Hollywood can come to Linwood - and the rest of Renfrewshire - thanks to a new mobile cinema screen project.
Linstone Housing Association has bought a mobile movie screening kit for community groups to hire at a low cost.
The purchase was made possible thanks to an £8,295 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund. It includes indoor screens, a giant inflatable outdoor screen, projector, DVD player and sound system.
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Linstone’s Rachael Scott, who led the application for the National Lottery funding, said: “With having this resource available, which is both easy to use and affordable, our hope is it will allow community groups to bring cinema to areas and people who might not have access to commercial cinemas due to proximity, costs, or accessibility.
“Cinema is not an experience people should ever miss out on because of their background, age, disability, or language barriers.”
The need for a mobile cinema initiative for Renfrewshire was highlighted by members of the Renfrewshire Screen Development Network (RSDN) which is a Linstone project in partnership with Regional Screen Scotland.
Its focus is to build a network of local organisations within Renfrewshire keen to bring film screenings to their communities.
The network is made up of a diverse range of local groups and organisations ranging from tenants’ groups to childcare providers and local charities.
The cinema kit is managed by Paisley-based creative organisation StudioFV on behalf of Linstone.
A spokesperson for StudioFV said: “We will ensure as many community groups, RSDN members and other organisations in the area as possible can make great use of it going forward.
“This high spec, professional kit will transform any community event into something really special. Audiences will be whisked into a magical world of film just like they would at their local cinema multiplex, and feel all the vibes of a music festival main stage while attending their local family fun day.
“Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund, residents from all over Renfrewshire and beyond have access to this wonderful piece of kit.
“StudioFV is a purpose-driven business. All proceeds go towards our mission of combating social isolation and working with long-term unemployed people and those facing barriers to work.”
The kit is available for anyone in the community to hire and fees vary with the lowest cost being charged for organisations not making a profit from the screening. Exact costs are available on request. A licence to show films typically costing around £90 is also required.
Adele Fraser, Chief Executive of Linstone said: “This is an inspiring and innovative approach to bringing communities together – something we consider vitally important in our work at Linstone.
“It literally is the cinema that comes to you and cuts out the need to travel outwith communities just to see a movie.
“We have no doubt it will be well used and we are enormously grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund for awarding us the money to make it happen.”
Kate Still, Scotland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, added: “National Lottery funding can make amazing things happen in local communities across the country. This project delivered by Linstone Housing is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved when people come together for a common cause or to help others.
“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is helping to support this vital work and to help communities thrive.”
• To hire the mobile cinema contact StudioFV on info@studiofv.co.uk or phone 0141 230 7321.
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