Late Shows For The Academy (Press, 4 March 1982)

On 4 March 1982, Martyn Bullimore, the new manager of the Academy, announced the launch of weekly late-night movie screenings starting tomorrow at 11.30 p.m. The inaugural film will be "Outrageous," featuring Greg Russell as a would-be drag artist who struggles to fit into the gay community. This film, although briefly shown at the Cinerama two years prior, is expected to draw interest. The late-night screenings will occur every Friday and Saturday, showcasing a variety of classic films and unique offerings including a Godzilla double feature, “The Kids are Alright” featuring The Who, “Head” with The Monkees, Arlo Guthrie's “Alice’s Restaurant,” Neil Young’s “Rust Never Sleeps,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Myra Breckenridge,” and David Bowie's “The Man Who Fell to Earth.” Martyn expressed optimism about the late-night venture despite some scepticism in Christchurch. He highlighted that there are limited evening options for entertainment after pubs close and noted that the timing coincides well with the start of the university term. He believes there has been a shift in the social habits of Christchurch residents, which could contribute to the screenings' success. Martyn Bullimore, 35, made his mark on the local film scene with a previous initiative called S.W.I.F.T. (Scott Walker International Film Theatre), where he organised late-night screenings at the Arts Centre. His earlier series of screenings featured cult classics like “Freaks,” “The Damned,” and “Ashes and Diamonds,” where he famously distributed warm popcorn to attendees, a practice he may not be able to continue at the Academy. Originally from England, Martyn moved to New Zealand seven years ago as a design engineer and has since travelled extensively, gaining film knowledge from Europe and Asia. His involvement with local cinema deepened through collaboration with Lang Masters of the Masters Independent Cinemas, advising on film selections that proved popular. His appointment as manager of the Academy marks a new chapter where he aims to present lesser-known and underappreciated films to Christchurch audiences. Future projects include musical and science fiction festivals, as well as showcasing a collection of films by Derek Jarman, like “Jubilee,” “Sebastiane,” and “The Tempest,” which have only been previously available during film festivals in New Zealand. Additionally, another significant film, “THX 1138,” an early work by George Lucas, will screen tomorrow at the Academy. This film, featuring Robert Duvall and produced by Francis Ford Coppola, adds to the diverse offering of films that Martyn hopes will appeal to the local audience.

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