Cinema stays open

CINEMA STAYS OPEN: Kaikohe couple Ben and Anita Wilson have bought the town’s Castle Duo cinema, which has had an uncertain future since former owner Brandon Murphy died in a car accident.

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Kaikohe’s Castle Duo Cinema has been rescued from an uncertain future by its projectionist.

The fate of the two-screen cinema has hung in the balance since its former owner Brandon Murphy died in a car accident in July.

But a Kaikohe resident who has been Castle Duo’s part-time projectionist for seven years bought the business last month vowing to keep the Raihara St cinema open.

"What spurred me was the possible loss to the town and community at large of the facility following the tragic death of the previous owner," says Ben Wilson.

Mr Wilson’s immediate plans as the third owner include improving the audio-visual quality and revamping the reception and foyer.

"It is my aim to make Castle Duo Cinemas the first choice complex to see a movie," he says.

Longer-term plans include giving the facade of the building a makeover, refurbishing auditorium seats and increasing the standing room capacity of the foyer.

"As a secondary function, I would like to cater for special interest groups and offer a suitable venue for live shows."

Mr Wilson also plans to train another person to operate film projectors when he has finished the upgrade.

"Many people think being a projectionist is great because you get to see all the movies. This isn’t quite so. You only see snippets."

He admits running a cinema in a small town won’t be without its challenges.

"It’s an up and down business subject to seasonal changes, the availability of products to exhibit and the subject matter of the films."

However, Mr Wilson has 10 years’ business management experience to draw from.

"Being self-employed is not new to me. I owned and operated a TV and radio retail business in Kawakawa from 1975 to 1985."

A sense of humour and a supportive family should also help make the business a success.

"Each member of my whanau has an attribute which, of course, they will offer and, of course, I will exploit."

- © Fairfax NZ News