Curtain goes up on Wimbledon cinema (From Wimbledon Guardian)
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Curtain goes up on Wimbledon cinema
2:10pm Sunday 25th October 2009 in News By Craig Burnett
Director Shane Meadows cuts the ribbon, alongside film critic Andrew Collins - and HMV mascot Nipper
Britain’s hottest director has cut the ribbon on Wimbledon’s new cinema.
Shane Meadows official opened the new HMVCurzon cinema last Wednesday.
Last week’s ceremony featured a screening of Meadows’ new film Le Donk and Scor-zay-zee - as well as an appearance by Nipper the dog, the HMV mascot.
The cinema sits above HMV’s store on the Broadway, and is a joint venture between the retailer and cinema chain Curzon. Speaking before the film, Curzon chief executive Philip Knatchbull said: “We are trying to bring cinema back to the town centre and back to the high street.”
The three screen, 265 seat venue opened to the public on Friday. Its owners have promised a mix of mainstream, independent and foreign films.
Meadows, whose work includes Dead Man's Shoes and This is England, shot his latest film in a week and on a budget of just £28,000.
The mock-documentary stars Paddy Considine as ageing roadie Le Donk who, alongside teenage rapper Scor-zay-zee, is given an unlikely chance at fame by performing with rock band the Arctic Monkeys.
The director said he “thrived on having nothing” and hoped Le Donk and Scor-zay-zee would encourage more people to pick up cameras and try their hand at making low-budget films. He said: “Anyone can imagine making a film in just five days.”
In recorded messages screened before the film, members of the entertainment industry voiced their support for the new cinema.
Stephen Fry said: “Well what a place to be opening - I will be visiting as soon as possible.”
Veteran director Terry Gilliam said: “When you bring the Wombles in you’ll know we have succeeded.”
