Showing at the Electric Cinema until 15th May (this Thursday) Locke is set almost entirely inside the car of its main character Ivan Locke (played by Tom Hardy) as he travels from Birmingham to London.  It’s the perfect film to see at the Electric as you chuckle whilst he drives out of town, towards spaghetti junction and past Star City…

Written and directed by Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, it’s not your typical blockbuster, but an engaging and cleverly thought through piece of cinema which draws you in.

Working with Electric Flix (a production company based out of the Electric Cinema), Southside have produced a series of videos documenting the characters and thriving locations around Southside and its change from the once dilapidated warehouse district of Birmingham.

These are some really nicely directed pieces that feature an impressive variety of interviews, spanning from corner shop owners to drag queens.

I highly advise you to have a scan around the Southside Stories site and have a watch.

Here’s the trailer…

First up, a trailer for the upcoming performance of the Mozart Requiem by Notorious:

Clare Edwards has blogged some info about this.

Next is the trailer for The Last Projectionist:

I’d heard of The Last Projectionist before but somehow hadn’t twigged what it was about:

The story centres on The Electric in Birmingham, the oldest working cinema in Britian. From its silent beginnings in 1909; to a news and cartoon cinema during WWII; a porn cinema in the 70s & 80s; then saved from demolition and restored to its art deco glory in 2004.

And finally, the trailer for a soon-to-be-released documentary about King Adora:

I met Ben Lewis (who was also involved in The Last Projectionist) from Siwel Productions last week and he emailed me some more info about this one.

I’d wanted to make a documentary for a while and although my close friend was in the band I’d never really explored what that experience was like for him. We got talking and I’d decided that I’d like to produce a film about not only King Adora but what its like being in a band, any band, the music business at that time ( pre social media boom) , and nature of creativity etc

Self funded and calling in favours from friends in the industry the project grew and various characters that had featured in the bands timeline began to show interest. Steve Lamacq gave a great interview as did John Cornfield, the producer of their first album.

We managed to get into the jug of ale pub in Moseley ( now being converted ) as it very much was a part of the band and many other bands history.

The band reformed in 2010 for two shows at the Hare and Hounds and the Garage in Islington. It was great to interview the fans, some from way back and new fans that had found the band via you tube and facebook etc

I was always conscious that I didn’t want to adhere to a narrative in which band get signed, band break up, band reform etc

The film runs parallel narratives that explore the relationships witihin the band, what there up to now and how the “ride” effected them.

To parrot the official blurb:

Screen WM’s Festival of Film gives you the chance to enjoy free screenings of sensational films that have been inspired by, produced or filmed in the West Midlands

It runs from 16-29 November at venues around the region. Here’s the main list of films, and here’s what’s playing when and where in Birmingham:

• Tormented – 16 Nov, AMC Broadway Plaza
• Almost Adult – 20 Nov, The Drum
• Faintheart – 21 Nov, AMC Broadway Plaza
• The Children – 23 Nov, Electric Cinema
• Road to Guantanemo – 25 Nov, Electric Cinema
• Confetti – 28 Nov, AMC Broadway Plaza
• Nativity – 29 Nov, AMC Broadway Plaza

The other films showing around the region are Special People, Clubbed, The Mandrake Root, 1 Day and Straightheads.

Snap up tickets here.

28 October 2009

• Filmrats Halloween special – a multimedia evening of short films and live music. Plus fancy dress

30 October 2009

• Ghost walk at Highbury Hall. £9.95 and you get a jacket potato – can’t say fairer than that.
• An American Werewolf in London at The Electric (and again on 31 Oct)

31 October 2009

• The Phantom of the Opera – 1925 silent film at the Town Hall, with prizes for the best Halloween costume.
• Cherry Pop Peep Show presents The Bare Witch Project. Burlesque, music and magic upstairs at The Victoria.

2 November 2009

• Halloween Monster Movie Challenge 2009. Sound Bar will host the screening of the films submitted for the challenge

I’ve been cobbling this list together over the past few days – further suggestions would be welcome in the comments…

There’ll be cartoons from around the world, a pair of comedy classics with live piano accompaniment and the premiere of The Magic Box.

The Magic Box has been created by children at workshops held across the West Midlands – it’s a kind of animated Consequences.

One for the kids then, but I’m willing to bet there’ll be plenty for the grown-ups too. Grab tix from the Electric’s website.