I went to Secret Cinema on June 5, opening night, as well. Had an absolute blast. Super immersive and a lot of fun. Downside is that the place holds a lot of people. It gets crowded and stuffy in there. But my experience made it worth it. See spoilers for how my time went....SPOILERS!!!
I was on Q Branch team Cyber (purple), and was given instructions that my contact was last seen in Miami. I had also bought the mission kit as well, called the number on the back of the Universal Exports business card inside it before the event, and was told that I should look for someone who liked to drink gin. I spoke with a very obvious actor at the Miami airport bar who was greeting everyone, drink in hand. After some small talk, he asked if I liked to play poker. I told him I did. He then asked if I was any good and could win if I was able to play. I said I was, and I could. He then pulled me aside, said he was part of Operation Wildcard, and could get me in to a place to play poker and get vital information. He gave me $25,000 in the fake money they handed out, and ushered me to the Casino Royale set, where "Le Chiffre" was playing against 4 other people (non-actor attendees like me), as well as "Madam Wu" from the film. It took the $25K to buy into the game. I played well, chatted up with the actor, and also got to be part of Le Chiffre's business deals with "Gettler" and "Dimitrios". I spent nearly the entire 3 hours I had before the movie started playing cards with Le Chiffre, and negotiating deals for him with other main actors in the experience. It was amazing! I was at the main Casino Royale table when the action set piece took place which then kicked off the film screening. Just awesome...it was such a great experience!
Many thanks. All I can say is wow. It’s fantastic. My tip is as per others. Sit at the front for the screening. We were in the front row, and it was great. Well worth the money. I certainly hope they do another one soon.
Great to hear that those of you who have been have enjoyed it - looking forward to going in August (travelling too much with work to go any earlier!).
My wife is sorting her outfit so could those who have attended help me out please? Are the majority in evening wear ie dinner suit (tuxedo) for the guys and ball gowns/evening dress for the ladies?
My name has changed! I’m no longer dufus......now I’m DB6
Ditto, almost everyone was in evening dress but there were some great alternatives (presumably for those whose ‘cover story’ was the Fashion Impresario). If you buy the accessory pack you get a nifty colour-coded top pocket handkerchief to co-ordinate with your character.
I'm due to go this coming week with my partner, and I'm really looking forward to it! However, there's also a part of me that deep down inside is cringing at the thought of all of the actors and public performances. How much is interaction 'enforced'?
I'm due to go this coming week with my partner, and I'm really looking forward to it! However, there's also a part of me that deep down inside is cringing at the thought of all of the actors and public performances. How much is interaction 'enforced'?
Only what you want too. It’s worth getting involved though. It’s very well done and fantastic fun.
You can do as much or as little as you like. You could literally go in and just walk around the sets if you wanted to. I felt the same as you but had a few drinks before we got there and once we had spoken to the first actor, it all became a bit of a laugh and we had a great time.
You can do as much or as little as you like. You could literally go in and just walk around the sets if you wanted to. I felt the same as you but had a few drinks before we got there and once we had spoken to the first actor, it all became a bit of a laugh and we had a great time.
I went last night, and you're entirely right; my fears were completely unwarranted. What an absolutely amazing experience - might even look at trying to go again.
You can do as much or as little as you like. You could literally go in and just walk around the sets if you wanted to. I felt the same as you but had a few drinks before we got there and once we had spoken to the first actor, it all became a bit of a laugh and we had a great time.
I went last night, and you're entirely right; my fears were completely unwarranted. What an absolutely amazing experience - might even look at trying to go again.
I went at the weekend and what an experience it was. Whilst I completely failed at my given mission I felt completely immersed in the whole event and would love to go back
I have to say I feel quite differently about this than others and I realise my view won't be a popular one. We went last night and overall I am disappointed. The sets were good, although limited, and the actors engaging but it wasn't the amazing experience I felt it had been built up to by the internet influencers. I guess they feel obliged to make it sound beyond incredible as part of the deal.
The plethora of bars had almost no non-alcoholic drinks available (tonic water or coke were the options we were given) and when I asked for single measure of gin I was told it was a double as 'that's what we serve'. No great surprise then that during the screening of the film itself the noise from the bars was audible above the dialogue from the movie which was distracting. Also no surprise that when we left there was vomit on the floor and more than one person slumped on the floor drunk being tended to by friends and staff.
The sound of the movie wasn't great; so loud it was distorted and echoed. The picture quality was also poor - very grainy and far lower quality than I would expect from a cinema production.
The 'live action' during the screening didn't add a lot to the experience in my opinion. If anything the odd character walking across the stage area was distracting.
I won't be rushing back to secret cinema after this.
My name has changed! I’m no longer dufus......now I’m DB6
Yeah I don't think it was quite as impressive as the Star Wars one; a lot of that is because you can't really travel to another world with Bond, and certainly not with Casino Royale. The sets were great, but would I have preferred to walk through 60's Venice, a hollowed-out volcano, or Drax's lair? All of those would have felt like you were entering another world more than visiting contemporary Miami airport, as nicely done as it was. To be honest I think you get a more evocative set of sets out of Skyfall: Istanbul, the fantastical casino in Shanghai, London Underground (admittedly possibly not hugely impressive when you're in London!), Skyfall lodge etc.
And this one was a bit too packed with people: we got stuck in a huge log jam at one point.
Anyone fancy a ‘discuss with spoilers’ thread?! Just been... on the whole way more positive than some reviews I’ve seen, good sets, good action, some fun interactive stuff. As a SC veteran (4 shows now) it is better than most but Moulin Rouge was still #1 and that’s from someone who counts Casino Royale in top 5 movies of all time...
Hopefully, its success might lead them to think of doing another in the series. GF, SF, MR?
I’d imagine they’re done with Bond for a while; maybe in a few years. I’d hope for an Indiana Jones, but I reckon something like Game of Thrones or Harry Potter is in the post.
If they did do a Bond I’m with you: those ones you mention have much more of a ‘world’ you can enter, especially with the sets and period dress. But they’re not quite as zeitgeisty as Casino Royale: people in their 20s and 30s love that and remember it fondly.
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Many thanks. All I can say is wow. It’s fantastic. My tip is as per others. Sit at the front for the screening. We were in the front row, and it was great. Well worth the money. I certainly hope they do another one soon.
My wife is sorting her outfit so could those who have attended help me out please? Are the majority in evening wear ie dinner suit (tuxedo) for the guys and ball gowns/evening dress for the ladies?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pju28kcXllM&t=662s
Thanks for a spoiler free review David - looking forward to going with my wife next month and I’ll take on board your tips!
Only what you want too. It’s worth getting involved though. It’s very well done and fantastic fun.
I went last night, and you're entirely right; my fears were completely unwarranted. What an absolutely amazing experience - might even look at trying to go again.
Glad you enjoyed it
The plethora of bars had almost no non-alcoholic drinks available (tonic water or coke were the options we were given) and when I asked for single measure of gin I was told it was a double as 'that's what we serve'. No great surprise then that during the screening of the film itself the noise from the bars was audible above the dialogue from the movie which was distracting. Also no surprise that when we left there was vomit on the floor and more than one person slumped on the floor drunk being tended to by friends and staff.
The sound of the movie wasn't great; so loud it was distorted and echoed. The picture quality was also poor - very grainy and far lower quality than I would expect from a cinema production.
The 'live action' during the screening didn't add a lot to the experience in my opinion. If anything the odd character walking across the stage area was distracting.
I won't be rushing back to secret cinema after this.
And this one was a bit too packed with people: we got stuck in a huge log jam at one point.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/news/secret-cinema-taking-casino-royale-production-china-1236512
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Gosh that's an exciting move for Secret Cinema.
They are also saying the USA in 2020 as well (LA or NYC are mentioned). No word yet if it is Casino Royale , however.
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I’d imagine they’re done with Bond for a while; maybe in a few years. I’d hope for an Indiana Jones, but I reckon something like Game of Thrones or Harry Potter is in the post.
If they did do a Bond I’m with you: those ones you mention have much more of a ‘world’ you can enter, especially with the sets and period dress. But they’re not quite as zeitgeisty as Casino Royale: people in their 20s and 30s love that and remember it fondly.