Newsletter No. 3 – February 2008

Dear Friend

Membership Fees

Apologies for any confusion about payment. All those who paid their fee from autumn 2007 will be counted as full paid up until lst January 2009. Some people were under the impression that they had to pay again as from lst January 2008, but this we felt was unfair, so if you have paid another £5, we will count that as your membership for 2009.

Those who pay at any time during this year will be paid up until lst January 2009 also. If you have not paid your membership, please send cheque, made out to Friends of Hull Screen, to:

Susan Harr
Friends of Hull Screen
c/o Hull Screen
University of Lincoln
George Street
HULL
HU1 3BW.

We need to keep the funds at a healthy level for postage/copying and helping to publicise the Screen, which matter we have been discussing this afternoon.

New members continue to join FHS, and we hope that many of you will become active in what is going to be a challenging period ahead (see below.)

A short history of Hull Screen

Don Roy has done some very interesting research into Hull Screen’s previous existence as Hull Film Theatre, as it was when set up in early l969. It was expected to run at only 30 per cent of its capacity in the library and was committed to being non-political and non-profit-making. It was never intended to be a commercial cinema but to show “… classic, documentary, foreign, educational and other films not on general release…” One wonders how and why it arrived at its present Cinderella situation.

• A short history of Hull Screen

Hull Screen Management wishes to apologise for the “Magic Flute” contretemps in the afternoon performance, which failed to take place because of genuine circumstances beyond its control. It is hoped to programme this for an afternoon showing again soon.

HOLD YOUR BREATH!!

STOP PRESS! Tuesday 26 February Three of us from the Steering Group met Mike Lister (Manager of New Theatre) and Peter Appleton (temporary director of Hull Ferens). We had a fairly tough and straight speaking discussion, but it was felt by all three of us to be positive. The good news is that there is no immediate plan to close down the Screen summarily; rather, we were discussing possibilities for the Screen and the difficulties arising from each of those. Staffing is a huge isssue should the Screen move to Reel Cinemas; there are legal and contractual complications which are being explored, but which will take time to clarify. Peter Appleton feels that the matter of the Screen’s future now needs to be put as a direct issue to the Council Cabinet – in other words, we put the ball firmly in their court and ask them to make a decision about whether Hull City Council wants to see Hull Screen survive, and if so, how this can best be accomplished. “We have to reach a sustainable position.”

We felt that, given the pressure and publicity we have raised already with the support of all of you, we cannot now be discounted. In fact, Peter Appleton said that he saw Friends as “an interested party” with an active engagement in the Screen. We were promised that we would be invited to attend talks with Council members. Hold your breath!!

Please keep in touch with us; we will answer letters, calls and emails. We are hoping to put on more special members’ events – though not with the wine! – and perhaps introduce special offers.

Very best wishes to all members – we value your support.

Susan Harr and Val Brady – Co-Founders

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• April 2008
• December 2007
• November 2007

HULL SCREEN FOR WORLD CINEMA