Exploring The Power of Independent Cinemas: Ground-breaking Documentary Series Reveals the Heart and Magic of British Film Culture

“A brilliant documentary – funny, insightful, fascinating and leaves you wanting more!” – amazon Prime Video review

For the first time ever, a pioneering 5-star reviewed series now showing exclusively on amazon’s Prime Video platform – LUMINATION takes audiences inside the UK’s greatest and awe-inspiring independent cinemas, to discover their stories, their secrets, and the compelling characters behind them.

Set amidst the lockdowns of 2021, this five-part limited documentary series features intimate, unprecedented access to ten of the UK’s most prestigious, remarkable and unusual cinema buildings, more in-depth and up close than ever captured before. Produced, Directed and Presented by television director and cinethusiast Perry J. O’Halloran.

BETWEEN LOCKDOWNS ONE AND TWO, 2021 – As the doors of the nation remain closed to the public and the post-pandemic fates of countless businesses hang in the balance, Director Perry J. O’Halloran sets out to reignite our human longing for escapism and drive audiences back to their local picture houses – by taking cameras behind the velvet red curtain for the very first time to explore the strange, unique and magical world of cinemas, their individual legacies and the people who not only support them, but depend on them as a vital and crucial part of their daily lives in an ever onerous world.

Weaving neo-nostalgia and pop culture charisma with sweeping cinematography, insightful interviews, captivating history and whimsical comic charm, Lumination delves deep into the meteoric rise, fall and valorous resurgence of the humble, homegrown movie theatre whilst exploring what’s at stake for communities when they disappear from our towns and high streets forever. From True Lies Ltd, each episode of Lumination takes viewers on a life affirming ride through such remarkable international treasures as the 175 year-old Regent Street Cinema, the Olympic Studios – the birthplace of rock and roll royalty, Broadstairs’ Palace Cinema – one of the world’s smallest film theatres and Liverpool’s legendary VideOdyssey – dubbed by BBC Radio 4 as “the UK’s last video shop”.

With two site visits per 40-minute episode, each expedition features the hallmarks of an epic saga – rich history, captivating characters, spellbinding secrets, humorous, heart breaking tales and detailed presentations of film reel technology, projectors, their startling future and how light and magic bring it all to life. Fascinating to film-goers and casual viewers alike and always capturing that stirring, undeniable magic of the movies.

THE RIO CINEMA, DALSTON
A glowing icon of East London and a safe-haven during some of the most tumultuous times in the community’s LGBTQ+ history – The Rio not only carries some of the most incredible stories in British political, racial, feminist and architectural history, but even its most loyal patrons aren’t aware of the dark and ancient secrets hanging overhead in the attic above.

THE ROYAL CINEMA, FAVERSHAM
One of the only buildings of its kind anywhere in the world, this mock Tudor theatro in the heart of a Kent shipping town remains a childhood dream come true for its long-standing owners, with its auditorium adorned in mysteries that even they remain stumped by.

THE EDINBURGH FILMHOUSE
A landmark in Scottish cinematic history and icon among its most beloved directors and artists, the beloved Filmhouse made international headlines in 2022 when its doors closed overnight, taking over a hundred jobs, countless community groups, the Edinburgh Film Festival and a second smalltown cinema with it. A devastating blow to the world-renowned Festival City, this cataclysmic event only inspirited heartbroken supporters from across the world to come to its rescue. Unraveling more in the process.

Lumination is produced by True Lies Ltd and available to stream and own in the UK and US on amazon’s Prime Video platform via the Prime Video smart device app and website. Director and Executive Producer Perry J. O’Halloran (ITV’s “HOW”, “Scrambled”, the Edinburgh International Festival) additionally wrote and produced more than two hours of original music to accompany the series.

Lumination is proud to have enjoyed positive 5-star feedback in
its earliest screenings, as well as prompting conversations with a
number of prominent organisations as plans for an additional series
progress, which will shine a spotlight on more of the world’s
independent cinemas, film organisations and impassioned individuals
throughout the UK, Europe, Asia, Australasia and US – further exploring
the cultural importance of pop culture, escapism, diversity,
inclusivity and accessibility within all communities worldwide.

TITLE: Lumination – For The Love of Cinemas
EPISODES: 5 x 40mins approx.
RELEASE: 16th May 2023
PLATFORM: Prime Video

Producer, Writer, Director:
Perry J. O’Halloran

Crew:
Matthew Pickard, Michael Mowbray, Pete Jones, Kateryna Pavlyuk, Maria Hardy

LINKS

Lumination | Series 1 – Official Trailer

True Lies Ltd – Official Website

Prime Video UK site

Prime Video US site

Still images authorised for publicity use

TRUE LIES LTD – Established in 2019 by British producer and director Perry J. O’Halloran, True Lies Ltd has combined more than
fifteen years of broadcast and digital experience in television, music and live-events to develop and produce cinematic stories for
cinematic audiences, most recently including projects with ITV (“HOW” Series 1, “Scrambled” Series 1) and the Edinburgh International
Festival. This first successful foray into independent television will soon be followed by its first feature film production.

CONTACT

True Lies Ltd

Perry J. O’Halloran
Executive Producer, Writer and Director

Phone: +44 (0) 7523 336 494
Email: perry@trueliesltd.com
Instagram: @TrueLiesLtd