From Friday 18th - Sunday 20th March I volunteered at the Hippodrome Festival of Silent Cinema. I was there to help with survey evaluations before and after each of the events that were taking place over the jam packed weekend. However I think it is safe to say that I gained far more out of this experience than the festival organizers will from the marketing research we did, and for that I can’t thank them enough.
We (Annie and I) arrived on the Friday just after 1pm to see a beautiful old fashioned car on the second level of steps to the doors of the Hippodrome and a red carpet at the door. I cant tell you what kind of car it was all I know is that it was clearly a car from the 1920s and it was red and yellow but not bright yellow, the classy kind of yellow that goes well with a nice dark red on a car :). Even before you entered the building the nostalgic atmosphere was intense, as it always is whenever you see the venue, but inside it was magnified times 1000! The 1920s music was playing, the God Save The King banner lined the bottom of the stage and a lovely big memory board was set up with old pictures of the hippodrome and people who used to go there when it first opened and quotes from some of the elderly people who have memories of coming to the pictures when they were younger.
The first event of the day was Escape from Reality which was a short film and panel about the Hippodrome cinemas history. The show was facilitated by famous Scottish writer Janet Paisley, which needless to say left Annie star struck!
A few hours later came the opening night gala, the first one I have ever been too and hopefully not my last. The front of house staff were all dressed up in glamorous flapper girl dresses and fancy 1920s suits with glasses upon glasses of Cava (and orange juice for the designated drivers) at the ready for the glamorous guests to indulge in as well as trays of the finest pate and oatcakes which the lovely bar staff let us volunteers try as well, yum yum! Even some of the guests came dressed in vintage fascinators fur coats and flapper dresses with t-bar high heels, its enough to make any young girl smile not just me :). Everyone was smiling and feeling nostalgic, no matter what age you are you can still feel something magical about the past.
Before this weekend I had never heard of Neil Brand (a world renowned silent film pianist), now that I have I am utterly flustered by his presence. For more information visit his website to see the many things he has written, composed and of course his long list of silent film accompanist accomplishments http://www.neilbrand.com/ when Neil took to the stage the venue was filled with applause, the man truly exudes the charisma and confidence of any famous Hollywood actor but has the talent and intelligence of more than a million of them. For his first performance he accompanied the film IT starring the beautiful Clara Bow as a shop assistant trying to win the heart of her new boss. IT is the first silent film I have ever seen, and I truly loved it from start to finish. There is no way it would have been as special if I had just seen it on DVD in my living room.
On Saturday morning the Hippodrome always plays a film for children, so of course with it being the silent film festival they decided to continue this tradition by playing the short Felix the Cat followed by a really ugly looking dog trying to make it big in Hollywood so that he could win the heart of another dog, before playing the main feature which was The Kid with Charlie Chaplin :) let me make it clear right here and right now. I absolutely adore Mr Chaplin now! Turns out he even composed the music for the film as well, what a man! I must say before I forget though, the best part of the morning was the Charlie Chaplin costume competition. Two young brothers won and rightly so they looked amazing and they even walked like Chaplin!
The Charlie Chaplin Look-a-like competition!
Then came the show that everyone had been waiting for, and I mean everyone because it sold out a week before the festival. Another Fine Mess with Laurel & Hardy had every seat filled and now that I have seen it, it's clear why. The chemistry between Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy is excruciatingly brilliant; I haven’t seen a double act like that in my entire life. For me the audience participation was the best part of the whole experience. Everyone in the audience was given a piece of cloth to tear up when the big trouser ripping scene came up, Annie & I were laughing so badly at that part! Neil Brand also had two children come up on stage and bang the concert bass drum whenever someone got punched in the stomach and the tubular bell when someone got kicked in the leg, utter comical genius.
Not gonna lie I was really annoyed with myself afterwards because I didn't have the guts to congratulate Neil on the brilliant job he did of orchestrating the entire show and pretty much making my day, but then I realized there is always tomorrow :P
I couldn't make it to the full day of events on Sunday sadly but I was clearly there for the best part of the day. 4 30pm till 5 45pm consisted of a double bill of Never Weaken with Harold Lloyd and Sherlock Jr with Buster Keaton, both of whom are amazing silent comedy actors. If I had to pick one I would say that my favorite of the two was Never Weaken. Any film that can make me laugh and almost scream at the same time (building site scene ARGHHHH!) always gets my vote. Once the show ended and I managed to get a few stragglers to fill out some exit surveys I finally after 2 and a half days plucked up the courage to talk to Mr Neil Brand. Well, when I say talk I mean more completely gushed about how amazing he was this weekend, can't really remember what I said to be honest which is rather worrying... but he was a very very nice man who shook my hand and even said it was a pleasure to meet me (YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS). Not going to lie, that was the highlight of my weekend meeting him.
As night fell on the quiet town of Boness
By the end of the festival it was fair to say that I was grateful for the experience, but sad that it was coming to an end. If I could I would really like to work at events like this or even just at cinemas in a full time job. I felt so happy and so at home this weekend, even with strangers. I belong in a place where films are really brought to life. More importantly, I have to go see more silent films!
Silent cinema is all about the experience, the full package of the live music and the film and the people you see it with is what makes it so special. I look forward to watching my new cinematic obsession grow.
I would like to give a special thanks to Alison Strauss (Arts Development Officer for Film & Media at Falkirk Community Trust) and Shona Thomson (Festival Producer) for giving me the opportunity to take part in this years festival.
I will keep you all posted on details for next years Silent Film Festival at The Hippodrome, Bo'ness!
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