WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

WE BELIEVE SINGAPOREANS WANT MORE FILM AND LEISURE ALTERNATIVES. The idea was born out of our love for old, undiscovered spaces, coupled with our desire for an alternative venue in Singapore that would bring people together for great films, unique experiences, creative vibes and good fun. Tired of hearing ourselves and others moan about the film and entertainment offerings on our shores, we felt that with the right team and the right space, we stood a good chance at creating one!

WE HAVE FOUND AN OLD CINEMATIC ICON JUST WAITING TO BE REDISCOVERED. Did you know that Golden Mile Tower has a long cinematic history? Golden Theatre, with well over a thousand seats, was the largest cinema in Singapore and Malaysia when it opened in 1973. It was well patronized for its good quality Chinese films in the 70s and 80s (many a taxi uncle will tell you about their pak-tor days there), ‘adult’ artsy films in the 90s and, more recently, Bollywood hits. When we discovered these two cinema halls, they hadn’t been refurbished for decades and had lain empty for months.

Through its reinvention as The Projector, Golden Theatre, housed in Golden Mile Tower (next to the iconic Golden Mile Complex), will become accessible to a broader range of people by inviting them back to enjoy two completely different cinema halls, a sunlit foyer with panoramic windows and a bustling cinema café.

REGENERATING OLD, UNDERUSED SPACES IS WHAT WE DO. We, Karen, Blaise & Sharon, are Pocket Projects. We conceptualise, consult on and manage niche urban development projects. Our multidisciplinary background in real estate investment, design and urban planning enables us to tackle the complexities of regeneration and find creative solutions that are commercially viable. At Pocket Projects, adapting, reinventing, and re-enlivening old spaces is what we do.

You may have been to an event or an exhibition at The Lorong 24A Shophouse Series, our first award-winning project, and if so, you’ll have an idea of how we transform quirky spaces in overlooked areas into fresh and relevant concepts to bring them to life again.

THERE ARE MANY ELEMENTS TO CREATING THE PROJECTOR, AND WE HAVE A SOLID TEAM OF PARTNERS TO HELP US MAKE THIS A REALITY. The Projector is one big collaboration, brought to you by a solid team of likeminded people, each at the fore of their industry. Pocket Projects are proud to partner acclaimed design and architectural practice FARM to revive and transform the space. In addition, we have on board LUNA Films, well-known for running the popular annual Japanese Film Festival, to source and curate a diverse programme of quality films, as well as third-wave coffee and café culture maestros Group Therapy.

                                       

                                         

                                                      

                                           

WE KNOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES IN GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN OF AN ESTABLISHED INDUSTRY, but we believe that with our team and a bit of support from you, we stand a great chance of providing the film and leisure alternative that Singapore is missing. 

We know how to run complicated projects and we’ve got a multi-faceted business plan to help us deliver the films and experience you want, the food & beverages you crave, and the flexible space and a creative platform to allow for different uses and private events for when we aren’t screening films. But we are still underdogs in an industry dominated by established chains and giant multiplexes. Thus, opening up a small cinema and event space will require all the support we can get from the likes of people like you.

We have thought long and hard about the challenges we will face as a small cinema: competing with large chains, the rise of online streaming and piracy, and not showing the latest blockbusters. While these could seem daunting, we think that being independent and focusing on everything BUT the mainstream will be our biggest strength, and we invite you to join us in making this happen.

THIS IS OUR FIRST SELF-FUNDED PROJECT.  The costs involved in a project like this are, ostensibly, large.  We've raised a lot of the money we need on our own and we do not have government funding. As the first independent single-screen theatre and events space to open in Singapore outside of the backing of major industry players, we are going against the industry standard to retain our autonomy and thereby deliver what we believe the public wants, while sustainably reviving an old icon.

As a result, we are LOOKING TO YOU, THE COMMUNITY, to help us reach our goal.

WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN & WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO

Going Digital!  As much as we dearly love 35mm films, we, like all cinemas, must convert to digital projectors. We have two halls – the GREEN ROOM cinema and the chill-out REDRUM – and therefore need two projectors. We already have one and are looking for help to buy the second, to make the REDRUM the fun and dramatically different space and experience we have envisioned.

Seats! The old cinema seats haven’t been cared for in decades. Besides reupholstering the seats with a new splash of colour, we are painstakingly revealing the original wooden armrests and retaining the aged painted finish of the unique metal seat frames. Again, we have enough funds for the cinema hall, but need your help to make the REDRUM a reality.

Construction! The vision for the REDRUM is a different one, and FARM has an exciting design for it, but this involves a certain amount of construction and interior design to make the space live up to our vision.

This is one of the existing cinema halls:

This is the REDRUM's projection room as it currently is:

...And this is our vision for the versatile REDRUM!

WHAT DO YOU GET IN RETURN FOR HELPING US LAUNCH

Through backing our campaign, you can take pride in the fact that you’ve directly contributed to making a difference in the cinema scene in Singapore, PLUS you also get some great stuff! Every dollar counts, so we are offering rewards for every level of supporter.

Help us out a little and get website recognition, tickets and cool totes like these:

Contribute a little more and you can treat yourself to DVDs of acclaimed films by local filmmakers and other film-inspired goodies such as cool shades by KULT...

... and limited edition prints by FLABSLAB!

Our favourite of the lot is the chance to ADOPT A VIP SEAT - what better way to show your support than having your (nick)name permanently on a seat in a prime row! We're very excited to share that the first 100 supporters to adopt a seat will also get a free exclusive invite to a private cast and crew screening of Ken Kwek’s “Unlucky Plaza” on 4 Dec, 7.00pm… the first show to be screened at The Projector!!

Any cineastes out there looking to raise the bar for films screened on our shores? now is your chance to shine! Be the curator of our Mystery Film Night, and spread your cinephilia to a willing audience, plus 20 of your guests. We'll even let you host the evening if you so desire!

For photography enthusiasts, or simply lovers of the strangely beautiful, you can choose from 11 evocative photos of The Projector and Golden Mile Tower taken by Philipp Aldrup (www.philipp-aldrup.com) as well as meet him in person. Have a closer look at all 11 photos under our 'Gallery' section, accessed at the top of this page! Here are just a few of them as teasers... 

*Please note that shipping charges are already included in prices of all perks.

**For personalised perks (i.e Adopt a VIP Seat; Curate a Film Night; Philipp Aldrup Photo Print; Private rental or for Charity), rest assured that we will contact you promptly to follow up on key details for us to fulfill your perk :)

YOU CAN REDEEM THESE PERKS SOON

Our soft launch is just around the corner! As one of the official venues for the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), The Projector is proud to host the festival screenings as our first event.

We will formally launch The Projector and film programme in January 2015. You can get tickets when you contribute! Perks will be shipped in early January.

Lastly, THANK YOU for all your support and generosity and we look forward to seeing you at The Projector soon! :)