What's it like to work in the Highland's most charming cinema?
The community-run Cromarty Cinema had barely opened its doors before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the brand new venue to close in March 2020. Now, as the Cromarty film community plans to reopen their cinema in 2021, we are on the lookout for a Cinema Manager to run what must surely be Scotland’s most picturesque ‘picture palace’.
Cromarty Cinema is a purpose-built, fully accessible 35-seat independent cinema. Eden Court partnered with Cromarty Film & Resolis Society on a shared vision of building a more diverse audience for film, bringing a range of world-class cinema to a state of the art venue in a predominantly rural area. As we move closer to brighter days and the prospect of our cinemas re-opening, we asked our friends at Cromarty Cinema to tell us about their experiences with the new venue so far.
IMAGE CREDIT: Ruth Clark
On a dark, wild and stormy night in January 2020, the newly-built Cromarty cinema first opened its doors to a curious public. Despite the dramatic and dreich Highland weather, that memorable first night was a sell-out, and set the tone for the busy weeks that followed.
The cinema runs as a non-profit community asset with every aspect of the operation covered by volunteers. While the venue is technically dazzling and equipped with 35 luxury seats that create a warm and homely feel, what’s uniquely distinctive about the cinema is the people behind-the-scenes.
Right now, there are upwards of 35 passionate advocates who take an active role in every part of the process from programming, marketing, design, working projection, box office & finance to ensure that everything remains sparklingly clean when the crowds dissipate.
All the members of the volunteer crew are fervent believers that film works best as a shared experience. Although we may physically be separate at present, we are all still in touch and enthusiastically sharing ideas, memories and insights. We captured a few of the volunteers’ voices and it has been a wonderful way of reinforcing how incredibly special the cinema is already.
Susan Christie (Volunteer Co-ordinator)
IMAGE CREDIT: Ruth Clark
JOHN KEILLER (Volunteer)
‘…it’s the little shared things that are important – conversations on the beach or in the cinema. We’re having to deal with a set of extraordinary circumstances, and it’s easy to think of the difficulties that brings - yet somehow, none of that matters as long as we don’t lose sight of common humane things that we share with each other.’
VIRGINIA IORIO (Volunteer)
‘…we started to know more and more people, and you start to feel like part of Cromarty; not just because I’m here with the University. The cinema is more of a tool to build the community; rather than just a cinema.’
ALICE TAYLOR (Volunteer)
‘You never usually get to be behind-the-scenes. I like that feeling…even though you might be behind a little desk in the Box Office and not that behind-the-scenes; it’s like a little secret.’
IMAGE CREDIT: Ruth Clark
MIKE WEBSTER (Filmmaker and winner of the 2019 Inverness Film Festival’s Audience Award)
‘Loved the screenings in Cromarty. The audience was warm and curious, and the staff were brilliant; they wanted to be there, and to connect - the benefit of enthusiastic, volunteer staff! Technically, this was the best our film – ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ - has ever looked and sounded. The cinema itself is something else; a stunning, comfortable, VIP feel, in a community and intimate setting - a special place. Will be back for all sorts of reasons!’
GRACE HALL (Volunteer)
‘…the town shares an unmistakable love of film. As a new resident in Cromarty, it’s a place where I can make new friends and embark on training that builds my technical skills’.
GILL HUBBARD (Volunteer)
‘It’s not just about the film but about being present in the moment and rites of passage. The last film I saw in our wee cinema was just wonderful – The Camino Voyage – a key message from that film is it’s about the journey, the experiences and not where you end. It’s about love and friendship and effort and determination. I look at the volunteers around me and think – yes, I love you for bringing cinema home.’
TANYA KARLEBACH (Volunteer / Ex-Chair of Trustees)
‘Although the doors are closed, we are still fired up and active - collaborating, dreaming and planning.’
IMAGE CREDIT: Ruth Clark
Do you want to be Cromarty's first ever Cinema Manager? Click on the link below to find out more about the position.
For more information on Cromarty Cinema follow @CromartyFilms on twitter.