The Floating Cinema
2011Project:
Was a commission to create a water-borne cinema space which would spend summer 2011 navigating the canals and waterways around the Olympic Park in East London. Somewhere developed the programme of events and screenings for the cinema, thematically relating them to the geography and communities of the waterways.
For the design of the Floating Cinema structure we worked with architects Studio Weave to customise an existing barge into a 12-seater cinema with bespoke interior. The cinema hosted intimate onboard screenings and discussions as well as providing a base for larger outdoor events at different locations on the waterways throughout summer 2011. The programme included new films made by local film-makers, historic archive screenings, tours by writers Iain Sinclair, Richard Mabey & Michael Smith and comedy performances by Holly Burn, Susie Donkin & Jemima Burrill.
The project launched to a 400 strong audience on the 1st of July up near Springfield Marina in Stoke Newington, London. For the opening night we projected from the boat onto the Lea Rowing Club and premiered Somewhere's Barging Through London (Again). In 1924 Harry Parkinson made the original film as part of his 'Wonderful London' series - it charts a journey by canal from Limehouse to Paddington Basin. For the Floating Cinema we created a shot-for-shot remake to be shown side-by-side with the original version, with a specially commissioned sound track by Tim and Matthew Olden played live at the launch.
Date: June to September 2011
Collaborators: UP Projects, Studio Weave
Commissioner: Olympic Development Authority, through UP Projects
The Floating Cinema (2011) was a continuation of UP Projects' Portavilion programme of temporary pavilions for London's public spaces. It formed part of the Create 2011 summer festival and was commissioned by The Olympic Delivery Authority and funded by Arts Council England.
