Category Archives: Balerno

Argo, Balerno, Cinema, Film review, Monster in Paris, Uncategorized

Argo weekend

Another sunny Saturday in Balerno and the BVS kicked off with our matinee A Monster In Paris on our super duper computer assisted projector funded by the City of Edinburgh Council. A full house of children and parents gave a hundred per cent attention to this interesting animated musical.

stjoeshall

Next up our very discerning four o’clock audience showed up in force for the tense thriller Argo (our first ever 15 rated movie). This film had some words that were not swear words but the cosmopolitan citizens of Balerno took this in their stride and gave the movie the thumbs up.

Continue reading Argo weekend →

Balerno, Community cinema, Film, Uncategorized

Mike Blair donates BIG Screen to community cinema

Balerno Village Screen continues to upgrade its equipment. This March we were delighted to be given a new giant cinema screen courtesy of Scottish Rugby International scrum-half Mike Blair. Mike has been so impressed by the community spirit generated by BVS that he has generously donated a 4 metre wide screen.

“There is a fantastic community atmosphere happening in Balerno. I’m in France just now so have not managed to get along to Balerno Village Screen but I was keen to help them mikeblairout. Hopefully the screen will allow them to reach even greater audiences“. Mike said.

Mike is the highest capped international scrum-half in Scottish rugby, he was a British Lion in South Africa and is presently enjoying the sun in southern France playing for Brive. Mike is also a big film fan and his favourite films are The Last Samurai, Man on Fire and Blood Diamond. Continue reading Mike Blair donates BIG Screen to community cinema →

Balerno, Cinema, Community cinema, Monster in Paris

A Monster in Paris and Argo tickets available

On Saturday 6th April we will be screening A Monster in Paris and Argo. Please follow the buttons below to book your tickets or collect them from the Mill Cafe or Balerno Post Office.

  • A Monster in Paris screening at 10.30am CERT U – online tickets sold out – please try the Mill Cafe or Balerno Post Office.
  • Argo screening at 4pm, CERT 15 Eventbrite - Argo 4pm 
  • Argo screening at 7pm, CERT 15  Eventbrite - Argo - 7pm.

Please note that Argo is Cert 15 and only those 15 years and older will be admitted into the screening. Rated R for language and some violent images.

Tickets can also be collected from the Mill Cafe or from Balerno Post Office.

Doors open 30 minutes in advance. If you can no longer attend or are unable to get a ticket, please see our tickets page for more information.

Balerno, Cinema, Community cinema

Balerno Village Screen mentioned at the Scottish Parliament

We have to confess we didn’t see this one coming. On Thursday last week Motion S4M-05863 in the Scottish Parliament (yes the Scottish Parliament!!!) said:

‘That the Parliament congratulates Balerno Village Screen, the latest addition to Scotland’s cinema scene; understands that the community cinema is operated by local volunteers and, as a result of donations, is able to offer free admission; notes that, since its opening screening in the old parish church hall on 2 February 2013, it has played to record crowds, and wishes this new community venture every success in the future’.

Motion raised by local MSP Gordon MacDonald.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Alison Johnstone, Aileen McLeod, Annabelle Ewing, Joan McAlpine, Mike MacKenzie, David Torrance, Roderick Campbell, Adam Ingram, Bob Doris, George Adam, Colin Keir, Maureen Watt, Jean Urquhart, Gil Paterson, Angus MacDonald, Nigel Don, Sandra White, Colin Beattie, Fiona McLeod, Kevin Stewart, Clare Adamson

You can also read it on the Scottish Parliament website.

Balerno, Cinema, Community cinema

April feature – Argo

Having just won the best picture gong at the 2013 Academy Awards we thought Argo would be a good choice for April. Based on real events, the dramatic thriller “Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis, focusing on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played—information that was not declassified until many years after the event. (C) Official Site.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w918Eh3fij0?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

Please be aware that Argo is a 15 certification and that those attending MUST be 15 and above. Argo is screening at 4pm and 7pm on Saturday 6th April (doors open 30 minutes in advance). Tickets will be made available on Tuesday 12th March on the website or for pick up from the Mill Cafe or the Post Office.

Balerno, Cinema, Community cinema, Monster in Paris

Next up for kids – A Monster in Paris

An animated movie set in Paris in the year 1910 and centered on a monster who lives in a garden and his love for a beautiful, young singer.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvN4A6PgSW4?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

A Monster in Paris is screening at 10.30am on Saturday 6th April (doors open 30 minutes in advance). Tickets will be made available on Tuesday 12th March on the website or for pick up from the Mill Cafe or the Post Office.

Argo, Balerno, Community cinema, Film review

Meet the BVS critic: Darran Murphy

Hey, I’m Darran I just reviewed Argo for you guys but I also run my own blog at http://foxxiecinnamon.wordpress.com/

I grew up in Edinburgh and went to high-school in Balerno and love that you guys have a community cinema now!

Darran Murphy
Darran Murphy

I was the kid that stayed on the bus out of school straight past my house and rode on to a cinema in the city where I would watch any and all new films that were out. I literally grew up in film. I love cinemas – they are the places where I feel most comfortable in the world: being able to forget yourself for a short time in those dark rooms, lit only with the fantastical light and imagery of a projector, is a rapturous thing. I still go to the cinema all the time and now – with my blog – I love writing about films I’ve watched too.

My blog is primarily a venue for my photography and film talk.

One of my favourite photography posts is this one – http://foxxiecinnamon.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/sunrise-sheriffmuir/
A favourite film post of mine is this one –
http://foxxiecinnamon.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/talking-film-fish-tank/

I hope you can find something to enjoy if you choose to stop by.

You can find my Balerno Village Screen reviews listed on the reviews page.

Bye for now,

Darran Murphy

Argo, Balerno, Community cinema, Film review

Argo – review by Darran Murphy

argoposter

iran us embassy
The real Iran US Embassy being invaded in 1979

Argo is this years Oscar-winning best picture and is directed by Ben Affleck, who also stars. Affleck’s Gone Baby Gone (2007) quietly yet powerfully announced him as a director really worth looking out for. The film starred his brother Casey Afleck and Michelle Monahghan as a husband and wife private investigating team looking into the disappearance of young girl. It was Ben Affleck’s first full length feature as a director and it instantly became a favourite of mine. Argo is his third full-length feature and it solidifies Affleck as a rock-solid directing talent. Continue reading Argo – review by Darran Murphy →

007, Balerno, Brave, Cinema, Community cinema, Film, James Bond, Skyfall

Skyfall weekend in review

Skyfall weekend saw the rugged and attractive members of the Balerno Village Screen committee busy ensuring the five separate screenings were an enormous success with over 400 villagers enjoying the Village Screen experience.

Ogston blinds

Behind the scenes major developments were accomplished on sound, screen, blackout curtains and blinds.   A massive thank you to David Baillie (decorator), Al Murray scaffold and blind painter supreme, Smithy and Jonathan on the sound system and Jen Jacques for curtain wizardry.  Singling people out is of course iniquitous as the entire committee worked their socks off to make the weekend such a huge success.

hall backStarting on Friday night we squeezed in an extra showing of Skyfall for those who hadn’t picked up tickets.  This show had an age range from three to eighty three and proved very popular, despite the tight timescale for the extra show.  Next up we put on Brave as a Saturday matinee for children, families and the young at heart.

The sound was so powerful that the bears seemed real.  The picture quality was also top notch.  By this time of course everyone was being filmed by Media Co-op who were making a feature of our cinema for Scotmid (our biggest funder). Another great show with almost no popcorn spilt and absolutely no children lost in our tremendous blackout curtain arrangement.Aston Martin filming

Upwards and onwards the 4pm showing of Skyfall in the Ogston Hall was standing room only with everything going off without a hitch.  Then following a tight turnaround we managed to screen Skyfall in the Ogston and St Joseph’s complete with Aston Martin donated for one night only by Murray Motors, laser and smoke machine from Lindsey Middleton, red carpet from Apex International Hotel and a huge amount of generosity and goodwill from the people of Balerno.

What a fabulous weekend, thanks to everyone for their support. See you next month for Argo (best film at this year’s Oscars) – tickets will be made available soon…..

Martin Gemmell, Chair of Committee

007, Balerno, Brave, Cinema, Community cinema, Film, Skyfall

Skyfall and Brave update

Very exciting – less than 24 hours until Skyfall comes to Balerno! There are a handful tickets available for Friday night from the Mill Cafe or the Post Office so there is still time to get a ticket. On Saturday both Brave and Skyfall tickets have all gone.

If you are coming on Saturday, please be aware that Scotmid are making a film about Balerno Village Screen. You may be filmed in or around the screening or asked for an interview if you are attending any screening. They may also want to interview some children, usual disclaimers will be available for signing. If you wish to discuss this please feel free to ask one of the committee members (wearing the BVS t-shirts).

Refreshments and popcorn will be available at each screening and please arrive with enough time to get seated – doors open around 30 minutes before screening time.

And if you were listening to BBC Radio Scotland this afternoon you might have picked up the BBC Movie Cafe feature on Balerno Village Screen when they came to The Artist – you can listen again via the BBC Iplayer (starts 28.15) includes interviews with Iain Smith, Louise Duncan and some members of the audience – was it you?