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Secret Cinema: the dynamic film experience coming soon to Australia Secret Cinema: the dynamic film experience coming soon to Australia
(3 months later)
Good news, Australia. Secret Cinema is coming to our shores.Good news, Australia. Secret Cinema is coming to our shores.
Over the past decade the company has been entertaining Londoners with film screenings of cult classics such as Back to the Future and Star Wars – jacked up with interactive theatre shenanigans on giant, elaborately designed sets.Over the past decade the company has been entertaining Londoners with film screenings of cult classics such as Back to the Future and Star Wars – jacked up with interactive theatre shenanigans on giant, elaborately designed sets.
Secret Cinema’s founder and director, Fabien Riggall, doesn’t give a concrete date for when but says the company is talking to possible Australian partners.Secret Cinema’s founder and director, Fabien Riggall, doesn’t give a concrete date for when but says the company is talking to possible Australian partners.
Related: A night at Secret Cinema: forced fun gives way to immersive extravaganza
It has just wrapped up a run of 2002 zombie thriller 28 Days Later in London, where ticket-holders were directed to turn up at an old factory that had been transformed into a creepy-looking hospital. After making their way through a post-apocalyptic version of London, they ended up at a rave with fake blood pouring from the ceiling and were strapped into laboratory beds and “forced” to watch the Danny Boyle flick.It has just wrapped up a run of 2002 zombie thriller 28 Days Later in London, where ticket-holders were directed to turn up at an old factory that had been transformed into a creepy-looking hospital. After making their way through a post-apocalyptic version of London, they ended up at a rave with fake blood pouring from the ceiling and were strapped into laboratory beds and “forced” to watch the Danny Boyle flick.
Riggall says they are always looking for dynamic intersections of film storylines with real-life concerns. 28 Days Later was a film inspired by the Ebola crisis of the time but finds new resonance when paired with more recent strikes by British junior doctors. “We took this idea that a virus has been raging across England and the junior doctors strike, due to the [National Health Service] cuts, has meant that we can’t contain the virus.”Riggall says they are always looking for dynamic intersections of film storylines with real-life concerns. 28 Days Later was a film inspired by the Ebola crisis of the time but finds new resonance when paired with more recent strikes by British junior doctors. “We took this idea that a virus has been raging across England and the junior doctors strike, due to the [National Health Service] cuts, has meant that we can’t contain the virus.”
Secret Cinema was born out of Riggall’s short film festival Future Shorts and Future Cinema, which took films out of their natural cineplex environment and into more unusual locations. The company is now focused on bringing their alternative cinema experiences into other territories, including Australia and the US.Secret Cinema was born out of Riggall’s short film festival Future Shorts and Future Cinema, which took films out of their natural cineplex environment and into more unusual locations. The company is now focused on bringing their alternative cinema experiences into other territories, including Australia and the US.
“We’re really excited about coming to Australia. In Future Shorts we screen a lot of short films from Australian directors, like Nash Edgerton and Adam Elliot, who made Harvie Krumpet. I’m also a big fan of films like Lantana and Chopper. There’s really, really good talent in Australia.”“We’re really excited about coming to Australia. In Future Shorts we screen a lot of short films from Australian directors, like Nash Edgerton and Adam Elliot, who made Harvie Krumpet. I’m also a big fan of films like Lantana and Chopper. There’s really, really good talent in Australia.”
Related: Batman in 4DX with fake rain and added smells? Bring it on
Guardian Australia: What did you set out to do with Secret Cinema?Guardian Australia: What did you set out to do with Secret Cinema?
Fabien Riggall: In the early days, cinema was more of an event: people dressed up, there was an organ, there would be music. It was a spectacle. So I think we’re really taking inspiration from the past, as well as looking at new ways of doing things.Fabien Riggall: In the early days, cinema was more of an event: people dressed up, there was an organ, there would be music. It was a spectacle. So I think we’re really taking inspiration from the past, as well as looking at new ways of doing things.
As well I started making short films and built a short film festival called Future Shorts. The idea was to create a gig-like experience of a film night. Our events became more and more elaborate and where it is now is this idea of reimagining the way you experience films. Instead of just watching a film you become a part of it. How do you create a secret in today’s hyper information world?As well I started making short films and built a short film festival called Future Shorts. The idea was to create a gig-like experience of a film night. Our events became more and more elaborate and where it is now is this idea of reimagining the way you experience films. Instead of just watching a film you become a part of it. How do you create a secret in today’s hyper information world?
With how big the events have grown do you feel it’s lost that “secret” element?With how big the events have grown do you feel it’s lost that “secret” element?
Not really, no. I think the secret’s got even more pronounced. We did Dr Strangelove in February to 23,000 people and to have that many people not know what they’re going to feel, what they’re going to experience and then actually keeping that a secret – it’s a testament to the idea.Not really, no. I think the secret’s got even more pronounced. We did Dr Strangelove in February to 23,000 people and to have that many people not know what they’re going to feel, what they’re going to experience and then actually keeping that a secret – it’s a testament to the idea.
With the sophistication of home entertainment systems and film streaming services like Netflix, does it take something as performative and communal as Secret Cinema to entice film lovers from out their homes?With the sophistication of home entertainment systems and film streaming services like Netflix, does it take something as performative and communal as Secret Cinema to entice film lovers from out their homes?
Society has become completely addicted to the instantaneous, to information; we spend more time online than offline and I think people are definitely hungry for connection in the real world. What we do, it’s not just a film screening. It’s more of an interactive theatre experience. We just did 28 Days Later as a 5.5 hour experience, of which the film was only 1.5 hours.Society has become completely addicted to the instantaneous, to information; we spend more time online than offline and I think people are definitely hungry for connection in the real world. What we do, it’s not just a film screening. It’s more of an interactive theatre experience. We just did 28 Days Later as a 5.5 hour experience, of which the film was only 1.5 hours.
How much did it cost to put 28 Days Later together?How much did it cost to put 28 Days Later together?
Shitloads. The events that we put on get more and more elaborate and it’s a considerable investment.Shitloads. The events that we put on get more and more elaborate and it’s a considerable investment.
What advice do you have for Australia, which is still in the early days of taking films out of the traditional cinema theatre ?What advice do you have for Australia, which is still in the early days of taking films out of the traditional cinema theatre ?
Related: 28 Days Later at Secret Cinema: a bloodthirsty attack on the wallet
We’re talking at the moment to various folks in Australia, and have been for some time, about bringing Secret Cinema to Australia.We’re talking at the moment to various folks in Australia, and have been for some time, about bringing Secret Cinema to Australia.
In this current climate in the entertainment business, in the live area, I think it’s all open, really. There’s just so much opportunity to do things differently and to just go for it.In this current climate in the entertainment business, in the live area, I think it’s all open, really. There’s just so much opportunity to do things differently and to just go for it.
How can a project like this benefit the local film industry and encourage Australians to watch local films?How can a project like this benefit the local film industry and encourage Australians to watch local films?
In regards to the kinds of films we create Secret Cinemas around, it’s a real mix of different films and from different parts of the world. What I’m really interested in is creating a new appetite for going to see films but also seeking out films that you might not necessarily have gone to, had it not been a “secret”.In regards to the kinds of films we create Secret Cinemas around, it’s a real mix of different films and from different parts of the world. What I’m really interested in is creating a new appetite for going to see films but also seeking out films that you might not necessarily have gone to, had it not been a “secret”.
We have two sides to secret cinemas: we have Secret Cinema X, which is the smaller shows, smaller events, and Secret Cinema, which is the main one. With Secret Cinema X we’ve done films like Amy, the documentary on Amy Winehouse, The Imposter, Searching for Sugarman and also foreign films.We have two sides to secret cinemas: we have Secret Cinema X, which is the smaller shows, smaller events, and Secret Cinema, which is the main one. With Secret Cinema X we’ve done films like Amy, the documentary on Amy Winehouse, The Imposter, Searching for Sugarman and also foreign films.
Secret Cinema is looking to build a network, essentially, so that local films can get on an international stage. That’s what Future Shorts is about. If you look at what we did with Future Shorts we’ve got films from six different countries.Secret Cinema is looking to build a network, essentially, so that local films can get on an international stage. That’s what Future Shorts is about. If you look at what we did with Future Shorts we’ve got films from six different countries.
What are you looking for in a film when curating for Secret Cinema?What are you looking for in a film when curating for Secret Cinema?
It’s a mixture. Dr Strangelove was slightly linked to Trident and that discussion around nuclear war: what would the audience do if they were part of the United Nations? How would they make a decision about whether to end nuclear arms or not? With Star Wars it was a real celebration of that film.It’s a mixture. Dr Strangelove was slightly linked to Trident and that discussion around nuclear war: what would the audience do if they were part of the United Nations? How would they make a decision about whether to end nuclear arms or not? With Star Wars it was a real celebration of that film.
There are films which would be fun to do and other times it’s more connected to what’s going on in real life. We don’t just recreate the film, we build a story around it, so the films have to work in that format.There are films which would be fun to do and other times it’s more connected to what’s going on in real life. We don’t just recreate the film, we build a story around it, so the films have to work in that format.
Have you ever considered commissioning a new film just for Secret Cinema?Have you ever considered commissioning a new film just for Secret Cinema?
Yeah, we’re looking at that. I’m very interested in the next stage of what we can do.Yeah, we’re looking at that. I’m very interested in the next stage of what we can do.
We’ve built a very substantial audience. I started my career producing short films and the idea was to always produce films. Secret Cinema has become a much bigger project, the consequence of which has consequences for the way you could make film. If you were to make a film knowing it was going to become a Secret Cinema, I think it gets very interesting.We’ve built a very substantial audience. I started my career producing short films and the idea was to always produce films. Secret Cinema has become a much bigger project, the consequence of which has consequences for the way you could make film. If you were to make a film knowing it was going to become a Secret Cinema, I think it gets very interesting.
There’s a couple of films that are in development with quite special film-makers but it’s early days. I just got back from Cannes where I was meeting with different people about what Secret Cinema can offer if you started bridging those two things: from film production to the way a film is released.There’s a couple of films that are in development with quite special film-makers but it’s early days. I just got back from Cannes where I was meeting with different people about what Secret Cinema can offer if you started bridging those two things: from film production to the way a film is released.
And because of Future Shorts we have this fantastic community of film-makers that we’ve been tracking since they were at the beginnings of their careers. If you look at film-makers like Nash Edgerton from Australia – a very notable short film-maker and whose gone on to really great things – that’s what I’m really excited about.And because of Future Shorts we have this fantastic community of film-makers that we’ve been tracking since they were at the beginnings of their careers. If you look at film-makers like Nash Edgerton from Australia – a very notable short film-maker and whose gone on to really great things – that’s what I’m really excited about.