PULSE magazine - Issue 7 - Spring 2012

PULSETHE MAGAZINE FOR THOSE WHO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN - EDITION 07 - SPRING 2012

NewsYOM SPECIALLY SELECTED TO VISIT EMPIRE CINEMAS

Faces of

Portfolio

PULSE REPS

HELPING YOU TO DELIVER

Films in focus

SUZANNE HILLSEMPIRE CLYDEBANK

BIG E 2 IN ACTION WINNERS AND RUNNER UPS

MEET YOUR NEW REPRESENTATIVES

THE AVENGERS/ HUNGER GAMES MIB3/ WE BOUGHT A ZOO/ PIRATES PLUS: LOOKING FORWARD 2012

fcf

f

cf

Letter from Roz

SPRING 2012 | PULSE MAGAZINE | 3

Produced by: BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism and Feature WritingEditor: Helen Archard Staff Writers: Hannah Lawrence, Kirsty Welsh, Kelly Woolford, Summer Grant, Cathy Greig, Ed Bailey, Alice Bagnall.Designers: Patricia Pribolova, Emma Curran

Let’s hope that by the time this PULSE edition reaches your staff rooms the cold weather is behind us and the first signs of spring are here. As always, there have been

some top films out recently and everyone has been working hard to make it as easy as possible for our customers to enjoy their favourite films plus introduce them to the

wonderful array of products we have for their munching pleasure!In this edition we have many of our usual features plus details of the next stage of Your Opinion Matters and an introduction to some of our PULSE Representatives from every

cinema.Enjoy the read and remember to keep in contact with us via the email address below

[email protected]

Roz

As part of this fantastic magazine, we get the opportunity to meet the PULSE team and read what goes on behind the scenes in each edition on pages 12-13.

Wish I worked for High Wycombe cinema, I would have loved to have get involved with

their Big E in Action film! Check out pages 8-9.

As a regular visitor to the Senior

Screenings, it is great to see Sutton

Coldfield getting recognition as their

Wednesday mornings are legendary!

We are loving the look of the new extension you are building at Empire Newcastle, very flashy! Read all about the plans on page 15.

We would love to see the Lion King show in London. Read all about Patricia from Wigan’s trip there on page 6.

How cool is Katie from Sutton?! Read all about one of the Empire Team Member’s work experience at Big Brother on page. 19.

DAN &SARAH

BILLY

THE PALMER FAMILY

JJ

BERYL

FRIENDSJANE &

The care- free student

The romantic couple

The senior

The typical family

Typical teen

Sociable best friends

Fruit Shoot My 5 Apple & Pear Fruit Shoot Apple & Blackcurrant

Loved by kids, trusted by parents. With no artificial colours or flavours,

and low-sugar options.

Pepsi Max Top quality refreshment – available in three variants to suit individual tastes. And particularly good value when enjoyed as part of a combo/value meal.

juicy drench Cranberry and Raspberry The thirst-quenching ‘adult’ soft drink that offers fruity satisfaction and the perfect alternative to fizziness.

J2O Orange and Passion Fruit A tasty, fruity, thirst-quenching ‘adult’ soft drink, without the fizz of a carbonated option.

Pepsi Top quality refreshment – available in three variants to suit individual tastes. Remember, as these customers like to share, a large Pepsi makes a great choice.

Pepsi Top quality refreshment – available in three variants to suit individual tastes.

J2O and juicy drench Fruity, thirst-quenching ‘adult’ soft drinks that offer the perfect alternative to carbonated soft drinks.

Tango Ice Blast Two, delicious ‘fizzy ice’ flavours, offering a taste blast experience:

Cherry and Raspberry.

drench Refreshing hydration.




ContentsSPRING 12

NEW SILVER ESPRIZE DRAW WINNERS

6

11

25

29

6

THE BIG E IN ACTION 2THE RUNNERS UP

7

THE BIG E IN ACTION 2THE WINNERS

8-9

JUSTIN RIBBONSCEO COMMENT

10

10 MINUTES WITH....SUZANNE HILLS

11

JOB SWAPINVESTMENT IN CINEMA

14-15

BEHIND THE SCENESPULSE MAGAZINE

12-13

CUSTOMER FEEDBACKLETTERS

16-17

‘

PULSE EVENTSSTORMTROOPERS

18

STAFF PROFILEKATIE GASKIN

19

CINEMA IN FOCUSBIRMINGHAM GREAT PARK

20-21

CINEMA ROUND UPMEET YOUR PULSE REPS

22-23

YOUR OPINION MATTERSSPECIALLY SELECTED

24

FILMS IN FOCUSREVIEWS

25-29

LOOKING FORWARDTOP FILMS 2012

30-31

COMPETITION CORNER

32-33

CELEBRITY SPOTTING

34-35

Fruit Shoot My 5 Apple & Pear Fruit Shoot Apple & Blackcurrant

Loved by kids, trusted by parents. With no artificial colours or flavours,

and low-sugar options.

Pepsi Max Top quality refreshment – available in three variants to suit individual tastes. And particularly good value when enjoyed as part of a combo/value meal.

juicy drench Cranberry and Raspberry The thirst-quenching ‘adult’ soft drink that offers fruity satisfaction and the perfect alternative to fizziness.

J2O Orange and Passion Fruit A tasty, fruity, thirst-quenching ‘adult’ soft drink, without the fizz of a carbonated option.

Pepsi Top quality refreshment – available in three variants to suit individual tastes. Remember, as these customers like to share, a large Pepsi makes a great choice.

Pepsi Top quality refreshment – available in three variants to suit individual tastes.

J2O and juicy drench Fruity, thirst-quenching ‘adult’ soft drinks that offer the perfect alternative to carbonated soft drinks.

Tango Ice Blast Two, delicious ‘fizzy ice’ flavours, offering a taste blast experience:

Cherry and Raspberry.




appreciated. To me, I’m just doing my job.”

Danielle says the customer experience that Empire Cinemas delivers is the thing that makes them different to other cinema chains. “I’ve lost count of the amount of times customers have said they keep coming back to us merely for the customer service they receive. I try to keep it personal as I don’t think you can deliver the best customer experience if you generalise.”

Danielle found out she’d received the award on a busy Wednesday night. “I was in the staff room when Vicky popped her head round the door to ask me to come back early as it was suddenly really busy, not unusual on an Orange Wednesday. When I reached the retail area there was nobody there so I was more than a little confused. I was then surprised to be told I’d won a Silver E – of course, I cried!”

Like our other Silver Es, Danielle says that the award means so much to her because her hard work has been noted and appreciated. “I’m really looking forward to the Premiere too – it will be a great way to celebrate!”

06 | PULSE MAGAZINE | SPRING 2012

PULSE PortfoLio

The

AwArdsSilver e

patricia johnsonPatricia Johnson was so shocked when she received her award that she didn’t know what to say. Wigan employee Patricia says: “Gordon MacDonald was at the cinema screenings and I was assisting customers as normal by ensuring they were happy and talking to them – so for that reason, I was nominated.”

Patricia has been at Empire Wigan for six years where she initially began as a cleaner and then became a Team Member for the cinema. “I came into work and Nicola told me I’d got it and I was so pleased because I’ve been recognised for just doing my normal duties.”

Patricia’s Silver E reward will be heading to London for a premiere in the summer. “I’m going to go with my grand-daughter but it

will also be around the time of my birthday so we’ll be having double celebrations.”

Patricia also won the quarterly prize draw to go for a meal at Planet Hollywood in London followed by a trip to the theatre to see The Lion King musical. “I’m so excited, I’ve only ever seen the film so to be treated to all of this is amazing. My husband is just as thrilled!”danielle carverDanielle Carver is a Team Member at Empire Newcastle and regularly works on the retail section of the cinema. She’s been a Team Member since the site first opened and earned her Silver E award after the management team at Newcastle wrote a letter to Head Office. Danielle says, “I’m not really one to blow my own trumpet so it was lovely to see that my work is

At PULSE we love nothing more than hearing about the hard work and dedication that goes into the customer experience. Patricia and Danielle are our latest Silver Es who have shown how to put these qualities into action.

meeT our sTars

Patricia Johnson receiving her Silver E award.

New Silver E Danielle Carver

Here at Empire Cinemas, we pride ourselves on quality customer service. We’re proud of our cinema’s reputation and how staff

are always looking for ways to improve the customer experience via the Big E. We like to motivate staff to keep up their hard work, and The Big E in Action competition is a good way to reward staff for putting The Big E initiatives into practice.

Each cinema was asked to send in a short 3-5 minute film to show how they were putting their action plans for Your Opinion Matters into place. With £500 up for grabs the cinemas certainly didn’t hold back with some excellent efforts.

The competition was judged by Customer Experience Manager, Lisa Rowland, and National Operations Manager, Andy Bush, who were very impressed with the standards of this years entries.We want to celebrate the top three finalists as well as a special mention to the team which were so close but took making it personal a bit too far.


In September, Empire Cinemas

challenged each of its cinemas to

get the other side of the camera

and record a short film for the Big E

in Action 2 competition 2011. PULSE

reveals the winners...

acTionin

in 3rd PLace : hemeL hemPsTeaD

Last year’s winners, Hemel Hempstead, came in a respectable third place for this years Big E In Action. Richard Conian and his team dazzled last year with their

fantastic Beryl based film and some good quality editing, but it wasn’t enough to snatch the elusive first place this year. Their effort, titled ‘Under the Spotlight’, was a classy black and white film showing a detective conducting a spotlight check. A nice touch was added at the end with members of the Empire Hemel Hempstead team saying why Spotlight Checks, Lighting Up Performance and good customer service are important to them.

Lisa Rowland, Customer Experience Manager, said, “Hemel Hempstead produced a very good quality film once again. Like last year, they put a lot of effort into making the film, and had some great wizardry tricks going on.”

in 2nd PLace : sunDerLanD

Sunderland came in a well deserving second. GM John Hodgson and his team produced a film that showcased how they put The Big E into action. They

changed the lyrics to the song Glad You Came by The Wanted, showing how they make customers glad they visited Empire Sunderland. They touch upon key areas of The Big E such as toilet cleanliness, helping customers to their seats and saying ‘goodbye’. They also included a hilarious out-take at the end, which showed they had fun during the project and it was a team effort.

Lisa said, “This film was a fantastic effort! They changed the lyrics of a song and all the content showed us what John and the team have been working hard on in 2011. Although the quality of the film wasn’t quite as good as the others, it shows the importance of getting the content and message right.”

3 2

special mentionA special mention needs to be made for Sutton Coldfield, who were very big contenders. Lisa said, “This small cinema did a fantastic job at creating one of the best made films we’ve seen. We loved this film and if the ‘post car park’ element had come in the credits/out takes, it definitely would have given the winners a run for their money.” Congratulations to Tristan Murtagh and the team.

PULSE big E in action

The winning team...

The PLoTThe A Christmas Carol inspired film begins with a very angry GM, Paul Damms, playing the part of Scrooge. He screams at another manager for not conducting his Spotlight Checks and is in a foul mood until he falls off his chair and hits his head. Some very clever camera angles are used while Paul walks around Empire High Wycombe in a state of confusion and, when he finds his way into a screen, is visited by three ghosts.


The first is the ghost of cinema past, who shows him what the cinema was like 6 months ago, when she came to visit. The ice cream counter is a mess, she is not acknowledged on her way into the screen and the toilets are dirty and untidy. Cleverly, this is Big E character Beryl, played by Kim Hallam.

Next, he is visited by the ghost of cinema present, Big E character Billy, played by Justin Clinch, who visited the cinema that day. He shows Paul how far the cinema has

come in terms of The Big E and delivering good customer service. Billy is greeted upon arrival and the toilets are being cleaned when he walks in.

Finally, the ghosts of cinema future are Big E characters Dan & Sarah, who are played by Simon Huggins and Emma Taylor. They show the staff of Empire High Wycombe decorating the cinema with Santa hats and tinsel, staff happily conducting Spotlight Checks and the General Manager

himself wearing a blow-up santa costume and spreading the Christmas spirit.

When they cut back to ‘reality’, Paul is a changed man, and is no longer angry at his staff. He has realised that if he manages him team effectively, they could give great customer service. The film was of very good quality, and the editors Janusz Tomczyk and Steve Mayhew did a brilliant job with some clever camera angles and professional editing.

in 1st PLace : hiGh WYcomBe

and the winner is...1

makinG The fiLm“After a very disappointing effort on The Big E in Action 2010, we really wanted to get behind our effort for 2011 and try to get as many team members and managers involved as possible” explains Paul Damms, General Manager at Empire High Wycombe. “As a team, we really felt like we had come a long way in the last 12 months, and it was important to us that our film reflected this.

“After a few initial and rather outlandish ideas, we were all in a team meeting discussing the movie when one of our supervisors, Kim Hallam, suggested it would be good to do something based around the story A Christmas Carol. This sparked up some great ideas with the ghosts of past, present and future enabling us to show how our cinemas used to be, the progress we’ve made with the Big E and where we wanted to take it in the future.”

Empire High Wycombe impressed by including a wide range of Big E elements into their film. Not only did the three

ghosts represent Big E characters Beryl,


PULSE big E in action

Billy and Dan & Sarah, they touched upon other important areas such as Lighting Up Performance and High 5’s. They also highlighted the progress they had made in areas specified in their YOM feedback, which were the toilets and saying ‘goodbye’.

The project was a brilliant team effort, as Paul explained that the filming itself took four nights, with many more hours being spent on editing by Janusz Tomczyk (Projectionist) and Steve Mayhew (Team Member), who added the soundtrack and generally made the whole thing look great.

“There was a huge amount of hard work involved,” says Paul, “and many people gave up a lot of their time but at the end of it, we had a film that we were all proud of. It was 100% a team effort and really did demonstrate the progress we have made as a cinema.

“We all had a great time making it and there were a lot of laughs along the way. We are so pleased to win The Big E In Action 2011 and we’re not planning to give up our crown easily this year!”

The verDicTLisa Rowland, who crowned Empire High Wycombe the winners, was very pleased with their project. “This film was thoroughly entertaining and totally showed the judging panel that they had understood and implemented the Big E initiatives of 2011. Paul Damms and the team have embraced Lighting Up Performance and incorporated this into the Big E and other projects

happening in High Wycombe. You could tell that they’d had fun making the film and everyone was involved. A truly deserving winner in my eyes.”

For their brilliant efforts, they took away £500 as well as the competition title. “We haven’t spent the prize money yet,” explains Paul, “but the plan is to use the money for a team day out Go-Karting and we’re all really looking forward to it!”

Sneak previews of the winning film from High Wycombe

10

”It has always been true to say that we live in difficult and dark times, but it has never been truer than today. In times of austerity, doubt, darkness and fear, films can allow us to escape from the burdens and hardships of life. And they can shine a light on injustice. Film can reduce us to quivering wrecks with

laughter, to help us forget and it can stun us with truth, to help us remember. There’s no right or wrong genre or style of film. Next year more stories will

have been put together to remind us that the art of movie storytelling is more alive than ever, blessed with as much creative talent as it ever has been in its

history.Let’s all keep lining up for tickets and sitting in the dark. Support your local

cinema, live and love film.”- Stephen FryBaftas speech 2012


PULSE coMMEnt

After record breaking attendance weeks in February, Empire Cinema’s CEO, Justin Ribbons, shares both

congratulations and inspiration.

As mentioned in the Empire Cinema’s Soundtrack last month, February saw records in cinema attendance absolutely smashed.

Our CEO, Justin Ribbons, is more than appreciative of this massive effort from everybody in the cinemas and said, “I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all in Empire as each of you has taken part in

CEO SAYS...

that success and it deserves to be recognised, Congratulations.” Having watched the massive annual film and television event, The BAFTAS, Justin wanted to pass on some words of inspiration to all Empire Cinemas employees which are taken from Stephen Fry’s speech. “I think Stephen Fry’s BAFTA speech puts into words a sense of the

resurgence in film and the enjoyment in film that we should strive to lead and pass on to our customer,” he said. So PULSE are passing on this very important message straight from the top of the business: Film is better than ever. We hope Mr Fry’s words about film and cinemas inspire you as much as they have our CEO.

CEO Justin Ribbons

SUZANNE HILLSwIthMINUTES10

A special thank you to SUZANNE HILLS for sparing the time to talk to PULSE Magazine.


PULSE facES of EMPirE

This issue, the very busy GM of Empire Clydebank, Suzanne Hills, spares some time to speak to PulSE. Suzanne has been with

Empire since its birth and is currently on a secondment as Project Manager for a new payroll system which will ensure a swift process for holidays and pay.

What’s your job role?I’m the General Manager at Empire Clydebank but I’m currently busy with the new payroll system for employees. how long have you been involved in the cinema industry?I initially started in 1988 as a Team Member in Edinburgh whilst I was training to be a teacher, then in 1994 I moved to London where I was a Team Manager then onto Greenwich in 2000. I eventually moved back to Scotland in 2006 as a General Manager for Empire Clydebank.What’s a typical day for you?As General Manager the role is extremely varied. I begin in the morning with a daily walk-round to make sure the cinema is clean

and organised and ready for our customers coming in. I then assign tasks to supervisors that need to be carried out for the day and the expectations for the shift. I then make sure our customers are having a good and friendly visit. Other tasks include film scheduling, team rotas and reviewing business objectives. In my role as Project Manager I work predominantly on my own but with remote contact with our project group members. In this specific role I am carrying out intensive testing of our new payroll system. I’ve been doing this role since July 2011 and we’re looking to have it finalised by April 2012. During my Project Manager role, Andrew Rapson has taken over as the cinema’s General Manager.What’s the best and worst part of your job?I love working with such a different group of people and enjoy being able to support them whether as a general manager or in my role as auditor. I love visiting other cinemas and being able to take good ideas and share them throughout the business. At present the worst part of my job is the travel and living out of a

suitcase – but even that isn’t that bad!What does the new Workforce Management system mean for empire employees?Workforce Management System is a computerised system which captures and validates data for employees from start to finish whilst they are in our employment. It involves using a base computerised system and setting our company business rules and objectives in the background, setting up workloads, testing biometric clocks and business rules in extensive detail. It also includes writing a training manual to work in line with the system, organising training on the system and also preparing a rollout plan. The system will speed up our payroll process, eliminate errors and provide high visibility to the management teams and our heads of department for the team members.

And, finally, what do you like doing in your spare time?I love to bake cakes, that’s what everyone at Empire probably knows me for. I also love to read too!

A very smily Suzanne Hills

v

From the planning of each issue to sending it off to print and to cinema staff rooms, Pulse is written and designed by a group of final year

Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing students from Southampton Solent University.

It all began in the summer of 2010 with a small team of only four putting together the whole thing. Since then, three of the original members have graduated and the fourth took over as Editor. As it’s coming to the end of the academic year, Pulse is due to change hands again so here’s a look

at the current team as well as the new heirs to Pulse.

Currently managing the whole production is Editor Helen Archard who is responsible for planning, proofreading and pulling together the final copy of Pulse Magazine as well as a bit of writing and designing. She’s the only founder member remaining after beginning on the magazine as staff writer then taking over as Editor in spring 2011.

Pulse has five writers whose names may be familiar to Empire staff who have featured in the magazine before. Kelly Woolford,

BEHIND

THESCENES


Hannah Lawrence and Kirsty Welsh have been part of the team since the Summer 2011 issue and Cathy Grieg and Summer Grant joined the team in the Autumn 2011 issue. They are the ones chasing you for the latest Empire information to put into the exciting and informative features.

The reviews are handled by film buffs Ed Bailey and Alice Bagnall who write a short preview to our top films of the quarter and source images and facts from the distribution companies like Fox and Warner Bros.

The girls who bring it all together into

This issue, we’re taking our readers behind the scenes of PULSE magazine itself to meet the current team and to give a sneak peek of

how each issue is put together.

The PULSE team (minus our reviewer ED) absorbed in last issue.

AT

v

PULSE bEHinD tHE ScEnES


the beautiful pages you see before you every quarter are Patricia Pribolova and Emma Curran whose creativity oozes throughout the magazine.

Each issue begins with a planning meeting over a nice big coffee to discuss feature ideas and feedback and put together a flat plan for each page of the magazine. It’s important to take into account the 3-month span of each issue so we print features which relate to the coming months.

We then have a big team meeting to go over each page and allocate them to

each member then the writers scurry away to start researching and conducting interviews.

A couple weeks later, when all copy is proofread, the designers come into play and do amazing things using specialist page design software.

The last couple of weeks of production involve being glued to a Mac computer creating the master copy to send to the printers. There’s hours of reading and re-reading copy, tweaking design and sending it back and forth to Lisa Rowland and Paul Baxter to check all the content is correct and up to top quality Empire standard.

The final master copy of Pulse magazine is then sent off to Kinkajou Productions where Matt Reddings prints it out onto the lovely glossy pages and whisk them off to every Empire staff room across the country.Editor, Helen Archard said: “Although there are stressful times there is nothing more satisfying than seeing the shiny new copy of Pulse and knowing that you’ve given Empire staff the best product you can. It makes all the hard

work so worth it. We have such a good team and I’m confident that the new team will continue to keep Pulse great.”

As all current members will be graduating from university in May, Pulse is being passed into the capable hands of a fresh new team.

Charlotte Webb will take over as Editor supported by Linzi Radwell as Deputy Editor along with new writers, designers and reviewers so keep an eye out for these names in the next issue.

On behalf of the current team, we would like to thank you with all your participation with Pulse and hope you have enjoyed and continue to enjoy the magazine.

New Editor Charlotte Webb (right) and new Deputy Editor Linzi Radwell (left).

Current Editor Helen Archard.

L to R: Kirsty Welsh, Hannah Lawrence, Alice Bagnall, Summer Grant, Kelly Woolford, Patricia Pribolova, Emma Curran.


swap

jobs

have you ever wondered what

it would be like to work as a

Projectionist for a day? Or would

you like to do the job of your

General Manager? what

about trying your hand

at one of the head

Office roles?

we are offering you the

chance to “Job Swap” for

a day with someone who

does a different role in

Empire Cinemas and then

share your experiences

with us all in Pulse.

If you are interested email us at

[email protected] with

your name, current role, the role you’d

like to try and then a paragraph on why.

If you’d like to appear in the summer edition

we need to hear from you by 18th March.

improved new

PULSE aDVErtoriaL

PULSE bUSinESS

improved newcinemas

&

The customers of Empire Newcastle are being treated to the conclusion of the extension to, to compliment the four new smaller screens it received in December. A total of eight new screens, bringing its total to 20, an Impact screen, a swanky new foyer and a licensed bar complete Empire Newcastle’s overhaul.

The second phase of the extension will open up a mass of possibilities for Empire Newcastle. It will help bring in a more diverse array of films as well as an updated foyer and a general upgrade of the facilities already provided - improving the experience for the customer as well as the staff members. Empire Cinemas have taken over the previously empty Sky Bar area adjacent to the cinema’s entrance which will become Empire Newcastle’s newly licensed bar area. These refurbishments will provide everything a customer could ever need for a good night out with friends or family.

This phase of the development will cost £2million and is estimated to be completed in July – four months after its beginning in March. Through the extension to the Newcastle branch, existing team members have had extra hours available to them.

Empire Cinemas are enjoying these opportunities to expand and are looking at several new builds to develop the chain further across the UK as well as keeping focus on updating their current cinemas.

“Where the opportunities exist and where it’s applicable we are always looking at various options to refurbish,” says Neil.

With these plans already in place and more in the pipeline, 2012 looks to be an exciting year for all Empire cinemas, staff and customers.

Empire Cinemas is literally expanding into 2012 with the two phase extension to Empire Newcastle due to be ready this summer.


Digital impressions of the extended Empire Newcastle

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK

NOTICEBOARD

Clydebank

I recently had the pleasure of visiting your Empire Cinema in Clydebank. I felt compelled to e-mail to register my extreme happiness at the standard of service which I received at your establishment.

We went to an earlier showing of a movie so there were only a few customers in at that time - but the staff were being highly productive during this period. Theywere working tirelessly and looking for things to do. The toilets were being cleaned thoroughly, another staff member was sweeping the main foyer area, there were “bits and bobs” being done at the concession stand,. Staff were greeting some customers as they came in - which was a nice touch and a group of older people who came in seemed very impressed.

All in all, this was a highly pleasurable experience at your establishment and I will be back before too long.

Many thanks,George Rice


Poole

We visited Empire Cinema

in Poole today and I

felt I needed to

e-mail to say that the

service we received was

exceptional. What

fantastic staff you

have there, especially

your supervisor (her

initialswere MB and I think

her

first name was marge). We

came with two gentlemen

with learning

disabilities and she

looked after us so well

and was justfantastic so thank

you.

Gemma Jeanes

Newcastle

I would like to praise your staff at the Newcastle cinema, particular one of the managers, Nick. My friend and I went to see Woman In Black on Saturday 11th Feb 2012 and the showing was filled with disruptive teenagers. Several were removed from the showing but even after that Nick was apologetic that our cinema experience was spoiled and very generous in compensating us for that. We understood that it wasn’t his or Empire’sfault the showing has been disrupted and so the understanding and efforts make our experience a good one were very appreciated. It turned a very bad experience into a very good one and we will be returning.Many, many thanks.Judith Elliott


Clydebank

I would like to send my

compliments to one of your

employees, Craig, for

the help he gave me and my

mother today.

It was nice to be helped by

someone who seems to care

about the customer

and customer service, which

is rare in this day and age.

Sincerely,

Margaret Smith

Poole

I thank you for your speedy reply. Also, I thank you for the kind attitude inside your words.

I managed to speak to a lady by the name of Nikkie, who I may add, spoke with the same lovely

attitude as in your mail.I told Nikkie that we have applied for the carer card in the names

of our son Liam and our

daughter Yana but I’d booked the tickets online to guarantee the seats. Nikkie arranged that if

we went to the booking window she would reimburse us with the cost of the carer.

Once again, I’d like to say thank you both, for your fantastic help and assistance in this matter.

THANK YOU! Have a great NEW YEAR.

Kindly Yours

Marcus Kelly

PULSE fEEDbacK

Newcastle

I just wanted to say thank you to the staff at the Empire Newcastle. Thank you to Manager Nick, the nice blonde lady (sorry I can’t remember your name) and the security staff at The Gate, for your quick response in helping my friend, Craig Duffy, when he fell ill during Sherlock Holmes. Craig has been released from hospital and is happily resting at home. Thanks again for all your help, and once he’s feeling better I’m sure we’ll be back to see the rest of the film!

Jane Cuthbertson

High WycombeI would like to thank yourself and your staff at High

Wycombe, for avery great time at the cinema.This has fully restored my trust in Empire Cinemas and I

feel that I amrespected as a customer and the team members who served me

were great.Once again, I want to thank you for making this happen and

I will lookforward to visiting your cinema again. Kind regards Mr Darren Edwards

Poole

My wife and I and our 2 granddaughters came to Tower Park to see Hugo instudio 2D. We just wanted to say thanks to George, the young guy who was inattendance, a really nice polite and helpful person. We willcertainly be coming again as he told us about the seniors scheme. Justthought you would like to know what a great employee you have.

Thanks

David Kingston

SToRM TRooPERS iNvADE

EMPiRE WiGAN

PULSE EVEntS

Empire Wigan was invaded by strom troopers this February to celebrate the release of Star Wars 3D. The special guests were enjoyed by staff and customers alike as can be seen in these photos. The Empire Leicester Square and

Empire Newcastle were also under attack in this special event.

If your cinema has had any special events of visits drop us an email at [email protected]


make some great friends” she said. The support from Empire Cinemas has allowed Katie to pursue a career in the media whilst remaining at the cinema, something she is very passionate about. From her time at university to doing work experience, Empire Sutton and Poole (where she transferred to during university) have helped and encouraged Katie to chase her dream job.

“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have got work placements with some fantastic companies such as Crimestoppers, Company Magazine, The Independent on Sunday and the BBC. I have loved them all and really gained an amazing insight into the media industry.”

Katie got the opportunity to do a work placement as a reporter for Global Radio, where she interviewed Martine McCutcheon on a double decker bus and then went to Camberwell to investigate a fatal stabbing.

Her latest exciting role as the Celebrity Big Brother runner allowed her to work up close and personal with Brian Dowling. She was in charge of ensuring he had everything he needed during the show, from lunches, scripts and looking after his guests. Her favourite part of the job was acting as a stand in celebrity where she got to walk on the eviction stage and have a mock interview with Brian!

“The thing I loved most about the job is that you are right in the middle of seeing how television works live. Anything can change in a second and to have to react accordingly can be incredibly stressful but so fulfilling at the same time.”

Due to her hard work and determination to break into the media industry, Katie doesn’t get a lot of spare time, but does like

to go to the gym, write for various websites and go on girly weekends away when she can.

Katie’s passion and drive stands out a mile, and with Empire’s continued support we are certain she will do extremely well in the competitive media industry. Good luck for the future Katie!

katie

Empire’s resident media superstar, Katie Gaskin

This issue we discover the hidden depths of another member of the Empire team who has a very exciting career path

outside the walls of Empire Cinemas.


“

“

The best part of my job has to be the people that I work with on all levels from my fellow team members, right through to management. Everyone is always willing to help you if they can and that extends to when leave Empire too.

PULSE Staff ProfiLE

SToRM TRooPERS iNvADE

EMPiRE WiGAN

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FILM OF ALL TIME?Remember theTitans

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FILM THIS YEAR? The Inbetweeners

WHAT FILM ARE YOU LOOKING FOWARD TO SEEING NEXT? The Hunger Games

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE ACTOR / ACTRESS? Tom Hanks/ Rachel Mc Adams

IN A FILM OF YOUR LIFE, WHO WOULD PLAY YOU? Emma Stone

POPCORN, SWEET OR SALTED? Sweet!

INtEREStING FACtS Meet Katie Gaskin, 22, from Surrey, who works as part of the floor team at Empire Sutton. When at work her

main responsibilities range from providing excellent customer service to cleaning the screens and visiting what is rumoured to be the most feared place in the whole of Empire Sutton, the sluice room!

“The best part of my job has to be the people that I work with on all levels from my fellow team members, right through to management. Everyone is always willing to help you if they can and that extends to when you leave Empire too. There is a very firm support system within Empire which makes me feel very secure, you really do

Gaskin

EmpirE grEat park

This Empire cinema is always looking for ways to celebrate film, from hosting the regional premiere of the last Harry Potter film to

collaborating with a local college.General Manager Leon Fairbank has

enjoyed working at Great Park since he started in March 2011. He came to Empire after previously working in catering and has brought with him enthusiasm and passion for cinema. “I really enjoy the magic of cinema and can still remember my first visit as a child, or at least the first one I can remember- Masters of the Universe 1987 with Dolph Lundgren,” he said.

But of course this is not the only reason he likes working at the cinema. “I take pride in making a difference to our customers’ experience and love it when I see Team Members talking to the children, giving


out promotional material and making them feel special,” he continued, “that is the difference between Empire Great Park and our competitors.”

Pride in the cinema is a common sentiment throughout all the employees. When Your Opinion Matters was introduced some were apprehensive about the response they would get. “I was quite nervous when the first round of Your Opinion Matters results came out as I thought customers would only leave comments if they had bad experiences,” Paige Browning says, “I was really surprised at how many positive comments customers left.”

This isn’t the only part of the Big E scheme that has had a positive effect in the cinema. Colleague Joe Peach favours the Spotlight Checks. “Spotlight Checks have really made a difference to the customer experience offered at Empire Great Park as team members receive

positive comments and constructive feedback about their performance,” Joe said.

Even though the Spotlight Checks have only been in place since December, an improvement in the customer experience has already been noticed at Great Park and Leon believes that they’re just as good for the customers as they are for the staff. “I also think that the team members enjoy receiving a Spotlight Check as it gives them an opportunity to talk to the Supervisor or Manager more and explain our expectations better.”

Empire Great Park is aiming to make 2012 the year of communication. This means that they’re going to make sure their employees know more about the performance of the cinema, its competitors, what the customers think about it and the plans for the future.

Despite being located in one of the more competitive markets, there are eight other

Empire Great Park in Birmingham hopes to make 2012 its best year yet with a big push to boost themselves up the Your Opinion Matters league table. General Manager

Leon Fairbank talks to PULSE about the cinema and it’s plans for the next year.

FIRST LOOK: AT SPECIAL EVENTS AT EMPIRE’S GREAT PARK


PULSE tEaM in focUS

FANCY HAVING YOUR TEAM FEATURED IN PULSE MAGAZINE? EMAIL US AT:

[email protected]

cinemas for them to contend with, Great Park enjoyed a relatively successful 2011.

“We grew our market share by 2%,” Leon said, “which, whilst it may sound a small amount, represents around £400,000 at UK box office annually.” While customers are the first priority at Great Park, the cinema isn’t all

serious business. It has teamed up with a local college to sponsor a cinema room. This is place in the college in which students can watch films and presentations. “We try to make this room feel different from other classrooms so have a number of poster frames on the wall which we update regularly,” explained Leon.

The cinema has also been happy for the college to use it as a classroom and has given tours to media students, in fact, the cinema and the college

develops some of the course material together. In a generous gesture, Leon is hoping that when the cinema is provided with new digital projectors he can place a 35mm projector in the cinema room to add the magic of cinema to the college.

Empire Great Park has a 67 strong team, including several who have worked there from the very beginning in 1998, before it was an Empire cinema. Operations Assistant Ray Farrell was even lucky enough to go to the Die Hard premiere in Leicester Square.

However one of the cinema’s fondest moments, especially from the eyes of Dual Projection Manager Darren May, happened last year when it was chosen to host the regional premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two. This brought a lot of new customers to the cinema and this year Empire Great Park is hoping to host a few more special events for much-anticipated releases. “We pride ourselves on our film knowledge and as true film fans we think like moviegoers,” Leon said, “a ‘MARVEL-OUS day’ is already on the cards.”

whAt ARE yOuR tOtAl AdMISSIONS tO dAtE? As an Empire Site-, Our busiest day was Tuesday in the February half term in 2011 where we had over 7000 admissions, we are hoping to beat that this year!

whAt’S bEEN yOuR bIGGESt SEllING FIlM SO FAR thIS yEAR? War Horse

dO yOu SEll MORE SwEEt OR SAltEd POPCORN? We sell Sweet popcorn on a ratio of 6 to 1

hAvE yOu hAd ANy StRANGE REquEStS? We quite frequently get asked to sing happy birthday and we used to have a big remote control that we made the birthday child point at the screen to turn the film on

hAvE yOu EvER hAd ANy CElEbRItIES vISIt? Jamelia, Ron Atkinson, Mark Ramprakash, Ashley Giles, we are also in close proximity to two football teams so often have some of the football players in attendance. We have hosted the “Film days” at Great Park previously and Adam Deacon and Noel Clarke came and spoke to us about Adulthood for the film days, Ali Campbell and Astro from UB40.

EmpirE’s grEat park Q&a

A great team at Great Park

Dion Mulholland (Swindon, Greenbridge)

[email protected]

Laura Mcleod (Clydebank)

[email protected]

Perry Bartlett(Bromley)

[email protected]

Tish Clarke(Birmingham Great Park)

[email protected]

Rob Lucas (Basildon)

[email protected]

Kelvin Clarke (Bishops Stortford)

[email protected]

Tara Delf (Leicester Square)

[email protected]

Yasmine Crowther(Hemel Hempstead)

[email protected]

cinema reps Pulse have recruited a representative in each cinema to become the link between your magazine and your cinema.

Feel free to chat to them about any ideas or enquiries you have and don’t forget to

give them your COMPETITION CORNER entries from page 33.


Emma Chawner(Sutton Coldfield)

[email protected]

Jenny Maguire(Wigan)

[email protected]

Amy Stonehouse(Sunderland)

[email protected]

David Bol (Poole, Tower Park)

[email protected]

Katie Gaskin(Sutton, Surrey)

[email protected]

Andy Spoors(Newcastle Upon Tyne)

[email protected]

Razak Hussein(Slough)

[email protected]

Kim Hallam (High Wycombe)

[email protected]

Pulse have recruited a representative in each cinema to become the link between your magazine and your cinema.

Feel free to chat to them about any ideas or enquiries you have and don’t forget to

give them your COMPETITION CORNER entries from page 33.


PULSE rEPrESEntatiVES

PULSE YoM SPEciaL


We are inviting selected customers in “undercover” to experience our cinemas and then complete a

survey in a similar fashion to the YOM survey. We will provide them with tickets to visit the cinema and

in return we can glean more information about them and their preferences.

We hope to have the programme up and running by early summer in all cinemas. Every month each

management team will receive the results of these undercover visits and will be in position to share

with all the team how they are doing against the YOM Objectives.

SPECIAlly SElECtEd IS thE SECONd StRING tO thE yOuR OPINION MAttERS bOw ANd bEGINS ItS tRIAl IN

MARCh 2012 ACROSS thREE EMPIRE CINEMAS.

After a decade away from the big screen, Agent J and Agent K are returning for the long awaited third instalment in the Men In

Black franchise. This time their adventure will take them back through time, with Agent J (Will Smith) travelling back to the 1960s to stop an alien assassinating Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). Men in Black III will give fans the chance to see what the early days of the agency were like as Agent J discovers secrets that his partner never told him.

Playing the young Agent K is Josh Brolin, best known for his scene stealing appearances in No Country For Old Men and True Grit. Emma Thompson is another new actor to the universe, appearing as both a secretary in the 60s and Agent O in the present day agency. With her role as Professor Sybil Trelawney

in the Harry Potter films she’s well versed in fantasy, but Men In Black III proves she can handle sci-fi just as well.

After handling the last two instalments, Barry Sonnenfeld is back in the director’s chair. In the decade since Men In Black II he has directed the family comedy R.V and the hit TV series Pushing Daisies for which he won an Emmy.

With an intriguing time travel storyline, the return of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, and the extra dimension that 3D adds, it looks like Men In Black III is on track to be a hit. With some fantastic new names involved and fresh ideas the franchise could well last past its third instalment, let’s hope so.

It’s likely Billy would’ve seen the first two Men In Black films during his childhood,

May 2012Genre: Action/Sci-Fi/ComedyDirector: Barry Sonnenfeld Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Emma ThompsonMovie Recommendations:X-Men: First Class Back To The FutureThe Matrix

KnoW YoUr StUff

fantaStic factS

The films are based on the short lived comic series The Men In Black, first published in 1990.

Bill Hader has been confirmed as appearing as Andy Warhol, with rumours that Castro, Jimi

Hendrix and Yoko Ono might also show up.

It’s been over 3 years since Will Smith made his last film, Seven Pounds, the longest break he’s

had so far since his acting career began in 1993.

Ten years ago Men In Black II hit the screens the same year as Spider-Man. In a strange coincidence, Men In Black III will be released

the same year that the Spider-Man reboot is scheduled.

so the prospect of a sequel is sure to excite him. Not just for the nostalgia factor, but the excellent action and interesting time travel plot. JJ will also love the action and inventive alien designs, as well as the brilliantly realised sci-fi world. It’s not just for boys though, Dan & Sarah will enjoy the wonderful story. After all, there is heart and humour to go with the sci-fi action.

Men In black III


first time Grant has lent his vocal talents to a feature film, and although his trademark posh accent may seem an odd choice for a pirate he makes it work perfectly.

Voicing Pirate Captain’s rivals are Salma Hayek as Cutlass Liz and Jeremy Piven as Black Bellamy. Piven has a wealth of voice acting experience having worked on numerous TV shows such as Spider-Man and Justice League. Rounding out the cast are a group of famous Brits including Martin Freeman, David Tennant and Brian Blessed.

Aardman seem to effortlessly churn out fantastic TV shows and films, and Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists is no exception. With a sterling cast of voice actors, and some of Aardman’s impressive animation techniques it’s a joy from start to finish.


Pirates

Genre: Animated Family ComedyDirector: Peter LordStarring: Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, David Tennant, Imelda StauntonMovie Recommendations: Wallace and Gromit UpCorpse Bride

KnoW YoUr StUff

As well as Aardman’s traditional stop-motion style, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists will be

complemented by computer generated scenery to create a more visually striking world.

This isn’t the first time Salma Hayek has voiced an animated film, she was Kitty Softpaws in Puss In Boots.

The latest feature film from Aardman Animations follows Pirate Captain as he attempts to beat his rivals Black Bellamy

and Cutlass Liz to the Pirate of the Year Award. The swashbuckling adventure features a whole host of whacky pirates and takes Pirate Captain from the shores of Blood Island all the way to the foggy streets of Victorian London.

With a long history of stop-motion animation, including the creation of the iconic Wallace & Gromit, Aardman are truly pioneers in their field. With Pirates! In An Adventure with Scientists they prove just why they’re leaders of the pack.

A brilliant vocal cast truly brings the characters to life, lead by Hugh Grant as the Pirate Captain. Pirates! marks the

the PIRAtES! In an Adventure with Scientists March 2012

The

fantaStic factS

ZooPiratesMarch 2012

KnoW YoUr StUff

Ben Stiller was considered for the lead role Benjamin Mee before the part went to Matt Damon.

Matt Damon was nominated for three Golden Globes and won best performance by an actor for his role in The Talented

Mr Ripley

We bought a


human and animal which are truly extraordinary

This heartwarming feel-good movie by Oscar winning director Cameron Crowe, responsible for movie hits Jerry Maguire and Elizabethtown, is the perfect way to start spring 2012. Set in the stunning countryside of

Southern California and based on a true story, audiences will follow the life of widower Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) as he tries to give his family the fresh start they deserve.

After the passing of his wife, single parent Mee struggles to bring his family back together resulting in his son being expelled from school. Finding it hard to get back on track he decides that a change of scenery could be the one thing to reunite his family again. However, he soon discovers that he has literally bitten off more than he can chew, moving in to one of the most unlikely places, a zoo.

Matt Damon’s sympathetic character is helped and encouraged on his journey by his two adorable children and the eclectic zoo staff which consist of Thomas Hayden Church, star of Spiderman 3, as they try to restore the zoo to its former glory and give themselves and the animals a new lease of life. As his compelling story unfolds, Benjamin and his family form new friendships, especially with Scarlett Johansson’s motherly character Kelly. What really makes this story so unique is the unlikely bonds that are built between human and animal which are truly extraordinary to watch.

We Bought a Zoo is a magical family adventure that will satisfy a variety of cinema goers. It is the perfect movie for all of the Palmer family, where parents will be pleasantly surprised by the films classic family values that are reminiscent of the Christmas classic Home Alone. Sally and Jacob will also be drawn to this emotional comedy due to its personal plot line and hilarious misadventures that will have them on an emotional roller coaster throughout. It’s a lovely family movie that will have you grinning from ear to ear.

Genre: Family, Drama, ComedyDirector: Cameron CroweStarring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden ChurchMovie Recommendations: Big Miracle,Journey 2: The mysterious island

what really makes this story so unique is the unlikely bonds that are built between

PULSE fiLMS in focUS

fantaStic factS

X-Men, so he’s well versed in the source material.

The talent in front of the camera is impressive too. There is a slew of stars reprising their roles from previous Marvel films, including Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America and Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Fans will also be treated to some new talent too such as the always entertaining Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury, along with Mark Ruffalo as Hulk.

From the names involved alone it’s already clear that The Avengers is set to be one of the biggest movie events of 2012. As previous superhero films have proved, it’s not just the comic fans that are in for a treat. Everyone can get behind the heroes in the Marvel universe, especially with such an epic storyline and fantastic action set pieces.


Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-FiDirector: Joss WhedonStarring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. JacksonMovie Recommendations: ThorCaptain AmericaThe Dark Knight

KnoW YoUr StUff

fantaStic factSMarvel have announced a four-issue comic se-

ries that will act as a prelude to the film, due out in March this year.

Fans will want to keep their eyes open for a cameo from Stan Lee, the legendary figure who helped create Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, and

plenty of other comic book favourites.

This is what it’s all been leading up to. After teasers at the end of Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, The Avengers are

finally ready to assemble. Comic fans are bound to have high expectations for this one, but Marvel has pulled out all the stops to make sure it doesn’t disappoint.

For a start they have Joss Whedon directing, a man who has had years of experience creating rich and engaging worlds. He was behind the wildly popular TV series Buffy the Vampire

Slayer, as well as more recent hits like Dollhouse. A lifelong comic fan,

Whedon has written several comics including The Astonishing

be one of the biggest movie events of 2012

It’s clear that the Avengers is set to

The Avengers

April 2012

Leaving Iron man and Captain America in the shadows

Jennifer Lawrence, discovers her younger sister Prim has been unexpectedly drawn out of the raffle and must compete for her own survival.

With her sister being just 12 years old and very under prepared for this savage TV show, Katniss volunteers to take her place in the battle of kill or be killed in the fight for survival. With her family’s health and security hanging in the balance, Katniss must train to become the ultimate “Tribute” and fight for the future and honour of her district.

The Hunger Games is a thrill seeking and action packed movie that takes the likes of Thor and Daybreakers to a whole new level. Billy and JJ are sure to be at the front of the queue to watch this reality gaming blockbuster but you may also find Dan persuading Sarah to tag along, where she will find the underlying love story and fight for a family’s survival rather touching.


Genre: Action, Sci-fi, DramaDirector: Gary RossStarring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny KravitzMovie Recommendations: Men in Black IIIPrometheus

KnoW YoUr StUff

fantaStic factSThe Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingly

are a trilogy of young adult books by Suzanne Collins.

Jennifer Lawrence was originally cast as the lead in Savages but left to for the role of Katniss in The

Hunger Games.

Based on the best-selling novels by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is a sci-fi action adaptation set in the not so

distant future. North America’s collapse, due to war and famine, has meant that a new country, Panem, has arisen. Within this unusual and futuristic country, every powerless civilian or those from a poorer background must take part in a lottery based television game; The Hunger Games.

Two civilians aged 12-18 from each of the twelve districts within Panem, are randomly selected to be pitted against each other as a form of brutal entertainment for their leaders, but an opportunity for them to win honour, status, food and wealth.

Katniss and her family have struggled to make ends meet ever since the passing of her father and, although being part of the lottery since aged 12, her name has never been successfully drawn. In a twist of fate the 16-year-old Katniss, played by X-Men’s

The Hunger Games March 2012

PULSE fiLMS in focUS


PREvIEwSmini

wIld bIll

Release date: 30th March 2012.director: Dexter Fletcher

Lock. Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor Dexter Fletcher turns director in his movie debut. Wild Bill is set in East London in the present day, leading up to the Olympics. The story follows the modern day struggles of poverty and a heart wrenching love between a father & son. After 8 years in prison, Bill Hayward returns home to find his now 15 year old son bringing up his 11 year old son after being abandoned by their mother. At first Bill is unwilling to play Dad, but a new bond with his son blossoms and Bill starts to realize what he’s been missing.

thE dICtAtOR

Release date: 18th May 2012.director: Larry CharlesStarring: Sacha Baron Cohen

Set to be the biggest comedy of the year. Laugh out loud comedy from the writer of Ali G and Borat. The hilarious story of a brave dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy does not come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

bESt ExOtIC MARIGOld

hOtEl

Release date: 24th February 2012.director: John MaddenStarring: Maggie Smith & Dame Dudy Dench, Bill Nighy

The film follows seven strangers to India in search of change. The group of British pensioners all venture to India for different reasons. Attracted by adverts for the recently refurbished Marigold Hotel and reinforced with ideas of a life of relaxing in exotic India they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. A laugh out loud comedy with an award winning cast.

thE hObbIt: AN

uNExPECtEd JOuRNEy

3d

Release date: 14th December 2012.director: Peter JacksonStarring: Martin Freeman (the role of Bilbo Baggins), Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Elijah Wood and Orlando Bloom

The Hobbit 3D follows Bilbo Baggins as he travels into the Lonely Mountain. Accompanied by a group of dwarves, they try to find and reclaim the treasure.

bAttlEShIP

Release date: 11th April 2012.director: Peter BergStarring: Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker and Liam Neeson

Action packed adventure from across the seas to the skies over land. The planet works to fight for survival against a superior force.

Linzi and Charlotte, PULSE’s new Editors, attended Empire Leicester Square’s Film Days this month. After being shown over 60 sneak peaks of upcoming films, here are their pick

of the best for the next year...

PULSE LooKing forWarD


2012 ONEStO

wAtCh FOR&

PROJECt x

Release date: 2nd March 2012.director: Nima Nourizadeh

From the director of The Hangover, Project X is quoted to be ‘Superbad on crack’. The story follows 3 high school boys trying to make a name for themselves by throwing the best party ever. The drinks are followed by more drinks and, as the night progresses, things begin to spiral out of control as word of the party spreads.

whAt tO ExPECt whEN yOu’RE ExPECtING

Release date: 25th May 2012.director: Kirk Jones

This star-studded film follows five couples in the journey of pregnancy. Starring a number of big stars, Cameron Diaz, J-Lo, Chris Rock and Cheryl Cole makes her debut.

twIlIGht bREAkING

dAwN, PARt 2

Release date: 16th November 2012.director: Bill Condon

The long awaited last of the Twilight films. Bella wakes after the birth of Renesmee - a newborn vampire. She is beautiful but bloodthirsty. The Cullens keep the baby from her for her own protection until she is strong enough. They also assemble other vampires in order to protect the child from a false accusation that brings the family in front of the Volturi.

thE luCky ONE

Release date: 4th May 2012.director: Scott HicksStarring: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling and Blythe Danner

A Marine finds a picture of a girl whilst out on tour. Believing she may have been his lucky charm, he travels in search to find her.

MAdAGASCAR 3:

EuROPE’S MOSt wANtEd

Release date: 19th October 2012.director: Eric DarnellStarring: Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer

All the characters are returning in a continuous fight to get back to their home town of New York City. They find a travelling circus in which they see as the perfect opportunity to travel through Europe.

thE bOuRNE lEGACy

Release date: August 2012.director: Tony GilroyStarring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton

The fourth film in the popular franchise with a new hero being introduced. The events from the first three films have lead up to whether the characters life is at stake.


Competitioncorner

the ShiningPulp FictionInception

Forrest Gump

American beautythe lion king

die hardSnatch

black Swankill bill

trainspottingFinding Nemo

CONGRATULATIONS to last issue’s winner of a years supply of chocolate KELVIN CLARKE of Empire Bishops Stortford. For your chance to win check out the quiz on the next page.

Just for Fun

Guess The Year


PULSE coMPEtition cornEr

1. Seth Rogen, star of The Green Hornet and Pineapple Express was born on April 15th. 2. The legendary Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman died, perhaps most famous for her role in Casablanca.

3. Steven Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial was the highest grossing film of the year.

4. Tragedy struck during the filming of Twilight Zone: The Movie on July 23rd when Vic Morrow and two child actors were accidentally killed.

5. The film Gandhi won 8 Oscars at the 55th Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.

6. It was a good year for threequels, with Friday the 13th, Halloween and Rocky all receiving a third instalment

7. Danny DeVito married Cheers star Rhea Perlman, the couple have had three children and remain together today.

and the year is...

For your chance to win a years supply of chocolate courtesy of our friends at CADBURY’S then read the facts below and guess which year we’re talking about. Put your answer in the big box along with your name, cinema,

contact number, contact email and favourite chocolate and hand it over to your Pulse Rep by 1st May.

NAME ............................................................................................................................................CINEMA ............................................................................................................................................TEL ............................................................................................................................................EMAIL ............................................................................................................................................FAVOURITE CHOCOLATE...........................................................................................................................................................................

Cut/

Tear

HER

E

STARCelebrities love a good movie as much as the rest of us and PULSE wants to know what famous faces have visited your Empire. This issue we’ve heard from Empire Hemel Hempstead and Empire Wigan about their star

studded customers.


POTTING

EMPIRE HEMEL HEMPSTEAD GUESTLIST

Nick KnowlesGoldieTheo Wallcott Ian WrightJude LawMatt BakerMichael Duberry


PULSE Star SPotting

EMPIRE wIGAN

EMPIRE hEMEl

hEMPStEAd

EMPIRE WIGAN GUESTLIST

Russell KaneJennifer JamesSherrie HewsonEva PopeGoldieWigan Warriors Rugby TeamWigan Athletic Football TeamJason RobertsDave WhelanRuby WaxLeon OsmanJonny LomaxLuke MarsdenKathryn DrysdaleMark CroftRicky WhittleJordan HendersonRebecca ShinerAmy BarnesCarly StensonDebbie GreenwoodLeighton BainesLee Mcullough

LIGHTING UP PERFORMANCE

Progress Reviews for Team Members

What can Empire do for

Coming Soon…

you?

Documents

PULSE magazine - Issue 7 - Spring 2012