NE1 meet the man behind upcoming film screenings on the roof of Newcastle Castle

‘I think people will go to it and when they do they’ll absolutely love it.’

It’s a relatively hot Thursday afternoon in Newcastle where I am in the Long Play Café, one of the fine establishments on the Quayside, to meet Conor MacLeod, the mastermind behind a new series of exciting cinematic events to come to Newcastle Castle over the summer months.  

Every Friday and Saturday evening, throughout the remaining weeks of July and August, the Castle Keep will play home to an intimate gig showcasing a mix of classic and contemporary cinema. High above the hustle and bustle of Newcastle’s famous weekend nightlife, the rooftop of the Castle will provide a more ambient affair complete with deck chairs, a roaring barbecue and the added bonus of an exceptional view. Come ‘rain or shine the movie will play’ so, in the likely event that the weather is not as favourable as is today, then they recommend you bring a blanket and a brolly, just in case.

‘I thought you’d be Irish’ I said as I approached him. The icebreaker. He gives me a welcoming grin and says, ‘I’m actually half Irish’. He humbly apologises for his attire, sporting tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt, yet proudly announcing that he’s currently been hard at work in preparation for opening night. I manage to momentarily pry him away from his endeavours (and his cooked breakfast) for long enough to talk about his new venture, Bula Bula Rooftop Cinema.

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How did the idea develop?

Firstly, I worked on a couple of events in London with my sister-in-law who owns a company called Lemonade and Laughing Gas, which is a bespoke dining and entertainment experience,  there’s a lot of stuff like that in London. I also worked on a rooftop cinema in London just as a volunteer. My girlfriend and I went to New Zealand for a year and there were a couple of events like that out there too and I just decided that was what I wanted to do when I came home. I was a maths teacher for a while, but I didn’t really like it. I came back and spoke to a few venues and pushed on from there, really. I tried to get the website set up before I booked everything but, yeah, it kind of just grew.

Do you have a team behind you?

It’s only me, really. I have advisors like my sister-in-law who has done really well with her events in London but, in terms of the company, it’s just me.

What is the meaning behind the name ‘Bula Bula’?

It’s Fijian. We went to Fiji on the way back from New Zealand and basically everyone just says ‘Bula Bula’ all of the time. It means ‘Hello’, ‘How are you?’, ‘I’m great’. It seems like it’s the only phrase they use but it’s always positive. It always has a positive meaning and they say it with a smile on their faces. To me, it sounds quite nice, it rolls off the tongue but it has that pleasant meaning and gives me those memories of my holiday while I'm working.

Why choose the rooftop of Castle Keep for your location?

In my initial plans I wanted a rooftop cinema with a decent view and that, basically, was it. I thought about Manors carpark which is in the centre and it looks across to the Sage. But when I got home a news story came out that they were putting solar panels across the entire rooftop so I started asking around different venues and I ended up calling Newcastle Castle. They’re a positive group and were really open with their discussions about what I could and couldn’t do. They seemed really keen on the idea which was a massive thing for me.

Have they had a rooftop cinema before?

They’ve done things on the rooftop before but they haven’t had a cinema so there was quite a few things to sort out. But, in terms of the people I was involved with and the people who work there, they are absolutely great. I saw it as working with friends, working with nice people. It was a nice atmosphere and I wanted it to be a nice experience for Bula Bula.

There’s an eclectic mix of film choices, ranging from Mean Girls to Reservoir Dogs.  Was there any special process in choosing them?

Erm… (He laughs). Right, there wasn’t really a process. To start with I had a lot of indie films. There was a lot of low budget stuff, almost like Sundance Festival type of films. I had a lot of movies like Juno and Little Miss Sunshine. That was the initial list; there were some cult classics like The Shining and some comedies, also. After I had the list I spoke to a few different people and they told me they probably wouldn’t pay to see those films. A lot of people wanted different things. Some people wanted classics; some people wanted the Castle to be a prominent feature, so it kind of got thrown around. Then I did a few surveys that were genre specific like; five musical films, five animations, five horrors and saw what came out on top. That was the main process but I wanted films that I liked too; Dead Man’s Shoes, Oldboy and stuff like that. I was just like, ‘I’m having it because I think people will go to it and when they do they’ll absolutely love it.’ People have heard of those films, obviously they are big films, but a lot of people haven’t either and I want people to come and say, ‘That film was mint’, as well as enjoying the whole experience.

For your key demographic I was surprised to see The Lion King has already sold out considering the people attending will be adults.

I couldn’t believe that either. I was surprised. I thought it would always sell out chronologically and it’s not out for another 4 weeks but I was really surprised that it sold out first.

Did the surroundings of the castle influence your film choices?

I did think about it. Films like Robin Hood and Gladiator were obvious choices but most of these films are really long. We have to start at sunset and finish by 11pm because of licensing so it kind of hindered us in that sense just because those types of films with that type of castle atmosphere are a little too long. It did go through my head as things I wanted at the start but they were pushed aside.

What separates you from any other cinema event in the region?

I wanted it to feel quite relaxed. Almost like a garden party, just chilled out. We have deck chairs so it will be a really relaxing atmosphere and easy viewing.  

And you can bring your own booze?

Bring your own booze, yeah. Come in with your friends, bring your own booze and watch your favourite film in a relaxing environment.

You've got someone doing a barbecue as well?  Is that a friend?

No, he’s quite established, he does the quayside market every week and a lot of different festivals. He’s basically got a barbecue on the back of a London cab called the BBQCabCo.

The events run through to the end of August, what’s next for Bula Bula?

Hopefully, I’d like to do more events of the same type. There is some stuff I was working on in London which is the theatrical, immersive dining. Just as an example, the last one they did... Are you familiar with David Lynch’s Twin Peaks?  

Of course.

They set up a cafe, which was a reconstruction of the Twin Peaks cafe, and people went and had their three course meal but there were actors walking around all of the time. It was all completely immersive and you could talk to them as if you were in the series. I’d like to possibly do something like that but not necessarily while showing a film, just as a dining experience. I, also, want to add more films to this series and possibly have immersive elements on some films but I’ll keep that one to myself at the moment (he laughs).  

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Bula Bula Rooftop Cinema begins at Castle Keep, this Friday, 15th July, with Grease followed by Guy Ritchie’s pulp classic, Snatch, on Saturday 16th July. The doors open at 7:30pm and the movie begins at sunset but get there early for a good seat. The cost of the ticket gets you some delicious, free popcorn and ponchos are available for free on request but guests are advised to dress appropriately for outdoor weather. Movie attire is also welcomed.

For more information, to see the event schedule or book your tickets, click on the link; bulabula.co.uk