It's not a documentary,
but it's close enough.
The Making Of The Regulars
The idea for The Regulars came to me in 2019. At that point, I was long out of film school without much to show for it and had been working at the Prince Charles Cinema for two years. The place changed my life in many ways, mostly for the better, but eventually I got complacent - wanting to move on with nowhere to go. I knew I wanted to make something but was unsure of what. It was a slow realisation to put these problems together.
Above: The real PCC staff 2018 - 2021
I started writing. Through combining notes of funny stories from the cinema I already had with a story about a bunch of twenty somethings looking for direction (a plot I had been rehashing since college), The Regulars was born - originally titled Popcorn & Coffee. The first 30 pages came out in a quick burst, then nothing for a while. Then, at the beginning of 2020, the strangest thing happened - a global pandemic. It meant I was forced inside with nothing to do but finish it.
A dozen drafts later, and it was done. A full length feature film screenplay. But the hard work was still to follow. Coming out of lockdown, there was an overwhelming sense of appreciation for the arts and hospitality sectors in England. The PCC was no exception to this support, and we rode that wave when kickstarting our fundrasing campaign.
Our Indiegogo page was launched at the end of 2021, with a £15,000 goal. This would allow us to comfortably make the movie. Through the cinema’s newsletter, the campaign reached thousands. We hustled on the streets handing out flyers, even forcing one into Paul Thomas Anderson’s hands (twice). Our fundraiser was shared by filmmakers such as Edgar Wright, Jim Cummings, and Alex Winter. But when all was said and done, we had only raised just over £5,000. Far shy of the target amount, but more money than I ever thought we would make. Putting in some of my own savings, the final budget was £6,000.
We were not going to comfortably make this movie.
I set a date for shooting. May 2022. In a panicked flurry of Zooms and texts, The Regulars was cast. Naturalism and realism was key, so I filled the film with a mix of amateur and professional actors. We leaned on the goodwill of real staff members from the cinema to play characters and patrons alike. The crew was finalised, equipment was rented, and the look was set. We’d be shooting in black & white and utilising a 4:3 format to maintain a timeless aesthetic and emphasise the claustrophobic nature of the film’s setting.
Above: Filming at the PCC in 2022
Fifteen overnight shoots over a three week period, every night from midnight to 7AM, myself and the crew fought sleep to get all the shots we needed. It was exhausting, stressful, and unforgettable. Walking away after the final night was a bittersweet experience, like leaving camp. I’ve never been to camp, but I’m guessing that’s what it feels like. We’d been through so much on those shoots, and I was so grateful for every person in the cast and crew who were there for me and my funny little dream.
As I’m writing this, it’s January 2023 and I’ve just wrapped up the second rough cut. The film’s almost done and I’ve been working at the PCC for over 5 years. I guess not that much has changed.
- Fil
A film by Fil Freitas
(Actual employee of the Prince Charles Cinema)