Dreamland Cinema has now had its sign restored following the departure of the Empire of Light film crews.
The cinema was ‘renamed’ Empire during filming of the Sam Mendes movies from the end of February through to the latter part of May.
The filming was estimated to have brought £4million into the Thanet economy. This includes accommodation from November – when crews started to arrive- to June in venues including Sands Hotel, crew subsistence allowances spent in the area, location fees, permits, parking, venue hire, local crew, security, council services, street lighting and office space rental for many of the production departments.
Many residents responded to the call for movie extras and 1300 people of all ages were cast as background artists throughout the shoot. The locations team liaised with the local film offices and many residents keen to further their careers in the film industry became part of the crew as location trainees and marshals. Costume, hair and make-up, assistant directors and the set decorating department engaged locals to work as part of their teams.
The cast included Olivia Colman, Colin Firth, Micheal Ward, Toby Jones, Tom Brooke, Hannah Onslow, Tanya Moodie and Crystal Clarke.
Locations used included Margate’s main seafront road, the beach, the Old Town, Cliftonville, and Darcy’s Café.
Dreamland’s neon sign on the fin of the Grade II* listed cinema was replaced with Empire Cinema signs and the 20,000ft set at ‘Godden’s Gap’ contained a replica of Dreamland’s old cinema, including the staircase and chandeliers, with a ticket booth outside.
The replica has now been stripped down and the neon Dreamland sign reinstated.
The film will be released by Searchlight Pictures.
i wonder if its made any of these multi millionaire film stars think about relocating to thanet ? i think we already know the answer to that dont we.
Thats a good point-Might buy a nice apartment on Ramsgate where the apartments and new hotel being built on the former pleasurama site
JUST BACK FROM A WEEK ON THE ENGLISH RIVIERA TORQUAY. STRANGE THEY HAVE THE SAME LIGHTS THE FILM COMPANY GAVE MARGATE ALONG THEIR SEAFRONTAND AFTER ASKING SEEM TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM ALIGHT. WHY DONT THE COUNCILLORS HIRE A COACH, GO DOWN TO TORQUAY. AND ASK THEM HOW THEY MANAGE TO KEEP THEM ALIGHT. OH AND BY THWAY WHAT HAPPENED TO THE £4MILLION THE COUNCIL GOT?
Because TDC are a bunch of wankers
Another person that doesn’t understand the £4million benefit to the local economy !!
Your ‘cap-lock’ key is stuck!
Real shame they replicated Dreamland theatre,cud of just refurbish the real thing for film then charge the owners as they and previous owners TDC,etc failed. Still don’t see the 4 million spent here.
Again you don’t seem to grasp the concept of £4million that the local economy benefitted from…..
They didn’t mess with the cinema as that is Grade 2* listed, 10000% easier for them to work with their scaffold and plywood replica !
Lol it’s back to looking shabby all along the front.
It looked half decent for far to long. We couldn’t have that. I’m glad it’s been returned to its shabby, run down look….. we couldn’t have it looking nice with proper signs and lights.
Hopefully now someone can invest in the cinema building and bring it back up to scratch. Also with some interest, the buildings around it can be used again. Restaurant, leisure etc,,, I don’t think we need any more galleries although it’s better than a boarded up wreck of a building.
DREAMLAND sign is back … so what?
That £4 million will go into the councils pockets.
The £4million reflected all spending relating to the film. The Council payment was just a part of it. The majority was spending on local businesses, accommodation, food etc. TDC wasnt given £4m. A lot of people misunderstood that report.