Locked out of our own premiere at the Palace (From Gazette)

Locked out of our own premiere at the Palace

11:00am Friday 30th July 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

BUDDING film-makers were snubbed at their own premiere.

Students from Clacton Coastal Academy turned up at Harwich’s Electric Palace for the first screening of Our Coast, a film about what hidden gems the coast has to offer.

Ashley Britton and his pals had made the film with Rowhedge-based charity, CoastNet.

But the 16-year-old and members of the Harwich Society who turned up to watch the film were disappointed when they arrrived, and found the cinema was shut.

Bosses have admitted they forgot to tell their volunteer cinema manager about the booking.

Pippa Crighton, from CoastNet, said they arrived at 5pm and waited for an hour without being let in.

She said: “Ashley was very upset about it. I think possibly they just forgot it was going on.

“It was quite short notice, but Ashley was one of those that was keen to have it there on that weekend because of the sea festival.”

Coastal Academy students had spent weeks interviewing residents for the documentary.

Colin Crawford, Electric Palace director, said he was sorry for the inconvenience caused.

He said: “I was giving them the chance to show the film at short notice, but obviously the communication must have gone wrong.”

Ashley said he was saddened the Electric Palace did not open up, and urged members of the public to turn up for the re-screening on August 7, at 4.45pm.

It will also be shown at the Jaywick Martello Tower on August 21.