Spotlight On | Silky Otter Cinemas
Redefining the cinematic experience A new age of cinema is fast approaching with Silky Otter Cinemas set to make waves across New Zealand By Timmi Aplin-Barrett
Around four or five years ago, Neil Lambert, now Silky Otter Cinemas’ CEO, got to thinking about the future of cinema and what people want out of it. As an absolute cinema geek, he decided he didn’t want it to be the same experience it had been for years with uncomfortable seats, sometimes cold popcorn and varying quality in sound and projection.
For example, they boast a full menu with starters, sides, mains and desserts - not to mention all your favourite cinema snacks. If you want a drink with that, they’ve got wines, beers and cocktails. And, when you finally get to the auditorium, you don’t need to worry about it being jam packed. Each auditorium seats around 50 people. Neil says this means each customer can receive personalised service and it doesn’t feel cramped. The cherry on top? Ticket prices are in line with other cinemas offering a premium experience - so you’re not paying an arm and a leg for a nice night out.
Neil grew up in Christchurch, visiting the Hoyts cinema on Moorhouse Ave and watching blockbusters like Jurassic Park. Although this was a fantastic time back then, Neil says he wanted something new. He says he wanted a night out - not just a film. Thus, Silky Otter Cinemas was born.
But it’s not just the food, comfy seating and nice drinks that Neil wanted from his cinema brainchild. Neil explains that, behind a film, there’s so much hard work that goes on and sometimes, the magic is lost in poor projection and subpar sound.
These days, they’re a luxury cinema experience designed to make movie watching brand new again.
He says each auditorium has black interiors, laser projection technology and immersive surround sound.
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I can make sure as hell the movies are put in the best possible light. I want to create the ultimate movie going experience and let the film speak for itself. - Neil Lambert, CEO of Silky Otter Cinemas
“I can make sure as hell the movies are put in the best possible light,” Neil says. “All that hard work is to make a film peak at cinema. I want to create the ultimate movie going experience and let the film speak for itself.”
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F O R A L UXU RY E X PE RI E N C E WI T H LE WIS R OAD C R E AM ERY AND SI LKY OTTE R ~ N OW I N C H R I STCH U R C H
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Neil says Christchurch and Auckland won’t be the only places to receive the Silky Otter treatment. “It’s always been the plan to have cinemas around the country. We want to take the brand nationwide to play in regional parts to pick up the game around movie going,” he says. Currently, there’s another site being built in Richmond, Nelson, one heading to Ponsonby, Auckland and another to Queenstown.
More than just movies Neil says they also show sporting events, TV shows, documentaries and more. The auditoriums are also available for event hire. Neil says that the world of film is changing and people need to adapt with it. He says Covid has only sped that change up. “Covid has been tough for the cinema industry and people want it back,” Neil says.
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