Your
Belmont
Memories
Spoons
"I had seen the film The Disaster Artist at the Belmont and enjoyed it. Typical of the majority of films I went to see at the Belmont the audience was small. So when the opportunity arose to see the film that inspired The Disaster Artist and there were only a limited number of screenings I felt I had to go and see it. I usually aimed to arrive 20 minutes after the official start time so as to avoid the adverts. This has rarely been a problem.
On this occasion I was a little bit earlier than this and was stunned to see people queuing up outside. "What is going on?", I am thinking. "Why are so many people interested in a film of limited appeal?" I get to the ticket desk and I am lucky to get one of the last remaining seats in the front row of the large Screen 1. I prefer to sit near the back so as not to strain my neck and go swivel-eyed trying to take in a large screen close up. I was invited to take some plastic cutlery on the counter. "What is this for I asked?". "It is part of the film." was the reply with an enigmatic smile.
Sure enough Screen 1 was packed out. The film starts and a little way in the people behind me shout "Spoons" and I am showered in plastic cutlery . This happened at key points during the film. Also the audience shouted out phrases at certain repeated phrases or camera shots. The audience clearly knew this obscure film very well. Never in my 50 years of cinema going have I encountered such an immersive experience. Well done to the Belmont.
The film, in case you want to look out for it, is "The Room" by Tommy Wiseau. A film that has to be seen in a cinema.
Bruce Taylor
Share Your Memory
Spoons
"I had seen the film The Disaster Artist at the Belmont and enjoyed it. Typical of the majority of films I went to see at the Belmont the audience was small. So when the opportunity arose to see the film that inspired The Disaster Artist and there were only a limited number of screenings I felt I had to go and see it. I usually aimed to arrive 20 minutes after the official start time so as to avoid the adverts. This has rarely been a problem.
On this occasion I was a little bit earlier than this and was stunned to see people queuing up outside. "What is going on?", I am thinking. "Why are so many people interested in a film of limited appeal?" I get to the ticket desk and I am lucky to get one of the last remaining seats in the front row of the large Screen 1. I prefer to sit near the back so as not to strain my neck and go swivel-eyed trying to take in a large screen close up. I was invited to take some plastic cutlery on the counter. "What is this for I asked?". "It is part of the film." was the reply with an enigmatic smile.
Sure enough Screen 1 was packed out. The film starts and a little way in the people behind me shout "Spoons" and I am showered in plastic cutlery . This happened at key points during the film. Also the audience shouted out phrases at certain repeated phrases or camera shots. The audience clearly knew this obscure film very well. Never in my 50 years of cinema going have I encountered such an immersive experience. Well done to the Belmont.
The film, in case you want to look out for it, is "The Room" by Tommy Wiseau. A film that has to be seen in a cinema.
Bruce Taylor
A place to belong
“Growing up in remote Aberdeenshire, I always loved films, I'd watch a film every day, but nowhere nearby was a cinema. It wasn't until I was a little older that I was able to travel out into Aberdeen and the first place I visited was the Belmont cinema, I watched First Reformed; which u still have the ticket stub for to this day. And with that, my love affair began.
Like clockwork, I would without fail make my way out to the Belmont and see a new film, whatever was showing; Paris, Texas, The Irishman, Portrait of a Lady on Fire...
In 2020 when the Belmont, and the world closed, I found myself lost, the place I truly first felt like I belonged was gone. And when the reopening commenced, I was there day one to see Minari.
Fast forward to 2021, and I saw Ben Sharrock at the Belmont do a live Q&A for his film Limbo, and it was during this talk everyhting clicked for me; that's what I wanted to do with my life. I went home that night and signed up to a local film course.
I've since graduated, and have happily been directing and photographing films for the past 2 years.
All the love to the team, and good luck with the relaunch!”
Chris Hale
Mulholland Drive
“Me and my boyfriend at the time went to see Mulholland Drive and on the walk home we said I love you to each other for the first time. We're getting married next year and are excited to go out dates at the Belmont when it reopens!”
Noah
Winter nights
“Weekly winter evening visit to the cinema. Dinner nearby then choose a movie. Every week no matter what film was showing. Sometimes we were pleasantly surprised by a film we didn’t know much about.”
Hazel Anderson
The best cinema
“The Belmont is filled with the happiest memories from being there with my boys to being with the best of friends with or without a cheeky glass of wine. Ive happily sat on my own watching my favourite foreign language film with my lunch and also sat with several hundred pupils Ive accompanied to experience the film festival. Its an invaluable asset to our community and its the right decision to enable it to continue.”
Sandra Hughes