#sol cinema

World’s smallest solar movie theatre

Why It’s Unique: Sol Cinema is the world’s first mini mobile movie theatre powered entirely by the sun. It only accommodates 8 adults but patrons are greeted by a smiling usherette who guides them into Sol Cinema on a red carpet. The mobility of Sol Cinema allows it to travel around the UK showing movies on the street or at festivals. If food trucks are currently the next big thing in dining maybe planet friendly mobile theatres are the next big thing in movie viewing? I’m sure there are plenty of people who wouldn’t mind spending their lunch hour at Sol Cinema.

Όχι ότι το μέγεθος έχει σημασία, πάντως το Sol Cinema, μια κινητή κινηματογραφική αίθουσα με έδρα το Κεντ στη Μεγάλη Βρετανία, βρίσκεται στον αντίποδα των τεράστιων αιθουσών των μεγάλων κινηματογραφικών αλυσσίδων, μιας και χωράει μόλις οκτώ ενήλικες θεατές (ή λίγο περισσότερους αν είναι παιδιά ή έχουν διάθεση για αγκαλίτσες). Κατά τα άλλα, διαθέτει όλα τα κομφόρ: βολικές θέσεις, ποπκόρν, ταξιθέτρια, κόκκινο χαλί στην είσοδο — και, γενικά, αισθητική καλού παραδοσιακού σινεμά.

Πρόκειται για ένα τροχόσπιτό της δεκαετίας του ’60, που ήταν εγκαταλελειμμένο για πολλά χρόνια. Για τη μετατροπή χρησιμοποιήθηκαν σχεδόν αποκλειστικά ανακυκλωμένα υλικά, ενώ ο προβολέας λειτουργεί με ηλιακή ενέργεια (φωτοβολταϊκά 120W). Ιδού φωτογραφίες από τη μετατροπή:

Το Sol Cinema ταξιδεύει και συμμετέχει σε φεστιβάλ, πανηγύρια και πάρτι. Όπως διαβάζουμε στο site του, διατίθεται σε ομάδες που επιθυμούν να προβάλουν τις ταινίες τους αλλά έχει και δική του ταινιοθήκη, κυρίως με ντοκιμαντέρ περιβαλλοντικού περιεχομένου. Οι δημιουργοί του, παραφράζοντας τη γνωστή ρήση για τον Μωάμεθ και το βουνό, υπερηφανεύονται ότι η κινητή, οικολογική αίθουσά τους δεν περιμένει τους θεατές να πάνε στο σινεμά αλλά φέρνει το σινεμά στους θεατές.

https://vimeo.com/88240086

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Εδώ άλλες αναρτήσεις από την κατηγορία Η τέχνη της διπλανής πόρτας

Welllll, Lil’ Foxie and I have been convinced:  The sun’s rays can be used for good and not just for melting our vampire flesh. BELIEVE IT:  The power of the sun’s energy can be utilized to fuel a movie theater so that everyone can, WATCH MORE MOVIES!

The Sol Cinema is the world’s smallest solar powered picture house and was designed after artist, Jo Furlong discovered a forgotten Euro-Carvan rusting away in a hedge. 

After about a year of designing, planning, and with the assistance of his filmmaker pal, Paul O’Connor the duo created a unique venue to present short films.  Made using mostly recycled materials the cinema offers not only a unique experience that is reminiscent of the art deco movie palace, but also provides an opportunity to showcase independent filmmakers.  Ask any filmmaker,  and most would deny that there is anything more thrilling than having your film/video make it the silver screen and to present their work to audiences.

The cinema can host up to 8 adults and has even been known to squeeze in about 16 children.   Hailing from the UK, it has traveled thousands of miles and visited over 300 locations at film & music festivals and fairs.  Recently, Sundae Matinee had the opportunity to get the inside scoop from Projectionist, Paul O’Connor about his movie palace.   Enjoy and remember:  WATCH MORE MOVIES!

Sundae Matinee (SM):  What is your favorite sundae? Projectionist, Paul O’Connor (PO): It would have to be a blackcurrant sundae SM:  What inspired you to create this unique venue to view films? PO:  The concept was a collaboration of artists and a filmmaker. Artist Jo Furlong’s previous project had converted a small caravan into a touring human sized juke box for his band. The Dukes Box has become a cult favourite at festivals across the UK. I had been seeking a unique way to show short films at festivals and this was the perfect solution. We wanted to find a way to present short films which went beyond YouTube. We wanted to give an enjoyable experience to honour all the hard work and dedication which video makers put into creating their short videos.

SM:  What type of films do you typically show? PO:  Shorts (generally 7minutes long). Music related, parodies of blockbusters, Inspiring philosophy, quirky or vintage videos which highlight issues relevant to today. Counter culture is our preferences. SM:  Do you ever take submissions from filmmakers? PO:  Yes we do and many of their videos become festival favourite, Click here to view some of the videos.  SM:  Where has your cinema traveled?  How does it get from place to place?  PO:  We have performed all over the UK from Scotland to Wales to the far corners of England. We are popular in Ireland too. We are mostly hired by music or arts festivals but we are also hired to do pop up events in cities so, yes we do it all.

SM:  How many are on your cinema staff? PO:  We have 9 performers in our crew but it is generally 3-4 people working per show. SM:  Do you serve concessions and refreshments during the showing? PO:  A movie theatre wouldn't be right without popcorn. We are currently seeking a Gourmet popcorn company to partner with. SM:  What filmmakers do you admire? PO:  Darren Aronofsky, the Coen brothers and Hitchcock

SM:  Where is your favorite movie palace? PO:  The Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford because I watched it as it came back to life from dereliction. SM:  Where/When is your next travel date to? PO:  During September we will be in Jersey, Dublin, Chagford Film Festival and Durham amongst others. Anyone can get in touch via our website to chat about hiring the Sol Cinema.

SM:  Any plans to have a fleet of cinemas in the future? PO:  We are currently creating the alternative caravan club to help inspire people to use the humble caravan to create something wonderful. We aim to perform during more film festivals. All photos courtesy of Sol Cinema.  Thank you for sharing your cinema with us!  And remember, watch more movies! For more info about Sol Cinema check out: http://www.thesolcinema.org https://www.facebook.com/solcinema

The Sol Cinema is a unique mobile cinema powered entirely by the Sun. We are based in the UK...we accommodate 8 adults comfortably for a unique cinematic experience. 

Here's something Ii wrote for the Flatpack Festival blog, have a read. Original posted 13th March 2013 http://www.flatpackfestival.org.uk/2013/03/staff-picks-morten/

The first of our 2013 Staff Picks comes from Morten, our Programme Assistant.

Sol Cinema:

Any film lovers familiar with holiday camps will no doubt share my memories of the moments of nervous anticipation when you first step into the caravan to see the tiny television in the corner and a stack of questionable videos underneath. What would we be subjected to when the inevitable rainy day reared its ugly head? Would my family suffer as I forced them to endure another viewing of Space Jam or would I be confused by yet more vague reasons as to why I was not allowed to watch Con Air at my age? Sol Cinema, however, promises to be a much more enjoyable mash-up of cinema and mobile accommodation, with archive gems and joyous shorts screening in the world’s smallest solar-powered cinema.

The Adventures of Prince Achmed:

Le Voyage dans la Lune. Cupid Angling. The Jazz Singer. All of these are recognised as significant moments in the history of cinema and The Adventures of Prince Achmeddeserves it place among them. Widely considered as the first animated feature length film, its influence has been both broad and long-lasting, look no further than 2011’s Tales of the Night for proof of that. This is no mere screening though, the vibrant colours and deep blacks on screen will be accompanied by a live score including the intriguingly named instrument ‘Fluid Dulcimer’, finding out what this mysterious invention is secretly forms a major part of why I’m so looking forward to this event.

Bicycle Dreams:

I can’t actually ride a bike, so don’t expect to see me attempting Bike Polo as part of Cyclomania, but even I realise that the Race Across America is the kind of event that would send Lance Armstrong scurrying away to the nearest medicine cabinet. Stephen Auerbach’s Bicycle Dreams documents the epic 3000 mile race providing a visually charming glimpse at every possible landscape the US can offer and an in-depth insight into the riders as they are forced to confront the entire range of human emotion as they strive to reach the finish line. While it would of course be ridiculous for me to even think of attempting this race, Auerbach’s film might at least persuade me to ditch the stabilisers.

Vanishing Waves:

A twisted tale of love acted out as a scientist explores the labyrinthine mind of a comatose woman? Vanishing Waves had me at hello. With a plot that is set to make Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind feel like Coronation Street and the kind of mind-melting visuals that the word “trippy” was invented for, this low-budget Lithuanian sci-fi really punches above its weight to deliver a spectacular oddity that I expect to be one of the highlights of this year’s festival.

Ernest & Celestine: