The Trial, one of The Cinematologists screenings at the Electric Palace
The Cinematologists
As The Electric Palace cinema in Hastings Old Town prepares to welcome a series of monthly live podcast recordings from The Cinematologists, Annie Waite speaks to one of its co-hosts, film expert Dr. Dario Llinares, about what you can expect from the special screenings.
The Cinematologists is a podcast that celebrates and interrogates films and film culture. Presented and produced by film academics, Dr. Dario Llinares and Dr. Neil Fox, each episode is based around a screening with a recorded introduction, followed by a post-viewing live audience Q&A.
Hecklers welcome
The Trial, Orson Welles’s adaptation of Franz Kafka’s dark novel about alienation, bureaucracy, and the question of free will, begins The Cinematologists events on Sunday 10 January.
Each screening will include live audience Q&A. Dario and Neil give some context to the film being screened, talk about the director, actors, the themes of the film and outline any other details of note. They also provide their view on why it’s worth watching. “But we are just as interested to hear what the audience has to say, even if they didn’t like the film,” says Dario. “You would be amazed at the variety of viewpoints and interpretations that come out of one film. In a way, it gives credence to view that the meaning of a film is created between the screen and the viewer. If there are 50 people in the audience, then there are 50 films being watched because we all bring our subjective interpretation,” he says.
Black and white film
All three films chosen for this series are very different, yet they have one common denominator, in that they are all shot in black and white. “However, I don’t think this a point of linkage at all. The Trial is one of that director’s lesser known films but is a tour de force in terms of aesthetic storytelling. Bronco’s House is a 2015 film that was shot on 16mm film and is a sort of surrealist kitchen sink drama, an example of interesting experimental work that is going on in Britain if you look hard enough,” says Dario. “We are also screening and an old inter-war classic by French master, Marcel Carne called Le Quai des Brumes (Port of Shadows), which is seen as a poignant lament of the state of France as World War Two approaches.”
About The Cinematologists
The Cinematologists podcast emerged from conversations between Dario and Neil when they worked together at Falmouth University, before Dario began his current role as Principal Lecturer in Contemporary Screen Media at the University of Brighton.
“We both listened to various types of podcast that were film themed. Actually, it was The Greg Proops Film Club podcast that inspired us to structure the recording around a live screening. But we wanted to try and cross the boundaries between academic film studies and popular appreciation, along with screening films that are worth further scrutiny and appreciation,” says Dario.
Top iTunes film podcast
Dario and Neil analyse a wide range of films from the past and present in an in-depth yet accessible way. The podcast regularly charts in the top 20 film and TV podcasts on iTunes, and it features interviews with filmmakers, actors, critics and academics, who discuss specific projects or debate around contemporary cinema culture.
“Neil and I are pretty enthusiastic talkers about film, and as it turned out our interplay seems to work pretty well, but we are most interested in allowing the audience to say what they think in a forum that encourages conversation and debate.”
Lively discussion
For a taste of what you can expect from the podcast recording at The Electric Palace, Dario suggests you listen to Episode 16, featuring In The Mood For Love. “I’d also encourage people to go to the website and look at the list of films we’ve covered so far, and the people we have interviewed. There is bound to be something you’ll like.”
Book tickets for the Electric Palace screenings:
Sunday 10 January, 8pm – The Trial
Sunday 21 February, 8pm – Bronco’s House
Sunday 13 March, 8pm – Le Quai Des Brumes (Port of Shadows)
Listen to The Cinematologists podcast.
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