How DO you make a cinema?
Well, basically, you get a partner in crime to help you. Two humans will suffice at this stage — preferably one who is obsessed with film and another who is obsessed with bringing people together for fun.
Get a projector. Share your living room with your pals for a film night. Feed them cake and tea.
When ones living room becomes too small for everyone, find friends who will let you and 40 other people descend on their living rooms, gardens, office spaces, rooftops and abandoned shops for a one-night cinema experience.
Do monthly film clubs for two years.
Give people memorable evenings filled with thought-provoking movies that scratch at their imaginations. Create a space where people and their emotions can linger after the film. Allow ALL opinions.
Build a cult following.
Make sure there’s always tea, cake and smiles.
Listen to your audience when they say, “You guys are going to need a bigger boat!”
Oh no, that was Jaws.
I mean, “You guys need a cinema, yo!”
Call other cinemas to get advice
Find yourself an amazeballs friend called Emily who drafts a budget
Find yourself an amazeballs friend called Aron who helps you make a kick-ass fundraising video.
Make a crowdfunding page.
Ask your community, “Who wants to help make a cinema?”
Pull together a core team of three to six humans. Set up working groups: Fundraising, Admin & Legal, Café, Marketing, Cinema, Programming and Community. Put a legend in charge of each one. Make them feel valued and give them the autonomy to do their thing.
Launch the crowdfunder into the ether, ask for $10k.
Put the video EVERYWHERE.
Go on TV. Go on the radio.
Ask ten people a night for seven weeks to contribute. Ask your friends, family, coworkers, brother from another mother, talking stages, and that guy you met in a taxi ten years ago.
Literally everyone.
Don’t be shy. A cinema is an AMAZING thing to fund.
Get everyone in the team to fundraise.
Reach your target. WOO HOO.
Find a location.
Meet Gonza at UCC. Meet Maggie at the Media Council. Meet the guy at KCCA, the fire certificate lady and the LC.
Choose films.
Contact film distributors.
Build relationships with film makers
Build a cinema.
Build walls, screens and projector boxes. Buy foam and fabric downtown for soundproofing.
Share videos of the process. Create a buzz online. Let people watch their cinema come to life.
Do team-building workshops. Get great facilitators to help you pull together for the final stretch.
Buy chairs. Make cushions. Buy carpets. Make tables and benches. Get donations of furniture and fridges.
Invite all your creative friends to bring their events into your space. Give them a place to experiment, collaborate and connect.
Create a programme for filmmakers to hone their craft, share ideas and exhibit their work.
Print giant pictures of art you love and the films you’re showing. Get Kampala’s cinema historians to create a mural.
Build a kick-ass online ticketing system. Build a point-of-sale system.
Find great food partners.
Buy loads of drinks stock. Buy a popcorn machine. Put on some great music.
Make some pineapple juice.
Pop the corn.
Pull back the curtain
Press play.
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