Volunteer Induction
From The Star And Shadow Cinema Wiki
This is a rough structure of what is covered at the Volunteer Inductions/Introductions which happen on the second Saturday of the month at 11am and on the first Thursday of the month at 6pm. Thanks to Ilana, Holly and Alan for these notes.
GATHER IN BAR AREA FOR HOT DRINKS
Begin with a go-round of what has brought people here (some folk will never have been in the cinema, others may be regulars but new to idea of volunteering, some people quite clearly there as route to putting an event on)
History of the cinema its evolution from a small collective, programming Radical, Gay and Lesbian, Artist and Unusual films at Amber Film's small cinema on the Quayside; The Side. Grew out of this - had series of extended open forums to discuss and create a vision of a cinema and cultural space to sustain and promote an alternative culture to that experienced in the mainstream, capitalist context. Autumn 2005, looking for buildings, gathering support.
Volunteer built, organised and run April 10th 2006, keys to the building, an ex set-building warehouse, rented from a private owner, through the council. We ran a 2 week Building Festival as an arts project. Small bit of funding from the Arts Council to cover travel of european and national helpers and food...Amazing weeks of 30, 40 people each day building togther. People from Byker to Lisbon, learning from each other, eating and socailising and sharing talks and films and music in the evenings. This set the tone for what the Star and Shadow is: Built and maintained by the volunteers that do things; the sum of who is involved at any one time!
no one in charge, but people take on certain responsibilities Anyone is welcome to get involved. No one is paid. We aspire to no power hierarchies. People take on responsibilities according to their skills, desires or where they see there's a need.
transparent communication: wiki, email lists, weekly meetings Weekly open meetings, alternatively 'general' and 'programming'. These operate with a facilitator, issues are discussed and decided by Concensus, not voting. /wiki ; open to all to edit: a Giant Notebook , Reference Book and Diary / email lists for task-teams and info sharing
diversity of tasks. Don't moan, do it yourself good to give examples here: 1.Debbie getting into Screen printing and using the facilities for the cinema, built a partition wall last week to keep the area clear 2. the current bar team making new signage so as to make working in the bar more efficient 3. Holly wanting to create routes for asylum seekers and refugees to get involved so setting up Cinema of the World, a monthly film night programmed and publisiced with people from the country the film is made in. 4. I put on a gig , I make sure the toilets are cleaned!
Diverse and open creative expression We have an open programme. Given some hard work and dedication, anything that is agreed at a programming meeting that you want to make happen, CAN happen......each brochure covers two months, full of enormous range of experiences! Volunteers /programmers of all ages and backgrounds (details if time)
Aim for financial autonomy – concious decision to not go down massive funding-relaint route. e.g The Tyneside refurb was happening at the same time as we were building the cinema in 2006. Their budget was £6.5 million, our cinema has so far spent no more than £60 000 on building materials and eqipment. Strong belief in recycling, re-using and reclaiming as demonstrated in The Tour......Now we get annual grant of £10 k from council and bits nad bobs for specific projects if raised by volunteers. WE want to be autonomous and not tied into others' agendas.
CINEMA
Watch 8-minute film from our Building Festival. This is on the comp or on DVD. Gives them a flavour of the building FEst and shows the cinema as it was. Also gives experience of watching a film in the bit we're all proudest of the: the cinema!
PROJECTION ROOM
Different formats: 16mm, 35mm, DVD, VHS, BetaSP, miniDV, computer
Demonstration of how easy to project DVD's
Encouragement to train, especially 35mm... we need women!
DARKROOM
Mention of film-making community
OFFICE
Space for volunteers, meetings, green room, screen printing
Not dumping ground
Quick demonstration of wiki if time
TOILETS AND BACK DOOR
Encouragement to clean them!
Building leased from ArtWorks
Bins out the back door, recycling, Promote travel by bike and bus
WORKSHOP
What it's for
Not a dumping area
EXHIBITION AREA
Who gets to use it
Not heated
fire routes and procedures
BOX OFFICE
membership system
entry charges
Ticket sales cover costs of events
money taken by the bar keeps us open - pays running costs
what 'being on the door' entails
BACK TO THE BAR
Look in the stock room with run down of different drinks + stocking policy
Licensed selling times
need to be over 18 to serve and to drink
responsibility of everyone to uphold license ‘cos if we lose it we're buggered
how to serve: measures, fridges, beer lines
Cleaning and recycling
point out instructions for heating systems
mention cash floats
usher responsibilities
Point out Sign Up sheets and enthuse to sign-up now (with “new” in brackets)
Encouragement to be part of meetings and other tasks
How to join different email lists
Phew! That's it!
