PULSE
THE MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN - EDITION 13 - AUTUMN 2013
NEWS NEW EMPIRE CINEMA IN LONDON HEALTHY REFRESHMENTS
............ BEHIND THE SCENES
FIND OUT ABOUT THE STAFF AT OUR CALL CENTRE
............ REVIEWS THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE CARRIE RUNNER RUNNER
............ BUILDING THE BUZZ
EMPIRE STAFF LOVE TO GET DRESSED UP FOR BIG FILM RELEASES
HELPING YOU TO DELIVER
A letter from Roz With summer coming to an end, it’s time to welcome in the Autumn and an exciting range of films coming up. What better a way to spend those cold dark evenings! Your Autumn Pulse brings lots of interesting reads this edition like the exciting refurbishments to one of our biggest cinemas in the north east plus details of a brand new cinema we’re opening in Walthamstow, London. Also do you want to know what we are doing to make our food healthier? Then read all about it on page 10. We have a new feature this edition, focusing on a specific customer in one of our cinemas. This time it’s the turn of Newcastle but if you have a customer who has an interesting story, let us know – empirepulse@gmail.com. We love hearing from the people who make it all happen so get in touch and tell us what you’re up to!
Roz xx
Contents Autumn ‘13
4-5 6 7 8 9 10-11 12-13 14 15 16-17 18-19
DRESSING UP PARTY INVITES REFRESHMENT CORNER THE LAST SHOWING CUP IN NEWCASTLE RESPONSIBILITY & HEALTHY EATING CHARITY EVENTS CUSTOMER OF THE QUARTER TAG PHOTOS WALTHAMSTOW SILVER E’S
20-21 22-23 24-25 26-27 28-29 30-31 32-33 34-35 36-37 38-39
CINEMA IN FOCUS NEWCASTLE REFURB BEHIND THE SCENES PREMIERES CUSTOMER LETTERS ABOUT TIME/RUNNER CAPTAIN PHILLIPS/TURBO LAST VEGAS/ENDERS GAME HUNGER GAMES/CARRIE COMPETITION CORNER
Editor: Melissa Wylie Writers: Nikita Hall, Natalie Daniels, Abi Harman, Katie Hayes, Emily Smith, Keira Simpson, Sophie Ghatreh Designers: Jack Wetherill, Laura Dronfield, Hannah Green, Kayleigh Kent
Contributor: Lisa Thomas
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Dressing Left: Disney provided Empire Sutton with a costume. Above: Empire Swindon dressed as Minions
Staff at Empire Cinemas love nothing more than to get dressed up and get excited about big film releases. From fun events to get customers involved, to borrowing costumes from Disney (yep, you read that right) you all do a great job at building the buzz in your cinema.
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ecently employees at Empire Sutton dressed up for the Iron Man release, with some even hand-making their own costumes. The team also handed out flyers about preview screenings on the Sutton High Street to promote the cinema. Efforts were not only noticed by locals but also by Disney who provided Empire Sutton with Disney merchandise and an Iron Man costume! Adam Watts, General Manager at Sutton said: “Dressing up for releases is one of the only times in which my team request to work the shift rather than have the day off. Seeing everyone dressed up as film characters really makes you
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Up
PULSE BUILDING THE BUZZ
Right: Ted enjoyed his time at Empire Sutton Left and below: Visitors to Empire Newcastle got hands-on with Epic reptiles
realise why you do what you do - Why you work for Empire Cinema and why you love film.” Sutton staff also celebrated James Bond Skyfall by turning the cinema into a casino and staff dressed up in fine dresses and tuxedos. Speaking of Empire Sutton’s next dressing up projects Adam said: “Thor, Frozen and Lone Ranger will be my next projects. My team will be sure to want to dress up for them.” Visitors to Empire Newcastle had a shock to find they had the opportunity to handle reptiles during their cinema trip. This was to mark the release of Epic, and children were handing lizards that were almost the same size as them!
Another cinema to get involved is Swindon, who joined in to build the buzz about Despicable Me 2. Everyone recognises and loves the Minions, and staff were quick to dress up in yellow tees and denim to mark the film’s release. The costumes went down a treat with the weekend kid’s club customers! At Empire cinemas it’s important to build the buzz not only to boost staff morale, but also to get customers excited about upcoming releases. So remember for the next big film to get talking to your colleagues and managers to see what costumes and events you can come up with!
Efforts were not only noticed by locals, but also by Disney
Empire Sutton knew how to throw a great James Bond party for the release of Skyfall
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EMPIRE BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Empire are introducing a new venture to its cinemas. The public can now purchase a party invitation package for children’s birthdays if they are aged between 5 and 12.
The package includes a member of the team to meet and greet the party group and take them to their reserved area in the screen. The group is also given the opportunity to cut their cake in the screen while everyone sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to them. The party group are given kids boxes which contain popcorn, drink and confectionary as well as one voucher per guest to return to the cinema at a later date. The birthday girl or boy will also receive a large Party Pack as well as their guests receiving smaller ones.
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t n e m h s e r f Re er
PULSE REFRESHMENT CORNER
Corn
Well done to Empire Basildon and Poole who have both been awarded full marks from their mystery shopper for their Ben and Jerry’s counters. As a reward, Ben and Jerry’s have given them vouchers for their exceptional customer service and commitment to the product and Empire Cinemas.
Edward Mula with The Cookie Jar
The Core Sundae Incentive Empire Hemel Hempstead have been showing their appreciation to the famous ice cream brand by pitching ideas for a Core Sundae. The winning concoction was called “The Cookie Jar” and designed by Edward Mula. It consists of Ben and Jerry’s much - loved Cookie Dough and Clever Cookies ice cream, with a core of hot chocolate fudge sauce. This is topped off with whipped cream and white chocolate polar bears. This masterpiece will be up on a board for customers to see, and Edward received vouchers for Ben and Jerry’s and got to test out his creation for himself!
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LAST Showing
THE
PULSE PREMIERS
Filming for ‘The Last Showing’ recently took place overnight at Empire Wigan. Starring Robert Englund, staff took the opportunity to watch behind the scenes and see the magic of movie making.
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t is not everyday that the staff at an Empire cinema get the chance to watch and experience the filming of a movie starring a famous actor. However staff at Empire Wigan had this amazing opportunity, when producers of The Last Showing decided to film in one of their cinema screens. The filming took place overnight and a number of the staff had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and witness the crew in action.
before heading into make-up. As soon as we saw him he went straight into his legendary Freddy Kruger character. It was fantastic.” Empire Wigan was chosen for filming as it still uses 35mm film. The movie focuses on Stuart (Robert Englund), a recently demoted projectionist who goes crazy due to the switch from 35mm to digital film. He traps a young couple inside the cinema with plans to use the CCTV cameras to create his own horror film - an act of vengence on a generation that no longer requires his skills. The evening bettered the experience of walking down the red carpet for The Last Showing stars Robert the staff as they had personal access to Robert Englund, who is best known for his role as Englund. Matt Brown, a supervisor at Empire Freddy Kruger in the horror, A Nightmare on Wigan, said, “In many ways it eclipsed walking Elm Street. For some staff, meeting Robert was down the red carpet at Leicester Square to have the best part of the night. such amazing and free access to a film set.” Antony Henriksen, a lifelong Robert Englund Matt, as well as many of the other staff were fan said, “My favourite part of the evening was inspired by helping put up the set and watching when Robert Englund walked into the building the filming take place. “I learnt a lot about
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how films are made. It gave me a taste for it and it’s something I’d never considered doing before but if I had the skills required I may look into doing something like that in the future.” explained Matt. Overall the evening was a “truly unforgettable experience” and it’s not everyday you get to speak to a famous actor, especially not in Wigan.
CUPIN
NEWCASTLE
PULSE CUP IN NEWCASTLE
To accompany the introduction of CUP coffee into Empire Cinemas, Newcastle have welcomed the brand by creating a seating area for customers who wish to enjoy a cup of the hot stuff.
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s well as bringing a great tasting and popular product to the company, Margaret Turnbull, the General Manager at Newcastle, commented on the look and feel of the new section: “The area looks amazing. It is a very contemporary style with a high quality finish. The white brick effect tiling, walnut counters and black board menus all complement each other, creating a very relaxing dwell area for our customers.” Considering coffee is one of the biggest sellers at the cinema, it is no shock that the new seating area has shown an increase in sales. Margaret commented that: “It’s early days but we’ve already seen an uplift”. CUP doesn’t just specialise in coffee either, the brand offers smoothies, frappes, cakes and bubble tea and Newcastle is granted with the privilege of leading Empire into a new era of refreshments. Margaret tells us that: “We’re
just about to start selling smoothies and the cakes should follow soon. We just need to let our customers know about the wonderful range of drinks we have to offer them and we should hopefully be reaping some rewards.” The feedback from the general public has also been very positive with customers complementing the decor of the area. With its groovy seating and the grey tiles and brass light shades, the area has a strikingly modern look. Customers have also commented on both the quality and quantity of things to buy and indulge in, with some commenting that: “The frappes are amazing, much nicer than a milkshake” and, “I like the frappes and I don’t care how many calories are in it”. This new update to Empire Cinemas will no doubt be a positive one that both the customers and the staff at Newcastle will be able to enjoy.
Leading Empire into a new era of refreshments
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&
Social Responsibility
Healthy Eating
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PULSE HEALTHY EATING
In 2012 we served our customers 2.4 billion calories in food and drink
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he Government believe too many of us are eating too much, drinking too much and not doing enough physical activity. They believe that creating the right environment at our refreshment counters can help customers to make informed, balanced choices that will help them lead healthier lives. The Public Health Responsibility Deal aims to tap into the potential for businesses to make a significant contribution to improving public health by helping us to create this environment. Organisations signing up to the Responsibility Deal commit to taking action voluntarily to improve public health through the way they serve and present food and drink.
Collective pledges
Collective pledges cover alcohol, food, health at work and physical activity. The alcohol and food pledges have a strong focus on actions that manufacturers, retailers, the out of home dining/catering sector, and bars and pubs can deliver. The health at work and physical activity pledges are not sector specific and any organisation can sign up to these. Empire have signed up to the following pledges, so take a look and be sure to share this information with your customers:
Out of Home Calorie Labelling
The calorie information for all the core products will be made available for customers in a leaflet format, via the website and displayed at the point of purchase.
Salt Reduction
Empire Cinemas will continue to work with its key suppliers to monitor the salt content of our food products. The salt content of all Empire food products will be published on the nutritional guide, available in cinemas in leaflet format or via the website.
Calorie Reduction
Empire Cinemas is committed to offering our customers a choice of quality food and drink to complete the customers’ experience whilst watching their film. We go to great lengths to ensure the products we sell are of premium quality and where possible are Fair Trade certified or Rain Forest Alliance certified. We will ensure the range includes food and drink that has a low calorie content. Empire Cinemas was the first cinema chain to switch to 7UP Free on the drinks towers, ensuring that 4 out of 5 drink options are either calorie free (Pepsi Max, Diet Pepsi, 7UP Free) or low sugar (Orange Tango). This year all serving cups will be rebranded from Pepsi to Pepsi Max. All promotional material and point of purchase material will be branded with Pepsi Max. Drink Towers will be replaced during the current contract with Britvic to promote Pepsi Max instead of Pepsi. We have switched milk from full-fat to semi-skimmed in the production of our hot drinks and milkshakes.
Alcohol Labelling
Empire Cinemas will only be working with suppliers who comply with the labelling guidelines. We have a number of cinemas that are licensed to serve alcohol from the retail counter and several licensed bar areas. Our communication material will clearly provide ABV (alcohol by volume) information, unit content and a supporting message for Challenge 25, Drinkaware and to enjoy alcohol responsibly. Our customer signage within the licensed
cinemas/bars will provide unit content information for all alcoholic drinks sold.
Tackling Under-Age Alcohol Sales
All Empire Cinemas that are licensed to sell alcohol vigorously enforce the Challenge 25 scheme to reduce and prevent under-age sales of alcohol. This is part of the induction process for all staff members that serve alcohol.
Advertising & Marketing Alcohol
Empire Cinemas will ensure that all promotional material includes the responsible drinking message and Drinkaware brand. In 2012 we served our customers 2.4 billion calories in food and drink. This averaged out at 305 per customer or 629 per transaction – if you assume two people per transaction then it is 314 calories per person. Our commitment is to help reduce this whilst remaining commercially viable. The target for 2013 is 290 average calories per person.
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ng ng anythi i o d u o y Are vourite a f r u o y r fo us know t e L ? y t i char ill try to and we w n future ou i feature y f Pulse! editions o 12 | PULSE MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2013
Staff at Empire Cinemas have recently given the Macmillan Cancer Support charity a boost when General Manager, Tristan Murtagh at Empire Sutton Coldfield volunteered to shave his head to raise funds for the charity.
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ristan said: “I wanted to show my support for what Adel had gone through and came up with the idea of doing a charity head shave. “As I had been growing my hair for about five years with only the occasional trim I thought it would be a good idea.” Adel suggested that the money raised should go to Macmillan Cancer Support due to their outstanding help in more areas than most other charities. Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. As well as helping with the medical needs of people affected by cancer, Macmillan also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have. Macmillan Cancer Support’s goal is to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer in the UK. Tristan set up a Just Giving page and sent out emails to employees at Empire to advertise the charity head shave. Tristan said: “I do a local pub quiz on a Monday
evening and the staff there suggested that I did the head shave on one of the quiz nights. Not only did the funds from the head shave go to charity but also donations from customers at the pub and all of the proceeds from the quiz. “With everyone’s generous donations and the generosity of both Empire staff and the public the current total amount raised is £818.” The head shave took place on Monday 1st July 2013 at the Toby Carvery Streetly in Sutton Coldfield. According to Macmillan Cancer Support by 2020 almost half of Britons will get cancer in their lifetime, and only 38% will not die from the disease. Macmillan hosts a series of annual fundraising events including the eminent World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, which has raised nearly £60 million since it was first launched in 1991. As a charity Macmillan Cancer Support relies solely on donations and volunteer help so the kind support given by staff at Empire Cinemas is truly beneficial to the charity. For further donations visit: www.justgiving.com/Tristan-Murtagh
“With everyone’s generous donations and the generosity of both Empire staff and the public the current total amount raised is £818”
Charity Events
PULSE CHARITY EVENTS
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PULSE CUSTOMER OF THE QUARTER
Customer of the Dink Taylor is a well-known film fanatic at Newcastle Empire who visits every Friday for his latest fix of films. But while he looks forward to his days off at the cinema, Dink also pursues his career as a second hand bookseller. He tells Pulse about his love for the cinema and why he chooses Empire.
earliest screenings. They’re traditionally the least patronised and most likely to allow total enjoyment of the experience with the smallest chance of annoyance from other people’s munching, chit-chat and mobile phones. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE GENRE OF FILM? I would say horror. It’s the genre that is most rarely done well, and when it is an excellent film, it often goes without blessing from the original film-makers. My favourite horror film is Clive Barker’s much emulated Hellraiser, which I saw long before I should have at the age of 12. I loved it then and now over 20 years later still find it mesmerising. A remake of Hellraiser is due, and I’m confident that I’ll never watch it. L to R: Gary Lee, Dink Taylor and Richard Horner
WHY DO YOU VISIT EMPIRE NEWCASTLE EVERY FRIDAY? Most people have a hobby or a passion, and I am in a fortunate position that permits me to devote an entire day to that passion. I commit myself to a 2hr 40min round trip, by public transport, to partake in my favourite pastime. WHERE HAS YOUR LOVE OF FILM COME FROM? I genuinely don’t remember a time when I didn’t love it. My formative films were those my parents watched. My dad would show me slapstick comedies from the classics of Laurel & Hardy, Chaplin and Mel Brooks’s Blazing Saddles, to the Pink Panther and Carry On movies, as well as James Bond and fantasy adventure films with special effects by Ray Harryhausen. My Mum introduced me to the ‘50s and ‘60s Hollywood musicals, one of which, My Fair Lady, remains a particular favourite. While other kids were spending pocket money on sweets and sticker books, mine went on video rental fees. DO YOU HAVE A REGULAR ROUTINE WHEN YOU VISIT THE CINEMA? I don’t think I have a routine outside the norm, aside from actively arriving for the
IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS WHAT FILMS HAVE BEEN YOUR FAVOURITES? This year I was not enthused at all about World War Z, the change of story from the original book, the production delays, withdrawing the adult nature of a zombie film in favour of suitability for younger audiences, yet to my surprise I really enjoyed it. I was also impressed with Iron Man 3, Man of Steel and Star Trek 2. However, my favourite film of the year so far couldn’t be more different than any of these. Robot and Frank is a delightful tale tenderly told, and is the most engaging and humane film I’ve seen in a long time. No one I’ve recommended it to have returned with a negative review. WHY CHOOSE THE CINEMA, WHY NOT WATCH A DVD AT HOME? The short and sweet answer is the big screen, and of course the cranked up sound that rattles the seats and doesn’t incite complaints from the neighbours. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT FILM PIRACY? I’ll begin by saying that I am 100% against piracy but what follows may sound as though I’m in favour of it. It is worth noting the reasons for film piracy have changed over
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the last decade. I cannot condone piracy but I believe an audience’s absence from the cinemas also comes down to the quality of film-making. WHY CHOOSE EMPIRE CINEMA OVER ANY OTHER? I can tell you why I choose Empire Newcastle - the staff. They have become part of my cinema-going experience. Affable and welcoming to all customers, they also acknowledge the many loyal regular filmlovers and take the time between duties to enquire that our visit to Empire has been the best it can be. The team members and supervisors have always been so personable, including formal introductions to new staff and even a Christmas card, and make me feel a legitimate part of the cinema - the very fact I’m writing for the Empire cinema magazine is the perfect example of this. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN VISITING EMPIRE? The first film I saw at The Gate complex, then an Odeon, was Deathwatch, a British supernatural horror set in the trenches of WW1, on Dec 9th 2002. I have been a regular ever since and so witnessed the transition to Empire in 2005, ever since remaining a loyal customer to the cinema and the staff I have come to know over so many years. WILL YOU CONTINUE TO WATCH THREE FILMS A DAY IN THE FUTURE? Whenever show times and other commitments permit, absolutely. My best in one day is 4, the first commencing just before 11am and credits rolled on the final film shortly after 7pm. When the right day arrives I’m going to go for a new record of 5.
Is there a regular customer at your cinema who has a story to tell? Let us know by emailing us at empirepulse@gmail.com
PULSE TAG TEAMS
GREAT PARK, BIRMIN GHAM
G A Tteams POOLE
HIGH WYCOMBE
To allow for a consistently high level of customer service, Empire Cinemas knows that a great team of Trainers & Guardians is the way forward. Take a long hard look at these faces, because these are the TAGs you’ll find on-hand to help you to improve on your customer service. These Trainers and Guardians have been chosen because they have the knowledge and skills to train Empire Cinema staff to a high standard to ensure service is consistently great for every one of our customers. If you’re unsure of who your TAGs are, check out the last edition of Pulse to see more photos or check with your supervisor. They aren’t only around to train up new staff members, but also to ensure current staff are up to standard on delivering a great customer experience every time.
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althamstow
Film fans in Walthamstow are finally seeing the foundations of their new local Empire Cinema. This will expand our Empire Cinema chain which already has 16 cinemas with 162 screens.
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or Walthamstow locals it will be the first time the big screen has returned to the High Street in over a decade and it will boast a stunning, new, state-of-the-art, nine screen, 1,200 seat Empire Cinema. Walthamstow is one of the only London boroughs currently without a picture house. The Scene at Cleveland place, formerly known as the Arcade, is a multi-million pound investment in a long line of regeneration projects at the heart of Walthamstow, providing much needed jobs and leisure facilities for the area. The new name – The Scene at Cleveland Place - plays on Empire Cinema’s film credentials and also links to the area of Walthamstow’s historic past - Cleveland Park, a manor house which used to be near the site which dates back to the 1860s. In practice assessments carried out last year for the initial proposal, the local community
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PULSE WALTHAMSTOW
“
L-R: Paul Baxter, Neil Goulding, Andy Bush, Jon Nutton, Justin Ribbons
We’re very excited to be a part of the new development in Walthamstow and to bring our passion and love for film and cinema to another UK location
supported the idea, telling their local council that a cinema was one of the key elements that they felt would improve the community. Plans for the new Empire Cinema in the Olympic borough Waltham Forest were revealed at the signing in Walthamstow Town Square on Monday 17th June. Justin Ribbons, our CEO speaking to Pulse, said: “We’re very excited to be a part of the new development in Walthamstow and to bring our passion and love for film and cinema to another UK location. We’re committed to providing a top-quality cinema experience and we’re delighted that we will be able to provide this with a brand new state-ofthe-art complex for local residents to enjoy. “The opening of this complex is one of the biggest projects we have taken on as it’s our first purpose built cinema.” Due to open in December 2014 the cinema will also create a number of job opportunities
- Justin Ribbons, CEO of Empire Cinemas
for the local community, with up to 50 positions to be recruited for next year. As part of a multi-million pound investment in a long line of regeneration projects at the heart of Walthamstow Town Centre, it promises to be an exciting time for both the cinema chain and the local community. Local councillor, Chris Robbins, who has endeavoured to bring a cinema back to Walthamstow, celebrated with Empire Cinemas in early June as building work on the new site got underway. Speaking at the breaking of ground ceremony, Chris Robbins said: “It’s very exciting that building work on this development is finally beginning - the community has longed for a new cinema for a long time.” Contact was first made with the developers back in December 2010 with a tendering bid auctioned for the site. Other cinema chains also bid but Empire Cinemas won.
Neil Goulding, Facilities and Construction Director stated that the estimate for the build of Empire Walthamstow is around £2.5 million. During the ongoing construction period, there will be a number of innovative, community-focused projects as excitement builds in the run up to the opening of Walthamstow’s new leisure destination. In partnership with the arts consultancy Create London - a project titled Hitchcock’s East End will see a series of film screenings in unusual locations around the local borough celebrating the work of the famous director Alfred Hitchcock. His work includes, The Birds, Psycho and Rear Window. Hitchcock was born in Waltham Forest and is one of the most widely known and influential directors in the history of world cinema with a significant film portfolio produced over 50 years.
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R E V L I S EA THE
rewarded for re a es ye lo p em ire p at Em It is always important th Silver E Awards are a way to make e all of their hard work. Th d and shared throughout Empire. se sure that this is recogni
le t s a c w e N r e rn Richard Ho
Richard Horner was the lucky Silver E winner from Empire Newcastle. He received almost four times as many nominations than any other member of staff at his cinema due to his hard-working nature and high standards. Richard has a number of responsibilities within Empire Newcastle but recently has found himself doing D.I.Y around the cinema as well as being responsible for deliveries. “Due to my years of experience here and the variety of the job I like to think I can handle most situations with the application of my accrued knowledge,” explained Richard. Richard added, “I love how each day at Empire Cinemas can be different from the last and you don’t know what challenges it will bring with it.”
Lynn Simpson - Clydebank Lynn Simpson is another Empire Cinema employee to have her commitment and hard work recognised through the Silver E Awards. Her current responsibilities involve ensuring that payroll and time sheets are completed correctly as well as front of house duties. “My favourite day is Wednesday as that’s our Empire Seniors, it gives me great pleasure looking after them, chatting and ensuring they have just enough milk and sugar in their cuppa.” explains Lynn. Presented with her award while on her lunch break for TAG team training, Lynn was shocked. She was given an envelope and a beautiful bunch of flowers by the manager. Lynn said, “I was shocked and pleasantly surprised.”
Rihan Mohamed Ahiyar - Slough Rihan Ahiyar is the first ever Silver E Award winner from Empire Slough. Having worked at Empire Slough for 2 years Rihan is also part of the TAG team. His efforts to make the customers visits as enjoyable as possible have been noticed and Rihan is delighted to receive an award. “I feel great, it’s a wonderful feeling to be chosen as Slough’s first ever Silver E and means a lot to me.” He explained. Rihan also enjoys working with his team, “We all get along really well and it is nice to go to work every day with people who care about their jobs.”
Sophie Watton - Great Park After working for Empire Great Park for over three years, Sophie Watton has had her hard work recognised through the Silver E Awards. Her nomination for the award had been announced at a team meeting, but due to holiday Sophie was not there. “I came in on my day off to watch a film and was presented with my award, I was really surprised.” explained Sophie. Recognised for being an active member of the cinema, Sophie creates a buzz and often plays music and organises fancy dress, as well as being involved in children’s parties. Sophie said, “I am fully trained on all departments. I really enjoy helping our new team members and making them feel welcome and confident in their roles.”
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S D R A AW R IENCE
PULSE SILVER E AWARDS
THE
SILVE
EEXPER
Ever wondered what an Empire Silver E winner gets up to? After reading this, you’ll be doing everything you can to impress your colleagues and managers at work. Pulse went along to meet two nervous but excited winners at The Wolverine premiere in London.
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ancy taking a stroll down the red carpet in London’s Leicester Square alongside Hollywood stars? Like the sound of catching a must-see movie before it’s even been released? Want to be the envy of your colleagues when you brag about what you’ve been up to? Empire Silver E winners don’t just appear here in Pulse magazine, but they get to embrace every whirlwind second of a film premiere. We went along to meet two award winners as they nervously sipped drinks surrounded by the hubbub of Wolverine fans. With music blaring from The Empire, film fans gathering and the red carpet ready, Rihan Ahiyar from Empire Slough and Sammy Jo Reeves from Empire Great Park waited patiently at a bar with their lucky plus one’s – Rihan bought a friend and Sammy bought along her mum. Cameras were flashing and the press were going crazy as the Silver E’s stepped onto the red carpet – they just happened to time their walk perfectly with Hugh Jackman. While guests were being ushered as quickly as possible down the carpet by men in suits, a stubborn Rihan rooted himself to the ground to get photos and make the most of the special event. The nerves quickly turned to excitement and Sammy said how she had never done anything like this before. Rihan clearly felt the same and went as far as saying that it was like an, “Out-of-body experience”. Once safely away from the squealing fans (who unfortunately weren’t there for them)
the group were handed pairs of 3D glasses and found their seats in the incredible Screen 1 at The Empire. The screen is due to be renovated and made into Leicester Square’s first ever IMAX screen so they got to be one of the last to see it before the change. As you might expect at a premiere, the director said his piece before each actor made their way down the aisle to the front of a smartly-dressed audience. Mr Jackman of course received a huge round of applause, and his mum (who popped her head up from the front row) received an even bigger applause as he gave thanks to her. Many of you may have now seen The Wolverine so it is needless to say how brilliant the film was. Following an hour or two of gasping in suspense then sinking back into the chair with relief, the winners met in the foyer to watch the guests and celebrities leave the screen. Keith Lemon went marching past, Pussycat Doll Kimberley Wyatt was stopping for photos, and Alex Zane was mingling at the bar, not to mention the stars of the film receiving many congratulations on their exit. Rihan and Sammy, like every other Silver E winner, received their awards because they consistently offer exceptional customer service. Winners get the opportunity to enjoy this superstar treatment and we can’t see a reason not to want this! Just don’t be too disappointed, if like Rihan and Sammy you don’t get the chance to get a photo with the star of the film! However Hugh Jackman did have the most perfect back-of-a-head you have ever seen.
Winners get the opportunity to enjoy this superstar treatment
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PULSE CINEMA IN FOCUS
C I N E MA I In this edition of Pulse it’s the turn of Empire Poole to tell us about their cinema, how they work, and how they strive to be a success.
E
mpire Poole is situated on the South Coast and attracts many holiday makers, as well as locals, throughout the year. With Empire Poole being one of the largest cinemas in the South our team work extremely hard to make every customers experience unforgettable. With 16 screens, 6 being studios, Empire Poole can offer a wide variety of diverse films that other cinemas in the area cannot, such as live Royal Opera House screenings, which are a great hit with many customers. Being such a large cinema for the area we often host various charity events which are very popular and help to raise incredible amounts of money for charities such as Marie Curie, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Autism Wessex, and many more. The staff are always more than happy to get involved in these events as they create such a buzz for the cinema, and many donate hours of their free time in order to help make the events a success. Here at Empire Poole our General Manager, Fiona Doyle, and
Operations Assistant, Mark Adey, combined with other managers who have a wealth of customer experience, they make a fantastic team and deliver effortless escapism for the customer. In the last year two of our team members, Chelsea-Lea Smith and Becky Dodd, have received Silver E’s for their outstanding efforts and customer service. Supervisor Sarah Bayliss was given the opportunity to be Voice of God and gets to work up in Leicester Square announcing celebrities involved in the film being premiered. Along with this, team member Michael Cox, who has only been working for Empire Poole for 6 months, achieved 100% on our recent Ben and Jerry’s audit. Here at Empire Poole we strive for great customer service and have many other aspects to our team to help achieve this. Experienced selected team members are part of, and trained in, different areas in the running of the cinema, such as Health and Safety, Retail, TAG, and Marketing. This helps staff feel involved in the running of the cinema and help to make the customer experience the best we can. We also have regular retail incentives and outings, such as Thorpe Park and restaurant vouchers in order to keep staff motivated and enjoy working. Having such competitions also help to upsell products and enable the staff stay up to date with any new products we are selling.
We often host various charity events which are very popular
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PULSE CINEMA IN FOCUS
I N F OC US MONSTERS UNIVERSITY FRESHERS FAIR In aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital, Empire Poole held a raffle, tombola, lucky dip, face painting and glitter tattoos, hook-a-duck, cupcakes, guess the weight of the sweets and an AFC Bournemouth signed shirt raffle. Other companies involved by giving away food and drinks were Chiquitos, Nandos and Frankie and Bennys. They raised over ÂŁ800 for the charity, with buckets still filling up with donations as Pulse went to print!
WORK HARD PLAY HARD Along with the fantastic work that goes into making Empire Poole so enjoyable to visit, the staff also have formed great friendships in which they believe they never could have found at other work places. Empire Poole offers the opportunity to work and meet different people with similar interests and create a friendly, welcoming environment for all. As well as working hard we also know how to play hard, and regularly hang out together outside of work. At Empire Poole we feel close to each other, whether you are a manager, supervisor, projectionist, or team member. It is apparent that the relationship we all have together helps to create a friendly, welcoming environment for not only the staff but also for customers visiting the cinema.
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PULSE NEWCASTLE REFURB
Newcastle
Before...
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Refurb
Following its recent refurbishment Empire Newcastle is back with a new look ready to impress customers into the warm and welcoming environment.
PULSE NEWCASTLE REFURB
After...
Newcastle custome rs are impressed with the new refurbishment - they have commented o n how classy it looks and how open the space is
The new CUP coffee area The cinema have been giving out tasters of CUP coffees and frappes to impress customers and it seems to have gone down well with positive responses.
he cinema has undertaken a number of changes over the last few months from the brand new foyer to the most recent announcement that there is currently a discussion about additional screens to ensure the cinema is at its full capacity. Assistant General Manager of the cinema Dean Mowbray said: “The foyer has been refurbished and it is looking beautiful. The confusion that customers once had with the heavy blue and dark design of Odeon has been lifted like a storm cloud and been replaced with the friendly warm and welcoming Empire colours.” The new design has meant that the cinema is able to attract its customers by creating a classy and elegant style of cinema. The aim for the new refurbishment is to grab customer’s eyes and make a great first impression to those visiting the cinema. After all you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The cinema staff have high hopes for the new refurbishment - that customers of Empire Newcastle will visit the top level in the Gate and for their jaws to hit the floor
when they set eyes on Empire Cinemas. They will be blown away by the new design and attention to detail put into the refurbishment. Staff at Newcastle Empire are keen to provide the best service for the people visiting the cinema. Dean also added that: “The first impression will be further reinforced with friendly and helpful staff delivering world class service in a cinema that looks like it is aiming for the heights that it’s people have always wanted it to be.” The whole atmosphere fits with everything that Empire Cinemas is about, that Effortless Escapism mentality feeding through every little thing, from the quality and openness of the foyer itself to new monitors outside playing trailers and showing film times for undecided film fans.
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INTERESTING FACTS
BEHIND THE
• The call centre takes calls 10am till 10pm everyday apart from Christmas day • The target the team work to is 70% of calls to be answered within 30 seconds • They have information about all the cinemas to hand like the address, directions to cinema, disability information, parking and other amenities close by • The team have a system where they can type the name of the actor in to tell them the film name/date even if a customer doesn’t know the film title • 89% of Empire calls are concluded without needing to transfer to an advisor
SCENES
Have you ever considered who takes customers calls when they call the Empire Cinemas call centre? In this edition of Pulse we talk to the unseen people who answer the 08714 714 714 number when customers need further help.
B
ased in Hull in the North East of England, about 30 trained operators take the calls from customers over a number of shifts every single day. Like Cinemas, the number of staff fluctuates depending on the customer demands with Tuesday’s and Friday night’s usually being the busiest time with the most amount of operators on. We asked 2 of our Silver E’s from Newcastle, Sandra Headly and Dani Carver to spend a day at KCOM offices in Hull to find out more: “We were surprised to see the wide range of calls that are dealt with. As well as taking calls for Empire about bookings and cinema information they also deal with directory enquiries, theatre bookings and local council queries. It was good to see that even though they deal with all of these calls they are still very knowledgeable about Empire cinemas and are happy to learn more. The staff were very forthcoming with ideas on how
communication could be enhanced which would lead to an improvement in the service they provide to Empire customers”. Sandra continues “Clare, Christine and Jeanette were very accommodating and willing to listen and offer ideas on trying to improve communications between the call centre and the cinemas.” “Overall it was a very positive visit and we came away with a clearer understanding of what the call centre staff do, and the range of calls they have to handle on a daily basis. They are professional, patient, efficient and committed to Empire. Before visiting we had no idea of how the call centre is managed and what their job entails, so we were rather enlightened.” As the meeting went so well, Sandra and Dani have invited some of the call centre team to visit their cinema in Newcastle. “We look forward to some of their staff coming to visit our cinema and giving them an insight into our world”.
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The call centre team take about 42,000 calls a week with about 350 of those being from Empire Cinema customers. The most popular types of calls are from customers asking about ticket information and film times. They also receive quite a few calls about lost property and amendments and refunds. Many of the team that take Empire cinemas calls also take about 30 other company’s calls including directory enquiries and Cineworld calls. The call centre recruits staff through a telephone interview and if successful then they are invited to an Assessment Centre where they look at their sales and or customer service skills, how they interact with others as well as their tone of voice. They also do an aptitude test before getting them to sit on a few calls. They are trained for a day on taking Cinema calls if they work well on directory enquiry calls and the team leaders feel they have the right skills.
PULSE BEHIND THE SCENES
TEAM PROFILE CLAIRE LISTER
Current role: Team Leader, full time What does that involve: Manages the team, workforce planning, takes escalations from advisors if they require help, sets targets etc. Age: 40 Length of service: 23 years Most like about job: I enjoy the challenges that comes with the Team Leader role and working as part of a team with some great people
MIKE CLARK
Current role: Advisor What does that involve: Answering different types of calls eg. Hull New Theatre box office, directory enquiries for several clients, operator assistance calls and of course Empire calls Age: 32 Length of service: 6 years Most like about job: He loves taking calls for Empire as it gives him a chance to have more of a chat with the customers and to talk about the films as he is a real film buff. Most memorable call: He once received a call from a customer who lost a £200 scratch card in a cinema and asked if it had been handed in.
MARIE HOBMAN
Current role: Senior Advisor, Age: 23 Length of service: 6 years Most like about job: She really loves films and likes to go to local cinema as much as possible. Favourite films are Beaches and Return to Paradise. Film she’s most looking forward to is Hunger Games Most memorable call: A lady who was hysterical; wanting to get back a soiled nappy she’d left in the cinema
TOM MAHONEY
Current role: Advisor Age: 63 Length of service: 7 years Most like about job: He loves taking Empire calls as it gives him a chance to interact with customers more than other calls Most memorable call: He says the strangest call he has taken was from a man who wanted to know how to start a campfire without any matches AUTUMN 2013 | PULSE MAGAZINE | 25
s e r e i m e Pr PULSE PREMIERS
Film premieres are exciting, whirl-wind events and The Empire in Leicester Square, London, is a popular choice for huge blockbusters. Carpets (not always red) are rolled out with big screens towering above crowds of admiring fans as they hope to catch a glimpse of their favourite actors. Staff who work at The Empire are lucky enough to work the premieres, so for everyone else who represents Empire cinemas we have collected together some photographs so you can see what they get up to.
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The Wolverine
World War Z
Man of Steel
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Customer Message from Roz: I just love this page of Pulse! Push back, grab a coffee and read through some of the compliments we’ve received this quarter. You really can make a difference to people’s lives, even for just a few hours..
Empire Bromley
What a refreshing change to find customer service that is literally 2nd to none. Your Bromley cinema staff could not have been more helpful on Thursday 25/7 when my son visited you for the first time. Before the showing of Monsters University he began to feel unwell and eventually was sick, 3 members of your staff were outstanding with their care and I would like to say thank you for taking such good care of him.
Empire Bishops Stortford
I would like to thank you for such a pleasant experience I had with my family at your cinema yesterday. We came to see the 6.30 showing of Monsters Inc 2 and was greeted straight away by a very smiley supervisor named Charlotte. She helped us change our tickets, opened the door to the theatre and when my four year old grandson started crying and I had to take him outside Charlotte calmed him down for me and gave him a free drink. This young lady even though she was obviously busy went out of her way to make my family’s evening extra special. I have never been treated so well and would like to make you aware that she is a great asset to your team. Thank you again for such a lovely evening and we all look forward to returning next time!
- Joanne Reynolds
- Doreen Windsor
Empire Basildon
I was in the cinema earlier this evening seeing a film with a group of friends. I came over ill and approached staff because I feared I was going to faint. I cannot praise the staff highly enough for their help and support while waiting for my parents to arrive. They were fully accommodating providing me with water and some salty popcorn (due to blood pressure problems) and even gave me a guest pass for me to come back and finish the film at a later date. The supervisor who sat with me Marie, was incredibly helpful and kept my spirits up in what was a scary time. I thought I would contact the company to extend my thanks and gratitude to the staff with the hope that this will get back to them. They deserve the praise for keeping calm and efficient even when I was in tears!
- Claire Peacock Empire Poole
Just wanted to let you know how impressed I was with the service provided by Nicky today 4/7/13. It was a last minute decision to go to the cinema after a bad day at the hospital with the kids. She quickly got us our tickets and food even brought the hot dogs to us in our seats what a service. Bad day turned good. Thank you
- Lesley Wooff
Empire High Wycombe
We have never had other than a fully enjoyable experience at your theatre - which we voluntarily travel to from Henley to visit in preference to Reading, Maidenhead and Cineworld High Wycombe. Congratulations and thanks for running such a good outfit.
- David Fielding-Smith Empire Poole
I would like to give a huge thank you to all the staff that worked last night Sunday at 9. I am a very heavily pregnant woman and you made my visit very comfy and safe for me. The staff changed my seating to disabled so I would not get knocked by people; they helped me to my seat before people where allowed in to see the film and they even got me some booster cushions to put my feet up as they noticed they were swollen. I enjoyed the film and the staff where amazing. Thank you!
- Nikki Paine
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Letters Empire Slough
I would just like to make you aware of some of the comments made by users of the Slough Observer website regarding the incident that recently took place in Slough. Some of these comments have been grossly unfair towards the cinema that I have used for the past few years. As someone who has worked in and managed cinemas in recent times, I find the staff incredibly helpful at the site and the viewing experience to be excellent. I would like to mention this to show that there are guests who still will enjoy visiting and will not let the actions of a small group stop us from attending the Empire Slough.
- Xan Juliff
Letters to Empire Wigan Wigan played host to a local school who visited to watch The Great Gatsby. Pupils sent handwritten letters to the cinema to say a huge thanks for what was a very exciting school trip.
I am writing to express my most profound gratitude for your most gracious services. Some of my classmates and I attended your cinema today to watch The Great Gatsby, which was, to quote, “Amazing and very emotional”. My favourite parts of the film were the party scenes: The music fitted perfectly. I came close to crying multiple times throughout! If you haven’t seen this film yet you really should! We were seated in screen 8, at the back, in our own private screening! Thank you so much for that! The cinema is obviously extremely wellcared for - everything was immaculate: The toilets, the entrance, the cinema. The seats were all so, so comfortable too! However they were a little - very little - bit squeaky. I would definitely tell friends to go to your cinema because I would always tell them the best places to go!
PULSE CUSTOMER LETTERS
Empire High Wycombe
I wanted to thank Kim especially for all her help with my son’s party last wednesday. She was extremely helpful sorting out all the tickets and then the drinks as well. We were a busy noisy group of 9 year old boys, but she organised us beautifully! Thank you so much
- Melanie Barrett
I am writing to you to formally expres s my thanks to you for go ing out of your way to accomodate me an d my school. Thank you for play ing the film at a tim e that suited us, and also for making it a priv at e screening. As well as that, it ha s come to my attent ion that, even though it may have been inconvenient for yo u, you did lower th e ticket price - something m ost cinemas would not do. I addition to this, no t only were you extremely generous , but you played a spectacular film. Th e Great Gatsby was a touching, fun-filled, vibrant movie, accu rately portraying 1922 Ne w York city, which helped us continue our stud y of the story. In conclusion, I belie ve that with your ve comfortable seats an ry d tasty snacks (pop corn and chocolate butto ns make a brilliant combination!), frie ndly staff and a wide range of fantastic films, yo ur cinema was perf ect for our visit.
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ABOUT TIME PULSE REVIEWS
I
t seems that Rachel McAdams has a fondness for appearing in time-shifting romantic comedies, after all she was The Time Travellers Wife which propelled her leading lady status. However, this latest offering is less Hollywood and more understated English modesty, something that director Richard Curtis never shies away from. Famous for his awkward and often bumbling characters, Curtis is celebrated for his realistic approach to the rom-com, with British hits such as Love Actually and Notting Hill noticeably avoiding the tired cheesy gimmicks that American filmmakers seem to lap up. His latest release undeniably sticks to the conventions of his previous films, as it tells a disaster stricken tale of the bungling young man on his never ending quest for love. About Time follows the humdrum life of Tim Lake, played by newcomer Domhnall Gleeson (yes, he is indeed the son of the Irish acting legend Brendan) who was last seen in the latest stylish adaption of Anna Karenina. His character is the equivalent to the nerdy weird kid that’s picked last for the football team, constantly being rejected in favour for the fit athletic types that all the girls long for. Ultimately, one last rejection too many, an uneventful New Year’s Eve party results in his Dad (played by an equally awkward Bill Nighy) giving up the treasured family secret of time travel. With this new found power, the film revolves around Tim trying to win the heart of Mary (McAdams), while dealing with the hazardous consequences that his frequent time travelling leaves him in. This added feature of time travel gives a science fiction twist to the tale which will ultimately appeal to the boyfriends being dragged along by their girlfriends. The film also delivers constant comedy, which is expected with Curtis at the helm and Nighy throwing erratic shapes all over the place which he pretty much does the majority of the time on and off the screen. The movie is ultimately tailored for the date night and chick flick fanatics, providing irresistible British charm to the tired romantic genre and showcasing utterly sincere storytelling. Try suggesting this film to “Jane and Friends” and “Dan and Sarah” as this is who the film primarily targets and don’t forget to try and sell the comedy angle, as Curtis films are never short of laughs. After all, Bill Nighy’s Jaggeresque moves are hard for anyone to pass up.
FUN FACTS Zooey Deschanel was originally cast in the role of Mary but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts, Rachel McAdams took her place. This isn’t the first time director Richard Curtis has worked with Bill Nighy, the pair have worked together on Love Actually and The Boat That Rocked. Director Richard Curtis is not just a Director; he also invented the charity Comic Relief which has raised over £93 million this year alone.
KNOW YOUR STUFF Director: Richard Curtis Stars: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams and Bill Nighy Writer: Richard Curtis Release date: 6th September 2013 Similar films: The Time Traveller’s Wife, Notting Hill, Love Actually
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PULSE REVIEWS
RUNNER RUNNER F
resh from his successful musical comeback, Justin Timberlake is shunning his suit and tie to return to the big screen in this stylish con-man crusade. A clear departure from his last film, Inside Llewyn Davis, Runner Runner delves into the ultra sleek world of the internet gambling swindlers. Unfortunately for Timberlake’s college graduate character, Richie Furst, the money he laboriously saved for tuition is stolen in one swift click of a mouse. Learning that his dosh has been taken by an elusive online poker tycoon, Richie travels to the tropical paradise of Costa Rica to hunt down his missing money. Taking a reluctant step away from his Oscar winning director’s chair, Ben Affleck stars alongside Timberlake as the morally desolate millionaire, Ivan Block, who revels in the fact he steals for a living and enjoys feeding his foes to a clan of alligators. Clearly intimidated, Richie is easily enticed by the financial rewards when Block offers him a dangerous position in his dollar making endeavors. As Richie falls deeper and deeper into the seedy criminal underworld, he’s joined by the femme fatale of the movie, Rebecca Shafran
(played by Gemma Arterton) who offers him the only escape from the power crazed Block. Alongside Hollywood heavyweights Timberlake and Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio produces Runner Runner with films such as The Aviator and The Assassination of Richard Nixon already under his producer’s belt. The rest of the crew displays a unity of releasing films with an undercurrent of crime, showing that Runner Runner is in safe hands. Brad Furman directs, sticking to telling the tale of the sleazy side of wealth as previously seen in his 2011 release The Lincoln Lawyer with Matthew McConaughey. Writers Brian Koppelman and David Levien, provide the crime backbone to the story which is seen in their previous successes Ocean’s Eleven and Runaway Jury. The film, ultimately, yields a plentiful amount of twists and turns that would put M. Night Shyamalan to shame. With the tuxedo suits and poker references - think of it as a cheapened down Casino Royale. Don’t forget that with the popularity of Timberlake at the moment there’s bound to be a number of fans wanting to see the crooner show off his acting prowess - after all he is the star of the show.
FUN FACTS Filming took place last winter in the tropical climbs of Puerto Rico and the prestigious American institution, Princeton University. Ben Affleck recently won a Best Picture Oscar for his true hostage story Argo. The film also won a BAFTA and a Golden Globe. Justin Timberlake got married to actress Jessica Biel during production of the movie.
KNOW YOUR STUFF Director: Brad Furman Cast: Justin Timberlake, Ben Affleck and Gemma Arterton Writers: Brian Koppelman and David Levien Release date: 27th September 2013 Similar Films: Ocean’s Eleven, The Bank Job, Runaway Jury
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PULSE REVIEWS
CAPTAIN
I
PHILLIPS
n the past biographical films have been raging successes. Gandhi, starring Ben Kingsley for example won an impressive total of eight Academy Awards and is often featured in ‘Best Film’ compilations. The most recent Lincoln with Daniel DayLewis won 52 out of a nominated 140 awards and a box office haul of over $275 million. Now, how does Captain Phillips compare? At the helm is experienced disaster movie director Paul Greengrass, who previously had hits with United 93 and Bloody Sunday which can only mean good things. Gandhi and Lincoln are both infamous historical figures, the amount of people who know the exact ins and outs of Captain Richard Phillips and the Maersk Alabama hijacking which took place in 2009, could probably be written on a sheet of A4. Not to say this in itself will set the film up for a downfall, as most films are based on fictional characters anyway, however it will affect the numbers who go to see a biographical film because they have a specific interest in the main character. As a general overview for those who are not familiar with the story, a US cargo ship was boarded by four Somali pirates who captured Captain Phillips (portrayed in the film by Tom Hanks) as well as other crew members. This event marked the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in 200
years. Power struggles ensued between the two groups and Phillips offered himself as a hostage in a deal to keep his crew safe. He was then taken onto a lifeboat until US Navy SEALs and other ships joined the battle where Phillips was eventually rescued from his captors whilst his wife Andrea (Catherine Keener) was at home watching the drama involving her husband on the news, the ordeal lasted for five days. Phillips was commended on his selfless nature and bravery during the ordeal and wrote the book A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea about his experience which Columbia Pictures optioned in 2009. Writing the screenplay alongside the blueprint of the book by Phillips is Billy Ray, most notable for his recent blockbusting hit The Hunger Games. The production team are the same crew behind The Social Network including Kevin Spacey as executive producer. There is no doubting Tom Hanks is more than capable of carrying a storyline on his shoulders, as seen in the cases of big-hitters Forrest Gump and Castaway, which won him an Academy Award and Golden Globe respectively. Also, a film like this always has potential for Oscar buzz which would drum up more hype and interest than there currently is - there is no denying it is a unique story.
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Know Your Stuff Genre: Biography, Action Director: Paul Greengrass Starring: Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener, Max Martini Release Date: 18th October 2013 Movie Recommendations: A Hijacking, United 93, Bloody Sunday
Fun Facts The bullet-marked lifeboat where the pirates held Captain Phillips hostage is on display in the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida Barack Obama made a statement soon after the rescue saying “I share the country’s admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans.” The film was originally set for release in March 2013 but got pushed back to October.
R
T URBO
ecently Dreamworks Animation Studios has enjoyed overwhelming success, both critically and commercially. Like an overexcited Terrier the Dreamworks team have been nipping at the heels of an already intimidated Pixar - their arch nemesis in the animation world. With triumphs such as How To Train Your Dragon and The Croods earning the company similar adulation to when they released Shrek, the animation experts have created their answer to one of Pixar’s most popular outings. Similar to their rival’s production Cars in many ways, Turbo wonderfully mixes the racing world ironically with that of slowpaced snails. First time director David Soren, who’s worked on big hits such as Shark Tale and Chicken Run, displays his experience in the art department by using vivid animation to tell the story of underdog snail, Turbo.
PULSE REVIEWS
When a freak accident involving Nitrous Oxide turns the placid legless being into the equivalent of a Ferrari engine, Turbo’s hopes of entering the racing Colosseum that is the Indy 500 instantly seem more realistic. Turbo, voiced by Hollywood leading man of the moment Ryan Reynolds, is joined by a cast of equally eccentric snails. The film uses a range of comic actors to bring actual life to what seems to be one of the most boring species Dreamworks could have chosen. Bridesmaid’s Maya Rudolph voices Turbo’s love interest, Burn, a surprisingly sassy snail complete with red lipstick. Meanwhile Sideways’s Paul Giamatti brings the anxiety to Turbo’s brother, Chet, an overly cautious snail desperate not to get stepped on. Each creature has an individual and adorable personality, which enhances the story but will also have children debating which snail is their favourite.
The film is a family affair, tailored for entertaining the little ones while including jokes that only the parents will get something that Dreamworks has perfected over the years. The movie also includes voice work from Hip Hop superstar Snoop Dogg, admittedly an unusual choice for an innocent children’s film, but it may coax the “JJ’s” into attending the family outing. The content of the movie is very similar to the majority of most animated films, sticking to the reliable and safe underdog story instead of breaking any boundaries which Pixar continually delivers. Maybe not reaching the heights that Toy Story and Up have achieved, Turbo is guaranteed to entertain with its eclectic group of zany characters and funny approach to the serious sport that is motor racing. Expect the kids to take a sudden interest in the slimy creatures that inhabit the garden instead of the dangerously appealing fast cars.
Fun Facts An IndyCar was parked inside the Dreamworks studio during production, this provided artists immediate access to the race cars featured in the film. The Turbo movie website (www.turbomovie.com) offers loads of fun games for the kids including a shell creator and painting by numbers. The film’s official partners, just like the sponsors in the Indy 500, include HP, Verizon and Kellogg’s.
Know Your Stuff Director: David Soren Stars: Paul Giamatti, Ryan Reynolds and Bill Hader Screenplay: Darren Lemke, David Soren and Robert D. Siegel Release Date: 18th October 2013 Similar films: Cars, Over the Hedge, Toy Story
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PULSE REVIEWS
LAST
♦
♥ ♣ ♦
Imagine a group of Hollywood pensioners roaming around Las Vegas on a long overdue bachelor party before their final crew member gets hitched. Last Vegas is The Hangover with OAPs. Know Your Stuff
Genre: Comedy Director: Jon Turteltaub Starring: Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline Release Date: 8th November 2013 Movie Recommendations: Police Academy, The Hangover and 21 Jump Street
Fantastic Facts Morgan Freeman is the oldest of the main cast members at 76. He is followed by De Niro, 69, Douglas, 68 and Kline, 65 Between the four of them, the gentlemen have generated an estimated $16.6 billion at the box office
C
learly there are similarities - the ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ idea and unwed Michael Douglas’ character Billy is already drawing comparisons to Bradley Cooper’s, Phil. The main difference is of course the outstanding generation gap which is sure to provide a few laughs, because let’s face it, who doesn’t want to see elderly men getting wasted on vodka and Redbull? This is in fact director Jon Turteltaub’s first feature film not to be distributed by Disney (His previous successes include Cool Runnings, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and the National Treasure duo). Writers Adam Brooks (Definitely Maybe, Wimbledon) and Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love.) are best known for their rom coms, so it will be interesting to see how the team fare with a change of scenery. The fish out of water setup could perhaps relate to the off-screen scenario for the quadruple threat of talent, who between them have racked up an impressive six Oscars and seven Golden Globes. Out of the window goes highly esteemed performances, in comes the Tequila and lap dancers. Accompanying Douglas on his journey towards marital bliss is the ever loved
Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro and, with a slightly smaller fan club, Kevin Kline. Achievements aside there is no doubt the foursome had a fantastic time filming. It is guaranteed almost any viewer will have a soft spot for one of the gentlemen involved and the sight of a drunken Freeman wearing a jazzy shirt and bum bag taking to the dance floor should bring a smile to anybody’s face. Cameos from Redfoo (LMFAO’s frontman), 50 Cent and T.I. will reinforce the old/new notion. Joining the boys on the cast is film veteran Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard, The Help) and Polish newcomer Weronika Rosati (Stand Up Guys, The Iceman) who is reportedly playing Michael Douglas’ much younger bride to be.
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This film will probably not be earning the stars any more Oscars, however it should achieve what it is setting out to be – a thoroughly decent comedy. Although all the actors have appeared in comedy roles before, it will be a treat for audiences to see these highly talented actors let loose as a group.
ENDER’S GAME
PULSE REVIEWS
H
ollywood seems to be obsessed with life in the future and the existence of alien beings, perhaps they know something we don’t. Derived from the novel of the same name by Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game was written in 1985 and the idea of creating a screenplay was first discussed in 1998. The film focuses on Earth seventy years after it has been twice invaded by an alien race, affectionately known as the Buggers. Gearing up for the next inevitable invasion, an international fleet set up to deal with the attacks is rigorously training a select number of children in their Battle School to defend against an inevitable third attack. They hope to find their future Military Commander to replace tattoo-faced Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley) whose past heroics have saved the world. Coming up in the ranks is young and promising Andrew “Ender” Wiggin (Asa Butterfield - The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Hugo). After effortlessly excelling in Battle School led by Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford), Ender is soon picked out as a potential leader and promoted to the most intensive Command School to be trained by Mazer. Here he is prepared to become a true leader and prepare his fellow cadets for the imminent battle with the technologically advanced aliens who are determined to end the human race for good. The film is packed with talented child stars who were all well prepared for their roles. Before shooting began they were enrolled into Space Camp involving army drills, zero gravity simulations and 7am starts. Accompanying Asa is Abigail Breslin as his sister (Little Miss Sunshine, Zombieland), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) and the lesser known Aramis Knight playing Ender’s friend Bean. Knight has so far only had minor roles, so this will mark his first opportunity to get people talking. Not quite in the age range but also joining the cast is Viola Davis who
has been on a winning streak with her roles in Doubt and The Help earning her several nominations and accolades. The film is sure to feature some impressive special effects as a budget of $110 million has been poured into it. It would seem director Gavin Hood has found a personal connection with the film. Not only is he an avid fan of the book series he was also recruited for the army aged seventeen, and in his blog said, “Battles with authority figures he does not trust and his development as a leader - are themes I strongly relate to”.
Know Your Stuff Genre: Sci-Fi, Action Director: Gavin Hood Starring: Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Abigail Breslin Release Date: 25th November 2013 Movie Recommendations: Star Trek, Starship Troopers, Star Wars
Fantastic Facts In 1999, author Orson Scott Card considered Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace) for the role of Ender as well as Nathan Gamble (Babel) in 2008 It is thought the film will incorporate storylines from the two novels, Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow
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PULSE REVIEWS
Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence reprise their roles as Katniss and Peeta
The Hunger Games:
Catching Fire
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rmed with her reliable bow and arrow, it was always likely that the victorious Katniss Everdeen would come back for the second installment of The Hunger Games franchise. After the phenomenal success of the first film, Jennifer Lawrence (Everdeen) once again returns to compete in yet another teenage battle to the death, after winning the 74th annual Hunger Games along with love interest Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). This time the storyline examines the political aspects featured in the best-selling dystopian books by Suzanne Collins. Concentrating on the battle between the oppressive dictator President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the rallying enslaved masses, Catching Fire is as much a film for adults as it is for kids. Achieving this hard feat is apocalyptic veteran director Francis Lawrence, the vision behind Constantine and I Am Legend, who is controversially replacing Gary Ross at the helm of the franchise. As in the first release, the excessive violence expected from children killing each other is downplayed. Instead of parents thinking it’s a Tarantino blood and guts caper, the film is appropriate for the children to see but maybe not the toddlers. All sounding very serious with the politics and brutality, the film does have its comic turns. Woody Harrelson provides lighter moments as Haymitch
Abernathy with his delicious sarcasm and wit, while the atrociously dressed Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) must been seen purely for the elaborate costumes. Along with returning characters from the first feature, Catching Fire welcomes some new additions to the cast. Snow White and the Huntsman’s, Sam Claflin serves as the eye candy to make teenage girls heart flutter as the unbelievably chiseled Finnick Odair. While Oscar winning, Philip Seymour Hoffman unexpectedly jumps into blockbuster cinema playing Plutarch Heavensbee, the tactical political aide to President Snow. This eclectic group of actors bring vibrant colour to the characters that the dedicated fans adore from the novels. Due to this vast, enormous and dedicated fan base expect large queues and giddy teenagers pouring through the doors, after all it is the cinematic event for the Summer. Catching Fire is an incredibly versatile film with it accommodating most audiences, from children to adults, recommend this battle flick as a must see. Ultimately it’s very rare that an action movie includes thought provoking storylines and a list of identifiable characters. Which is why The Hunger Games films prove to be a cinematic phenomenon rivaling the previous success of the vampire romance Twilight, only that this film has a lot more bite.
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Fantastic Facts...
• After Gary Ross declined to direct the sequel David Cronenberg and Joe Cornish were approached to direct. The job eventually went to Francis Lawrence. • The Lone Rangers Armie Hammer and John Carter’s Taylor Kitsch were considered for the role of Finnick Odair, the role went to Sam Claflin. • Certain futuristic Capitol scenes were filmed at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel where the annual sci-fi convention Dragon*con takes place.
Know your stuff... Director: Francis Lawrence Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Sam Claflin Writers: Simon Beaufoy, Michael Arndt and Suzanne Collins Release date: 22nd November 2013 Similar Films: Battle Royale, Winters Bone, Twilight
PULSE REVIEWS Chloë Grace Moretz portrays Carrie White
B
Carrie
ased on the infamous author, Stephen King’s first published novel of the same name Carrie, was originally released back in 1976 directed by Brian De Palma and is still today regarded as a horror classic. It certainly made waves with risqué scenes of nudity and girls pelting poor bewildered Carrie with sanitary towels. Sissy Spacek noted for her unique facial features, played the lead role brilliantly with her wide eyed piercing stare earning her an Oscar nomination. Stepping into her blood stained shoes in October is Chloë Grace Moretz who has a lot to live up to. Not only in terms of the outstanding performance of Spacek, but also the criticism that seems to automatically rain onto any announcement of a remake, particularly horrors. One aspect working in favour of the new film directed by Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry) is the greatly increased budget and CGI which will undoubtedly improve the realism of Carrie’s telekinesis powers, meaning no more flying objects on ‘invisible’ strings. Book buffs will be pleased to know that this version is allegedly sticking to the original novel much more closely than the first version. The story follows Carrie White on the home straight of her senior year in High School, she is of course no ordinary teenager. Abused in all kinds of ways by her deranged mother and bullied into oblivion by her classmates, it is safe to say she does not have it easy. After a particularly outlandish incident, Sue Snell (Gabriella Wilde) regrets her actions and enlists the help of her stereotypically handsome, American Jock boyfriend Tommy
to take Carrie to the end-of-year prom. After overcoming her initial suspicions, Carrie accepts the invitation much to the disdain of her mother who tries everything in her power to stop Carrie from going, knowing that her classmates will “laugh at • Stephen King threw the introduction of the novel in the bin, afterwards his her.” Alas, her attempts are no match for wife took them out and persuaded him to Carrie’s telekinetic powers and she swiftly continue the story. locks her mother in a cupboard and leaves • Jodie Foster was taken into for the prom. consideration for Margaret. Julianne Moore As her mother predicted, some of Carrie’s enemies have rigged the prom queen votes replaced Foster playing Clarice Starling in and plot to embarrass her on stage in front The Silence of the Lambs sequel, of everybody. Their plan backfires however Hannibal. when Carrie releases her abilities to their • The film was set for full strength and takes her revenge in one release in March 2013, but got fell swoop. pushed back to October for a Grace Moretz seems to be making a habit Halloween release. of taking on controversial roles in terms of her age, although she plays her characters well, Kick-Ass provoked outrage due her to 14 year old self merrily spouting expletives, so there is no doubt more will be up in arms at a 16 yearold reigning bloody Genre: Horror, terror on a village. Drama Fiery haired 2013 Golden Globe Director: Kimberly winner Julianne Moore plays Peirce Carrie’s controlling biblebashing Starring: Chloë mother Margaret, originally Grace Moretz, Judy portrayed by Piper Laurie who Greer, Julianne Moore also earned herself an Oscar Release date: 29th nomination exceeding the November 2013 expectations of a horror film. One Movie thing that’s for certain is the lure Recommendations: of more contemporary stars will Julianne Moore as Candyman, Chronicle bring the story of Carrie to a Margaret White whole new audience.
Fantastic Facts...
Know your stuff...
AUTUMN 2013 | PULSE MAGAZINE | 37
Competition Congratulations to Marie Hobman from the call centre in Hull who is the winner of our last competiton. A years supply of Cadbury’s chocolate is on its way to you! To enter the competitions, email your entry to empirepulse@gmail.com by 31st October
MOVIE ANAGRAMS BEAM IT OUT
NORTHERN EAGLE
DANGER SEEM
PARTIAL DANGER
JEWEL ACRE FERN IN
JAMS HINTED
GAVE SALTS
VOCAL LEE
Fancy testing your brain while on your lunch break? Lots of random words, all hiding the names of films, actors or characters. Can you get them all? Send us your answers to be in with the chance of winning a £10 Amazon voucher.
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PULSE COMPETION CORNER
Pulse in Unexpected Places We were impressed by this snap of Karissa Naidoo from Bishops Stortford, who took Pulse all to way to India! Here she is in front of the spectacular Taj Mahal. If you look closely you can even see that she is wearing her Empire hat! For your efforts Karissa, we’re sending you a £10 Amazon voucher. Do you have any interesting hobbies, are you going abroad or visiting an unusual spot? Capture a photo of Pulse in an unexpected place and you too could win yourself a voucher!
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STOP PRESS!
Two team members at Empire Great Park, Birmingham are singing their way through popular talent competitions
Jamal Greaves is through to the boot camp part of X Factor which will be televised!
Lets keep an eye out for these talented singers! Pulse love to hear about the exciting things team members get up to, so let us know if you’re doing anything similar
Sophie Watton is through to the 3rd round of The Voice auditions, which means she’ll be in front of the main judges and could also be on TV!
AUTUMN 2013 | PULSE MAGAZINE | 39
Get ready for the film quiz! f o m a e t r Get you nd a r e h t e g 5 to ! g n i t t o w get s
Be prepared for 14th November 2013
taking place at the holiday inn in basildon Last years winners from High Wycombe
who will TAKE the crown in 2013?