Last night Patsy123 and I went to the Tyneside Cinema for a free opening night. It opens to the public on 22nd May, but last night we were given drinks, a free showing of IRON MAN, and a chance to look round the newly refurbished cinema.
IRON MAN was excellent, and it was worth waiting until the end of the (very long) credits for the extra teaser, even if we were amongst only a half dozen to do so.
The refurbishment of the cinema is a triumph, however. The original 1930s look has been retained and enhanced by uncovering glass mosaic floors and hand-painting the ornate plaster work. There are now three screens, all with good comfortable seats and lots of leg-room. The extra screen was accommodated by fitting in an extra floor, a difficult thing to do in a listed building in a conservation area.
We got to look round the digital film-making and editing suites and the for-hire Digital Lounge where they were showing a tremendous video piece by Daniel Shiffman based on the movie, RUN LOLA RUN. They could accommodate only a 20 min section of it, but it was still great. Basically, each image on the screen is one frame behind (or ahead) of its left (or right or up or down) neighbour. In theory it's possible to watch the whole film by concentrating on one frame, but in effect it becomes impossible - you become entranced by the shifting patterns. Amazing! This is what video installation should be.
Run Lola Run Lola Run Lola Run Lola Run from shiffman on Vimeo.
Showing posts with label Tyneside Cinema. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tyneside Cinema. Show all posts
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Friday, 20 August 2004
A Night Out with Mrs Sums
I haven't been getting out much. Apart from nipping up to the shops for a few food essentials, like "Manager's Special" fino sherry, I've been hard at work on the next set of pictures.
I have to get six to eight pictures done by 27th August. At the present count, I'm two short, but yesterday I made the stretchers, stretched the canvases and primed them. Three of the pictures are finished, bar some tweaking, three are well on the way, and I have ideas for the two new canvases.
So basically, I'm not worried about meeting my target., But it does mean I'm not getting out much.
Last night, however, Mrs Sums and the Architect invited me out to the cinema. Actually, to be accurate, Mrs Sums invited me out to the cinema. It became clear later that this was to keep the Architect happy because he was less than enthusiastic about the movie. He's more of a Star Trek: Nemesis or Spiderman 2 kind of guy and the movie we were going to see was Japanese Story.
Somehow, any mention of this film passed me by, despite its critical acclaim. The Tyneside Cinema thought it its public duty to let the local populace have another bite of the cherry. Would that the multiplexes operated this kind of policy.
I wasn't sure what to expect. The film concerns the relationship between a bluff Australian female geologist and a reserved Japanese business man and how it deepens to become something more profound as they drive through the desolate Pilbara region of Western Australia.
It's a road movie and a love story and just as you think that's as much as you're going to be given, it twists itself into another dimension, concerning itself with the nature of obligation and grief.
Toni Collette, as the geologist, gets to work her way - splendidly - through the whole gamut of emotions and rather overshadows Gotaro Tsunashima, who gets to play mostly handsome and reserved (but very engagingly)
It's not the film I'd have chosen to go to see, so thanks to Mrs Sums for that, because it's a hell of a good movie. Thanks also to the projectionist for switching off his radio before someone got up to brain him.
And the pint of Ossian in the Bacchus afterwards went down well, and cheered the Architect up, too.
There's an excellent long review of the movie here.
I have to get six to eight pictures done by 27th August. At the present count, I'm two short, but yesterday I made the stretchers, stretched the canvases and primed them. Three of the pictures are finished, bar some tweaking, three are well on the way, and I have ideas for the two new canvases.
So basically, I'm not worried about meeting my target., But it does mean I'm not getting out much.
Last night, however, Mrs Sums and the Architect invited me out to the cinema. Actually, to be accurate, Mrs Sums invited me out to the cinema. It became clear later that this was to keep the Architect happy because he was less than enthusiastic about the movie. He's more of a Star Trek: Nemesis or Spiderman 2 kind of guy and the movie we were going to see was Japanese Story.
Somehow, any mention of this film passed me by, despite its critical acclaim. The Tyneside Cinema thought it its public duty to let the local populace have another bite of the cherry. Would that the multiplexes operated this kind of policy.
I wasn't sure what to expect. The film concerns the relationship between a bluff Australian female geologist and a reserved Japanese business man and how it deepens to become something more profound as they drive through the desolate Pilbara region of Western Australia.
It's a road movie and a love story and just as you think that's as much as you're going to be given, it twists itself into another dimension, concerning itself with the nature of obligation and grief.
Toni Collette, as the geologist, gets to work her way - splendidly - through the whole gamut of emotions and rather overshadows Gotaro Tsunashima, who gets to play mostly handsome and reserved (but very engagingly)
It's not the film I'd have chosen to go to see, so thanks to Mrs Sums for that, because it's a hell of a good movie. Thanks also to the projectionist for switching off his radio before someone got up to brain him.
And the pint of Ossian in the Bacchus afterwards went down well, and cheered the Architect up, too.
There's an excellent long review of the movie here.
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