Re-born Premier, Getting Ready For The Main Feature

Is this how our new screen could look?

I couldn’t help but feel excited when I sat to watch the new Johnny English Reborn premier on screen 1 in Empire Leicester Square on Sunday. The film was great and the glitz and glamour of a red carpet event is always fun, but for me it was equally exciting to get an idea of what the new Ealing Cinema might look and feel like.

I had good reason to feel positive, my meeting with Justin Ribbons and his Marketing Director Jon Nutton a few weeks back was another really positive session. They showed me the plans for the new 20 screen Cinema complex and what it might look like. It looked really good and well thought through. I wondered if the Ealing Civic society felt the same, I hoped they did, given their thumbs up to Ealing Council following their consultation. In an email exchange Robert Gurd, Chairman of Ealing Civic society commented “the external changes do now seem to be relatively minor so provided the Council can give the go-ahead to them as non-material changes to the original permission there should be no further reason for delay”.

Noel Rutherford and his team are equally optimistic ” the general consenus [from Ealing Civic Society, the conservation panel and Walpole Residents Association] appears supportive of our position.”  Noel and his team are wasting no time in pressing on with next steps, advising “ We have written to CBRE [ who have been  instructed to provide planning consultancy advice to Empire Cinemas] on 27.9.11 inviting an early application. With Mr Ribbons help I would expect it to be landing soon. We will process it in a maximum of 28 days.”

So there is it folks, it’s still on track and as soon as we have the planning confirmed I’ll be getting a full interview with Justin and the team so they can share with us directly on the plans for our own Ealing cinema sequel!

Stay tuned folks, in the meantime, if you fancy a good laugh Rowan Atkinson in Johnny English Reborn is worth a watch.

 

 

New Hope & Real Optimism – This Time We’ve Got It Right!

For the Love of Cinema! We’ve made great progress, let’s keep it up!

Everyone’s getting behind the campaign: Film lovers, Londoners, Politicians and The Ealing Council. We’ve had Radio, Press, TV & Video Bloggers reporting on our progress and it’s worked! Since the beginning of the year we’ve doing everything we can to push to get answers on when we’ll be getting our Ealing Cinema. Thanks to you we’ve got the progress we wanted. From a unresponsive stalemate at the beginning of the year, we’ve now got a complete relationship turn-around; trust and open dialogue at the highest level.

In addition to my very positive meeting with Empire CEO Justin Ribbons in August, I had a follow up meeting with Angie Bray MP in Westminster where we discussed with Justin Ribbons on what needed to happen to get the build started.

Justin remains cautiously positive, given the progress made resolving the outstanding planning amendments. I too spoke with council leaders and the senior planning lead for the project and they are similarly optimistic, advising that there appears to be no major amendments that could cause any further delay.

All that remains is for the planning to be agreed and a consultation with local conservation panel with community interests such as the Ealing Civic Society amongst others. I too shall be attending and have fingers crossed that these stakeholders will too be supportive by giving their thumbs ups so that we can get moving with the movies!

For the first time we’ve got real commitment and assurances to make sure we get our Cinema. I met with Angie Bray MP and Justin Ribbons CEO who’s advised that once the final planning changes have been approved, they will be mobilsing within 6 weeks and the build should then take 60 weeks. All parties are confident that the final changes should go through this month, so we should see uprogress start this Autumn! 

But the cautious part of me still is mindful that we’re in a fragile, allbeit positive place when it comes to this relationship turnaround. I’m very pleased that all parties are genuinely aligned in their vision to see this cinema open.

Justin also understand how crucial this cinema is to Ealing, not just because it’s the iconic home of film, but because it’s part of the “social infrastructure of the area”.

Given the destruction and shock following the riots last month, there’s a renewed energy in re-building and regenerating the heart of this amazing borough. Please continue to show your support and energy.

We’re continuing this positive campaign to make sure we keep the momentum that’s helped us turn this relationship around. Show your passion for bringing the movies back to Ealing by signing the petition and getting word out about our campaign.

MP Angie Bray ”We’ve got to have a cinema, it will put Ealing back where it ought to be right in the middle of the film map”
Gurinder Chadha Bafta-nominated British film director ”I urge all cinema lovers to protect this vital part of our cultural history”
Kuljit Bhamra Renowned Musician & film score Composer ”We live film, we eat film we sleep film…. it’s important that medium is kept alive”

Please support us by:

1.Please signing to show your support

2. Sharing on your Facebook and Twitter

3. Forwarding to friends to sign

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/saveealingcinema

Empire’s Frightfest!

I popped along to see Empire Cinema’s CEO Justin Ribbons and his team on Thursday to talk about Ealing Cinema and was greeted with horror and evil at it’s most ghastly!

After years of frustration and misunderstanding, a chilling reception would hardly be surprising.

However, I’m glad to say the ghastly ghoulishness was actually the launch of Film4′s Fright Fest that was at the Empire’s flagship cinema in Leicester Square this weekend. In contrast Justin and his team were warm, approachable and true to their word when they met with me to discuss their intentions to build a new cinema in Ealing.

I think it’s fair to say that the main stakeholders were smarting a little from the escalating frustrations on both sides over the past few years, but the willingness to engage seemed to be genuine.

Justin was fairly candid with his views both positive and negative, but his commitment to build Ealing Cinema was unwavering. Could there have been clearer, better commitment and communication over the past two years? Perhaps, but that’s not Justin’s style. As he put it, under normal circumstance the build would have gone ahead within the projected time-lines, but nothing’s been straight forward with Ealing.

In response to sharing revised time-lines:

Justin’s keeping his cards close to his chest. He feels Empire’s been unfairly tarnished as the big bad giant; constantly lambasted for ‘failed promises’. They’re not failed promises, he protests, they were best estimations given how the project was progressing at the time. In response to when we might see Ealing Cinema built, he’s standing by his 60 weeks from planning approval. But the go ahead from planning is still being sought.

So is the blame for the delays with Ealing Council now?

Refreshingly, the tone seems to have changed (from both sides I hope). Whilst disputes over past advice and subsequent delays is still a sore point, there seems to be a new energy and commitment to finally get the Cinema build progressed. Justin is now more confident that his team and the planning officers at Ealing are on the same page. When I asked what else might need to happen, he replied that communication and timely responsiveness is what both sides are focusing on. The issues and views are all out in the open now, he’s made it clear that he and his team have nothing to hide, they just want to get on with it.

How committed are they to the Ealing project?

Having been shown around the flagship Cinema in Leicester Square and listened to their development strategy and investments they’ve already made, their commitment to Ealing seems genuine. Having worked in the City and listened to senior execs before, I’ve got a good ear for whether I’m being told a story to keep me at arm’s length or whether the words are sincere. Justin and his team were most open and generous with their time and in no hurry to usher me out. Despite arriving late they still gave me over an hour of their time and have welcomed me back to review plans and get an update on how things are progressing.

Have I been wooed by another likely story?

Given the sensitive nature of the relationship only a month ago, this is one relationship turn around that I have a lot of hope for. There are many that don’t wish to give either or both parties the benefit of the doubt, I’m sure they’ll be throwing spears and accusations until the doors open. Let’s face it, cynicism sells and no one wants to look the fool.

But a new relationship requires an investment of faith from the all stakeholders. It’s a time for positive momentum based on shared ground rather than mistrust and acrimony based on past disapointments. I’ll be seeing Justin and the team again on the 22nd of September and will hopefully get an interview from him so you can hear his views and commitment directly. Perhaps it won’t be too long till we’re planning our own Ealing FilmFest!

New Relationship, New Cinema?

Cinema update – I’m meeting with CEO Justin Ribbons later this month to get his views and time-lines. I hope it’s the start of a new level of openness and engagement. If there’s clear lines of communication we can have more confidence when it comes to progressing with the Cinema build.

If you have any questions you’d like me to ask let me know.

War Saga to Love Story?

An interesting thing happened today at today’s Oversight & Scrutiny meeting. Council leaders challenged Empire’s CEO Justin Ribbons on his lack of good faith in building the promised Ealing cinema. The meeting opened as expected, with everyone sharing their frustrations on the drawn out saga of the derelict site sans promised cinema that lies at the heart of Ealing. But the agreement as regards to fault and responsibility for the delays didn’t sit squarely with anyone and a barrage of spears soon starting flying:

Planning delays this, technology demands that, failure to communicate and numerous smoke and mirror accusations on both sides.

It’s enough to make your heart sink. However, despite the fighting talk, there was hope of positivity. Amongst the shrapnel in no-mans-land in the battle to ‘out’ the real villain in this movie saga there emerged a glimmer of hope. Of love, dare I say.

Everyone, it seemed, all party Councillors, the public and Empire themselves, were united in one desire;  to have the Ealing Cinema built and serving film lovers as soon as possible.

Rather than dissect specifics the main barriers on the part of Empire came down to two main things:

Firstly; technology changes, specifically digital screens pushing the need for more screens and a rethink on space. Secondly; planning delays from ongoing changes some of which minor some major, that materially affect the build.

My verdict on who or what’s to blame is that it’s down to a relationship breakdown! Miscommunication, misunderstanding and lack of momentum possibly on both sides in resolving the issues in a constructive way.

Justin Ribbons was quite candid about some of the challenges, despite lacking full answers to some of delays. He described himself as a ‘Cinema man’ having invested almost £2m in the site as it lays bare, it was clear his feathers have also been ruffled by the delays and what he perceives to be misreporting in the press. To his credit, he acknowledged that temporarily tuning the site into a Car Park probably was not a good move in hindsight. He also was up-front with regards to the ex YMCA site – and the proposed plans that were put to him that included the building of flats which he rejected. I can understand his frustration that this would only confuse the issue, he’s not interested in building flats; he just wants to get on with the Cinema.

And the council’s position? Well they have a point, it can’t just be bad luck for this long; the original planning dates back to 2003. The endless planning changes and failed promises to start build suggests a lack of commitment and confidence on the part of Empire. Empire have been notoriously difficult to contact and haven’t been as clear as they could be. The alleged planning dispute over an additional 4 meters in height doesn’t make things easier. Instead, Empire may have been better off presenting a brand new application if there were so many changes. This would have enabled the public to also have visibility and be able to comment and may have saved all concerned precious time. But getting stuck in the detail is like wading through treacle.

I do sense Justin Robbins is sincere in his intentions. But I don’t think Empire have handled this process as well as they could have and likewise perhaps the council could have done more to respond to the planning challenges in a more constructive way – such as suggesting a new application rather than the water torture of ‘just one more change’ holding things up.

Empire’s failure is one of poor communication. Whether intentional or not, Ealing does feel messed around by the stalemate and broken promises.

I disagree with Justin’s position of wanting to keep business ‘behind closed doors’. The cinema is part of Ealing’s social infrastructure and people want answers. If Empire stays silent then their behaviour fuels the belief that their intentions aren’t honourable. It’s an own goal on the part of Empire not to engage with the ground swell of pro cinema support they have from the thousands who want to see the cinema built as soon as possible.

As my day job is that of Relationship Expert, my position with Justin Ribbons is quite candid. If you’re serious and genuine, then keep an open meaningful dialogue with us. I’ve had the same from the council and trust can only be built by open dialogue, engagement and action. Justin Ribbons has accepted and is amenable to a new relationship with Ealing. I’ll be meeting with him in late August to get his views and latest on when the cinema will be built.

No more battle ground, maybe now that we’ve cleared the air we can all rally round our mutual love of great cinema and look forward to popcorn at a screen near here very soon.  I do love a happy ending, the story isn’t over, but it’s finally looking promising!

Is Empire Ever Going To Strike?

From the Cabinet meeting earlier this week, Ealing Council declared that they will start exercising their powers in response to Empire’s inaction over the last 5 years by threatening them with a Compulsory Purchase Order. The minutes from the meeting reflect the council and indeed the residents’ frustration with the Cinema chain:

 “.. The existing planning application on the Cinema site will lapse in October 2011 and officers believe that there is little prospect of a development being progressed by the current owners… It is proposed that officers make one final effort to try to engage the owners in discussions concerning the future of the site but that if no significant progress is made that officers prepare a case for the exercise of compulsory purchase powers.”  [Ealing Council Cabinet Report July 26. Item 21, page 10: 3.3.12   Former YMCA Building, Bond St, Ealing]

In an unexpected turn of events, Empire’s CEO Justin Ribbons will be responding to questions on Thursday at Ealing Council’s Oversight and Scrutiny Committee meeting. I’ve also been invited to attend and will be asking questions on behalf of thousands of Ealing locals, Londoner and film lovers to get some clear indication of what they really intend to do.  In advance of Thursday I thought it would good to get a full picture of where each of the parties sit on the issue. Here’s what they had to say:

 Cllr Julian Bell – Leader of Ealing Council, Labour

Are planning issues holding Empire up? No. Truth is the original application expires on Oct 11 and as yet Empire has not progressed with the build, instead claiming the Council is stalling on ‘minor planning changes’. This is a red herring; Empire’s ‘minor’ planning variation is to add 4 metres to the height of the building. These changes constitute a potentially major revision. Director of Planning & the Built Environment Noel Rutherford will be at the Oversight & Scrutiny meeting on Thursday to clarify and respond.

What is the intention behind the CPO threat? The recommendations from the Cabinet meeting are to progress with the CPO in response to the inaction on the part of Empire and the impact the lack of Cinema is having on the community. If the council progresses with the CPO it would take approximately 18 months to implement, the preferred course of action is still for Empire to take action and progress with the build.

What other interest is there? How about the ex YMCA plot? In respect of the ex YMCA site; Empire were invited to consider the plot as part of a wider all encompassing scheme – Empire have to date declined to consider the plot. The Council has two Cinema developers eager to help build the Cinema but Empire won’t sell.

Cllr Gregory Stafford - Deputy Leader of Opposition, Conservative

Is the CPO the right thing? The CPO is a last resort, but appropriate given the lack of action on the part of Empire. The threat of the CPO is what’s needed to get Empire to commit to building the Cinema and get them to be clear on their intentions.

Why we didn’t raise a CPO previously (2010)? The CPO is a costly, protracted legal process and really a last resort. We’re nearing the end of the planning application for Empire so it’s appropriate to use the CPO now to put additional pressure on Empire to progress with the build.

What about the planning problems? I’m not aware of the delays being due to planning. I don’t believe this is the case, to me it suggests stalling tactics on part of Empire. They’ve had enough time to progress with the build.

What needs to happen on Thursday? We need to keep up the pressure. It’s positive that Empire will be coming to the Oversight & Scrutiny Committee but we need to monitor the situation closely beyond Thursday’s meeting. I’d like to see a sub-committee put in place to see things through. In any case we need a clear answer from Empire with an agreed courses of action come October if the build hasn’t started.

Cllr Gary Malcolm – Opposition Leader, Liberal Democrat:

How do you feel about the CPO as the recommended course of action? It’s good that we’re progressing with the CPO but we really should have raised a CPO some time ago. We really need to take a tough a stance as possible. The CPO will force Empire to respond and speed things up.

What are your thoughts on the council buying the YMCA land? The council has taken a strategic position by purchasing the YMCA plot. Empire have not indicated their interest but they could be playing their hand carefully, and may still take a position on it.

What needs to happen on Thursday? The CPO raises the stakes for Empire, but it’s a complex legal process and doesn’t mean the issue is cut and dried. The Council needs to ensure that it really racks up the pressure to ensure that Empire either builds a quality cinema or sell to company that will ensure Ealing has a new, quality cinema.

How you can help:

As for community involvement, it would be great to arrange a demo for Thursday to get our feeling known … How about it, any activists want to make their feelings known? Film lovers, Londoners, locals, parents, children .. Movies are for all. Come along for 6.30 on Thursday, bring placards!

When: Thursday 28th July, 6.30 pm

Where: Ealing Town Hall, London W5

What: Rally/ Demo in advance of Oversight & Scrutiny Committee hearing.

Keep Ealing Cinema Campaign in the press! We’re serious about bringing the movies back to Ealing!

I’ll be on Hayes 91.8 FM this evening and writing a few pieces for the press. You can help keep the focus on the campaign:

Carry on supporting the petition to get to 10,000 http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/saveealingcinema

Hello Mr CEO – Is It Time For The Main Feature Yet?

Since starting the Save Ealing Cinema campaign at Xmas, we’ve managed to raise a petition with thousands of signatures.

We’ve got  the support of leading locals, film celebrities, high profile Londoners and the unanimous support and focused attention of MPs & council leaders.

Well after much posturing and yet more broken promises on the part of Empire, we’ll finally get a chance for some straight answers at Thursday’s Ealing Council Overview & Select Committee hearing!

I’ve been invited to attend and I’ll be representing the interest of Ealing and London film lovers who passionately want to see their cinema back.

There won’t be any headline grabbing custard pie efforts but I am keen to get some answers from the CEO on what Empire’s intentions are and exactly when we’ll be seeing our Cinema back.

As for community involvement, it would be great to arrange a demo for Thursday to get our feeling known … How about it, any activists want to make their feelings known? Film lovers, Londoners, locals, parents, children .. Movies are for all. Come along for 6.30 on Thursday, bring placards!

When: Thursday 28th July, 6.30 pm

Where: Ealing Town Hall, London W5

What: Rally/ Demo in advance of Oversight & Scrutiny hearing.

MP Angie Bray & Boris’s Transport Advisor Kulveer Ranger Back Ealing Cinema

Ealing is the birthplace of the London film scene, home to the oldest continuously running studios in the world. And where best to enjoy these films than at the iconic Art Deco cinema a stones at the heart of the borough? Or so you would think.

Sadly for London, the original Cinema lies in ruins, amidst broken promises of redevelopment that have failed to materialise. Londoners are passionate about Ealing film and Cinema, and petitioning to save it from becoming a tragic Ealing Comedy.

Central Ealing & Acton MP Ealing Bray on Saving Ealing Cinema and Big Society

I met up with Ealing MP Angie Bray in Westminster last week to get her thoughts on the Ealing Cinema campaign. She  fully supports the campaign and is pressing Empire Cinemas for answers:

 ”Empire what we now want is a time table …. they’ve marched us up the hill before … left us high and dry…. [if they're] serious we want to see the timetable”

This is grass roots inspired Big Society at it’s best; a real people’s campaign. Angie is impressed by how well the campaign is going:

 ”People are coalescing around the idea of Ealing and Film ….. Ealing is famous for film, this has really lit a spark with the community.”

Above all else this is a sign that people can galvanise and take on faceless big buiness to bring about the changes they want to see in their City.  Londoners are making their feelings known, in their hundreds. We need to have a proper people’s Cinema in Ealing …..

“what we want is our Cinema, it’s good to see the campaign fighting strong!”

Kulveer Ranger on West London Investment and Saving Ealing Cinema

The Mayor’s Transport Advisor, Kulveer Ranger talks about the investment and upgrades that help Londoners to enjoy all that Ealing has to offer as vital part of the London film scene.

From the London Sky Ride cycle event last year to tube upgrades and the exciting new Crossrail development, Kulveer is championing the vast improvements that are creating a real buzz in Ealing. It’s a special place; as a born and bred West Londoner, he shares a genuine passion for what the area has to offer.

Kulveer understands why so many Londoners are backing the cause. He shares his views on why it’s so important to save Ealing Cinema so that Londoners can enjoy world famous Ealing Films at the iconic Art Deco theatre at the heart of this vibrant neighbourhood.

“This amazing, landmark cinema means a lot, not just to the people of Ealing, ‘the Queen of the suburbs’, but across London and nationally.”

This is no Ealing Comedy, Londoners want the iconic cinema back! Please support us by signing and recommending the petition to Save Ealing Cinema.
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/saveealingcinema

Come join the conversation:
http://www.facebook.com/EalingHappier
http://ealinghappier.wordpress.com

Thank you!

Bafta-nominated British film director & renowned film score composer back Ealing Cinema

In previous posts I commented that Empire are beginning to notice and indicating that they’ll be starting the build in the New Year with a view to have the new Cinema ready end of 2012! Well at this rate it looks like the Olympics will come and go before we see any hope of progress. It’s now March, three months in. There’s no sign of a build and after much lobbying on the part of Cinema Lovers we’ve only just got a response from Empire. So what do they have to say after years of waiting?

“Empire’s Operations Director Paul Baxter has now said that although he can’t give a start date a further statement would be issued within the next few weeks.” ….. That was in January. It’s now March. It’s been more months of delay, not weeks and we still don’t have a statement. www.ealingtoday.co.uk

So I asked leading local voices from the Film industry to give me their thoughts.

Here’s what Bafta-nominated British film director, Gurinder Chadha had to say:

“When permission was granted to ‘referb’ the original ABC cinema complex in Ealing,  I was delighted the council was supporting British Cinema. I am now saddened by the twists and turns of this narrative playing out before us and I urge all cinema lovers to protect this vital part of our cultural history.” Gurinder Chadha.

I also caught up with another influential local, renowned Musican, Composer and Producer of many outstanding Film scores and Bombay Dreams musical, Kuljit Bhamra. He kindly gave me a moment of his time to share why the Ealing Cinema so such a vital part of the London Film scene.

Please continue your efforts to sign the petition and support the campaign; http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/saveealingcinema

Gurinder Chadha’s hilarious film, It’s a Wonderful Afterlife was described as a “Ealing – Style Comedy, complete with Zombies” see her work at http://www.gurinderchadha.com/blog/

Kuljit Bhamra’s latest work can be found at http://www.kuljitbhamra.com/flash.html including details of the beautiful soundtrack to a recent film Winter of Love and brilliant web documentary Southall Story

Why don’t we have an Arts Centre and a film club in Ealing Town Hall?….

Would you like to see an Arts Centre and a film club in Ealing Town Hall?

Would you like to help our resident-led campaign that is trying to persuade
the Council to agree to the Arts Centre in the under-used town hall?
Then come to a public “Question Time” organised by Ealing Arts Centre Ltd

on Tuesday 25 January, 7.30pm
in Victoria Hall, Ealing Town Hall.

There will be a short presentation of the EAC business plan followed
by questions from the public to a panel consisting of
Cllr Manro – Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee
Brendon Walsh – Regeneration Officer handling the discussions with EAC Ltd
John Hummerston and Ann Pavett, Directors of Ealing Arts Centre Ltd

This is a vitally important meeting!
Please come along, bring your friends and neighbours.
If you want to ask a question it would be useful if you would send
it to us in advance so that we can make sure all areas are covered.

Identified Council problems:
- Fear of resident control over the operation of the Arts Centre
- No understanding about the social and economic need for these facilities
- No understanding of kudos such a centre would bring to Ealing
- Failure to understand
the need to reduce lettings fees for community groups, particuarly at weekends
the community’s desire to have facilities for the young, the elderly, the disabled (especially when their facilities are closed down)
the need to have a professional performance area.
- Lack of understanding that we have 2 sources of set-up income separate from the Council budget: the ring-fenced proceeds of the sale of the “Eve” painting and the S106 money from the Dickens Yard development – totalling £1.570m

Yours,

Ann Pavett and John Hummerston
Directors,
Ealing Arts Centre Ltd
info@ealingartscentre.org.uk
020 8579 4925 and 8998 4465