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It’s not all about The Odeon showing Sing-a-long-a Batman Re-Imagined in 3D the Prequel when it comes to the cinematic choices around Sunny Colch. Valid though The Odeon is for new releases, it is reassuring to know that a sense of independent community cinema is thriving within the region. Wivenhoe’s Moving Image has been screening regular Saturday evening films for just over fourteen months now. The numbers are up, the prices remain steady and a genuine sense of community has started to grow around the hyperlocal screenings.

The volunteer led group was originally formed with the grand ambition to find a permanent home. This aim may have been scaled down, but the enthusiasm and ability to deliver weekly films to Wivenhoe and the surrounds certainly hasn’t. Saturday evenings are the main screening showtime, with the Essex County Council owned Philip Road Centre serving as the base. Blackout curtains convert the old school into a pop up cinema, with specific audio equipment brought in to enhance the effect.

Moving Image is no competition for The Odeon - it actually compliments the blockbuster schedule than can be seen along Head Street. Films such as The King’s Speech, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or V for Vendetta may get their first run in town, but then for folk that might have missed them, these are then picked up shortly afterwards by Moving Image. Slightly more left of centre films also get a look in. The trick is to balance a challenging season with the hard realities of breaking even.

Membership for Moving Image is a bargain at £10 per year. This entitles entry to screenings for only £4.50. Non-members are most welcome, paying the slightly higher £6. The Moving Image website is regularly updated with future dates and reviews. You can also keep in touch via @wivmovingimage on Twitter, or via the Facebook page.

Below is the first recording of what hopefully will be a regular catch up with the Moving Image folk. We want to find out which screenings have worked, as well as looking ahead to future films. But for all the hit and miss hyperlocal recordings, the best support that you can give is to simply attend a screening. Talk is cheap. So is Moving Image.

Aha!

*not quite as slick, but that was never the suggestion…

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