See You at the Pictures

15 Replies

“See You at the Pictures!”

How many times did you say those words, or have someone say them to you?

In the middle of December 2011, I became aware of a project at the hands of Planet Korda Pictures.

Planet Korda Pictures in association with RTÉ, were looking for stories or anecdotes about all aspects of the cinema-going experience from people of all ages within the island of Ireland. I could not resist adding my tuppenceworth to the stories already gathered.

In May of last year interviews were being held in Dublin and I was asked if I would be available for a chat. Always ready to try something new, I went along and it was a very interesting experience.

The aim of the project was to make a documentary about Ireland at the movies through eight decades. Like a journey through a shared history, with a very particular slant: growing up with the cinema.

Following months of travelling all over the land and interviewing cinema goers, a feature film is now ready and ‘See You at the Pictures!’ will be broadcast on RTÉ1 on Monday 1st April 2013 at 21:30 hrs.

I have no guarantee of being included, I might be lying in a bundle on a cold cutting room floor by now, but I will make it my business to watch and have my memory jogged about cinemas and films that I have forgotten all about.

Another aim, was to build a free online social history resource, a repository of information surrounding the history of Irish cinema. This is still a work in progress. The main focus of the site will be an interactive map of Ireland containing every cinema that has ever existed in the country. Eventually, when clicked on, each cinema will show video testimonials of former patrons, photographs and written accounts of people’s experiences there.

15 thoughts on “See You at the Pictures”

  3. Rummuser

    I have been seeing many pictures and just this morning said the words to a charming young lady who was my date to see a Hindi movie and have lunch with.

    After many years, I am going to the movies and am thoroughly enjoying the experiences including some bizarre ones like one about which I shall write a post soon.

    I doubt very much that you would have been edited out and be lying in some corner somewhere. You are too colourful to receive that kind of treatment!

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  4. Nancy

    Grannymar,

    After reading about your “See You at The Pictures” experience. I went to RTE.ie and I was able to see what they were currently broadcasting.

    It was the Dail Eireann discussing Health Bill 2013. Very Interesting.

    So, on April 1st I will try to tune in and see your movie debut. I hope you will still speak to us after you are a big star..

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  5. Grannymar Post author

    Ramana – Enjoy the date, the movie and the lunch.

    Nancy – Enjoy the programme, but be prepared, my chat may not be used.

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  6. wisewebwoman

    GM:
    I wish I had known as my uncle owned a cinema and omg I would go to the serials on a Sat afternoon.

    I love love love this project and after your screen debut – plse link us if so – maybe you can try out star in my next play?
    XO
    WWW

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  7. Grannymar Post author

    WWW – Do you get the RTE Player? If so, you could see the whole programme there, it would bring back the Ireland of our young days with visits to cinemas around the country.

    Try out for your next play? ME??? It would be a wonderful opportunity.

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  9. Grannymar Post author

    Tilly – It would be fun to make the cut, but I already enjoyed taking part and following the progress of the project.

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  10. Jeremiah Cullinane

    Hi Marie,

    I can confirm that a short piece of our interview was used.
    You’re in the movie!!!
    (don’t blink, though – you might miss it!)

    Thanks so much for your contribution!

    Jeremiah Cullinane
    (director, See You at the Pictures)

    PS You are welcome to join us, the team, and whichever of our 165 contributors fancy it, to watch the film live on RTE on Monday night at 9:30, on a big screen upstairs at the Ha’penny Bridge Inn, Wellington Quay

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  11. Jeremiah Cullinane

    Forgot to say: our new website is now live:
    http://www.seeyouatthepictures.com

    It’s a long-term project, dependent on contributions from the public, so please be kind, because you will see that from a content point of view it’s fair;y basic on info. We are looking for further funding to take in contributions for the map and to moderate stories and forums. But the structure of the site is in place. You can read or post stories, find cinemas (past and present) on a map of Ireland, participate on or create forum threads, etc.
    It was designed under our guidance by a team of developers from Web Elevate, and they did a smashing job.

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  12. Grannymar Post author

    Hi Jeremiah,

    Thanks for your comments and the news that I was scraped up off the cutting room floor! 😉 It was fun taking part and I look forward to seeing the contributions made by the other 164. I wonder if I know any of them. What a great idea to gather those involved in one place for the live viewing. I will do my best to be there.

    My link above is for the new website and am pleased to see that it is much more caring for older eyes. The text over changing colour in the old version was difficult to read. I look forward to the Map growing with contributions and anecdotes as the weeks pass.

    Now to sort out a bed for the night….

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  13. Alice

    Sounds interesting! I hope to see you there (figuratively speaking). It’s bookmarked on my toolbar, now if only I don’t forget since April 1 is a source for many April Fool spoofs.

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  14. Grannymar Post author

    Alice – Do you think that Jeremiah was teasing me? Nah. It will be all right on the night! 😀

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