Viewings at the bfi - any info appreciated

[Sylvia]

For the research that I am doing on a uni paper I would like to arrange a viewing at the bfi when I'm next in London.

Could anyone who has been before give me some details about what it's like? I've seen on their website that you can view videos on a VCR with headphones that you operate yourself. What I am most interested in is how much space/privacy do you have there? Is it like in a library where you share a big table with several others?

I would only be able to go for one day and I want to view several films and will have to take lots of notes, meaning I have to be able to concentrate very hard. Which is difficult for me if there's a lot of coming and going around me. And of course I also don't want to disturb anyone nearby rustling my notes or tapping wildly on my keyboard. Which brings me to my next question: Am I allowed to bring my laptop?

Anything else that would be interesting to know before I go ahead and request a viewing?

Any info would be much appreciated - many thanks in advance!

[Moor Larkin]

The viewing I did was at their Stephen Street base. It was in private on a very old small TV with a video... no headphones. I paid around £15 for the 90 minute film; I think their charge in part relates to length. If you wanted to do *several* items that might start to become expensive and I vaguely recall there was a limit on time anyway. I was just doing it for private interest. I daresay if you do it through an academic institution the rules might be different.

Overall I found the experience perfectly enjoyable, but it was quite primitive. I was not asked any details about the equipment I had with me so I imagine a laptop would be fine, but you'd be well-advised to check first. I made notes on paper, but the environment was not like a 'library' at all. It was a bit like being in a stock-room in the cellar area.

[Steve Crook]

See the thread about the new BFI library

Steve

[Windyridge]

For the research that I am doing on a uni paper I would like to arrange a viewing at the bfi when I'm next in London.

Could anyone who has been before give me some details about what it's like? I've seen on their website that you can view videos on a VCR with headphones that you operate yourself. What I am most interested in is how much space/privacy do you have there? Is it like in a library where you share a big table with several others?

I would only be able to go for one day and I want to view several films and will have to take lots of notes, meaning I have to be able to concentrate very hard. Which is difficult for me if there's a lot of coming and going around me. And of course I also don't want to disturb anyone nearby rustling my notes or tapping wildly on my keyboard. Which brings me to my next question: Am I allowed to bring my laptop?

Anything else that would be interesting to know before I go ahead and request a viewing?

Any info would be much appreciated - many thanks in advance!

What is it you want to view- it might be available at the Mediatheque http://www.bfi.org.uk/live/video/299 in which case you have your own space, headphones and room to make notes. I've been in a couple of times, it's good but the BFI generally is a bit smelly at the moment - last time I went to NFT 2 it ponged something rotten and I'm now reminding myself to tell them about it...

[Sylvia]

Thank you all for your replies.

I have already checked with them for the films that I'd like to see and they told me I could view them at Stephen Street. So I expect to end up in the "stock-room" :).

The new place at Southbank looks great, I think I'll pay that a visit too.