Graduates set their sights high with latest cinematic venture

A group of entrepreneurial graduates from York St John University are getting set to launch a pop-up cinema for film lovers in York and have utilised a team design students to transform their idea into reality.

Orillo Productions are a start-up video production company made up of four former BA Film and Television Production students. They are currently based in the Phoenix Centre, York St John University’s on-campus business incubator unit. The Phoenix Centre provides affordable space for new ventures, with access to specialist technical facilities and sector-specific business support, mentoring and training. Orillo took up residency in the Phoenix Centre in September 2011 and work alongside seven other up-and-coming businesses in the Centre.

Following the sold-out success of an outdoor cinema event held in York’s Museum Gardens last summer, which saw more than 500 people to watch an open air screening of (500) Days Of Summer, Orillo are hoping the next pop-up cinema will be an even bigger hit. Their latest venture takes place on 10 March in an unknown location in York city centre, taking all the delights of last year’s cinematic event and putting a roof over it to fend off the weather. In the run-up to the evening the public will get the chance to vote for their film-of-choice by using Facebook (facebook.co.uk/orillocinema) and Twitter (@orillocinema).

As part of the advertising campaign for the cinema, Orillo worked with the product design department at York St John University. Being based on the York St John campus, Orillo were able to easily enlist a talented team of students to help them design and produce a large logo depicting the Orillo Cinema concept. The six foot high logo, constructed of renewable materials, will be based outside the Phoenix Centre for three days before moving to various locations around York to build interest in and create a buzz about the cinema.

Keenan Foley, Creative Director of Orillo Productions and Orillo Cinema explained:

“Without the help of the art and design team and the support from the Phoenix Centre, we would have never been able to create such a large scale project that’s so fun for the students and the York community to interact with. We just hope everyone enjoys the build up to the event as much as the cinema itself!"

Darrell Hooper, Phoenix Centre Business and Innovation Manager, added:

“It’s really great to see our tenants using the University facilities and resources in an innovative and commercial project. It is particularly beneficial for current students who get the chance to engage with, and work on, real world projects which help to develop their skills further.”

The pop-up cinema takes place on Saturday 10 March at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12 in advance or £14 on the day and are available in the form of t-shirts which can be purchased from five outlets across the city – Bang hairdressers, Licc ice cream parlour, Tarts and tit bits delicatessen, 1331 bar, and Xing smoothies. For online / phone sales please contact Visit York. Location details will be sent out on the day following registration by text message once the t-shirt ticket has been purchased.