Secret Cinema... tell no one!

Here at FOCUS we love experiencing all that London has to offer. This year is no exception and Alessandra has chosen a special treat for the staff: Secret Cinema. 

 “Secret Cinema is a growing community of all that love cinema and experiencing the unknown. Secret audience. Secret film. Secret location. Secret worlds.”   It is a different way of watching films. You sign up for an event and all you know is the date and time of the event. You do not know what you will watch and what the experience will be. You are then sent an invitation with some instructions including the address and the dress code. Ours was a Court Summons from the State of Oak Hampton and we needed to wear suits. This was all we knew and all I can say (it is a secret after all!).

The producers re-create the environment of the selected film and the attention to detail is simply amazing. We spent 2 – 3 hours in that staged set and all of our senses were stimulated. There were actors guiding us through the experience (though we were not always sure who was an actor and who was a fellow participant!).  Food and drinks were available and were also in tune with the theme.

The event finished with the screening of the film. It is only then that it all makes sense. The film we watched is one my favourites. I had already seen it quite a few times, but I must say that it just felt completely different to watch it this time. It was almost as if I understood what they were feeling and living in the film.

For an even more complete experience, there was also a Secret Restaurant and a Secret Hotel to complement the evening.

A few tips:

- You may not end your evening where you started.

- Follow the dress code instructions and do not hesitate to wear a coat to and from the event. Thermals keep you warm.  Cycling/ running trousers with a concealed zipper pocket are also good.

- Be open-minded and ready for the unknown!

The new Secret Cinema 020 production will take place in April/May 2013 in London and for the first time in Athens and New York. London sessions are already sold out! Register your interest on their website to learn first about other productions (or in case more dates are added!)

by Ana Beatriz Alencar

PS: The 19th Secret Cinema season has finished and  I can now reveal that the film was 'The Shawshank Redemption.' After court, we were all sentenced to prison and had to change from our nice suits into prison clothes. Life in prison was tough, but fun. You can see more of the production pictures here. 

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