News

PITS Wins Best New Film Society Award!

Pix in the Stix has won the British Federation of Film Society Award for Best New Film Society. The 2011 Film Society of the Year Awards took place at the Ciné Lumière, London on the 17th September. The awards were presented by Togo Igawa, the prolific UK-based Japanese actor and star of the French hit film Le Herisson.  In his address, Togo commented on the similarities between his approach to finding audiences, and that of film societies:

‘My personal aim is ‘not to expect audiences to come to you, but to go and find your own audience’. That is why I am here today and I would like to encourage film societies’ most important maxim - ‘embrace local community’.’

The Awards were presented in Oscar style, ours was picked up for us by BFFS Scotland: Neil Chue Hong. Who thanked the BFFS for giving us the honour of this award.  In a key note speech given by Ed Vaizey MP - Minister for Culture, he spoke about the importance of voluntary effort to bring film to local communities, he said:

‘Local people know what is best needed in their areas and the tireless volunteers in the community cinemas and film societies up and down the country bring film, culture and social cohesion to their communities.  Their activities create communities, build relationships and special connections across all ages from the young to the old.’

Pix in the Stix is working hard to make this happen, we are learning and improving all the time.  Please let us know if you want to have a more active involvement yourself  

New Website- Thanks to Arcas Computing

We hope you like our new website as much as we do. We are so pleased with it our intention is to enter it for another award, watch this space……Thanks to ARCAS Computing

Rural Cinema Exchange Project 2012 – East Lothian to Argyll and Bute – Here we go !!!!

The idea for a rural cinema exchange project to the small remote Island of Lismore started as a thought when Suzie Q (secretary of Pix In the Stix) was staying on the Island in May 2011. She had   done a sponsored  climb to the top of Ben Nevis with the Pix in Stix Scottish Saltire Flag. When in the visitor centre in Lismore she got chatting to locals about what she did and her involvement in community cinema  in East Lothian.

They were very excited about all the adventures of Pix in the Stix and bringing the magic of cinema to rural communities. Sharing they had never had cinema on the Island. Suzie made contact with the hall committee and they were very keen. A subgroup of planners plan to go to the Island in January 2012 and meet local people to discuss the ideas of making a film, running a technical and how to run your own cinema workshop and what films they would like to see during the exchange weekend. Also to plan a music , food and dance evening on the Saturday in the hall. This project is very much open to all ages, families and individuals who are keen to get involved.

The plan is for all interested committee members and volunteers to have the opportunity from 1-3 June 2012 to go to the island make a film with  locals about community cinema, run the workshops and put on a weekend of films, music and dance.

We plan to invite the local Lismore people to Tyninghame Hall in September for the premier of the community film and have another celebration of community cinema and music.

Suzie has applied to numerous trusts to pay this project, which will include accommodation and transport.

If you would like to get involved or find out more please contact Suzie on 01620806808.

New Equipment & Awards for All Grant

Initially Pix in the Stix borrowed a mixture of equipment from Dunbar and North Berwick Film Societies as well as equipment from our own members. Then we kindly lent on long term loan, equipment (ie screen, DVD player, amp, speakers and projector) from the Scottish Film Federation, many thanks to everyone!. This enabled us to function as a group while we set about applying for funding from the national lottery “Awards for all Scheme”.

After much hard work from several committee members this was finally achieved in June 2010, where we received a grant of £10,000 to buy all the equipment that we need to become self sufficient as a group.

Much time and effort and many hours searching the internet lead us to choose the equipment, we are proud to say is ours.

Our first purchase was the projector, which was purchased from “Purple Cat” (many thanks to them for the help and advice).The one we finally went for was a Panasonic DZ 570(WUXGA) with a fixed lens.

Our next purchases were the Amp, DVD player and 5 way speaker system. These were as follows:

• Pioneer VSX 2020 multi channel receiver
• Pioneer BDP430 Bluray DVD player
• Bowers and Wilkins 5 way theatre speaker system, plus all the cabling for speakers.

All these items came from Hi-Fi corner in Edinburgh.

Our final purchase was the projector screen, we were unsure whether to get a fast fold (Portable) screen or to get an electric drop down screen permanently fitted into East Linton hall, we finally went for a fast fold (Draper 10 ½’ X 14’)screen as this gave us more scope to be mobile should the need arise.

We also purchased flightcases to protect the amp, DVD player and projector.

Many thanks to Jez Jackson, our chairperson, who after many hours of research and hard bargaining secured the purchase of this fine set of equipment, which will hopefully last us for many years to come.