Because normal cinemas are too mainstream.
It’s a friday night, you just got off work or school and you’re extremely overworked. Your friend asks you, “What do you wanna do tonight?”.
Chances are, you’re going to the movies. That’s because there is no better way to quell your own misery than to let movies evoke emotions of sympathy, empathy and most importantly, hope.
Just like how Bruce Wayne had to lose both his parents first before becoming Batman, you start perceiving your bad day as the rain before your rainbow.
However, sometimes you just gotta try something for a change, maybe you’re thinking of giving Lego-Batman a chance.
Speaking of alternatives, do you know that there are alternatives to Singapore’s favourite past-time too?
Here are some alternative movie theatres you have to visit immediately.
The Projector
The Projector is every local hipster’s secret that somehow everybody knows about. This place however, is packed full of history. Formerly known as “Golden Theatre”, the theatre used to be the biggest cinema in Singapore and Malaysia in 1973, when it was first completed. Back then, a 1500-seat theatre was truly massive, considering today’s average of 1900-2000-seat theatres.
Today, the Projector is taking a more subtle approach towards the movie industry, seeking to provide a refreshing breather for huge consumers of mainstream movies like us, through selective screenings. We’re talking about films that are strictly indie, foreign, cult favourites, classics, arthouse, retrospective and sometimes, limited screenings of hollywood blockbusters such as La La Land.
The main screening hall for the Projector is a 230-seater called the Green Room, and just by looking at it reminds you of the 1990s, where most of the cinemas had foldable chairs.
The more popular theatre that the Projector has is the Redrum, a 180-seater with 30 beanbags. It is primarily used for movie screenings and it’s special themed nights, but is also available for private-events!
Located on the 5th storey of Golden Mile Tower, watching a movie at The Projector is slightly different from the usual, from it’s free-seating policy to how they are actually closed on Mondays. The projector has really limited screenings as their box office only opens from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 6pm – 8.30pm on weekdays and 1pm – 8.30pm on weekends, inclusive of Public Holidays.
Apart from enjoying an alternative movie experience, it’s also a nice place to hangout. Did I mention that the Projector has it’s own Rooftop Bar?
The “Golden Bar” is a 80 seater cafe/bistro, brought to you by the same people behind IKKI IZAKAYA and PARK @ Holland Village. It’s interesting to note that the vegetables served in the menu are all harvested from Singapore’s very own local LED farm, and that the brews are actually locally-sourced from Tiong Hoe Coffee. What a fine way to support to local food industry!
Alliance Francaise Cine Club
As it’s name suggests, it’s an independent french theatre and it just happens to be one of the biggest independent theatres in Singapore.
Despite the fact that most of the french movies here are screened on Tuesdays under “Cine Club” at 8pm, families can also catch more family-friendly films under “Cine Kids” on Sundays. New movies are added to the mix every month, and apart from immersing oneself in the arts of french film, one can also find languages classes and art exhibitions at the same venue.
Customers enjoy a 10% discount off their movie tickets when they dine-in on Tuesdays at 6.30pm, before their “Cine Club” screening. Café de France serves traditional french cuisine (of course) and Mediterranean food. The cafe is located at Alliance française, level II, and it opens from Monday to Saturday, from 8.30am – 9pm.
The Screening Room
Located at Ann Siang Hill, the Screening Room is an alternative movie experience where customers are advised, or rather, obligated to dine as they enjoy their movies.
For every movie ticket purchased, there is a required minimum spending of $15 on Food and Beverage. However, that shouldn’t be a problem as La Terraza serves amazing cocktails, perfect for an after-work party, accompanied by an unobstructed view of the Singapore skyline.
The movie selection is slightly limited, and largely selective, featuring both mainstream hollywood films and indie films. The Screening Room calls it a “Boutique Theatre”, where guests can kick back on cozy sofas and enjoy the movie screenings that take place from Monday to Saturday, with two screenings daily.
The real party starts after 10pm, when all the movie screenings are done for the night and the theatre is transformed into a raving champagne lounge.
Rex Cinema
Of course, alternative cinema would not be alternative cinema without mentioning Bollywood. Rex Cinemas was actually opened in 1946, by the Shaw organisation. It was then closed in 1983 due to the lack of business.
However, in 2009, the cinema bounced back, revealing 3 newly renovated halls, screening Tamil and Hindi films mainly to the masses of foreign workers around Little India. The three new halls consisted of one 570-seater and two 80-seaters that serve the monthly average of over 150,000 patrons.
This was where business started booming, along with the exponential increase in international demand for Bollywood films and the expansion of the Bollywood industry as a whole.
As you would expect, Rex Cinemas opened a second theatre in 2015, at the Golden Mile Tower. The new theatre features a 980-seater, coupled with 20 VIP seats; gilded leather recliners that go for $80 a pair.
Apart from trying something for a change, alternative movie experiences allows us to reminisce the days of independent theatres. Back when a time where moving pictures were a feat which many would marvel at, where films were not appreciated by their budget, but rather, for their ability to connect to the sentiments of their audiences.
There is a reason why these independent theatres are located next to art exhibitions. They are the unsung heroes in the history of Singapore’s arts scene, and just like how one would appreciate an art installation, these cinemas remind us how we came to love film so much.
They make us feel something.