Notre Dame cinema takeover

To start the project, our students visited the cinema for a tour led by their engagement officer, Sylvia Barber. Sylvia spoke about the rich history of the Picture House and the work they do there. We visited their projection room where students were provided insight by their knowledgeable projectionists into the history of screening films at the cinema and how they continue to maintain these specialist skills today. We got an up-close look at their two 1960s Cinemeccanica projectors, and students were briefed on the difference between film and digital projection. We visited both of their screens, and Sylvia finished the tour with a presentation on how film programming works at the cinema. Upper sixth student, Sam Hoey, reflected on the experience: ‘HPPH is one of the oldest cinemas in the UK, so it was fascinating to learn about their use of film to screen their movies, alongside more modern digital methods.’

Following this, Sylvia visited Notre Dame to lead the interactive planning session and listened to student film suggestions. She whittled them down in a vote and our group landed on Dead Poets Society, the 1989 film by Peter Weir. These conversations had our students engaging with film marketing and thinking about the ways in which they could advertise the screening during the vote. All our students had very positive feedback for this session and said it allowed them to think creatively about different strategies to sell tickets depending on the genre and themes of the suggested film.

The screening finally rolled around on Sunday 19th January. Participating Notre Dame students greeted guests as they arrived at the cinema. To encourage reflection on influential teachers, they engaged the audience with an interactive activity, having guests write their favourite teacher’s name on post it notes before the screening.

Three students co-wrote an inspiring introduction on the importance of poetry and self-expression which was read aloud in an introduction before the screening with confidence and professionalism. Three fantastic poems on the topics of conformity and success, education and ‘carpe diem’ by two Notre Dame English Literature students followed the introduction.

We received a wealth of positive feedback from both attendees and staff at Hyde Park Picture House. Working with the cinema on this project has provided our students with critical event planning and team building skills as well as providing them with valuable knowledge of an industry they want to work in.

Student Taya Tur quoted ‘HPPH have been welcoming and supportive of this project, helping us to plan and fulfil an interactive screening. We were given an engaging tour that familiarised us with the projector room, the historic building and educated us on independent cinemas. I have had a chance to work on a project I am passionate about with like-minded people, developing key transferable skills. I have learnt how 1960s projectors work, how an independent cinema is managed, and how to plan a creative project.’

If your school would like to be involved in learning opportunities like this at HPPH, head to our Learning Page to find out more.