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{{about|the film screening company|the 1968 film|The Secret Cinema}} {{about|the events company|the 1968 film|The Secret Cinema}}
] ]


'''Secret Cinema''' is a British events company, founded by Fabien Riggall, which focuses primarily (but not exclusively) on producing immersive, themed film-screenings which incorporate live performance.
'''Secret Cinema''' is an immersive film-experience company, founded, curated and directed by ], incorporating a number of associated off-shoot ventures, including Future Shorts, Future Cinema, Secret Music, Secret Screenings, Secret Youth, Secret Hotel, Secret Books and Secret Swimming. The company largely focuses on creating 'experiences' based around popular films, with the film's story being incorporated into an event before the film itself is eventually screened. Secret Cinema has created over 18 productions of movies along these lines, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Prometheus,<ref>{{cite web| title='The Screen Saver'; Wired. Author Tom Cheshire|url=http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-07/12/laura-marling-secret-cinema}}</ref> and held simultaneous screenings in London and Kabul.


==The Beginnings== ==Offshoots==
Alongside it's main Secret Cinema events (immersive film screenings which do not disclose the identity of the film in advance), over it's history the company has had a number of offshoot events and projects, including:
⚫ === Future Shorts ===
The Future Shorts network built quickly. Beginning in Bristol, then moving to Brussels, Belgium, a DVD was produced so that uniform screenings could be held irrelevant of location. Currently, there are 190 screenings every 3 months in over 52 countries, forming mini film festivals in places which otherwise would not have given life to this form of cinema. The next progression for Secret Cinema came in the form of Rock and Roll Cinema, housed at 93 Feet East in London’s Brick Lane. They created a vintage screening style, with old cinema chairs and waitresses on rollerskates. Films would be shown in the afternoon, with bands (often early in a successful career, such as the Noisettes) playing later. It ran for two and a half years.


=== Future Cinema === ===Future Shorts===
Future Shorts is a regular short film festival produced by Secret Cinema. Currently, there are 190 screenings every 3 months in over 52 countries, forming mini film festivals in places which otherwise would not have given life to this form of cinema.
⚫ Future Cinema was launched in 2005, with a Glastonbury Festival housed tent, complete with a recreated vintage cinema, showing 24 hours of films, short films and music videos. The first site-specific event launched that year, in collaboration with the London Film Festival. Showing experimental 1947 film Dreams Money Can Buy by Hans Richter at London’s SE1 Club. Audio-visual artists The Light Surgeons performed, alongside flamenco and gypsy bands.


⚫ ===Future Cinema===
2005 also saw support from brand ] which allowed Future Cinema to be shown to a much wider, national audience. Nosferatu was toured in London, Bristol, Edinburgh complete with horse and carriages, a recreated Roma gypsy scene for audience members to walk around in, and a room with 3D butterflies with actresses in nighties catching them. Furthering Riggall’s feeling that music is an integral part of cinema, a band played a live soundtrack to the films showing. A screening of Metropolis in London nightclub Fabric followed.
⚫ Future Cinema was launched in 2005, with a Glastonbury Festival housed tent, complete with a recreated vintage cinema, showing 24 hours of films, short films and music videos. These events are much like the main Secret Cinema, but the identity of the film is publicised in advance and not kept secret.


⚫ ===Secret Music===
]
The rave aesthetic spurned yet further progression for Fabien as his underground film movement had gained a wide database. Much like the secretive early 90s rave culture, Riggall wanted to apply it to film, and pitch up with a projector to abandoned places which reflect the aesthetic of the film, not releasing the location or even the film itself before the event. Thus, creating an instant adventure, a sense of mystery and the unexpected, forcing audiences to step out of their comfort zone. Relying heavily on the importance of social media and their fan database, Secret Cinema has to date built an online community of 2.8 million.<ref>{{cite web| title='The Screen Saver'; Wired. Author Tom Cheshire|url=http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-07/12/laura-marling-secret-cinema}}</ref> Aesthetic Magazine writes: ‘People are carefully assigned a dress code, job title, roles and provided clues to whet the imagination before they arrive. All just enough information to incite drooling, and yet not enough to reveal the identity of the actual film. The rest is left clandestine.’.<ref>{{cite web|title= Aesthetica Magazine Interview with Fabien Riggall|url=http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/blog/interview-with-the-director-of-secret-cinema-fabien-riggall/}}</ref>

The first venture as the Secret Cinema brand saw a collaboration with Tartan Films, as they took to a series of tunnels underneath London Bridge to bring to life Gus Van Sant’s Paranoid Park, a film about an accidental murder committed by a skateboarder. It was a sold-out event which hosted skaters, skate ramps and a dingy, immersive terse atmosphere. Riggall explains: “Staging that was pretty out there, really. There were quite a few challenges in terms of environment, but we were quite surprised by how quickly the audience got in to the idea and became part of this skate world we made.”.<ref>{{cite web|title= Aesthetica Magazine Interview with Fabien Riggall|url=http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/blog/interview-with-the-director-of-secret-cinema-fabien-riggall/}}</ref>

The formula of keeping the entire event secret had worked, and selling tickets by word of mouth and their database alone proved successful. Secret Cinema moved from there to showing Funny Face, starring Audrey Hepburn, in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Art at an event, including a catwalk and specially designed clothes. Riggall and his team recreated real world 1950s Paris, and performed the event over two nights. Audience numbers had doubled, and over 1000 people attended each night.

Latitude festival hosted the showing of Black Cat White Cat whilst a gypsy band played a wedding procession through the festival, and the band Guillemots re-scoring Eraserhead live and a Chinese Cinema at Glastonbury showing classics to shorts to animation. Later, as part of Future Shorts Live (where bands play live to films) at the Camden Crawl, the Guillemots would also re-score Old Boy.

Lindsey Anderson’s If came soon after. The story follows a rebellion in a school. If was screened at Dulwich College with 1000 people attending over two screenings. The audience were treated as school-returning kids after a summer holiday, with actors playing teachers shaking hands as they welcomed them back. As people walked in, they sang a hymn together and watched the film in a surrounding that matched what was seen on celluloid.

Ed Williams, Future Cinema's Head of Locations, explains that picking the location always comes before selecting the movie, as "films are easier to find than buildings.".<ref>{{cite web| title='The Screen Saver'; Wired. Author Tom Cheshire|url=http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-07/12/laura-marling-secret-cinema}}</ref>

Secret Cinema returned to its Future Shorts home of Shepherd’s Bush Green for a showing of Wings of Desire at an abandoned cinema. An entire German U-Bahn station was created as people entered. The next step up in production value was for Blade Runner, which was met with resounding critical acclaim. An extremely ambitious production, it was made in partnership with Canary Wharf. They created Utopia Skyways – a travel agency providing the ‘chance to begin again’. The audience entered Canary Wharf to a grandiose futuristic travel agent’s scene where they could book their tickets to the off-world colonies. Coaches then arrived to take them to their space ports, and en route, were held up by actors playing replicant bounty hunters. Marched out in to a recreated Chinatown set, the audience were chaperoned via a sea of shipping containers to their final screening point. Over 7000 people attended.

2010 saw Laurence of Arabia recreated in Alexandra’s Palace’s majestic main hall and park with over 5000 in attendance a day. Inspired by and produced in wake of the Arab Spring, Secret Cinema built an entire souk, complete with six camels, fifteen horses and sixty actors.

From the epic, Secret Cinema returned to something more modest as they recreated the world of One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest in an old hospital, welcoming 400 people a night. In wake of the London riots, La Haine was shown at the Broadwater Farm council estate in Tottenham.]

Riggall on Secret Cinema presents The Shawshank Redemption: 'At Shawshank, "prisoners" receiving group therapy in one room looked out on to the courtyard. They happened to see Tommy Williams speaking with prison warden Samuel Norton, then be gunned down. In the film, the pivotal scene is shot up-close, from a bystander's point of view. More than 500 Shawshank Redemption participants wrote letters which were subsequently posted to inmates of UK prisons, and, on behalf of Amnesty International, to foreign embassies in Iran, Ethiopia, the Philippines and Turkey, petitioning for the release of journalists and activists.'.<ref>{{cite web| title='The Screen Saver'; Wired. Author Tom Cheshire|url=http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-07/12/laura-marling-secret-cinema}}</ref> “I’m surprised all the time. For example, with ] event, the idea of stripping people, locking them up and treating them badly might be something the average person doesn’t want to experience on a night out. It was surprising that the level people enjoyed the truth of what it would be like inside a prison, and how they could then disrupt the system within that prison. It also shocks me how much the audience actually want to participate and create.”.<ref>{{cite web|title= Aesthetica Magazine Interview with Fabien Riggall|url=http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/blog/interview-with-the-director-of-secret-cinema-fabien-riggall/}}</ref>

⚫ == Secret Music ==
In July 2013, Secret Music was launched. <ref>{{cite web| title='Secret Cinema presents Laura Marling url=http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-07/12/laura-marling-secret-cinema}}</ref> Beginning with folk singer ], the Secret Cinema team created The Grand Eagle Hotel<ref>{{cite web|title=Flickr: Secret Cinema presents Laura Marling|url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/futurecinema/sets/72157634556771301/}}</ref> in great detail in a disused East London school (The Old Cardinal Pole School), to build a 1920s emporium, with intricately designed décor of the time, inspired by, and bringing to life Marling’s music.<ref>{{cite web|title=Newsweek Interview with Fabien Riggall |url=http://mag.newsweek.com/2013/08/23/fabien-riggall-s-secret-series-bring-intrigue-to-the-arts.html}}</ref> Participants were encouraged to discover the 16 different songs of the album with rooms themed to each one, instructed to wear vintage black tie attire. In July 2013, Secret Music was launched. <ref>{{cite web| title='Secret Cinema presents Laura Marling url=http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-07/12/laura-marling-secret-cinema}}</ref> Beginning with folk singer ], the Secret Cinema team created The Grand Eagle Hotel<ref>{{cite web|title=Flickr: Secret Cinema presents Laura Marling|url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/futurecinema/sets/72157634556771301/}}</ref> in great detail in a disused East London school (The Old Cardinal Pole School), to build a 1920s emporium, with intricately designed décor of the time, inspired by, and bringing to life Marling’s music.<ref>{{cite web|title=Newsweek Interview with Fabien Riggall |url=http://mag.newsweek.com/2013/08/23/fabien-riggall-s-secret-series-bring-intrigue-to-the-arts.html}}</ref> Participants were encouraged to discover the 16 different songs of the album with rooms themed to each one, instructed to wear vintage black tie attire.


== International == ===International===
Secret Cinema held a special one off screening in ] in December 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/events/126553870789116/ |work=Facebook |title=Secret Cinema Kabul, Afghanistan |deadurl=no |accessdate=28 July 2012}}</ref> Secret Cinema held a special one off screening in ] in December 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/events/126553870789116/ |work=Facebook |title=Secret Cinema Kabul, Afghanistan |deadurl=no |accessdate=28 July 2012}}</ref>
The film was screened in both Kabul and London simultaneously, apparently the first international simultaneous screening of its kind.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shhhhh! Secret Cinema to screen in Kabul and London|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/shhhhh-secret-cinema-to-screen-in-kabul-and-london-6374390.html|accessdate=21 March 2012|newspaper=The London Evening Standard|date=2 December 2011}}</ref> 'Obviously in Kabul they have to do it at a secret location for security purposes and we do it here to create intrigue and mystery. We're interested in getting their audience and ours watching the film together and opening up discussion. Maybe culture can open up people more than politics.'<ref>{{cite web|title='Shhhhhh - Secret Cinema to screen in Kabul; the Evening Standard | url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/shhhhh-secret-cinema-to-screen-in-kabul-and-london-6374390.html}}</ref> The film was screened in both Kabul and London simultaneously, apparently the first international simultaneous screening of its kind.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shhhhh! Secret Cinema to screen in Kabul and London|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/shhhhh-secret-cinema-to-screen-in-kabul-and-london-6374390.html|accessdate=21 March 2012|newspaper=The London Evening Standard|date=2 December 2011}}</ref> 'Obviously in Kabul they have to do it at a secret location for security purposes and we do it here to create intrigue and mystery. We're interested in getting their audience and ours watching the film together and opening up discussion. Maybe culture can open up people more than politics.'<ref>{{cite web|title='Shhhhhh - Secret Cinema to screen in Kabul; the Evening Standard | url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/shhhhh-secret-cinema-to-screen-in-kabul-and-london-6374390.html}}</ref>


== Criticism == ==Criticism and Cancellations==

⚫ Secret Cinema has received some criticism following the cancellation of some events. In May 2013, 2500 attendees to their ''Brazil'' event were told just 60 minutes before opening night that it had been cancelled due "licensing issues" surrounding the serving of alcohol.<ref></ref> Initially meant to open on April 25, the event didn't actually begin until May 2, leaving thousands of ticket holders, some of whom had travelled from different countries to attend, without compensation for lost hotel and travel bookings.
===Brazil===
⚫ In May 2013, 2500 attendees to their ''Brazil'' event were told just 60 minutes before opening night that it had been cancelled due "licensing issues" surrounding the serving of alcohol.<ref></ref> Initially meant to open on April 25, the event didn't actually begin until May 2, leaving thousands of ticket holders, some of whom had travelled from different countries to attend, without compensation for lost hotel and travel bookings.


=== Back to the Future === ===Back to the Future===
In 2014, for their ''Back to the Future'' event, the first day of ticket sales crashed their chosen provider's website, forcing them to restart sales with another company the following day.<ref></ref> When the same event was scheduled to open on July 24, 2014, Secret Cinema again cancelled the open night with 60 minutes to go, leaving thousands of fans upset, many of whom had travelled from different countries to attend.<ref></ref><ref name="second-update"></ref> Due to the high profile of the event, the cancellation made national headlines.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref> In 2014, for their ''Back to the Future'' event, the first day of ticket sales crashed their chosen provider's website, forcing them to restart sales with another company the following day.<ref></ref> When the same event was scheduled to open on July 24, 2014, Secret Cinema again cancelled the open night with 60 minutes to go, leaving thousands of fans upset, many of whom had travelled from different countries to attend.<ref></ref><ref name="second-update"></ref> Due to the high profile of the event, the cancellation made national headlines.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>


Secret Cinema issued a statement the evening of the opening night cancellation that a more detailed update would be coming the following morning, twelve hours later, at 11am.<ref name="second-update"></ref> At 11:17am they issued a further statement that a further "detailed statement" would be coming "very soon".<ref></ref> Four hours later, Secret Cinema cancelled the subsequent performance with no detailed explanation.<ref></ref> Secret Cinema issued a statement the evening of the opening night cancellation that a more detailed update would be coming the following morning, twelve hours later, at 11am.<ref name="second-update"></ref> At 11:17am they issued a further statement that a further "detailed statement" would be coming "very soon".<ref></ref> Four hours later, Secret Cinema cancelled the subsequent performance with no detailed explanation.<ref></ref>


== Productions == ==Productions==
=== 2007 === ===2007===
*'']'' directed by ] *'']'' directed by ]
*:Shipwright Yard, London; December 2007 *:Shipwright Yard, London; December 2007


=== 2008 === ===2008===
*'']'' directed by ] *'']'' directed by ]
*:Royal Academy of Arts, London; February 2008 *:Royal Academy of Arts, London; February 2008
Line 66: Line 47:
*:Royal Horticultural Halls & the Corn Exchange, Brighton; November 2008 *:Royal Horticultural Halls & the Corn Exchange, Brighton; November 2008


=== 2009 === ===2009===
*'']'' directed by ] *'']'' directed by ]
*:Sheperd’s Bush Empire, London; February 2009 *:Sheperd’s Bush Empire, London; February 2009
Line 78: Line 59:
*:The Troxy, London; November 2009 *:The Troxy, London; November 2009


=== 2010 === ===2010===
*'']'' directed by ] *'']'' directed by ]
*:Sheperd’s Bush Pavilion, London; February 2010 *:Sheperd’s Bush Pavilion, London; February 2010
Line 88: Line 69:
*:Princess Louise Hospital, London; November 2010 *:Princess Louise Hospital, London; November 2010


=== 2011 === ===2011===
*'']'' directed by ] *'']'' directed by ]
*:Tobacco Docks, London; February 2011 *:Tobacco Docks, London; February 2011
Line 96: Line 77:
*:Clerkenwell; December 2011 to 22 January 2012 *:Clerkenwell; December 2011 to 22 January 2012


=== 2012 === ===2012===
*'']'' directed by ] *'']'' directed by ]
*:Euston, London; June 2012 *:Euston, London; June 2012
*'']'' directed by ] *'']'' directed by ]
*:Cardinal Pole Lower School, Hackney, London; November 2012 *:Cardinal Pole Lower School, Hackney, London; November 2012

=== 2013 === ===2013===
*'']'' directed by ] *'']'' directed by ]
*:West Croydon, London; May 2013 *:West Croydon, London; May 2013
Line 108: Line 89:
*:Cardinal Pole Lower School, Hackney, London; June–July 2013 *:Cardinal Pole Lower School, Hackney, London; June–July 2013


=== 2014 === ===2014===
*'']'' directed by ]<ref>{{cite news|title=Secret Cinema announces ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ Wes Anderson experience|url=http://now-here-this.timeout.com/2014/01/31/secret-cinema-grand-budapest/}}</ref> *'']'' directed by ]<ref>{{cite news|title=Secret Cinema announces ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ Wes Anderson experience|url=http://now-here-this.timeout.com/2014/01/31/secret-cinema-grand-budapest/}}</ref>
*:The Farmiloe Building, London; February–April 2014 *:The Farmiloe Building, London; February–April 2014
Line 116: Line 97:
*:], July-August 2014 *:], July-August 2014


== See also == ==See also==
* ] - British theatre company and pioneer of immersive theatre * ] - British theatre company and pioneer of immersive theatre


== References == ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


Revision as of 00:16, 15 December 2014

This article contains promotional content. Please help improve it by removing promotional language and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic text written from a neutral point of view. (April 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
This article is about the events company. For the 1968 film, see The Secret Cinema.
File:Secret Cinema logo.jpg
Secret Cinema logo in 2014

Secret Cinema is a British events company, founded by Fabien Riggall, which focuses primarily (but not exclusively) on producing immersive, themed film-screenings which incorporate live performance.

Offshoots

Alongside it's main Secret Cinema events (immersive film screenings which do not disclose the identity of the film in advance), over it's history the company has had a number of offshoot events and projects, including:

Future Shorts

Future Shorts is a regular short film festival produced by Secret Cinema. Currently, there are 190 screenings every 3 months in over 52 countries, forming mini film festivals in places which otherwise would not have given life to this form of cinema.

Future Cinema

Future Cinema was launched in 2005, with a Glastonbury Festival housed tent, complete with a recreated vintage cinema, showing 24 hours of films, short films and music videos. These events are much like the main Secret Cinema, but the identity of the film is publicised in advance and not kept secret.

Secret Music

In July 2013, Secret Music was launched. Beginning with folk singer Laura Marling, the Secret Cinema team created The Grand Eagle Hotel in great detail in a disused East London school (The Old Cardinal Pole School), to build a 1920s emporium, with intricately designed décor of the time, inspired by, and bringing to life Marling’s music. Participants were encouraged to discover the 16 different songs of the album with rooms themed to each one, instructed to wear vintage black tie attire.

International

Secret Cinema held a special one off screening in Kabul in December 2011. The film was screened in both Kabul and London simultaneously, apparently the first international simultaneous screening of its kind. 'Obviously in Kabul they have to do it at a secret location for security purposes and we do it here to create intrigue and mystery. We're interested in getting their audience and ours watching the film together and opening up discussion. Maybe culture can open up people more than politics.'

Criticism and Cancellations

Brazil

In May 2013, 2500 attendees to their Brazil event were told just 60 minutes before opening night that it had been cancelled due "licensing issues" surrounding the serving of alcohol. Initially meant to open on April 25, the event didn't actually begin until May 2, leaving thousands of ticket holders, some of whom had travelled from different countries to attend, without compensation for lost hotel and travel bookings.

Back to the Future

In 2014, for their Back to the Future event, the first day of ticket sales crashed their chosen provider's website, forcing them to restart sales with another company the following day. When the same event was scheduled to open on July 24, 2014, Secret Cinema again cancelled the open night with 60 minutes to go, leaving thousands of fans upset, many of whom had travelled from different countries to attend. Due to the high profile of the event, the cancellation made national headlines.

Secret Cinema issued a statement the evening of the opening night cancellation that a more detailed update would be coming the following morning, twelve hours later, at 11am. At 11:17am they issued a further statement that a further "detailed statement" would be coming "very soon". Four hours later, Secret Cinema cancelled the subsequent performance with no detailed explanation.

Productions

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

  • Brazil directed by Terry Gilliam
    West Croydon, London; May 2013
  • Secret Cinema presents Laura Marling
    Cardinal Pole Lower School, Hackney, London; June–July 2013

2014

See also

  • Punchdrunk - British theatre company and pioneer of immersive theatre

References

  1. "'Secret Cinema presents Laura Marling url=http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-07/12/laura-marling-secret-cinema". {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help); Missing pipe in: |title= (help)
  2. "Flickr: Secret Cinema presents Laura Marling".
  3. "Newsweek Interview with Fabien Riggall".
  4. "Secret Cinema Kabul, Afghanistan". Facebook. Retrieved 28 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. "Shhhhh! Secret Cinema to screen in Kabul and London". The London Evening Standard. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  6. "'Shhhhhh - Secret Cinema to screen in Kabul; the Evening Standard".
  7. Secret Cinema reveals ‘Brazil’ figures
  8. Secret Cinema's Back To The Future back on sale 1pm | Wired.com
  9. @secretcinema | Twitter.com
  10. ^ SECRET CINEMA | TICKET CANCELLATION UPDATE
  11. BBC News - Secret Cinema cancels Back To The Future opening night
  12. Secret Cinema cancels Back to the Future screening just 90 minutes before doors open leaving disappointed fans seething
  13. Secret Cinema cancels Back to the Future opening night | Screen Daily
  14. Secret Cinema Facebook Page - "To all our audience..."
  15. Secret Cinema Facebook | "To all our audience..."
  16. "Secret Cinema announces 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' Wes Anderson experience".
  17. Digital Spy | Secret Cinema ends Miller's Crossing production, confirms 2014 return
  18. "Secret Cinema 21 - Five Star Review".
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