As the team is busily scrambling to tweak the last few bugs out of the system, Gap Filler are very proud to announce their upcoming free CYCLE-POWERED CINEMA, with a grand opening at sundown on Thursday 9 February on the corner of Manchester and Dundas Streets (behind Pak’n’Sav Moorhouse) where Cycle Trading and Print Stop used to be. Films will screen Feb 9-11 & 15-18 (rain days Feb 12 & 19).
Local engineers have designed and built ten special stands so that members of the public can generate power while riding their own bicycles. A series of LEDs strap onto people’s handlebars to indicate when they are riding fast enough to charge the battery that runs the projector and sound system. A sequence of lights near the screen indicates whether the team of cyclists is generating enough power at any given moment.
A wide range of films will be screened, including old New Zealand documentaries, contemporary feature films and animations. Highlights include archival footage of the 1938 Round the Gorges Canterbury cycle race with live musical accompaniment by Anita Clark (violin) and Simon Gregory (guitar); a 1950s National Film Unit cycle safety film featuring a dapper family of chimpanzees; and Tim Burton’s 1985 directorial debut Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.
So ride along at sundown, and be prepared to do your bit to power it up! Feel free to turn up early with a picnic. Very limited seating will be provided, so bring a blanket, cushions or your own chairs.
Download the full screening schedule including details about the films.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this project possible, especially the engineers/builders Kerry Mulligan, Dermot Sallis, Gary @ MonstaRacks, Sofian Irsheid and everyone with their logos below!