View from the Projection Box with Ritz Cinema - Belper

The View from the Projection Box with Ritz Cinema projectionist Paul Winfield.

I hear there’s a big football tournament this summer, but for those of you who want to escape the big screen TVs, there are some cracking films coming to our really big screen. A definite antidote to the World Cup will be the return of the girls in Sex and the City II. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis are all back in this sequel with writer/producer/director Michael Patrick King.

For those who like adventures of a different kind, the latest reincarnation of Robin Hood is with us soon. This time the legendary hero is played by Russell Crowe. Only a few weeks ago we played the original version as our Sunday Classic Film, with Errol Flynn donning the green tights. To me that will always be the Robin Hood, but the new one looks to be a great action movie and a lot of the location was done here in Derbyshire.

Despite its rather morbid title, Cemetery Junction is a 1970s set comedy centred on three upstart professional men working at an insurance company. Ralph Fiennes stars alongside Ricky Gervais who also directs.

Now we come to Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. Some of you may remember the 1992 version, set in New York. This time the action moves south to steamy post-Katrina New Orleans, where a drug and gambling addicted detective is investigating the killing of five Senegalese immigrants. For those of you who like dark and gripping drama this is a must-see and the soundtrack music is really cool.

Looking a little further into the summer months, there’s a new Shrek movie and Woody, Buzz and the rest of the Toy Box friends return in Toy Story 3. And, wait for it, there’s a new big screen version of the 1980s hit The A Team.

So, there’s plenty of choice for all tastes at The Ritz. Looking forward to seeing you.

It’s a Dog’s Life Life through the eyes of Scrambles, a Belper-based Cairn Terrier

Not a great deal to talk about this time around. Our Mum hasn’t taken us anywhere exciting, nothing horrendous has happened to us (but give us time) – well actually that’s not quite true I didn’t fall in the river but …

We were out walking on Eyes Meadow one bright cold morning. As we were charging along the path a couple of ducks flew out in front of me. Being the well behaved hounds that we are I decided they needed to be chased. I am sure I heard my Mum calling, but something she calls ‘selective hearing’ kicked in and I momentarily forgot what “come here” meant!

Off I ran. I jumped in the river after the duck and then halfway up the river decided I didn’t actually like swimming and as I was well out of my depth I panicked. I headed for the nearest bank thinking I would climb up but it was too steep so I clung on for dear life and started to feel very afraid - and I’m embarrassed to admit that I whimpered a bit.

My daft Mum was yelling at me to come back to her but there was no chance I was going to risk getting into that water again and I was getting very frightened. Even Chaos came a little way in but didn’t venture any further.

Our Mum finally decided that I was indeed going to have to be rescued so she peeled off her boots and socks and rolled up her trousers and climbed into the river to get to me. She was saying not very nice words at the time and she has threatened to take me to something called ‘the pound’ if I say what she said. Something to do with the water being very cold and owning an extremely intelligent, clever and brave wee doggie – well that’s what I heard anyway!

Then she decided that instead of trying to pick me up that she would drag me into the water and make me swim back so she grabbed my collar, yanked me into the water (like I needed another dip that morning), and I had to swim back to Chaos who was very worried.

We charged off to dry off in the grass. I did get lots of hugs in between getting told off for chasing ducks. Our Mum’s feet were a very peculiar shade of blue but we did our best to lick the water off them and get them dry for her and I let her know that I was very, very sorry. Our Mum and the air over Eyes Meadow were definitely a little blue that morning.

And just to show you how nice our Mum can be (once she stopped shivering), she even, after getting her socks and boots back on, continued with our walk so we could have more fun. We were however warned that we were going to be glue if we jumped in the river again – not sure what glue is but I suspect this threat is not something we should look forward to with undiluted joy and abandon.

I was very frightened, Chaos was very worried, and our Mum was really annoyed with me, but I think she was just pleased to have me back safe and sound and on solid ground.

I don’t think I will be chasing any more ducks anytime soon though. Oh gotta go -just seen a rabbit that needs chasing!

Happy Hunting

Scrambles xx

(taken from the April / May 2010 issues of All Things Local. The Community Magazine for Kilburn, Belper and RIpley.

News from the Projection Box - Ritz Cinema, Belper

The view from the projection box with RItz Cinema projectionist Paul Winfield.

How good is that? Despite all the crunch, recession, downturn or whatever they call it, the British film industry goes from strength to strength with our films collecting arms full of awards at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and the Oscars. Remember though that it's not just the stars and directors who deserve our applause, hundreds of back room people make British film great and we lead the world in special effects and technology.

Of course Hollywood and the rest of the world are waiting for the really big awards of 2009 - "The Ritzys" - when our very own red carpet will be rolled out again on 6th June to celebrate another great year in the industry.

Now the big films coming up....

A new Clint Eastwood film is always an event, whether or not he's in front of the camera or behind the camera. In this case it's both - Gran Torino sees Clint as Walt Kowalski, a Korean war veteran who sets out to reform his teenage neighbour who tried to steal his prized 1972 Gran Torino car, nice to see Clint with a rifle in his hands again.

Old Big 'Ed is back! The Damned United looks at Brian Clough's 44 day reign as manager of Leeds United - I remember it well, there was nothing else on the back pages of the press for weeks so this will be a big one for us.... book early! A strong British cast include MIchael Sheen aka Tony Blair and David Frost.

State of Play is a big screen version of the BBC mini-series of the same name. A team of investigating reporters and a police detective try to solve he murder of a US congressman's mistress; Russell Crowe stars.

There's so many good films around this year - come to The Ritz and see them all. Next issue of All Things Local, I'll look forward to the summer blockbuster season.

Welcome to the All Things Local Blog

Hi and Welcome to the All Things Local Blog.

All Things Local is the Community Magazine for the Kilburn and Belper area (Derbyshire), with 9,000 copies being distributed every two months.

Published by local people, featuring news and stories about the local people and businesses.

To celebrate our 1st anniversary, we're starting this Blog to include all the stories and features that don't make it onto our website - All Things Local.

We'll be building the features and stories over the coming weeks so come back soon.

Webmaster - All Things Local.