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Pooh's Hellalump Movie
exhibition
Access Take 2
By Jennifer Hunter-Mackenzie,
Education Assistant
In a first for Scottish cinemas, Glasgow Film Theatre
(GFT) has recently introduced autism-friendly
screenings entitled Access Take 2, as part of the
GFT’s Take 2 programme of Saturday morning family
films. Supported by funding from Glasgow City
Council, the Take 2 series of free films for Glasgow
children and their carers has been running for four
years, helping consolidate the GFT’s role as the
Scottish Screen-designated 'hub' cinema for West-
Central Scotland.
The aim of Take 2 is to encourage family viewing, to
diversify the films watched by young people and to
promote the 'big screen' experience. This has been
extremely successful, with young people attending
both mainstream and non-mainstream films. The
Access Take 2 autism-friendly screenings are helping
GFT to widen access to the Take 2 experience.
Similar initiatives to Access Take 2 exist in English
cinemas, such as the Clapham and Greenwich
Picturehouses, The Metro (Derby), Wells Film Centre,
The Plaza, The Phoenix (Leicester), and Broadway
(Nottingham); however it is the first service of its
kind to take place in Scotland. The screenings take
place in a relaxed and accessible environment
designed specifically for the needs of autistic
children. One mother commented, “I am thrilled
that the GFT is able to do this as my little boy
loves movies but has difficulty with the volume most
films are shown with.” Parents and teachers have
been very supportive and are keen to share their
experiences. For one parent, Access Take 2 was their
child’s first cinema outing: “This is the first time I’ve
felt able to take my 6-year-old to a cinema, and he
was able to stay to the end and enjoy himself.”
An intense, sensory sensitivity to sound and light
can make cinema-going difficult for autistic people;
fast-changing sound and light levels from a film,
whispering neighbours, and even rustling from
sweet papers can possibly make those with autism
perceive the cinema environment as disturbing
or distracting. Being invited among a crowd of
people and having to be in close proximity to other
cinema goers might also prove challenging to
some children. However, through these dedicated
screenings the GFT is seeking to overcome any
potential difficulties. GFT staff have been provided
with autism awareness training, delivered by an
educational psychologist.
Access Take 2 films are played at a reduced volume
with the house lights on low, and the number of
cinema-goers is purposely reduced so that the
children can have more of their own definable
space if they wish. There is a balancing act between
allowing some children to move around during the
film, perhaps occasionally being noisy, while others
might want to move to a calm ‘break-out’ space in
a neighbouring room, for a quiet interlude. To build
a comfortable routine for the children, the GFT uses
the same cinema and ‘break-out’ spaces for each
screening, and screenings occur at the same time on
the first Saturday of each month.
The screenings generate excitement for the
children, and at the first autism-friendly screening
of Surf’s Up, I observed the young audience were
as much interested in each other as the on-screen
animation. Several children exchanged sweets
and played with their peers while exploring the
cinema environment, such as the screen itself, or the
projection box seen through the window at the back
of the auditorium. One parent related: “What tickled
my child was being able to see the projectionist at
work and being able to say hello to him, and then
getting a hello back.” Some children stayed in their
seats, mesmerised, as soon as the film began, but
most alternated between playing and watching
the screen. Another parent commented, “My son
(5) is not usually a cinema-goer because he finds
it challenging to stay seated and to focus. It was
great that he had the freedom to walk about and
then watch when he wanted. Because there was no
pressure on the parents to keep their children in one
place, the children were also more relaxed.” Perhaps
what most benefits an autistic child’s ability to focus
on the film is the new opportunity our screenings
provide for a child’s parents to speak to them aloud,
and explain what is happening around them.
Tickets for Access Take 2 and Take 2 are available from the
GFT box office. Glasgow Young Scot and Kidz Card holders
get free entry to Take 2 and Access Take 2. One child’s ticket
admits one adult free of charge, all other tickets are £3.
Access Take 2 screenings take place on the first Saturday of
each month at 12.30pm.
For further information, contact GFT Learning
on 0141 352 8604 or e-mail info@gft.org.uk.
GFT is supported by Scottish Screen.
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