My first initial ideas were cinemas and toilets, mostly because I felt like both places were places of interest for myself - cinemas because that was a special place for me and toilets because ever since I was little I have always judged a location on its toilet and that no two are the same.
I mindmapped them both out with different things that could be looked at there, such as carpet designs, tickets stubbs and food collections for cinema and tile designs, different smells and different toilet mannerisms. I then picked out places to go and investigate.
The first place I chose was The Light Leeds as it had both interesting toilets and a cinema within it. I went armed with food and a note pad and drew different people for 2 hours before deciding to speak to some members of staff. A lot of the earlier sketches were in pencil, I wrote down different collections of food types there and later did some watercolouring of the different foods found there. As well as foods I collected drawings on different customers who came in and out, I noticed there were a lot of people that visited the cinema but didn't go in, this was interesting for me and I spoke to a member of staff about it who confirmed my suspicion that numbers of people coming to the cinema were dwindling. We discussed different reasons for this, money prices, food prices and how piracy was more of an issue these days. This was one of the key points in my research as it was this point I decided that cinema had a better story to tell, as not many people could be spoken to in the toilet and after spending 30 minutes in one I hadn't really discovered anything that seemed like a story to tell three. I took some pictures at The Light cinema and took a few leaflets. I asked the woman who worked there questions about the atmosphere and what made that particular cinema special. She informed me of special senior nights, days when tickets were slightly cheaper and when there were special repeat showings. When I got back I also researched The Light online, I found that it was a branch of Vue Cinemas and was one of two in Leeds. The building itself had been developed a lot over the years from a set of offices to various different things until eventually Leeds Council developed it into a leisure complex with Ster Century cinemas being there until Vue brought them out and rebranded the 14 screen multiplex. Much of the original architecture is still in use and visible although the cinema section is slightly newer.
After finding out more about the place, I decided that as well as looking at big cinemas I wanted to investigate smaller ones and see if there was a story to be told for independent cinemas too. The first option I went to look at was Hyde Park picture house, the second oldest in Leeds. Built in 1914 it is almost the same as it was when it was first opened, there are small differences such as new upholstery and more advanced food machines but after to speaking to a volunteer there I discovered that part of the cinema's keeping was to make sure it was operated in the same way as when it first opened including the original gas lamps that are turned on and off by hand by attendants before a movie. When I asked more I learnt that people volunteered to work at Hyde Park picture house to keep it open, and that it had nearly been shut down until Leeds City Council stepped in and brought it making it part of the Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House Limited which ensured its survival for many years to come. I also asked some questions there, such as what made their cinema unique, the member of staff told me that it was very cosy and had a great sense of atmosphere as well as been an active part of the community - BYOB bring your own baby on wednesdays, Hyde & Seek every saturday at noon reduced prices for families (with autism showings once a month) not to mention creatures of the night and tuesday wonders for older audiences. I was really impressed by the breadth of things the cinema did for the community and really got a sense of atmosphere when I was there.
After speaking to people there I also researched it online and found that it was one of the oldest cinemas in the country and is the online one that still uses gas lit lamps inside although the outside ornate lamp was now powered by electricity, I also learnt they have 2 35mm films and are participants in the Leeds Film Festival and help host every year.
We had two crits just before we went home (in december). The first was everyone in class looking at the research we had done so far. Mine was overall positive and many commented on the universal appeal of cinema. Some commented that I needed to start considering storyboards which is something I kept in mind from this point onwards. People also said I needed to narrow down what I was looking for.
In my second crit I filled out a project proposal form. My initial idea was to make a book about how cinema is an experience worth keeping, people who visit the cinema and what food types are sold. I wanted to convince people into visiting cinemas and to make them notice their worth. At this point I didn't know what I wanted my book to be but I had decided that concertina might not work as well. In order to develop my ideas I had decided to visit cinemas at home, look for more patterns and look at peoples clothing more. I concluded that my research over the two weeks had been helpful and that I needed to keep talking to people as it was a very people lead experience. I also decided I should research the place before I go so I can ask better questions.
Over the christmas period I went home for the holidays and visited my local cinema which is a cineworld (3rd built in the country). It was here that there was the biggest key to the whole of my research. I met a father and daughter who were coming to see paddington (one of the biggest hits this xmas) whilst she was off in the arcade section I spoke to the father who told me about how much the cinema had an impact on him and how since splitting with his wife the cinema is something that him and his daughter can still do together when he sees her. He told me about how movies became special to them and how its a routine but how movie magic helps him to connect to his daughter better. This really touched me and it was at this point I knew I wanted to make a book that reflected more about people and the excitement of visiting and experiencing the cinema rather than promoting the cinema's existence or making a book telling people to visit their local cinema. After speaking to some people in my class before leaving for christmas this was something that reflected in conversations with them, about how everyone had a special routine and how for most it was a real treat going to the cinema when they were younger and how it still retains its magic now they are older.
Whilst I was there I took some pattern designs and carpet designs as I had started thinking about including these within my work already (as it was something all cinemas I had visited had in common).
When I returned I wanted to visit one more cinema to even out my research. I picked cottage road cinema, the oldest cinema in West Yorkshire. Built in 1912 it still has all the original wooden panels it was built with and has had very few changes to structure over the years apart from a balcony that was got rid of a few years ago. After speaking to staff there I found that it had remained independent for its entire duration of being open and celebrated its centenary in 2012 receiving a Leeds Civic Trust blue plaque. I also found out that after The Lounge Cinema was closed in 2005 cottage road cinema too was also closed down, with staff being given notices until it was brought and became part of the Northern Morris Group. I was told that since been part of that group they now show classics every six weeks where patrons of the cinema can come and experience classic films in a classic cinema environment. The staff at cottage road cinema were really proud of their heritage and what movies they show, although the cinema itself only has one screen with 422 seats it still is very popular with surrounding residents. The manager was very enthusiastic about their christmas showing of a wonderful life, which was shown on christmas eve where mince pies and mulled cider/wine were given out. It was a sellout and something that they try to do every year with this year being one of the most successful. The staff at cottage road cinema were more passionate than some I found working at the big chains, when asked why they told me that it was magical to be working in such a history enriched place and the community really made you feel excited about the cinema. I took a lot of photos of the architecture as it was really beautiful on the inside. They also told me about what special offers they did and some funny stories about customers which inspired me later on in my production process.
I returned home and having thoroughly researched places and started experimenting with different medias to start to put together an idea for the next brief.
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