The Orange Picture Club: One year of community cinema

The concept for The Orange Picture Club began with an idea from Mac, where he would select a film but advertise it as a mystery. Mac hosted a couple of Mystery Cinema screenings before taking a hiatus. During this time, we started to realise that the idea could be expanded, and it was here that the first thoughts of The Orange Picture Club were born.

Fast-forward a couple of months to July 2024, when myself and my brother, Jaspal Nangla, premiered our documentary The Tipping Point at the Luton Library Theatre. That experience showed us the real appeal of using the theatre as a space for screenings. We came together with Mac to discuss the idea of starting something together, but before we could finalise anything, we set off on a walk to Wales.

Our 12-day adventure from Luton to Wales gave us plenty of time to think about this idea – what it should be, who it should be for, and why we were even doing it. With Cineworld right next door, we had to ask ourselves: why?

The answer took us back to our years studying at Barnfield College. One of our lecturers, Mike La-traille, would run enrichment sessions every Friday. These involved him screening a film and placing us into groups to discuss its meaning. He would even give us homework, expecting us to write a short essay on every single film. The films Mike chose were often thought-provoking, highly praised by industry professionals, and overlooked by general audiences. This class – and Mike himself – were a huge inspiration to all of us, helping us develop a deep appreciation for film, filmmaking, and film discussion.

Mike has since created his own cinema club in Littlehampton, so later next year, in August, we’ll be walking from Luton to visit him. Before his classes, I wouldn’t question every frame in a film or ask what the filmmaker was trying to tell us. Now, I look much deeper at the media I consume. It was a truly invaluable experience for our development as filmmakers and now as film curators.

Jumping back to our return to Luton, it was all hands on deck. We knew we wanted to have a soft launch in December 2024, so there was a lot to put in place – first and foremost, a name. We began shaping the initial idea of The Orange Picture Club, and the name came surprisingly easily once we decided to centre it around Luton. Orange, being the colour of Luton Town Football Club, felt like a perfect fit.

Choosing our first films was possibly the hardest task. We wanted to appeal to a general audience while also establishing ourselves as a hub for more experimental and thought-provoking cinema. Our first selections were Gremlins, Home Alone, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and It’s a Wonderful Life. Tickets were priced at just £4 because we believe experiencing films as a community shouldn’t be gatekept by cost. We know how rising prices have made cinema a harder choice, especially as streaming has become the cheaper alternative.

Since December last year, we’ve screened 28 films spanning a wide range of eras and countries. Our screenings have taken place at the Luton Library Theatre and have included public screenings, private events, and external screenings. We’ve collaborated with X-4RCE CIC, Luton Comic Con CIC, Groundswell Project Luton, Marsh Farm Outreach, Young at Heart Dementia Café, Step Forward Luton, City of Sanctuary, Mango Boy Mixology, Luton Foodbank, att10tive Luton, Luton Libraries, Luton Point, and of course, Luton Library Theatre.

A special thank you to all of you – without your support, we wouldn’t be a community cinema.