Mareel - Cinema & Music Venue

[nederlander]

^ When did Aberdeen get a slot on MOTD?

 

[Fifi]

Can't believe how some people are trying to keep the pathetic pleepsin going by comparing the decrepit North Star which closed for films - when? Early 80s? - with a new facility 20 or more years later.

[Ichorus]

Me and the missus went to the cinema last week and between two tickets and one drink to share it cost £18

 

Where??

 

Vue Cinema in Aberdeen, the Belmont is over £7 a ticket now as well and I think Cineworld is £7 each for an adult too. You'd be mental to take a family to the cinema now, especially when you can rent the same film in 6 months for £3.75 at blockbuster.

 

I don't get spongers discount at the cinema though.

 

That was the same in glasgow for a while, but now its down to 5.50 ish.... depend what time you go.

 

The Experience of watching a film in the cinema is far better.

Cinema viewings are up because more and more people are wanting to get out and it costs far less than a night of drinking. which is one of the few options shetlanders have if they want to go out. Who goes to play bowls, tennis or goes swimming at 10pm?

 

I would gladly put £100 into Mareel, I will be up to Shetland as soon as its open, because I really want to see it. There was always talk of such ventures and now to know its finally coming in an even better form than previously proposed. Mareel will be able to hold music events that would have not worked else where in Shetland. Compfy seats in the Cinema, maybe even get rid of that intermission they have at Garrison (I know some people will be sad to see that go)

The Garrison can also spend its time being what it used to be, a Theatre. Maybe get Adam Darius back

 

 

I really should shut up about this subject, and I would if the believers weren't like religious fanatics who keep pushing their faith down other peoples throats.

 

Haha, I'm willing to bet you have the most posts in this topic, I think it is the non believers who are religiously pushing their disparaging views of Mareel on us.

There seems to be an obsession from the people against it.

The ones who want it are enjoying the fact its coming. (maybe there should be a thread for us to talk about our hopes and ideas for it.)

 

We do seem prone to replying to the people stating their negative opinion on it, but you're allowed your opinion but no matter how good an argument i could form here people will still moan or cheer about Mareel.

Thats the fun of the internet and most arguments on it are pointless.

Most people cant help but get into it. You feel you should say something, you react to something someone has said yet the best reaction is not rising to it. I usually try my best not to read this part of Shetlink as I know I have a strong opinion on it and I know my opinion like many others is worth nothing because it will just disappear in a few posts and everything will go round and round until Mareel is here. I love contradiction, here I am saying that its best not to react, but here I am doing it

 

Everything has already been said, these are all arguments I have seen since the thread opened.

If Mareel does need subsidised by the council I think a share scheme should come into play.

 

Thats what most people seem concerned about is not the money spent, because that has been budgeted in, but the cost of running it and will it make money back. Well if your so concerned go and buy a ticket to a movie or to a concert when its finally here.

[peeriebryan]

Maybe it costs £50.36 + Vat and the other £14million is for the Shetland Arts Christmas party and someone is just too embarrassed to admit it.

Everyone that went to the Shetland Arts Christmas party paid their own way. And the grub at the Scalloway Hotel was ace

[Ghostrider]

Can't believe how some people are trying to keep the pathetic pleepsin going by comparing the decrepit North Star which closed for films - when? Early 80s? - with a new facility 20 or more years later.

 

Its the only "purpose built working cinema" there is to draw a comparison with, at least it gives a loose ball park potential audience number relative to the local population, if little else. Certainly no worse IMHO than drawing comparisons with current usage of the Garrison for showing films. It wasn't constructed for the job, IMHO its a horrible building to be a member of the audience in, and its at an even worse location. Its usage to show films also has to fit in with its other uses, unlike a dedicated cinema where you knew that on certain days and times every week a film, some film, would be being shown.

 

Those of us who frequented the Star on occasion when it was a cinema were well aware it was neither the lastest all singing all dancing version, or of any great quality, but I'd hardly describe it as decrepit. I think decrepit only arrived in its very last days when it went through the hands of a few different owners in a very short period, it was being used as a multi-use building, and mor eoften than not being run on even more of a shoestring than previously.

 

Granted a new generation have grown up without a cinema, and the attitudes and interests of the generations who frequented, or could have frequented the Star may have changed in the time elapsed. A new and purpose built facility with the latest equipment and better accessability may make all the difference, all I'm saying is, we've had this facility before, it didn't work out due to lack of support. Show me something convincing that supports the fact that it will, as all things considered, all I'm seeing is that the plusses of the new in increasing probable attendance are going to be cancelled out by the numbers lost to video, DVD, online streaming etc viewing, and the new cinema will have roughly the same level of support as the Star did.

 

The intent when drawing the Star in to the debate was to provide a fixed starting line, to which you add the reasons why a cinema today could be better supported than it was, and the reasons why one today could be less well supported, which, when held against each other give you a bottom line in the debate. The bottom line I come out with is "No Change".

[Guest Anonymous]

^^There is a big change Ghostrider.

Part of the planning process for the Mareel cinema involves specialised flech free seating.

 

As this is Christmas, Jul, Yöl, ir whatever. We'll all agree to have fun for the season, and stop arguing, bitching, grumbling, etc...

 

So goodwill to all Shetlinkers, seasons greetings, and let's leave this topic to rest until 2009, by which time the projected cost will be £16M...

Joking..

[Guest Anonymous]

Is there still a chance that this will be mothballed ?

 

It's definately going to be a very large white elephant although I probably will go and see the occasional movie , although im only in the isles less than 6 months a year so i reckon my visiting scheduled will be no more than 3 or 4 times annually .

I wonder how often each of us would have to go on average to rake in this £400 , 000.00 that they reckon they will make .

Oh and i will only be takin a dram if it's some good live music , probably a bag of wine giums from alec morrisons if im watching a film .

[Carlos]

It'll be in the thread somewhere, but from what I remember the cinema numbers were about 2x the numbers that see films in the Garrison at the moment, 35,000 - 40,000 annually was it? Your 3 or 4 visits would be well over the average needed.

 

Ah yeah, projections of 38,000 customers for films per year.

http://www.shetland.gov.uk/coins/opendocument.asp?documentid=13229

[snow]

Does that mean thet everyone in Shetland will have to go to the cinema

twice a week to make up the projected numbers? Maybe I have got it wrong but I am sure that I read somewhere that the population of Shetland is only 22000.

Think I am going to throw their figures out as I wont be travelling 70 miles round trip to go to the "Pictures"..and I wont be using the bar, you cant drink and drive or has that not been taken into account?

[Carlos]

Annually = per year

[JohanofNess]

How much would it have cost you and the missus to go to an Aberdeen football match ? £50 But suppose you could always record match of the day for nothing and watch it as many times as you want.

 

Why would I inflict that on the missus, christ I wouldn't put myself through that

[TeeAyBee]

Does that mean thet everyone in Shetland will have to go to the cinema

twice a week to make up the projected numbers? Maybe I have got it wrong but I am sure that I read somewhere that the population of Shetland is only 22000.

 

Your population is right but I think the figures are as written as being annual i.e. a couple of visits a year.

 

FYI the numbers for the film showings of Madagascar 2, High School Musical 3, and Quantum of Solace over a four day period was around the 3,500 ticket mark. Then you factor in the additional sales from the 'kiosk' as everyone decided that pop corn and ice cream were the thing to have and you get a respectable spend per person to add to that too. Sold out in a few showings of Quantum of Solace too with people turned away on the phone and at the various ticket desks. Bodes well I think.

[Fatal Paper Cut]

FYI the numbers for the film showings of Madagascar 2, High School Musical 3, and Quantum of Solace over a four day period was around the 3,500 ticket mark. Then you factor in the additional sales from the 'kiosk' as everyone decided that pop corn and ice cream were the thing to have and you get a respectable spend per person to add to that too. Sold out in a few showings of Quantum of Solace too with people turned away on the phone and at the various ticket desks. Bodes well I think.

 

Given that Mareel will have far superior acoustics, a much better screen and comfortable seating where your legs aren't wedged against the back of the seat in front, people will quickly cotton on that the cinema experience Mareel can offer ill be far better than anything the Garrison can do. Even the best home cinema set-up is never going to compete with a purpose built cinema, to say nothing of the wonderful and unique atmosphere that comes with it.

 

With a few good movies on show at Mareel over the course of a year, the projected figures for audience attendance are easily achievable.

[merryholm]

With a few good movies on show at Mareel over the course of a year, the projected figures for audience attendance are easily achievable.

 

Mareel, particularly in the current economic climate, ought to be shelved forthwith. Whilst I accept that it will be conducive to showcasing Shetland's musical talent and that it will most likely provide "a good night out" for many, in real terms it brings nothing to the table and is yet another example of a useless project supported by a Council which appears hellbent on squandering a windfall which Shetland won't have for much longer. As a concerned taxpayer, I feel quite strongly that the public sector generally is wildly out of control with absolutley no accountability. Indeed, at a local level the Council is overstaffed, its employees overpaid (relative to productlivity) and underworked with many simply "going through the motiions" - clearly there is a distinct lack of leadership and control from its Convenor and Chief executive, neither of whom seem to have made a success of anything previously. It is all too easy to be bold with other peoples money but the simple fact of the matter is that projects such as Mareel don't currently exist as thay are not profitable and not viable. The public sector should start living in the real world and a good start would be to oust labour, scrap the unions and the gold-plated-inflation proof pensions, otherwise I feel there will be a day of reckoning in the not too distant future - the Country is on the verge of bankruptcy and socialism/Mr Brown is the underlying cause with its tax and spend philosophy funded by a false property boom fueled by Labour's credit culture. Everyone should get a grip with reality and start living more responsibly and accountably and no-one should forget where all the money comes from in the first place - the private sector!! The reality for many in the private sector is exemplified in the Woolies debacle whose equivalants in the public sector would be carrying on regardless at the expense of the taxpayer regardeess of input or worth. Merryholm and Merryxmas.

[Fatal Paper Cut]

Mareel, particularly in the current economic climate, ought to be shelved forthwith. (snip)

 

And that has what to do with audience attendance figures what precisely?

 

The fact of the matter is, Mareel is getting built, by mandate of a democratically carried vote and a huge amount of money which is completely external to Shetland. The amount being contributed by the SIC is only a fraction of the cost of building Mareel. And there are plenty of examples of small scale independent cinemas (like Mareel will feature) that pay for themselves perfectly adequately.

 

The idea that we should cancel the whole project now all the funding is in place, because we're in a global economic downturn is ludicrous. Remember, the vast majority of funding is coming from outwith these islands, but are dependant on the SIC funding being in place. If the council were to pull their money, it would cast Shetland as an extremely unreliable partner in large-scale projects that changes it's mind the moment the wind changes. That would likely have a knock-on effect of much greater damage in the than long run than any short term "saving's" that might be achieved now.

 

Mareel is coming to fruition because it was at the top of the capital build programme. Nothing else was. No schools, no care centres, no breakwaters. Incidentally, the capital build programme has been underspent for the last two of three years, by almost exactly the same amount that the council are investing in Mareel, but that's by the by.

 

There are cost savings that could be made at the SIC. Yes, they employ too many folk. They also operate across dozens of properties, many of which they rent. It would be more sensible to group as many departments under one roof as possible, as there would be considerable long-term savings there. They could switch the vast majority of their computer systems from running Microsoft Windows to running free open-source software like Ubuntu, Suse, Debian or some other variant of Linux and avoid having to pay expensive licensing fees to Microsoft.

 

Or they could get a bit more radical. Once the new AHS finally gets built, then we could shut the country high schools and get by with the primary schools, the AHS and Brae high schools. That would be a far more effective cost saving measure than any short term pulling of funding.