PULSE magazine - Issue 5 - Autumn 2011

PULSETHE MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN - EDITION 05 - AUTUMN 2011

NewsTHE NEXT STAGE: MAKING CHANGES

Faces of

Portfolio

Top 10 Tips

Star Spotting....

HELPING YOU TO DELIVER

Films in focus

Matters

Your Opinion

TRUDY EASTGENERAL MANAGER EMPIRE SWINDON

SPOTLIGHT CHECK:KEEPING TRACK OF YOURPERFORMANCE

CELEBRITY VISITS EMPIRE

KEEPING IT GREEN AND RECYCLING AT EMPIRE CINEMAS

TWILIGHT/ TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY/ TIN TIN/ FRIGHT NIGHT/THE THING/ CONTAGION

BIG E Customer Key

BRITVIC AD

Letter from Roz

AUTUMN 2011 | PULSE MAGAZINE | 3

Produced by: BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism and Feature WritingEditor: Helen Archard Staff Writers: Alice Bagnall/ Edward Bailey/ Kirsty Welsh/ Kelly Woolford/ Hannah LawrenceArt Designers: Emma Curran/ Patricia Pribolova

It’s been a year since Pulse hit the staff rooms of Empire Cinemas all over the country. In this autumn edition, we’re offering you the chance to tell us what you really think, be honest!

After catching up on all the latest gossip from Empire Cinemas, we would like our avid readers to complete the questionnaire at the back of the magazine, tear it out and give it to one of your managers. In return for your ideas and feedback you will be rewarded with a yummy pack of Cadbury’s tasters. You can’t beat free chocolate!

We’ll have a look through your feedback and make some important changes so keep your eyes peeled for your ideas in upcoming issues.

So what can you find in this edition?

We’ve got our latest product testing feature. This time, some of the hungry gang from Hemel Hempstead tried out the delicious nachos and cheese sauce. They popped into rival cinemas to get a taste of the competition too. It’s a mouth-watering read!

Our Team Blog on page 21 comes from Basildon this quarter so a big thanks to Phil and the team, not forgetting their new friend Titan!

Flick to pages 12 & 13 where we delve behind the scenes of the interesting world of film booking. Thanks guys for letting us know all your secrets! Derek Cownty leaves us for pastures new but we are delighted to welcome Craig Jones who joins us from Universal Pictures UK. You can find out more about him and the team on these pages too.

This quarter sees the 2nd chance for all you avid film makers to earn yourself and your team some dosh. After the successful “Big E In Action” entry of Hemel Hempstead last time, is there another Cinema who can challenge them? You just need to make an entertaining, enlightening and award winning Big E film. See the back page for details of this years competition.

Have a great autumn and keep making it personal with all those customers. We’ll see you again just in time for Christmas with another packed edition of Pulse.

[email protected]

“The Palmer Family” - The typical family- Once a month for big releases or Juniors on a Saturday- Family / Animation- Weekends / School holidays- Own refreshments / Kid’s Boxes / Coffee / Chocolate- Kids enjoying themselves / Cleanliness / Safety

“Jane & Friends” - Sociable best friends- Once per quarter- Rom Coms / Big event films- Evenings- Chocolate / Still soft drink / Wine (if there’s a bar)- Making it an occasion / Spending little / Stress-free

“Beryl” - Retired senior- Once in a blue moon / Regularly to Seniors- Big event films / Whatever ’s showing on Senior screenings- Midweek / Quiet times- Tea / Coffe / Occasional chocolate or Ben & Jerry ’s- Cleanliness / Welcoming / Good manners / Friendly

“Dan & Sarah” - The romantic couple- Once / Twice a month- Mixed- Evenings- Sharing combos / Chocolate / Ben & Jerry ’s- Dinner beforehand / Fast & efficient service / Cleanliness

“JJ” - The typical teen- Two / Three times a month- PG and 15 rated films- Weekends / School holidays / Early Evenings- Anything & everything! / Tango Iceblast / Popcorn- Being treated like an adult / Limited conversation

“Billy” - The care-free student- Two / Three times per month- New releases- Opening weekend / “Saverdays” / Orange Wednesday- If feeling flushed: Hot dog / Nachos / Combos- Deals / Being first to see films / Fast & efficient service

BIG E Customer Key

“Sally & Jacob” - Wheelchair user & carer- Once / twice a month- Mixed / Generally easy-watching- Week days / During quiet afternoons- Mixed, but not usually a lot- Wheelchair facilities / Welcoming / Safety / Cleanliness

We gave our cinema buddies some grilling. What do they like? We asked them:

- How often do you go to the cinema?- What films do you favour?- What is your favourite time to go to the cinema?- What purchases do you make?- What would make it the best cinema experience?

IN PROGRESS


autumn11

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20

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34

‘

ContentsPRODUCT QUALITYNACHOS & CHEESE SAUCE

6

NEW SILVER E PRIZE DRAW WINNER

7

TOP 10 TIPS SPECIALKEEPING IT GREEN

8-9

YOUR OPINION MATTERSTHE NEXT STEP

10

FACES OF EMPIRE TRUDY EAST

11

FILM FOR THOUGHTSTAFF REVIEWS

14

12-13

CHARITY AT EMPIREKEEPING FIT

15

CINEMA IN FOCUS SLOUGH

16-17

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK LETTERS

18-19

STAFF PROFILE NEIL THOMPSON

20

GUEST PAGE BASILDON

21

SPOTLIGHT CHECKSPERFORMANCE REVIEWS

22-23

BEHIND THE SCENESFILM BOOKING

EMPIRE CINEMAS OUT & ABOUT

24-25

HALLOWEEN SPECIALFRIGHTFEST 2011

26

FIILMS IN FOCUSREVIEWS

27-31

FEEDBACK QUESTIONAIRRECOMPETITION CORNER

33-34

CELEBRITY SPOTTING

34

6 | PULSE MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2011

PULSE PRODUCTS

WHERE THEY COME FROM

NachoTHE

CHALLENGE

ODEON

Inspiring, creamy, outstanding:Is this cheese heaven? Admiring the nicely presented portion and remarking how the texture and smell appears similar to our own beloved cheese sauce. We all dip… We chew… We sit in stunned silence… We dip… We chew… We dip… We chew… Until the whole portion is gone!

Phil: There’s an explosion of flavour in my mouth!Elliott: And a slightly spicy taste too…Louise: I could drink this stuff… Now there’s an idea!

Familiar, smooth, delicious: Everything you’d want from a cheese sauce

Finally back on home turf again, the Cheesy Nacho Warriors are nearly cheesed out for the evening, but not quite as we settle down to a portion of our own. We dip… We chew… We’re happy and content!

Louise: Very satisfying, good taste and temperature.Phil: Now these are enjoyable! Cheese isn’t too strong here.Elliott: This is totally flavourable… Is that even a word? Addictive too.

EMPIRE

Pre-packaged, sludgy, cold: Fit for human consumption? After reading the ingredients that show this pot of sauce contains only 10% cheese, we pull back the foil lid of the sauce container and a repugnant stench escapes. Bracing ourselves at the orange jelly-like horror before us: We dip… We chew… We recoil in disgust… We grab a bottle of water…

Phil: Urrgh! Is this baby food?Louise: I wouldn’t give this to my dog!Elliott: *throwing up in the corner* Eat at your own risk!

CINEWORLD

HOW DO WE MAKE SUCHAMAZING NACHOS

?

Empire Hemel Hempstead sent their finest Cheesy Nacho Warriors out to sample some of the local cinema’s nachos and cheese sauce. Phil-a-delphia, Elliott Edam and Cheesy Louise put their taste buds to the test!

TCSL UK are a wholesaler based in Manchester that

started over 25 years ago and has strived to become

the leading supplier of Mexican food products within

the cinema market.

Their nacho chips are made from ground corn as op-

posed to the normal flour variety giving it an authen-

tic taste and satisfying crunch. The delicious cheese

sauce is sourced from Holland and is of premium

quality and full of flavour.

When looking for a high quality cheese for the sauce,

you need look no further than the Dutch!” explains

Scott Walker, General Manager for TCSL UK.

TCSL UK also supplies salsa from Holland and jala-

peño peppers from Mexico to create a feast that will

blow your sombrero off.

They source the best quality ingredients from around

the world to ensure that Empire can deliver the best

quality product to its customers.

* A little Jalepeno juice should be added to the cheese sauce when preparing to give it an extra kick, not too much though as this will make it watery. * Make sure you heat the sauce in the Bain Marie in plenty of time for the walk-in and keep the lid in place to prevent the sauce from drying out.

Whilst Empire’s nachos are pretty damn good, we narrowly missed out to the delights of Odeon’s nachos. Our cheese sauce is mild

and creamy but slightly watery in comparison to Odeon’s, where the staff assured us that their cheese sauce was cream cheese heated

to exactly the right temperature to make it pourable.

Standfirst standfirst standfirst standfirst standfirst standfirst standfirst standfirst standfirst standfirst

standfirst standfirst standfirst

Silver EAwardsThe

Meet our stars

PULSE PORTFOLIO


Dean Mowbray Dean Mowbray was the lucky winner of the first Silver E prize draw. He tells us how he found the Hard Rock Falling concert, which he won tickets for.“It was a real treat! My fiancée and I really enjoyed it. The Barenaked Ladies (the band not the people) were particularly entertain-ing and I think the Silver E prizes and incen-tives are absolutely amazing.”

Second Silver E Prize Draw Winner Announced

Amy Stonehouse from Empire Sunderland has become the second winner of the Silver E prize draw, a quarterly event which all members are automatically entered into when awarded a Silver E.Amy first discovered she had won the prize draw when she received a phone call at home.“I thought it was a wind up at first. When it sank in I was really shocked and pleased,” she said.Amy has won a trip for two on a luxury yacht. The prize includes learning to sail around the Isle of Wight with expert tuition, a champagne reception and a buffet lunch on board.“It’s something that I would never have dreamed of arranging for myself, but life is all about new experi-ences and I’m excited to give it a go.

“I couldn’t really say which part of the trip I’m most looking forward to, although most people would tell you I am fond of a nice glass of champagne,” said Amy.Amy will be taking her partner of 8 years Mark on the trip.“He would be a bit put out if I took anyone else,” Amy explains. We hope they both have a wonderful time.The second Silver E prize draw is just another example of how hard work and determination amongst staff is noticed and rewarded.

New Silver E: Chris SilverOur newest Silver E even has the name to match. Chris Silver was greeted by the nomination when arriving to work at Empire Swindon and given the official letter by General Manager, Trudy East. “When I opened it loads of little silver stars fell out,” said Chris.The hard work Chris has put in to make customer experience memorable is what has made him stand out from the crowd and earn his nomination.“My biggest achievement would be working with customers, building a rapport with them and making them feel welcome,” explains Chris.“I was thrilled to bits and enormously hon-oured and regarded it as one for the team.” Congratulations to Chris for outstanding dedication in providing the Big E to our customers.

OpinionYour

Matters

The Your Opinion Matters sur-vey encourages customers to rate their cinema experience in terms of the Big E and the find-

ings are expressed on Billy’s face. The results collected in May ranged from ‘shockingly bad’ to ‘good’, so Empire challenged each of their cinemas to improve during the summer with hope of boosting them towards the OMG Good level.

“Since May, all the teams have been working on improving the key areas of dis-satisfaction in their cinema to help ensure the customers get an improved experience when they visit us in the future,” says Lisa Row-land, our Customer Experience Manager. “We hope that the customers will be encouraged to give us their opinions in the autumn and allow all the cinemas to see how they have made progress in their action plans.”

Different cinemas had different areas to work on but some issues were universal, for example, the toilets. A quarter of our custom-ers told us they were unhappy with the toilet facilities for reasons ranging from the state

of repair or general cleanliness or the lack of toilet paper and soap.

The results published in May revealed that customers gave lots of positive feedback about how they were greeted upon arriving at our cinemas with four out of five people saying they were ‘really’ or ‘fairly happy’ with the welcome they received. However, many customers highlighted that there was a lack of attention paid to them as they were leaving the cinema with only 40% saying they were given a farewell.

As the summer period is so critical for us, the Operations team have been out and about, sometimes even ‘undercover’, visiting different cinemas around the country to help keep the focus in the right place. It was also a helpful exercise to pick up valuable tips on our cinemas ‘Making it Person-al’, which could be published in the newsletter.

Empire Cinemas launched their online customer feedback survey in April this year and last issue we published the overall results for every

cinema. After going through the results for each question, the focus now is how our cinemas are learning and improving based on the feedback.

After sharing the results of the Your Opinion Matters survey, Head Office have decided to launch an initiative in which they will spend a day during October half term working in the cinemas to both lend a hand

and experience it during the busy key times.

PULSE OnLInE SURvEy

10


Team member tackles the toilets to boost their YOM scores

tickets online, use ATM’s or get their tickets from any till within the cinema. We have also introduced gift cards and Orange Wednesdays available from the till points. I personally feel that Empire Cinemas are 1 step ahead of our competitors with our innovation.

What do you think about the Big E?

I think the Big E concept is brilliant. We

can all easily relate to the characters and

the importance of making it personal

to every customer is paramount.

Our company is striving for world class service and, by putting the Big E

into practice with every

customer, it will definitely help us

achieve that.

Tell us about your first experiences of

cinemaMy mum took me and

three of my friends to our local 2 screen cinema to watch

101 Dalmatians. I was so excited but half way through the film broke and we all got moved into the smaller screen. However there weren’t enough seats so we had to sit on the floor at the front of the screen. We got to watch the film from the start again though!

WiT

h

MINUTES10

A special thank you to Trudy East for sparing the time to talk to PULSE Magazine.

From writing action plans and planning film schedules to the general operation of the cinema building, a General Manager’s

day is never the same. Trudy East, General Manager of Empire Swindon reminisces about her long-spanning career in the cinema industry.

Can you give us a brief history of your time working in the cinema industry?

It all started when I was 17 with work experience at The Jet Centre, a shopping complex in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, which had 4 cinemas. They then offered me a summer job and I continued to come back every year for the holidays whilst studying for my degree. I got promoted to manager when I was 21 and went to The Savoy in Dublin to train on the opening weekend of the first Jurassic Park. I left the cinema environment for a few years to teach, but I honestly missed it and came back in 1998 as a manager with Cineworld, Swindon. My team and I moved over to Empire Cinemas in 2006.

How do you feel that the cinema industry has changed since you first started?

Technology has had a huge impact on the cinema industry like the introduction of digital projectors and 3D, for example. Things like being able to do live link ups for opera’s and ballets and other special events are also pretty revolutionary. On the customer side, they can now purchase


PULSE FACES OF EMPIRE

TRUDY EAST

“i personally

feel that Empire Cinemas are 1

step ahead of our competitors with our

innovation.” inTERESTing FaCTS

Favourite film of all time: Dirty Dancing

Favourite film of this year: Bridesmaids

Looking forward to seeing: The Smurfs

Best thing about working for Empire: The people I work with.

Popcorn, sweet or salted: Salted

You love to watch the films, the customers come to watch the films and you all provide an amazing experience all

customers want to see at Empire.But, how do the films get to Empire

cinemas and who’s in charge in making it all happen?

It all comes down to three special people based at Head Office in London who ensure the films screened in your local cinema are correctly picked and they do all the hard work to get films to your screens. However, how do they get the films on time? How do they

does mean that we are involved in some areas that similar positions that our competitors would not be. This includes Film Hire Invoice Reconciliation, business analysis, website maintenance and working on our customer magazine, Escape.”

Surely being a film booker would involve a typical daily routine and watching films and seeing if they’re suitable for the audiences of Empire? “Funnily enough it’s a very hands-on job!” explains Rob. “Monday is the most full-on day of the week. We adjust our planned out schedules using business levels from the weekend to decide upon screen sizes, number

know what the audience wants to see and what do they do to ensure customers are getting the ultimate Empire experience?

Pulse went behind the scenes to question the people who make it all become possible...

Derek Cownty, Rob Knight and Zerrin Turna all work hard at Head Office in Leicester Square to ensure films shown at Empire cinemas up and down the country are the ones the audience want to see.

Rob Knight is the film booker for Empire: “As a film booker, my job involves formulating the upcoming film schedules at our cinemas. Our company size and structure

BEHIND

THESCENES

of film booking

STanDFiRST

16 | PULSE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2011

IN PROGRESS

of shows and formats used for the upcoming play week. This is followed by a department meeting and then numerous phone calls to distribution to agree upon our plan with them. Once these are completed we pass on the schedule to our cinema team using a Film Scheduling system – this formulates film times and then we go through these times with them prior to programming and going to press.

Following on from Monday’s busy day, the team compile tasks such as booking special season shows like Empire Juniors and Seniors, sending documents to various cinemas, arranging meetings, attending

Potter is over two hours long and because it’s going to be so popular we need to ensure it’s going to be showing continuously for at least six weeks.”

Once the confirmation of a film has been set, the team set about arranging for the digital drive to be delivered to the cinemas it’s being shown at which is arranged through the National Film of Transport (NFT)

presentations and dealing with general queries daily.

Both Rob and Zerrin work below Derek to decide on the films shown at Empire, whilst also figuring out what films will be shown and how often: “Fortunately we have a two-year calendar which allows us to see what films are going to be out way in advance,” says Zerrin, the film bookings administrator. “For example, we knew years ago when the final Harry Potter would be out giving us the opportunity to set out film times, promotions, screens which would be showing the film and also specialist screenings. The final Harry

A massive thank you to the film booking team for talking to PULSE.

PULSE BEHInD THE SCEnES

SUMMER 2011 | PULSE MAGAZINE | 17

Big welcome to

thoughtfilm for

This will probably be considered by many to be an odd choice for anyone’s favourite film but this French animation is, to my mind, one of the best films ever made. It’s simplistic and has a whimsical, comedic feel although is a practically a silent film. The narrative is cleverly

told through actions and expressions and while there is background music and a song or two, the film gets by without any clunky dialogue or pointless narration.

It follows the story of an old lady, her grandson and their dog as the grandson grows up and enters the Tour De France. During the race however, the grandson is kidnapped by gangsters, shipped to the teeming metropolis of Belleville and forced to work in a high

society gambling den. His grandmother (and dog of course) immediately give chase and with the help of the famous singing group the Triplets de Belleville they cleverly manage to bring down the gangsters and escape home. The film is charming, witty, adventurous and a

visually beautiful piece of work. I defy anyone to not enjoy watching it.

HEATHER DUNN, POOLE

BELLEvILLE RENDEZvOUS

One of my all-time favourite films is Tim Burton’s classic Edward Scissorhands, a poignant reworking of the well-known story Frankenstein. Through a mixture of comedy and

romance Burton alters the traditional horror genre to tell the story of a monstrous outsider in a quaint suburban society, a character with whom many of us can empathise. Edward

represents the social neglect and awkwardness that we all feel at some point during our lives and, as a result, is a lovable and believable character whilst also being wonderfully absurd.

The themes of horror and romance are contrasted against each other throughout the film, such as vincent Price’s guest appearance and the romantic falling snow that is so

characteristic of the film. Edward’s character creates a quirky love story that is both funny and poignantly sad in places. Through this, Burton remains close to the original horror story and pays a unique homage to Mary Shelly’s famous monster. Burton uses Edward to satirise society which is so unchanging and dominated by ‘normality’ as he subverts what is typical and suggests that perhaps we don’t need to follow archetypal conventions and conform to society but merely be ourselves and be happy that way. Edward Scissorhands is an iconic

masterpiece in which Burton unleashes his imagination. Using sketches and drawings from his teenage years to create a vibrant candyfloss dream world and a ‘pop’ Hammer Horror,

the result is one of the most visually appealing cult films of the 90s.

CHRISTINA BADgER, POOLE

EDWARD SCISSORHANDS

PULSE FILM FOR THOUGHT


There are 3 things in life we sometimes want but don’t always need. These are wine, chocolate and men! Bridget Jones’s Diary is a hilarious romcom that all women can relate

to. It’s a feel good film that looks at every aspect of women’s lives whether it be losing weight for that important dinner to finding true love. With the typical Englishman, Mr

Darcy, to the bad boy all women encounter once in their life, Bridget Jones lives them all. A must see film for a girlie night in or even just alone with a box of chocolates and a bottle of

wine, Bridget Jones will have you laughing the whole way through!

SHERI SPICER, POOLE

BRIDgET JONES DIARy

From humble beginnings to global domination, it transcends age, race and

background to be the cornerstone of almost all movies fans around the world. The

story is simple: The eternal battle between good and evil, the struggle of the few in the face of overwhelming odds, love and hate colliding between different races and

backgrounds. Made in a time before CgI and computer animation, this film is real. Sets

and backgrounds are built with such attention to detail you have to believe the places

exist. Your imagination is freed to move in this truly remarkable world and shows the

true power of cinema and more importantly storytelling. With a mixture of characters as individual as they are memorable, there are

no big names here, just a great cast breathing life into a world beyond our own.

Of course I am talking about The Star Wars Trilogy. It’s near perfect storytelling over

three films which makes picking a favourite as hard as picking a favourite child. It

has been a part of my life as long as I can remember, from the worn out vHS copy I watched as a child, to the pre-ordered Blu-Ray of today, via toys and collectables, this is film to me. More than a simple movie, it is a believable world that sucks you in and never lets you go. Like life itself, it is full

of emotion, drama and moments of love and humour, just in a galaxy far far away…

JIM POWELL, POOLE

STAR WARS EMPIRE

PULSE specialises in keeping its readers up to date with the latest film

releases but we also like to take a little dabble in films gone by. Everyone has

at least one favourite film which can be watched over and over and it still gives us goose bumps. We received an email from Neil Thompson, Empire

Newcastle, who was interested to find out a bit about the favourite films of

Empire Cinema’s staff so PULSE have risen to the challenge.

fITNESS for CHarITy

Adele Bainbridge is a supervisor at Empire Newcastle. This autumn she’s taking part in the Great North Run, all in aid of charity.

“I am going to be running the great North Run in September which is 13.1 miles long. I’ve never done anything like this before and have only just started properly training for it, so I’m trying to run 3/4 times a week.

“Typically, I leave everything to the last minute, so I’m not too worried... yet! I am up for the challenge though and am really excited; I have always wanted to do it so I’m looking forward to it.

“What gave me the motivation to do it was the fact that I spent a year travelling around South America and South East Asia in 2009/2010 and during that time I spent three months volunteering for an organisation in Peru. They are a really small non-profit organisation based in Huancayo in the Peruvian Andes. They run a school that teaches English to children of some of the poorest families in the area.

“Prior to me arriving they had just built a new school, as they had been renting rooms until then for lessons. I don’t know what I expected when I arrived but I’m pretty sure it was nothing like what I was greeted with the first day! As I was aware that they had just built a ‘new school’ I guess I at least expected a building, but what I actually saw were 3 mud huts and a small field. There were no toilets, just a sink, and no electricity. There were no teachers either, so it was a bit of a shock to find out that I would be the teacher.

“Luckily there was another volunteer there from America and I was also with a friend, so there were only three of us to be divided among about 70 children. I was really unsure as to how it was all going to go and if I was going to enjoy it or not, but I absolutely loved it and the children were just so adorable.

Empire Cinemas are proud to see how many staff members are dedicated to pushing themselves to their physical limits, all for worthy causes. Here

we have a team of cyclists and a Great North runner we want to shout about.

“I spent 6 weeks there and then went on to do some more travelling but because I loved it so much I decided to go back for another 6 weeks before I left South America and I’m so pleased I did. They need so much help as it is just a Peruvian man and his family that run it and they don’t have

much money. There are also times when they have no volunteers which means the children have no teachers. They rely solely on the volunteers so it is really hard for them when there aren’t any. Before I left they asked me if I wanted to be an International Coordinator for them so, along with a few other previous volunteers I help with fundraising and organising volunteers and translating etc.’

“I’m hoping to raise £500 for the race, although I haven’t started pestering people yet but every little helps.”

If you’re interested in donating or want to volunteer, visit: www.tinkuyperu.com

Team Empire are firmly seated in the saddle. On 3rd September 2011, Operations Director Paul

Baxter will be leading a team of Empire Cinema staff on a 250 mile bike ride from London to Paris in aid of British Heart Foundation.

The journey will take place over the course of three days and will take Paul and ‘Team Empire’ through the French countryside to reach their destination of Paris.

Paul Baxter said: “I wanted to do something memorable for my 50th birthday and when I received a flyer about the event

I thought it would fit the occasion perfectly. Myself and a few of the Empire Cinemas team will join together to cycle the route and hope to raise over £3,000 for British Heart Foundation.”

Paul will be joined by his two daughters, Andy Bush, Gordon McDonald, Julia

Daniel and her partner and Jan Dwyer. Cycling this massive route will require

dedication and motivation as well as hours of

intense training. “We have all been practicing most weekends and all have us have managed to do at least 50 miles so we are confident that we are in good shape. I also ditched the tube for the summer and have been riding into the office, not easy with the laptop and work notes!” he said.

Paul’s final thoughts on the ride: “Apprehensive”

By the time Pulse goes to print, Paul and the team will already be in the saddle so keep your eyes peeled for an update on how they got on. There’s still time to sponsor Paul and the team by visiting www.justgiving.com/teamempire.


PULSE EMPIRE CHARITy

Team Empire Member, Andy Bush.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN SlOUgh

Conveniently located in the city’s centre, Empire Slough is adjacent to the Queensmere and Observatory shopping centres.

Handy neighbours to have to attract people into the cinema, which would explain the impressive number of admissions to date which stands at over 123,400.

The surrounding area is also home to a

variety of facilities such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Nandos to keep hungry film fans watered and fed.

As one of our larger locations, Empire Slough hosts 10 screens plus a basement.

General Manager Anan Nithy explains how they are planning to make the most out of their exclusive screening. “Slough aims to become world class in customer experience

through our staff and management. As the only site to play Bollywood films we are starting to attract a wider community of audience,” he said.

Empire Slough started its life as a theatre before being turned into a multiplex cinema by MGM, which was then bought by Virgin and later by UgC. It then became Cineworld through the merger.

We’re making our way to the South East of England now to visit Slough, a bustling town on the western side of London. We explore its exciting history, recent events

and plans for the future...


LEFT TO RIGHT: Honey 2 is a hit, EMPIRE SLOUGH, The Slough team and a bright, warm welcome.

INTERESTING FACTSThe total number of admissions to date is 123414.

Empire Slough’s biggest selling film so far this year was Fast and Furious 5 with 6541 admissions.

Empire Slough sells a lot more sweet popcorn than salted.

A customer once unusually requested hot cheese on their popcorn.

Staff at Empire Slough have worked in cinema for a combined 60 years.

General Manager: Anan Nithiyananthan started work in the cinema industry 11 years ago as a general assistant for Warner Village. He then worked for VUE, Cineworld and now Empire Cinemas.

Operations Assistant: Salimah Adatia used to work in the telecommunications industry before joining Empire Cinemas 6 months ago. Salimah was part of the cinema’s best weekend to date during the release of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2. Salimah said: “The cinema was the most exciting place that weekend!”

Supervisor and Duty Manager: Zeeshan Khan began his career with Empire Cinemas as a team member in 2006. He has played vital roles within the company as part of the

health and safety and payroll teams until a year ago when he was promoted to his current roles.

Senior Supervisor: Hassan Wattoo is currently in charge of retail for Empire Slough. He has played a big part in marketing the company.

Supervisor: Raz Hussein is one of Empire Slough’s recently promoted supervisors, as well as a member of the marketing team. Raz has been part of the Slough team for 9 months now and has had a huge impact on the cinema. He has helped with the style of the building itself and also organised events including the cars at the release of Fast and Furious 5.

MEET THE SLOUGH TEAM

FANCY HAVING YOUR TEAM FEATURED IN PULSE MAGAZINE?EMAIL US AT: [email protected]


PULSE TEAM In FOCUS

In 2006 the Slough site became part of the Empire chain and improvements both internally and externally have been made ever since in order to bring it firmly into the 21st century.

Future development plans involve making all 10 of Slough’s screens digital, fitting new concessions stand and installing a new Ben & Jerry’s scoop ice-cream stand. “It is almost like a re–launch of Slough,” said Anan.

Screen 4 in particular at Empire Slough is well known for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it was installed exactly where the old theatre used to be. The old stage is still there with forbidden costume changing rooms located underneath it.

It is also rumoured to be haunted by a ghost called Elena from the theatrical days. You may even feel her presence after midnight every Thursday!

After recent developments it is now

the only screen in Slough to be stadium seated and boasts the biggest screen on site. It is soon to be re-named as the Impact screen because of the 354 people it can sit. “Customers are now coming in just to watch films in this screen,” said Anan.

In 1995 screen 4 was also visited by the whole of the England football team! One lucky member of staff was even tipped by Paul Gascoigne.

The Big E programme has been a huge success within Empire Slough so far and has improved staff morale and performance greatly. Staff said: “It makes us thrive that much more in order to provide an even better customer experience.”

Slough is in the process of introducing a performance board, which is a school inspired system that will show each team member’s progress. A member of staff who has worked hard or done something extra will receive a

gold star next to their name. At the end of each month, the team member with the most gold stars will win the prestigious ‘Employee of the Month’ award. “This will help staff know what pace they are working at and make them aware of what they can achieve,” Anan told us.

Empire Slough’s team recently planned a very successful event to celebrate the release of Fast and Furious 5. They arranged a car show to take place on the top floor of their car park and had between 20-30 modified cars turn up to take part.

As one of our cinemas with the most interesting history, Empire Slough prides itself on its unique character and ability to attract a wide range of audiences. Every member of the team’s goal is to become world class in customer experience and is what makes Empire Slough stand out from the crowd.

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK

NOTICEBOARD

EMPIRE NEWCASTLE

I am a very regular customer at the cinema,

I prefer it to all the others in my area. Last

Sunday I was trying to book tickets on the

internet, as per normal, however your system had

a ‘glitch’. I called the cinema and was firstly

greeted by a very polite and helpful security

gentleman who took my details and assured me

someone would call me back. All credit to him

for within minutes the manager, Dean, called

me. He was so polite, considerate and helpful.

He saved the 5 seats for me and my family to

go and enjoy Transformers 3. What a pleasure

it was to know that someone still values

customers and has such excellent levels of

service. He is a gem and credit to your company.

Thank you. We really enjoyed Transformers and

are going to see Harry Potter tomorrow.

JULIETTE GASCOIGNE


EMPIRE POOLE I recently visited Empire Cinema at Poole with my grandchildren. Unfortunately my phone must have fallen out of my pocket during the film without my knowledge. I live 40 miles from Poole so when I discovered it later it would have been difficult to collect it. I would like to compliment the staff at Poole who were so helpful, polite and professional. They went that one step further and arranged my phone be posted to me after clearing this with head office. I am so very grateful to them.

Many thanks

SUE WILSON

EMPIRE BIRMINGHAMJust wanted to give you some feedback.Since Empire took over the cinema at Great Park in

Rubery it has improved tremendously. I particularly appreciate allocated seating, and the presence

of a good old-fashioned usher to show you to your seat and “keep order”. The screen rooms are comfortable and clean and the staff extremelypolite and helpful.Well done!

MARTIN SkETCHLEy


PULSE FEEDBACK

EMPIRE NEWCASTLE

I just wanted to say thank you so much for yesterday, the party was fantastic. Due to your

special help nothing was a problem and you ensured everything went smoothly and Lucy, Charlotte and all of their friends had a

great time.I also think the party was excellent value for

money with amazing customer service. Myself and others were really

impressed so thank you again and I hope you get

some future bookings for party’s.

Thanks againRegards

NICHOLA COWEN

EMPIRE POOLE

I visited your cinema to watch the new X Men

movie. I was obviously disappointed that due to

a technical error we were unable to watch this

showing. However I feel that I should inform the

necessary people of how well the situation was

dealt with at the time.

We were kept very well informed and at least 3 times

the manager or a member of your ushering staff

came in and spoke with the audience until it became

apparent that it was not going to be shown.

When we came out of the screen after the manager

spoke with us as a whole, she then spoke with

nearly every guest individually and directed us

promptly to a member of staff who could change

our tickets to the next show time, offered us

free tickets next time we visited and explained the

technical fault to everyone!

She did this in a professional and very friendly

manner with a smile and an apology that is rare in

these situations most of the time.

Indeed I feel that this manager who I believe was

named Nikki, although I did not get a surname is a

credit to your company and has given a very positive

outlook on a potentially terrible business situation.

I work in customer service and believe that this is

some of the best I have seen and she is an asset to

your company and I would be very happy if she was

a member of my team giving that level of service.

I will definitely be visiting this branch of your

cinema again and will be telling friends, family and

colleagues what wonderful service you give.

Thank you for the great service and your time.

Sincerely

MISS N CORBINRoz says: “Come on everyone, are

Poole, Birmingham and Newcastle

the only cinemas to receive such

letters? If you get a compliment

letter remember to send it on to

us.”

EMPIRE POOLE I would just like to say thank you for

assisting with our query. We had a wonderful night and can’t believe how much the place has changed since our last visit. The staff were

very helpful and friendly and we really enjoyed it.Again, many thanks.Regards,LLOyD HIDE

Congratulations to nikki from Empire Poole who featured in this issue’s star letter, she has won a £50 voucher! Keep making it personal for your

chance to win.

stories of World War 2. He used to fascinate me with tales of his time in Prisoner of War camps during the six years of fighting the germans. It was him who suggested we see the films whilst on holiday and I’ve never looked back.”

This memory stayed with him until 1996 when he started a documentary on it. “I loved the film so much I decided to begin a documentary which would include interviews with the cast and information surrounding the film itself. I decided to make the documentary for my own use and assured the film’s Executive Producer, Elliott Kastner, it wouldn’t be for money-

making purposes and fortunately he was happy with it.”

The premiere for Where Eagles Dare was coincidentally held at our very own Empire Leicester Square in London in 1969.

Neil has travelled to the main location of the film, Hohenwerfen Castle in Austria, and met and interviewed the majority of the cast involved in the film, many of whom have

sadly passed away. “With the cast leading busy lives I didn’t think they’d be happy to have participation within the film but, by chance, they were willing to be involved,” said Neil.

Editing his documentary footage in his spare time alongside being a projectionist at Empire Newcastle, cinema is a massive part

of Neil’s life. He’s been involved with the cinema industry for over 37 years and his love

for film has never faded. “I’m proud of my hard-work in completing the documentary and happy that I’ve reached a goal based on my passions,” he said.

Empire Cinemas are always happy to employ staff as committed and zealous about cinema as Neil and their love of the industry truly shines through into the customer’s experience

PULSE STAFF PROFILE

Favourite Film? Where Eagles Dare

Favourite film this year? Being a sci-fi fan it has to be Paul

What Film are you looking forward to seeing next? Senna

neil Thompson

Favourite actor/ actress? Clint Eastwood and Pierce Brosnan

In a film of your life, who would play you? Gregory Peck

Popcorn: Sweet or salted? Salted

inTERESTing FaCTS

Neil Thompson, a projectionist at Empire Newcastle, was first touched by the war film Where Eagles Dare when visiting the

Coliseum Cinema in Whitley Bay in the early 70s.

Inspired by his father, who accompanied him on his first viewing of the film, Neil said: “The reason I had such a labour of love for the film stems from my father’s


“ “i’m proud of my hard-work in completing the documentary and happy that i’ve reached a goal based on my passions

Our staff have many hidden hobbies and talents, as we’ve seen over the last few issues. This autumn we share with you a man with a passion for his favourite film which has spanned 40 years.

A Classic Film

Neil Thompson in the projection room

Next up will be our superhero day where we have a group of acrobats dressed to impress as our favourite superheroes. We have lots of other ideas stored up for making Empire Cinemas the ultimate place to watch films this year.

Sally After going through our feedback from the Your Opinion Matters survey, it was clear that we needed to concentrate more on maintaining our toilets. After discussion with managers, supervisors and most importantly our team members, Sally the toilet trolley was born. The team felt that not having all the stuff you need for a proper toilet check in one place was the biggest issue. Carrying the equipment necessary for checking and cleaning the toilets, Sally now accompanies our team on all toilet checks. We are looking forward to seeing if Sally has made a difference when we take part in the next wave of Your Opinion Matters later in the year.

Must go now as our football trophy needs a bit of a buff, but remember, The Only Way is Essex!

TEAM

BLOG

A big Hello from the team at Empire Basildon!

PULSE TEAM BLOG


Big E CorridorWe have brought the Big E characters to life by creating our Big E corridor. One of our talented team members, Gemma Renaut, has painted the characters on to our main staff corridors and they look great. They serve as a constant reminder of what we are aiming for and what The Big E is about. Each month we change their speech bubbles to keep our team informed about the cinema and our progress while trying to make the information interesting in the process. For instance, did you know, if you laid all our customers from 2011 so far in a line, from head to toe, they would stretch for 470 miles? We also have our Big E board updating staff on current incentives, displaying pictures of all our team member of the month winners (picked on Spotlight review scores), plus anything we think the team will find of interest.

Customer ExperienceAs well as making sure we deliver the Big E experience to all of our customers, we are always looking for ways to enhance their visit and make it memorable. For Pirates of the Caribbean we had a pirate ship in our outer foyer whilst for Transformers we had a visit from Titan, an eight foot robot, who wandered around the cinema certainly giving our customers something to remember. JJ and the younger members of the Palmer family in particular were ‘wowed’ by our giant guest.

We’re gearing up for the busy summer ahead and are looking to make our customer experience the best

in Essex, if not the world! We have plans in place to make this happen and we’re looking forward to The Big E coming alive here in the coming months. Also, it would be rude not to mention that our team won the annual Empire Football tournament, taking the trophy away from Birmingham for the first time. Part of the closing usher duties now includes a polish of our trophy.

Welcome to the page that is written by your very own Empire team members Basildon

Basildon’s new regular: Titan!

If you would like to be the news team blog, please email us at: [email protected]


Empire Cinemas are keeping it personal with their staff as well as their customers. The new ‘Lighting up Performance’ scheme indicates where staff can improve in their day to day work as well their feedback on

their successes at work.

Lighting Up Performance is a new scheme that was launched in Spring this year, which

will aim to help everyone who works for Empire Cinemas be the best they can be. In essence, it is a new initiative that will help staff do the best job they can to achieve the Big E with customers.

The scheme aims to motivate staff by giving encouragement and positive feedback, as well as setting individual objectives. After all, it is the workforce who determine the

success of Empire cinemas, and will help achieve the vision of becoming a world class

cinema chain.Previously, staff will have

received a POSH review, which will have given them a

score for their performance.

Instead of a POSH review, staff will have a Spotlight Check

meeting with a supervisor or manager, who will highlight areas of good service and

mention one area to be improved upon. This means it will be more personal to each

individual employee and will give the manager or supervisor a chance to point out good as

well as bad areas of service.The programme launched in

Newcastle in the Spring, and has since been

expanded to Hemel Hempstead, Swindon, High Wycombe, Basildon and Bishops Stortford

throughout the Summer.The current feedback from staff

has been great; with many saying “it is much better

than POSH review as it’s not about a score but instead I got

proper feedback and waspraised. I work hard and it was

good to get some recognition”.The managers and supervisors

are receiving training to help them deliver the

Spotlight Checks, as the scheme is set to be featured in all remaining Empire cinemas

during the autumn.As well as practising delivering

Spotlight Checks on the course, the supervisors and

managers are also receiving feedback from the General Manager by way of a Progress

Review. These formal review meetings give each supervisor and manager the opportunity

to discuss how motivated and engaged they are in the current role as well as receive

feedback from the General Manager on how they are doing. Each manager or supervisor


PULSE EMPIRE PORTFOLIO

is given a ‘light’, either red, amber, green or purple, which gives them a clear visual

representation of their performance rating.

By Christmas 2011 every staff member will have received at least one Spotlight

Check and all Supervisors and Managers will have had at least one Progress Review, so

all staff will be well educated in how they can improve their customer service and deliver

the Big E to customers.As staff settle in to the Lighting

Up Performance programme, there will be more

elements added in 2012, but the Spotlight Checks and Progress Reviews are a brilliant

foundation for moving closer to delivering the Big E in customer service.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Monitoring team members at work, the Spotlight Check meeting and the team member headlight which marks performance areas.

Breaking

PULSE SPECIAL EvEnTS


Horror fans braved the dismal weather this August bank holiday weekend and were out in full force for Film4’s Frightfest 2011.

The five day event took over Empire Leicester Square for a host of World premieres and cult films.

Halloween began early with hoardes of vampires, serial killers, werewolves and the odd psychopath donning the big screen of Empire One.

Pulse were invited along to absorb the spine-chilling atmosphere.

With an interview with film producer, actor and director Larry Fessenden and a panel discussion about the American horror scene in amongst the films, diehard fans were in their element.

Empire Leicester Square’s team were kept busy all day making sure that this event was spectacular for all and did a fabulous job!

PULSE would like to thank Empire Leicester Square for a brilliant day at Frightfest.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Queues of horror fans enter EMPIRE LEICESTER SQUARE, Frightfest poster, Making it personal at the admissions desk, A busy Empire One and some gory team members got into the Halloween spirit.

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Pt.1September 2011

The vampire saga which has dominated bookshelves and the box office for several years has returned for its blood sucking

first of two part finale. Not only is it the final novel from author Stephanie Meyer but the big bosses of Hollywood have decided to tease fans a little more by splitting the film in to two instalments.

Due to be released in November 2011, the first part is rammed with extreme romance and drama as we watch the illustrious couple, Bella (Kirsten Stewart) and Edward (Rob Pattinson), take their relationship to the next level. Obviously this does not come without eventful complications.

Expecting parents Edward and Bella are torn over their unborn child who poses threats to the vampire coven and the werewolf pack headed by Jacob (Taylor Lautner). Although developed from the novel, it’s controversial plot line in Breaking

Dawn has led Chicago and Dreamgirls director Bill Condon to interpret them in to a more digestible and refreshing manner whilst keeping the suspense and making it less controversial for those of a younger age.

This clearly is another successful kill for the vampire franchise which is sure to

leave you wanting one final fix. Interlaced with intense scenes of drama, danger and suspense, the penultimate segment of Twilight: Breaking Dawn is a brilliant start to the end.

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Pt.1 will of course see those vampire

fanatics like Jane and her friends at the front of the queue sporting team Edward t-shirts, but you may also find that the fantasy action and passionate fight scenes of vampire versus werewolf will draw Billy to a seat. Although Twilight has a predominantly female fan base, it is possible that you could see JJ in the line for popcorn intrigued to know what all the fuss is about.

Genre: Drama / FantasyDirector: Bill CondonStarring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor LauntnerMovie Recommendations:Harry PotterSuper 8

KnOW yOUR STUFF

FAnTASTIC FACTS

Breaking Dawn Pt.1 is the most expensive movie of the franchise with a starting

budget of $75 million.

This is the first Twilight movie not to be filmed in Canada. Instead they split filming

time between Louisiana and Brazil.

BreakingDawn Pt.1

TWILIGHT

REVIEWS



REal STEElOctober 2011

Real

Steel

In the near future it isn’t humans who will compete for the most prestigious titles in boxing; it will be 2000lb humanoid robots. That’s the premise

of this sci-fi/drama hybrid from Night at the Museum director Shawn Levy. Based on Richard Matheson’s short story Steel, the film adaptation sees Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) lose an opportunity to become a boxing champion, instead settling for a career as a small time promoter when the robots take over the sport. His chance of glory isn’t

over however, as he teams up with his son to build a fighter capable of becoming a contender.

Real Steel confidently melds a variety of genres together. Not only will JJ get a kick out of the big robot action reminiscent of Transformers, Billy will also love the boxing drama last seen in The Fighter. It’s not just a manly film about boxing and robots though. At its core is a story of a man and his estranged son building a relationship, making it the perfect film for Dan & Sarah to enjoy.

Genre: Sci-Fi / DramaDirector: Shawn LevyStarring: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Kevin Durand Movie Recommendations:Transformers

KnOW yOUR STUFF

FAnTASTIC FACTS

Both animatronics and motion capture tech-nology were used to create the scenes of the brawling robots, promising some breath-

taking and realistic fighting action.

Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard was brought in as an adviser to ensure that fights

were reminiscent of the human equivalent.

DreamWorks clearly have confidence in the film, as plans for a sequel are already

underway.

A 1963 episode of The Twilight Zone was also based on Richard Matheson’s short

story.

Real Steel is set for release earlier than scheduled, to avoid competing with the next

film in the Twilight saga.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh who was responsible for the success of Oceans 11, 12 and 13,

Contagion is an action packed sci-fi thriller which brings our fears of a worldwide pandemic to reality on the big screen. As an unknown, lethal, airborne virus begins to take down its victims, the worldwide medical community race to find a cure that will spread faster than the virus itself. As the growing epidemic continues, ordinary civilians struggle to

survive in a society that is quickly crumbling around them. With a star studded cast

including Kate Winslet who plays Dr Erin Mears it takes the film away from a usual low budget thriller and pushes it towards a box office hit.

Contagion very cleverly creates a sense of fear, toying with the reality of something so terrifying becoming reality. Not only will Billy and JJ thrive on the action and thrill factor, they will appreciate the huge Hollywood starts being roped

in to help cure this deadly virus. Definitely this autumn’s thriller blockbuster!

Genre: Sci-Fi / Action / ThrillerDirector: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Kate WinsletMovie Recommendations:The ThingFright Night

KnOW yOUR STUFF

FAnTASTIC FACTS

The film is scripted by Scott Z. Burns who wrote the screenplay The Bourne Ultimatum.

Contagion was part of a bidding war between Summit Entertainment and Warner

Bros.... Warner Bros won.

ContagionCOnTagiOnSeptember 2011


PULSE FILMS In FOCUS

JOhnnY EngliSh REBORnOctober 2011

TinKER, TailOR, SOlDiER, SPYnovember 2011

It’s been eight years since his last adventure and time hasn’t been too kind to Johnny English. During his time out he was sent to Mozambique on

a mission which went terribly wrong. Unable to handle the shame of failing, Johnny has been hiding in a cave somewhere in Tibet and it’s safe to say his morale is at an all time low. A monk from a nearby monastery takes pity on the down on his luck spy and trains him in martial arts. His new skills will prove

invaluable as MI7 calls him back for another mission, thwarting the plans of a gang of assassin’s who are out to kill the Chinese Premier.

This is one that should appeal to all ages, perfect for the Palmer Family. There’s plenty of slapstick humour for the kids, and the adults will enjoy the spoofs of classic spy films. Of course, you can’t have a spy film without a big helping of action, and that will certainly appeal to JJ.

Genre: Action / ComedyDirector: Oliver Parker Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Ben Millar, Gillian Anderson, Pierce BrosnanMovie Recommendations:

KnOW yOUR STUFF

FAnTASTIC FACTS

The sequel was first announced back in April 2010, seven years after the original. It’s a

long time to wait for a second serving, but it should be more than worth it.

Despite being English by name, the movie was also filmed in Macau and Hong Kong.

Perhaps most famous for her role as Agent Scully in The X Files, Gillian Anderson has

been cast as Agent Pamela Head.johnny english 2

First published in 1974, John le Carré’s novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy follows George Smiley, a British spy. He is forced

out of retirement to hunt down a suspected Soviet “mole” that has infiltrated the Secret Intelligence Service. Taking place during the bleak days of the Cold War, it’s bound to add a tense atmosphere to the thriller. With some fantastic British talent and the director of Let the Right One In on board, there should be no doubt as to the quality of the film. This film has plenty of scope for follow ups as well as

John le Carré has penned a total of six novels featuring george Smiley. It wouldn’t come as any surprise to see the British spy on our screens again in the near future considering the fantastic direction and acting ability on display here.

The tense action and mystery of the plot makes the story stand out from more simplistic offerings and will keep Billy hooked throughout. It’s not just the boys who are catered for though, there’s also some love and romance thrown in so it’ll make a great movie for Dan & Sarah as well.

Genre: ThrillerDirector: Tomas AlfredsonStarring: Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Gary Oldman, Mark StrongMovie Recommendations:

KnOW yOUR STUFF

FAnTASTIC FACTS

This isn’t the first time the book has been adapted. It was made into a TV series in

1979 and a radio drama in 1988.

It’s no surprise that director Tomas Alfredson followed the career path he did. Both his brother, Daniel Alfredson and father, Hans

Alfredson, are directors too.

The Telegraph has already tipped the film as an Oscar contender and, with such star

power behind it, it’s hardly surprising.

tinker tailor

soldierspy

September 2011

Antarctic. Palaeontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and her two assistants join the team when an experiment frees a frozen alien from the wreckage. With its ability to mimic any life form it absorbs, it soon threatens to pick off the team one by one. The prequel matches the original in its paranoia and distrust as the characters struggle to figure out just who is infected, definitely not one for the faint of heart.


October 2011

This isn’t a run of the mill remake of the 1982 horror classic, although it does stick closely to the storyline. This is

in fact a prequel, the events of which take place three days prior to the original plot where a Norwegian scientific team discover the wreckage of a UFO in the ice of the

Genre: Sci- Fi/ Horror .Director: Matthijs Van Heijningen JrStarring: Mary Elizabeth Win-stead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thom-sen, Adewale Akinnuoye- AgbajeMovie Recommendations:Super 8

KnOW yOUR STUFF

FAnTASTIC FACTSProducers Marc Abraham and Eric Newman decided on making a prequel as a remake would’ve been like “painting a moustache on

the Mona Lisa.”

Norwegian actors were cast to portray the Norwegian members of the cast.

Genre: Horror/ ComedyDirector: Craig GillespieStarring: Collin Farrell, Christopher- Mintz- Plasse, David Tennant, Toni Collette Movie Recommendations:Twilight

KnOW yOUR STUFF

FAnTASTIC FACTS

Fright night will be distributed by Walt Disney motion pictures group

For television, Gillespie produced and directed the highly acclaimed Showtime series United

States of Tara. His direction of the pilot episode earned Toni Collette both an Emmy and a

Golden Globe Award.

The Thing

Fright NightThere is something spooky going on in Charley Brewster’s neighbourhood as people begin to vanish. As he uncovers clues to their disappearances, he begins to realise they all lead back to his mother’s new neighbour Jerry. This remake of the 1985 original sees Colin Farrell take on the role of the mysteri-ous neighbour, who turns out to be a vampire responsible for the missing humans. Charley and his best friend Ed, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse who’s better known as McLo-vin in Superbad, make a cracking comedy duo in this 3D comedy horror. When no one believes in their discovery of a vampire they enlist Peter Vincent (Tennant), a self proclaimed vampire killer and Las Vegas magician. Directed by Craig Gillespie, this unusual horror Fright Night is sure to fill seats.

Fright Night

Joining the star studded voice cast are come-dians Kevin Eldon and Matt Lucas

The script was worked on by Peter Baynham, the screenwriter for Borat.

Arthur Christmas

encounter many dif-ficulties that put their investigating skills to the test but it’s no match for this fearless duo. Accompanied on their escapade by Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis), they form an alliance and aim to get the treasure to its rightful owner


Genre: ComedyDirector: Sarah SmithStarring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy Movie Recommendations:

KnOW yOUR STUFF

FAnTASTIC FACTS

Genre: Animated/ AdventureDirector: Steven SpiellbergStarring: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Daniel Craig, Nick FrostMovie Recommendations:The HobbitHarry Potter

KnOW yOUR STUFF

FAnTASTIC FACTS

This film is based on three of the original stories: The Crab with the Golden Claws, The

Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure

Peter Jackson, whose company WETA digital produced the film, plans on a sequel and

wants to direct it himself.

november 2011

The Adventures of Tintin :The Secret of the UnicornOctober 2011

The Adventures of Tintin

Dreamworks presents this computer-animated 3D adaptation of Georges Remi’s beloved Tintin comic strip in the first instal-ment of a planned trilogy. Written by Steven Moffet, who brought us Sherlock and Dr Who, and directed by Steven Spielberg, audiences are reunited with intrepid reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell) and his plucky puppy Snowy as they go on pursuit of a great story. Along their journey they stumble across a riddle for Sir Francis Haddock’s treasure and go on the hunt to retrieve it. They

Ever wondered just how Santa delivers all those presents in one evening? Well, his ultra-high tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole might have something to do with it. This festive story revolves around the next genera-tion of the Claus family. We meet Santa’s son Arthur who’s set a mission to complete before Christmas morning. Alongside our lead, we’re also introduced to Arthur’s

brother Steve, heir to the Santa empire, and their crotchety grandfather Grandsanta. Coming from Aardman Animations, you can expect the same passion and heart that goes into Wallace & Gromit and their other legend-ary creations. A stellar voice cast, including James McAvoy and Hugh Laurie, truly brings the characters to life and will certainly get you in the mood for Christmas.

PULSE FILMS In FOCUS

CompetitioncornerGuess the Celebrity....We’ve got hold of some snapshots of our favourite Hollywood stars in their younger years. If you can guess all eight you could be in with a chance of winning a years supply of chocolate! Just write your answers next to the pictures and fill in your details and hand it in to your manager along with the

questionairre on the previous page. Good Luck!

.

2. 3. 4.

8.7.6.5.

1.

naME .......................................................................................................................................

CinEMa .......................................................................................................................................

COnTaCT EMail/PhOnE nO. ...................................................................................................


PULSE COMPETITIOn CORnERpictures: rexfeatures.com


PULSE STAR SPOTTInG

STARSPOTTING

EMPiRE nEWCaSTlE

EMPiRE SWinDOn

Peter Beardsley Alan Shearer Tino Asprilla Kylie Jimmy CarrKiss Ant Mcpartin Newcastle United

EMPIRE NEWCASTLE GUESTLIST

EMPIRE SWINDON GUESTLIST

Mark OwenRichard HargreavesJude LawSienna MillerAnne RobinsonRik Mayall

Ade EdmondsonMelinda MessengerGreta ScacchiJonathan WilkesPrince William Bob HopkinsKeith Jack

Billy PiperRalph FeinnesMartha FiennesJason DononvanRichard Kiel Tony Adams

Dom JolyJoe McGannOliver TobiasNigel HaversSharon DaviesKate MossGillian Anderson

Celebrities love a good movie as much as the rest of us and PULSE wants to know what famous faces have visited your Empire. This issue we’ve heard from Empire Swindon and Empire Newcas-

tle about their star studded customers.

THE SE QUEL

DEaDlinE: THURSDAY 1st DECEMBER

PRiZE: £500 to the winning cinema(To be announced at the Christmas meeting in December)

Create a 3-5 minute film outlining how your cinema has improved upon issues highlighted

by the Your Opinion Matters survey earlier this year.

Details will follow on how to upload the films...

2

in action

PULSE magazine - Issue 5 - Autumn 2011

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Transcript of PULSE magazine - Issue 5 - Autumn 2011