment installation

This all has to be put in to context of time as it is no mean feat to achieve all this and while we will ask for community involvement, there are certain aspects of the works required, professional tradesmen are needed. We have spoken with many and they have offered their services, but it is too much to expect any free time or work and within these tight financial climes, it is very understandable. However we have free works and paid works and our Project Manager is at hand to arrange and negotiate what is best with the trades and the cinema. That’s not to say that if you have a trade to offer for free, we wouldn’t accept it. However, timescales have to be applied and if certain trades aren’t available then it doesn’t happen and time lines and deadlines are shifted as a result, it can’t be avoided.

We have been quoted as saying the cinema will be ready in April of this year and while we hope that is the case and are working towards it, it might change with something out with our control. But all being well and running to plan, we could all be enjoying the silver screen on Easter weekend!

We still need help and we still need to raise money; to achieve an open cinema, remedial works need to be completed. In order for that to happen we need money. We have been receiving grants and help from government and European bodies, but these are often for specific things, so our local fundraising is paramount to succeeding in other areas. It has been noted that locals would help more if they knew what stage the cinema was at. We agree, that from the outside, the cinema remains the same but we can tell you that the inside is different and that the level of work that is to be done at admin level, before works are carried out, is immense. This is also to ensure that a good job is done, no point rushing it and doing a bad job; slow and steady wins the race. When you volunteer to bag pack at Tesco, or buy a table for our bring and buy sale, this is all a big help and it is these types of events that boost of finances for all the other things that go un-noticed by the larger funding bodies. For example; a successful bring and buy sale (of which we’ve had) would raise enough for our pop corn machine! 3 events like that and you can add Hot Dogs and Nachos to the list (if that’s what you like)

So you see, every little helps (to coin a phrase)and all the work, big and small, will come to fruition soon enough and we can all enjoy a clean, comfortable, warm and inviting cinema.

EVENTS:

• Bring and Buy sale on SATURDAY 28TH JANUARY, AT THE CORRAN HALLS. Tel. 07557905414 or email info@obanphoenixcinema.co.uk to book a table for £10

• TESCO Bag Packing Volunteers needed! Please e-mail info@obanphoenixcinema.co.uk and volunteer for one of these time slots; 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm. This is going to be a BIG fundraiser and we would really appreciate your help!

More events will be posted as they happen, but take this opportunity to voice your opinion or questions or even any suggestions. We have a board meeting next week and would be helpful to take community input to the table to discuss. Please take a look at the areas below, suggesting something that might be bettered:

• What medium is the best for getting information out there ( we have available the OT, Oban FM, Web site, Facebook, Twitter and mailing list) we advertise locally with posters too, any other suggestions? Can we get to the far reaches another way or are those who say they don’t know what’s going on in the minority?

• Do you have a fundraising idea that you would like to see implicated?

If you have any questions, suggestions or generally want to add something about the project; perhaps the media we have available isn’t enough and you aren’t aware as much as you would like. Email us on info@obanphoenixcinema.co.uk stating your suggestions etc and we can discuss them at the next board meeting and we will arrange for the next public meeting for everyone to attend.

Thank you for your time in advance. This is a large amount of text for anyone to digest, but it was felt that everyone be brought up to date about current goings on and you were all given the opportunity to have your say. So please use it, pass on the word and ask away. No use saying you haven’t been involved, when we are inviting it. We have been really proactive in our efforts and we welcome your productivity in any way you feel will benefit the project as a whole.

Many thanks and kind regards,

Oban Phoenix Cinema

(E)info@obanphoenixcinema.co.uk

(w)www.obanphoenixcinema.co.uk

Registered Scottish Charity SC042407

The outside of the building has been given a facelift, with it's new guttering, facia boards and downpipes. Work is moving on swiftly...very exciting.

Crerar Hotels have awarded Oban Phoenix Cinema £25,000 to help with the refurbishments!! This is a HUGE boost for the refurb and we are all very happy and grateful to the Crerar Hotels for their support to the community. They have done excellent work with many charities and community projects, so we can't thank them enough. See their charity work here Crerar Hotels This money and money awarded from LEADER, we are very much on the way to that reopening we all want so much.

The public have voted and we will be showing 2 Christmas films on the 15th & 16th December, in the Corran Halls.

15TH DECEMBER - MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL, 7.30PM £5 ENTRY

16TH DECEMBER - ELF, 7.30PM £5 ENTRY

We hope you can come along enjoy the festive season with these christmas classics.

Voting has begun for the 2 films to be shown over the Christmas period, at the Corran Halls, on the 15th &16th of December.

Head to our Facebook Page and cast your vote :)

The Screen Machine arrives in Oban again, with 6 films to cater for you.

Mon 21 – Thu 24 November, Atlantis Leisure Car Park, Dalriach Road, Oban

Have a look at the films on offer HERE

Book in advance at www.screenmachine.co.uk or telephone 0871 902 5750

Ticket prices: Adults £6.50, U16s £5.00, Concessions £5.00. (3D supplement £1.50)

Tickets on sale online until 3 hrs before each screening and at Screen Machine 30mins before each screening (cash only).

All U16s must be accompanied by a parent or 21+ guardian at 8.30pm screenings.

A newly engaged couple have a breakdown in an isolated area and must pay a call to the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

Enough said! Come along to the Corran Halls Studio Theatre for another night of the big screen and the theme of a musical. Chosen by the community and for the community, all money raised is all being included in to the refurbishment pot.

So come down (dressed up if you like) and bring all the usual RHPS gear with you and "let's do the time warp again"

Tickets available on the door, priced at £5.

This showing is for 12yrs and over.