Eighteen successful Film Nights have encouraged the Village Hall Committee to look into ways of showing films more efficiently. Individual licences (£105) together with equipment-hiring charges (£25) made each evening expensive. In addition, lugging the equipment from and back to Sawston (and assembling it) was time-consuming as well as laborious.

It made good sense to look into the economics of buying an annual licence (£96). The economics make sound sense but the licence comes with strict conditions.  The licence is granted to a club or society or other entity, whose objectives are not solely the showing of films but have a wider remit, for example providing other forms of entertainment.  There are also strict conditions about advertising and charging.  With these conditions in mind and the fact that the film nights are both a social get-together and fund raising by and on behalf of the Village Hall, it was agreed to explore the formation of The Eversdens Society as a sub-committee of the Village Hall Management Committee. (This was mentioned in John White's Village Hall report in Tail Corn - Winter 2011).

The Village Hall committee calculated that, for film shows, a membership of about 50 (paying just £10 per year) would be enough to support the showing of about 6 films a year. Membership has already grown to that figure from people who have come along to Film Nights. Membership remains open for all who would like to join.  Guests will be welcome for an entrance fee of £5

There will be other events arranged not only to satisfy the terms of the licence, but also to make the most of this new Society.  Where such events involve a payment to performers and therefore expense to the Village Hall, then members will need to pay an appropriate ticket price but their membership should give a discount on the ticket prices charged to non-members. Notice of all events will be by email (or note) to members and by an announcement on the What's On calendar of the village website..

The Eversdens Society is a departure from the simple Film Nights which have been organised and run wholly by three members of the village hall committee and a volunteer. The new Society will need a team to play a part in arranging the programme and the events.

This is an exciting development which will serve the villages well.

On a separate but related subject a next natural step was to look into the cost of installing the villages' own film equipment - fixed screen, speakers, amplifier, and projector. This will enhance the facilities in the Village Hall and will be available to hirers of the Hall perhaps for a small additional hiring fee.  Showing films at children’s parties or enabling visiting speakers to show slides or their private films are possible examples. Various grant opportunities, donations, and funds have made buying the equipment a realistic proposition and moves are underway to make the appropriate applications. It is reasonable to expect that before too long there will be a large pull-down screen needing just a gentle tug rather than a portable screen requiring advanced construction-kit skills, immensely powerful thumbs, and several spare hours. And all the equipment will be to hand.