Nic's Flicks...the journey so far
Vicki Mellor-Smith tells us how the fantastic initiative that is Nic's Flicks began...and the exciting possibilities for its future development!
"Nic's Flicks began in 2011. The idea was brewing in my mind in much of the year before and by the summer had crystallised and taken shape…. How did the idea form? I adore watching films- much of my relaxation time is taken up with this pursuit. The growing shelves of DVDs in our home testifies to this. I love reading novels, but watching a film is also my idea of heaven, mainly because for a couple of hours I can escape quickly into another world. This brief suspension of time is a stress-buster and a horizon widener. When I can’t cross the seas to South America or Australia, a film can take me there and let me feast on the sounds and sights of another place. When my imagination needs kick-starting a fantasy film might lead my imagination to places I would never have dreamt of, whether to Hobbiton or Hogwarts. When apathy takes hold a film that shocks and reveals the plight of others may shake up my comfort. When I’m feeling whimsical, a historical film that takes me deep into Dickensian Britain might do the trick. Or maybe just a good old romantic comedy to subject the husband to or watch with the girls. Does any of this seem familiar to you?
Furthermore, there is something even more special about a trip to the cinema- the big screen, the darkness as the trailers and credits roll, our whispered conversation to the friends we sit with. Yet in recent years, the commercialisation of multi-plex cinemas, the high prices and soul-lessness of a leisure complex on an industrial estate threatens to rob some of the old time magic of a trip to the movies. I read more and more of a counter movement growing where film nights are set up in smaller and more intimate bars, hotels or hosted in homes. This is especially so, I am told, in the US, the mecca of movie creation. I began thinking...wouldn’t it be great if St Nic’s could run something like this? Meeting new people and forging friendships in a church can sometimes be a nerve-wracking experience. We might sometimes feel that our friendships don’t progress past a polite chat over coffee. But somehow watching a film together is different. It gives time to relax and allows conversation about something we have all seen together to flourish. The film would take us together on a journey and give us all a shared experience to reflect on. Further, its not exclusive. What better way to draw people outside our fellowship into community with us? Something we could actually bring a friend to? Anyway, who was I trying to convince…whether young or old a trip out to see a film is just plain good fun.
So I began the hunt for a venue..after a couple of weeks of trawling the hotels, pubs, libraries and university buildings of Durham I began to fear that Nic’s Flicks would remain a good idea. No venue seemed to fit the vision. Until one day I popped into The Three Tuns Hotel and talked to the manager who showed me the Bailey room next to the reception. A medium sized, vintage looking red-walled room with pull down screens, its own toilets and full use of the adjoining bar for drinks. A central location and a cut down price. Perfect! What an answer to prayer! So Nic’s Flicks was born. We began one Friday evening in September with the room set up like a mini cinema with a trial showing of “Inception” a star studded and mind boggling film about dreaming within dreams. There was a tremendous buzz in the room and from the first night as people arrived and sipped a glass of wine from the bar, waiting for the film to begin, I thought of all the people I knew who would potentially enjoy this. After the film a discussion about “dreams” soared and people excitedly asked what the next film would would be. In October we watched Juno, a heart warming, but very thought provoking film exploring teenage pregnancy. I was thrilled to see a huge cross section of people present for this; young, old, students, internationals and post-grads. In November we watched “The Adjustment Bureau” which attracted our highest numbers and sparked possibly one of the most thoughtful discussions I have witnessed in a long time as we questioned “what is freedom? Finally, in December, we watched “The Way”, a wonderful film starring Martin Sheen (of The West Wing fame). By the end of it we felt that we too had journeyed with the characters along the Camino de Santiago and judging by the enthusiasm at the end, I anticipate that one or two will be inspired to make the pilgrimage themselves.
There is much potential for St Nic’s Ficks to develop in the future. Just before Christmas my husband and I went to the old Station cinema in Richmond (if you haven’t been yet, go!) to watch a festive screening of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” We had such a good time and it was quite something to enjoy an old classic with so many other people. It was such a different viewing experience to that which I am used to and I have never seen a spontaneous round of applause at the end of a film. It certainly inspired me to re-discover vintage epics such as “Gone With The Wind” which we watched on Christmas day (complete with “overture” and “intermission”). So maybe Nic’s Flicks will see a “vintage night” sometime this year! Nic’s Flicks resumes again on January 27th. Who will you bring along?"
Vicki Mellor-Smith