Film Rookie? Join the club...

We all have those films we should have watched but never quite got around to. They’re too long. Impossible to find on streaming. Subtitles make you feel car sick…

Well, fear not. The Mill EP Jack Howard’s new project – Rookie Film Club – is here to plug those cinematic gaps with sweet, sweet movies. And beers. And pizza.

Described as "a monthly cinematic experience for advertising creatives, producers, and storytellers who crave bold, boundary-pushing filmmaking," Rookie Film Club has a simple goal: to bring together industry professionals for a deep dive into cult classics, overlooked gems, and daring arthouse cinema – from legendary auteurs to fresh voices reshaping the medium today.

Held once a month in The Mill London’s sleek screening room and bar, the season kicks off with three masterpieces ripe for (re)discovery: In the Mood for Love (dir. Wong Kar Wai), Eraserhead (dir. recently departed legend David Lynch), and Breathless (dir. Jean-Luc Godard).

We caught up with Howard to talk curation, collaboration, and bringing cinema back into adland’s creative conversation.

Above: The first three films in the season - In The Mood For Love, Eraserhead, and Breathless.

Why do people need Rookie Film Club? What gap is it filling?

I’m fortunate to meet lots of creatives, producers and filmmakers as an EP, and one thing I always like to talk about is film. Actual films. The obscure, the mainstream, the mesmerising, the forgotten, the dreadful.

I especially love discovering people’s cinematic blind spots—those iconic films that everyone should have seen but haven’t got round to yet, or can’t face loading up on Netflix when all they want is something easy to watch after the daily grind. I have plenty of ‘guilty gaps’—films that have shaped modern cinema, culture and advertising but have somehow passed me by.

I use these conversations to expand my own ‘Need to Watch’ list, though I rarely get round to actually watching them.

Rookie Film Club was born from this fundamental need: to discover, absorb and discuss the essential and greatest films of our time. But crucially, it’s about experiencing them with the open-mindedness of a rookie and the commitment of a monk—to watch the director’s artistic vision as intended, on a big screen, free from distractions or the temptation to switch off.

The goal is to create an atmosphere where film isn’t just watched, but shared.

Another key motivation behind the club is the growing desire for real-life experiences. Many see the rise of experiential events as a reaction to lockdown frustrations, but I believe it reflects a deeper, long-term shift. Ever since the first iPhone era, people—not just in our industry but everywhere—have been craving tangible, human interactions.

We’re all looking for that spark of connection—the buzz of clicking with someone new, or even the awkwardness of putting your foot in it and saying the wrong thing. These moments remind us we’re alive, not just digital avatars presenting a curated version of ourselves on social media.

With this in mind, the club opens its doors an hour before the screening, encouraging guests to arrive early, grab a couple of slices of pizza and a drink (courtesy of our generous sponsors), and meet like-minded rookies from agencies, production companies and brands. The goal is to create an atmosphere where film isn’t just watched, but shared—where conversations about cinema, culture and creativity continue long after the credits roll.

Above: Jack Howard, EP at The Mill and founder and curator of Rookie Film Club.

How are you programming the events? What sort of films should people expect?

We felt there needed to be a clear theme and structure to the films being curated by The Mill, so the programme is built around three overarching strands:

• Landmark Debuts – Every legend starts somewhere. The audacious first films of cinema’s most iconic directors, from David Lynch to Lynne Ramsay.
• Timeless Wonders – Awe-inspiring masterpieces that have stood the test of time, from Wong Kar-wai to Spike Lee.
• Outcasts & Misfits – A celebration of rebels, outsiders and nonconformists, from Jean-Luc Godard to Darren Aronofsky.

These strands reflect a desire to showcase films that not only define cinematic history but also resonate with new audiences in fresh ways. Drawing from my time programming the Berlin Film Society—where the eclectic format gave audiences a diverse range of films to enjoy—I’ve carried over the principle of screening each film only once. This makes every screening a unique event, adding an urgency and excitement to the experience.

Is this just for film nerds? What if we don't know our Eisenstein from our elbow?

The club isn’t just for cinephiles—it’s for anyone who wants to experience forgotten masterpieces or cult classics on the big screen at The Mill’s underground cinema. Whether you’re discovering these films for the first time or revisiting them in this new context, the goal is to make great cinema accessible to all.

We’re committed to fostering an inclusive, welcoming space where people from all backgrounds can engage with extraordinary films. It’s not about knowing the history of Eisenstein or the technical details of a tracking shot—it’s about sparking conversations, sharing ideas, and connecting with others through the power of film.