Setting Up a Community Cinema

How to Start a Film Group

During 2009-10 Scrooby had some vey enjoyable occasional film screenings in the Village Hall - Laurel & Hardy and the Titfield Rocket, and Val Maxwell's film nights for her Breast Cancer charity.

In view of this, the Scrooby Show committee decided to spend some of the funds raised over recent years, on projection equipment. This would enable film and visual presentations to be shown in Scrooby Village Hall. Very quickly, Scrooby Parish Council offered to match the Show's contribution.

James Arrowsmith, Graham Robbins and Ed Marshall researched the project. There were a couple of very helpful sources of information. Firstly, a visit to Bawtry Film Society at the Pheonix Theatre was illuminating, and Rupert Atkinson was very helpful. Secondly, a visit to the British Federation of Film Societies was reassuring; this is a national society, but happens to be based in Sheffield at The Workstation next to the Showroom Cinema.

With the help of Nick Arrowsmith, who is very knowledgeable about audio-visual equipment, we specified, bought and fitted the following kit:

• Cambridge S50 Centre speaker (£99.95)
• Onkyo TXSR308 Amplifier (£199.95)
• Tanoy Front Speakers (£99.95)
• Wharfedale 9.0 Rear speakers (£49.95)
• Wharfedale sub woofer (£99.95)
• LG Blue Ray player (£119.95)
• Speaker cable (£39.60)
• 5m HDMI cable (£34.95)
• Discount from LINK:Richer Sounds (-£40.00)
• Projector Mount Kit (£29.31)
• Projector (£454.73)
• 6x speaker brackets (£71.93)
• Total: £1260.22

Scrooby Community Cinema: James and Nick Arrowsmith Install Projection Equipment

The other hurdle which needed to be cleared before showing films was the issue of licensing. There were two requirements: a premise license for the Village Hall, including film projection, and paying film distributors' fees for each film shown. We contacted Bassetlaw District Council, where Nina Robinson in the licensing department was very helpful. The premises licence was received on 29 January 2011.

We then set about researching film distribution and screening rights; a complex area, but one which boils down to a decision whether to operate as a closed club, or do public screenings. We chose the latter, and will pay a minimum licence fee to the film distributor, and a percentage of any greater takings on the door, and in return are allowed to screen the film, charge on the door, and advertise the film being shown. The British Federation of Film Societies is the key source of information and support in making these licensing decisions, as well as contact with the various film distributors.