Prince William serves popcorn at the community cinema in Acton
Photo: The Royal Household
Prince William took a turn behind the kiosk on a visit to ActOne in Acton, a cinema volunteers built in a disused library. The Prince met young film-makers and the Film and TV Charity, which works for more routes into the creative professions.
Prince William visited ActOne in Acton, west London, on Tuesday, an independent cinema run by and for the local community. The visit comes a few hours before the Prince and Princess Catherine are due at a world premiere in London this evening.
Prince William hands a bag of popcorn across the counter to one of the cinemagoers. Photo: The Royal Household
• From library to cinema
ActOne opened in 2021 after more than a hundred volunteers restored a disused library in Acton. It now has two screens, a café and rooms the neighbourhood can use. The cinema is run by a board of volunteers and a small permanent staff, with the help of a large group of regular volunteers. This year ActOne marks its fifth anniversary.
The cinema also houses a café that serves as a meeting place for the neighbourhood. Photo: The Royal Household
• Behind the counter
The Prince took a turn behind the kiosk, filling bags of popcorn and selling tickets at the till. He admitted he was on the slow side with the register.
The Prince behind the kiosk during the visit to ActOne. Photo: The Royal Household
Among those he stopped to talk with were regular cinemagoers, including 71-year-old Cathy Johns.
Prince William talking with guests and staff outside the screen. Photo: The Royal Household
• More routes into the industry
The Prince also met representatives of the Film and TV Charity, which works for those employed behind the camera in British film and television. The conversation turned on how important it is that there are more, and more varied, routes into the creative professions, so that recruitment is not confined to those who already have contacts in the industry.
Prince William discussing recruitment into the film and television industry. Photo: The Royal Household
The point of the visit was that organisations working together can give the next generation skills, confidence and opportunities, both on and off screen.
• Young film-makers
In the auditorium the Prince sat down with a group of young film-makers whose short films have been selected for the Ealing Film Festival in October.
The Prince talking with young film-makers in the auditorium. Photo: The Royal Household
• Royal Film Performance this evening
Later today Prince William and Princess Catherine are to attend the world premiere of the Tom Cruise film «Digger» at the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square cinema in central London. It is staged as a Royal Film Performance, the principal fundraiser for the Film and TV Charity.
«Digger» is directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, with Tom Cruise in the title role alongside Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons, among others. It opens in British cinemas on 2 October.
The first Royal Film Performance was held in 1946, and this evening's premiere will be the 73rd in the series.