User:Jonathan Melville/sandbox



The Screen Machine is a mobile cinema that operates across remote and rural areas of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

History
The original Screen Machine, now named "Screen Machine 1", was a mobile cinema for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland launched in 1998. It consisted of an articulated unit, the trailer of which expanded and unfolded to provide a 102 seat self-contained cinema. In recent years, it stood in for Eden Court’s Riverside Theatre in Inverness whilst they were closed for a major refurbishment. The motivation behind the service was simple: to provide small and remote communities with access locally to the same level of cinema experience normally available in large towns.

Screen Machine: Take Two
Now regarded by most as "The Screen Machine", Screen Machine: Take Two is a replacement of the original Screen Machine and has been in service since 15 April 2005. It was built by French company ‘Toutenkamion’, who specialise in custom-built vehicles, including mobile recording studios, restaurants and travelling galleries. Toutenkamion mobile cinemas also operate in France, in the Republic of Ireland, and serving British Armed Forces overseas. Screen Machine is a similar concept to the original, however the capacity is reduced to 80 seats.

On the road, the cinema is operated by two driver/operators who work two weeks on–two weeks off. They drive the Screen Machine, set it up, sell the tickets and show the film. They also carry out the day-to-day maintenance. In each location the driver/operator is assisted by a locally recruited usher.

Screen Machine normally takes four different films on each tour, visiting a community for one to four days, giving eight or more screenings in total.

Screen Machine is now owned and operated by the not-for-profit Regional Screen Scotland. Funding comes from Creative Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, North Ayrshire Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Screen Machine is funded by The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Locations
Currently the machine visits around 30 locations including: Bettyhill, Castlebay, Lochgilphead, Tarbert, Argyll and Bute, Isle of Arran, Port Ellen, Tobermory, Tighnabruiach, Ullapool, Benbecula, Gairloch, Dornie and Lochcarron. Screen Machine 2 has also provided projection services to the Celtic Media Festival, in Portree in 2008 and in Caernarfon in 2009 as well as the 2011 Inverness Film Festival.