Interesting article from Ideas Tap on the growth of pop up cinemas.

Do we still need cinemas?

With the current trend for building and defining your own cinema space this article opens the debate on the role of traditional cinema spaces. We still love them and think the two can sit side by side, hand in hand, just like two lovers in the back seat of a cinema...

Ideas Tap - Pop Up Cinemas

We've fallen in love with The Floating Cinema...

The Floating Cinema is developed by artists Nina Pope and Karen Guthrie (known collectively as Somewhere), and designed by Hackney based architects Studio Weave, to navigate the waterways of the five Olympic host boroughs during the summer 2011. This extraordinary floating structure will accommodate intimate on-board film screenings, larger outdoor film events and provide a base for film related activities led by Pope and Guthrie.

Now if we could just get it up the River Tyne...

Press Play's Hal Branson and Tom Higham are in Jersey this weekend for the annual Branchage Film Festival. 

Branchage is a young, ambitious and imaginative film festival combining cutting-edge commissions and creative programming with all that’s charming about Jersey. The festival specialises in site-specific live sound-tracking, music and film screenings, matching each to a complementary and unusual venue on the island. 

A hotbed for new talent, Branchage programmes an extensive short film strand, new independent features, industry panels, educational workshops and several parties and networking events.  

If you see Tom and Hal there, be sure to say hello!

Two of our favourite people. On a speedboat.

Amazing site featuring awesome people hanging out..this has to be our favourite combination!

http://awesomepeoplehangingouttogether.tumblr.com/post/9763251263/hunter-s-thompson-and-bill-murray

Yesterday Press Play visited Sound It Out Records in Stockton..

So it was with great delight, intrigue and a freshly paid credit card (on David Cameron's advice..) that we visited Sound It Records in Stockton yesterday. 

Having watched Jeanie Finlay's beautiful documentary about the last remaining record shop in Stockton many times, it was with an eery sense of familiarity that we entered and met the regulars and perused the vast and diverse selection of vinyl.

During our time there, two stars of the film came in to feed their habit for 12"s serving to galavanise what the film so beautifully shows; this is more than just a record shop, it's a place to spend time, immerse yourself in the place and chat about all those records that mean so much to people, both collectively and individually.

Suffice to say we left with a bag of records ranging from new releases (Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost) to classics (Devo - Are We Not Men?) and a small dent to our personal finances. 

Well worth it!

Screening details here:

http://www.pressplayfestival.org/programme/2011/sound-it-out

And why not grab YOUR best vinyl and spin 3 of your favourite tunes at our Sound It Out After Party?

http://www.pressplayfestival.org/programme/2011/sound-it-out-afterparty

See you on the dancefloor!

Just HOW much do you love vinyl...?

In the run up to Friday night's screening of Jeanie Finlay's acclaimed documentary Sound It Out, we stumbled across this site, which offers to consign your body to wax upon your death!

This certainly is dedictation to keeping vinyl alive - but if you chose to have it done would Tom from Sound It Out stock it?!

http://www.andvinyly.com/

Yet another unique use for old vinyl...

If you're not comfortable with having your body melted into a piece of vinyl (see previous post!) or you're struggling with getting rid of that dusty pile of 45's in the corner of the room, why not get in touch with artist Paul Cocksedge and have him melt it into a speaker for your iPod?!

Amazing stuff

Read more here

So here's Tom and Hal from Press Play interviewing Jeanie and various audience members who had just watched Sound It Out at Branchage Film Festival in Jersey over a spicy Thai lunch!

Enjoy - see you Friday!

http://vimeo.com/30466704

Yet another innovative use for old vinyl..

So with tonight's screening of Sound It Out just hours away, we thought we'd share yet another beautiful way of keeping vinyl alive courtesy of the lovely people at It's Nice That - we've heard of pedal powered cinema but pedal powered vinyl? This we LIKE..

http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/feats-per-minute

So here's the photos from the YOU Sound It Out after party at Star & Shadow Cinema..

Well, after a hugely enjoyable and successful screening of Jeanie Finlay's beautiful documentary Sound It Out, we all headed over to the Star & Shadow for the after party..

Everyone was invited to bring along their three best tracks on vinyl or cd and have a go at wowing the crowd! There was an amazing selection of music ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous..

Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a special night.

You can still contribute towards the film here

Press Play x

With the Press Play DIY Weekender nearly upon us, what better documentary to watch in the run up..

Rough Trade embody the DIY spirit that influenced and shaped the programme we have curated for the Press Play DIY Weekender.

This beautiful film follows the highs and lows of one of the UK's most cherished and revered DIY record shop and label.

Watch and enjoy as a warm up to our weekend of all things DIY

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00j4dx5/Do_it_Yourself_The_Story_of_Rough_Trade/

With Press Play's screening of RIP: A Remix Manifesto nearly a week away, here's a video of Girl Talk creating a mashup...

Here's Greg Gillis aka Girl Talk, star of RIP: A Remix Manifesto, creatimg a mashup from the safety of his bedroom..hidden away from the music companies who want to sue him for copyright infringement..

http://youtu.be/KykbPtRb0K4

Come and see this amazing documentary on Saturday 17th November at the Cumberland Arms with music after from local legends Brad Field and Man With Feathers..

Details here

Buy tickets here

With Christmas just around the corner, we're offering you the deal of the year!  Our festival pass can be yours for just £25.  Yes, you heard right.  So, we've written a template for you to send to Santa, I'm sure he'll meet your request...

Dear Santa,

This year, as the winter draws in and the weather is starting to make me wear ridiculous clothing, there's nothing more I'd like to do than watch some incredible films in some great venues. The only thing is, that I'd really like to see them before the 25^th December (whilst I still fit in my clothing, haven't overdosed on meat, and cheese isn't sweating from my eyes).

I've found these great events that are happening in Newcastle from 17^th - 20^th November as part of Press Play's DIY Weekender, 4 days of special events , music and dancing, cutting and splicing and of course, above all else, films.

I hear they've just released a festival pass which gets me into all of the films and parties for a mere, recession busting £25! You reckon you could stretch to that? It includes an epic Richard Dawson evening, electro dancing and load of films that I wouldn't get to see otherwise. The full programme's here if you fancy coming along too?

The other thing is, you know that Super 8 camera that I picked up at Tynemouth Market that time? Well, I've never actually used it and although I've always wanted to, I've never quite known how. Press Play are putting on this 2 day workshop on Saturday 19^th and Sunday 20^th November, which will show you how to shoot and hand process your film with expert film makers Edwin Mingard and Louise Green. It's £35, a bloomin' snip if you ask me and that includes the whole 2 days, the cost of the film, a camera AND entry to their closing party. Wowsers.

Tickets for all the events are on sale now.

It would be ace if I could go...

Lots of love x

On Friday evening we've a real treat for you in the shape of Press Pause Play, a beautiful film about the digital revolution and democratisation of culture. Not only that, but we've also secured new, exclusive, unseen Cassetteboy films to premiere. Seriously, just be there. 

As a taster, with Question Time being hosted in Newcastle last week (congratulations to Northern Stage and the brilliant Erica Whyman), here's Cassetteboy vs Nick Griffin vs Question Time, an oldie but a goodie. 

See you on Friday at Tyneside Cinema (18:10). Grab your tickets HERE.  

Read the full article and preview HERE. 

What you can look forward to at day one of our DIY Weekender

After months of planning, programming and shirt ripping the Press Play Festival DIY Weekender is finally upon us.

Here's what to look forward to today...

At 2pm we welcome a selection of esteemed speakers from the world of DIY film funding and distribution to our FREE Crowd Surfing event at Side Cinema. 

At 5pm we are screening Emily James's amazing crowd funded documentary Just Do It, which follows climate change campaigners and the daring troublemakers who have crossed the line to become modern day outlaws. 

And on a day when the protesters outside St Paul's have been served with an eviction notice, it feels very appropriate to come and watch this film.

See you there!

Press Play x

One day down, here's what's to look forward to today as part of the DIY Weekender

The Crowd Surfing event at Side Cinema yesterday was great, as was seeing the gem that is Just Do It straight after. We're now looking forward to Press Pause Play at Tyneside Cinema this evening at 18:10. 

As you know by now, we're also screening some exclusive new clips from Cassetteboy. Grab your tickets HERE. 

Here's the notes from yesterday's Crowd Surfing event.

Thanks to everyone for attending and contributing to yesterday's Crowd Surfing event as part of our DIY Weekender.

There was a fantastic range of speakers, all of whom gave honest, insightful advice on how to get your film funded and distributed.

As promised, here are the notes from the session:

https://download.yousendit.com/M3BtL0dPZDVrUm5sZThUQw

Press Play

Here's what you've got to look forward to TODAY!

Welcome to the weekend and Day 3 of our DIY Weekender!

Lots for you to see and do today, there's films and dancing so peel open your eyelids and start practising your finest moves.

Shut Up Little Man

2pm / Side Cinema / £5

THEN

Winnebago Man

4pm/ Side Cinema / £5

and to round your night off:

RIP: A Remix Manifesto

Cumberland Arms

8pm / £8 / £6

We cannot wait for this! As well as a stonker of a documentary, we have local legends Man With Feathers and Brad Field who will get you moving and shaking on the dance floor after the film.

See you there!

Press Play

Tis but not just the day of the sabbath but the fourth and final day of the Press Play DIY Weekender...

The day has finally come. After three days of workshops, parties and some damn good films we present you with a fun packed day to round off your weekend!

Up

11am

The Cumberland Arms

There's going to be a cosy den, cardboard houses galore and plenty of helium balloons. Oh and me, weeping quietly at the back...

Any aspiring filmmmakers at a loose end would do well to head down to Culture Lab for our 90 Second Film Challenge run by those lovely people at Writer's Block. It starts at 11 and the films will be screened at our closing party tonight, along with the films being shot and hand processed on our Super 8 workshops over the weekend.

Anyhow, back to the films!

Beauty Day

2pm 

Side Cinema

This is the UK premiere of this film! And boy are we excited. So you should be too. Captain Video!

then DO NOT MISS

Vigilante Vigilante

4pm

Side Cinema

It's another chance to have an EXCLUSIVE viewing of this never before seen film.

And to round off the day of the sabbath, our very own second coming, Mr Richard Dawson is curating an evening of treats. A live score, his favourite film Bombon El Perro, then one of his trademark gigs...I can already hear myself singing along

Come along, it's cold outside. And we're here for you.

Press Play x

How well do YOU know Die Hard? Let's find out...

I just scored a rather earnest 19 out 25. And I thought I knew the film well!

Here your chance to shine before our DIE HARD CHRISTMAS PARTY!

http://www.hwdyk.com/quiz/m/90/die-hard

What's YOUR score?

Press Play x

Now I have a slideshow

The photos from our Die Hard Christmas Party can be seen in the album for this blog post!

You can also see them on Facebook and tag yourself here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.324901560861144.85806.133577286660240&type=1

Merry Christmas!

Press Play

For the ambitious documentary makers out there with a conscience. 

As you'll know by now, here at Press Play we're big fans of the social documentary. If you're a filmmaker with a burning passion to make a statement, take a look at this, and get applying!

http://britdoc.org/real_good/pitch/

Love us or hate us? Let us know...

Did you Press Play with us last year? Did you remix, sound it out or die hard? We want to know what you thought about our 2011 events. And if you didn't make it to anything, we want to know why...

So, help us our and fill in this lovely questionnaire. It'll take a couple of minutes of your time and we'd be so very grateful. Thanks!