So what is this exactly?  

Starlight Cinemas is a former local Queensland cinema chain that closed down in the mid 1990’s. The aspley location was left abandoned but untouched for many years until it reopened in 2024 under mysterious circumstances. Now it operates on selective nights highlighting the obscure, underappreciated and classics of cinema

 

No really what is this really?

This is just a domestic movie night at the house of Brisbane based filmmaker and production designer David Lawrence. But that does sell it short, it’s a full theatrical experience that will have you second guessing where you actually are. But this is not a business, it’s a domestic home cinema open to friends, friends of friends and word of mouth to like minded Brisbane creatives. 

 

Why do I need to book a ticket, won’t you just let me in anyway?

The cinema has a very limited capacity and it’s important to cap numbers to prevent having to turn people away. It’s also a good indicator to see if a movie is popular enough to warrant building a preshow experience for and to estimate numbers for snackbar restocking. Most importantly if no one books tickets to an event we don’t do it. 

 

What is a preshow experience? 

The Starlight Cinemas preshow is an everchanging walk through attraction themed or inspired by the movie screening that night. A detour on your way to the cinema you’ll never know what you’ll encounter before you reach the safety of the snack bar. No two preshows are the same and even the most frequent visitors are still surprised. Previous preshows have included a search for pirate treasure, a recreation of the Annual Transylvanian Conference, a tour of the substance factory and a trip to the dentist. Think a cross between infinity on the gold coast and that awful Glasgow Willy Wonka event.     

 

Are people going to jump out and scare me during the preshow? 

Apart from our annual Halloween event we never intend to scare or frighten anyone. We don’t use scare actors or jump scare video imagery. We do however intend to create atmosphere and a sense of adventure, excitement and unexpected discovery.  

 

The idea of the preshow experience makes me nervous. Can I skip it? 

You certainly can skip the experience if you find dark walkthrough experiences nerve racking or uncomfortable. Just ask at any time and we will take you directly to the snack bar and bypass the experience. We can always give you a tour under a brighter lighting state or show you video footage of what you are missing out on. 

 

What happened to DL Cinemas? 

Starlight Cinemas is a continuation of DL Cinemas just with more bells and whistles. The brand is now retired but from 2010 - 2023 DL Cinemas screened movies in Aspley and Stafford in a multitude of different temporary set ups starting as bedsheet and a data projector to grow into the Starlight Cinemas we love today!  

 

Who is Franco?

Franco used to work at a bowling alley repairing arcade machines and was subcontracted to repair the donkey kong machine in the starlight cinema foyer. He hasn't left since.

 

What happened to Crash the snack boy in the snack bar commercials?

Forming a union is a very easy way to lose your job. Crash is currently being re-educated on how being paid in popcorn is better than receiving money. 

 

How do you afford this, are you a millionaire?

A combination of years of collecting, cheap rent of the family home, zip pay loans and many clever production design tricks create an illusion of this being a more expensive endeavor than it actually is. The preshow experience is built out of scraps from previous faux facade films and theatrical productions. Almost everything is recycled and transformed objects. Lots of marketplace finds and things that look like other things.  

 

Is it really free? Why don’t you charge for this?

It was always the intention for this experience to be completely free. There’s nothing more magical than walking into a movie snack bar and being able to take whatever you want. To sit and enjoy a film without the expectations of it living up to the price you paid to see it. Also as this is just a domestic exhibition of a film and not one with a commercial license it would be ethically wrong to charge for the film without profits going to the rights holders. So it will always be free of charge.

 

Is this an actual cinema or an art project? 

Both? The project is a celebration of the artform of going to the cinema. The experience of ordering food, the smell of the popcorn, the preshow advertising is as important as the movie itself. The vague late 80’s / early 90’s aesthetic frames Starlight Cinemas in a preinternet, before social media world. It’s an escape to an artificial nostalgic memory.

 

How can I contribute to help towards the cost of running the cinema and snackbar?

Monetary donations are welcomed and can be in the form of cash in the tip jar, PAYID via the snack bar QR code or by helping us restock the snack bar from the following list

 

Drinks

Glass Bottle Coke

Glass Bottle Coke Zero

Glass Bottle Schweppes Lemonade 

Glass Bottle Schweppes Lemon Lime and Bitters

Plastic Bottle Fanta/Sunkist

 

Food

Allen’s Killer Pythons 

Fun Size Skittles

Fun Size Original M&M’s

Fun Size Maltesers

Chupa Chup Lollipops