The UK’s first social enterprise cinema, The Lexi in Kensal Rise, is running a campaign, in conjunction with local artists, to encourage a return to the cinema.
The idea, conceived by Simon Brotherton, a creative director collaborating with The Lexi, and with funding from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, sees posters re-imagining six blockbuster films, with an iconic quote being interrupted by the goings-on of everyday life.
The films selected for the campaign posters so far include Lady Bird, Blade Runner and Pulp Fiction, created by local artists Sarah Teare, Cody Burridge, and Phil Bedford respectively. Subsequent posters will be released every month of the summer, culminating with the sixth and final poster in September.
The call for a return to enjoy films on the big screen comes after a challenging two years for the industry when cinemas had to close their doors during the COVID pandemic. With lockdown restrictions now fully lifted, The Lexi wants to remind the local community that they can once again take advantage of what the cinematic experience can offer, with large screens, comfortable seating, and most importantly – no interruptions.
As each poster is released, it will be showcased in local shops and across the Kensal Rise area on billboards and bus stops. Each local artist will also have the opportunity to display their original artwork in the foyer of The Lexi, showing off some of the brilliant local talent in the area.
“The opportunity to create a campaign for the Lexi was too good to resist. It’s a dream brief. My cool local indie cinema with a need to get bums back in seats after the lockdown closures and the rise of the streaming platforms. The posters try to take the consumer into great scenes from a series of classics movies and then burst the bubble with a reminder why film will never be quite the same at home. And the art? Well it had to be creative and locally sourced just like The Lexi!” said Simon Brotherton.
“As a social enterprise with the local community at the heart of everything we do, it’s been fantastic to work with local artists on this campaign and showcase the outstanding talent that we have in Kensal Rise. These beautifully designed posters bring to life the unrivalled experience of viewing films at the cinema,” said Sally Wilton, founder of The Lexi. “It’s been a challenging two years, but we’re set for a summer filled with films and community events.”
