Secret Cinema events operate by providing a creative, immersive experience for its audiences in which to view the film, recreating settings and characters reminiscent of the films such as Blade Runner's China Town and Lawrence of Arabia's souks and deserts.
More ambitious than Secret Cinema's customary one night extravaganzas, Blade Runner ran for eight screenings and proved to be the 11th biggest grossing film in the UK that week.
Point Source Productions supplied a QX30S trussing system and lighting which included ETC Source 4s, CCT Minuette Fresnels, PAR 64s and floor-mounted Birdies providing general cover and uplight from a design by LD and production electrician, Jono Kenyon. Martin MAC 550s were also used to recreate one of the major effects in the movie of searchlights sweeping through the streets of China Town.
Fuzz lights and festoon lighting, loaded with energy saving light bulbs created a 'grungy' feel, combined with smoke effects from a Tour Hazer and two Data II units, with further smoke effects provided by a JEM Glaciator.
All mains power distribution for the 'live' catering stalls and shops in 'China Town' and for two large LED screens was also provided by Point Source Productions, along with approximately 1.5 tons of cable.
"This event was bigger than the normal Secret Cinema experiences," explains Kenyon. "The whole idea was to create a more authentic atmosphere than the usual tableaux of previous Secret Cinema events and Point Source was on hand to offer support during the run as well as in production."
Lawrence of Arabia, which followed in September, was the largest and most ambitious screening yet, playing to an audience of 5,000. Kenyon and the team at Point Source Productions had only a matter of days to transform Alexandra Palace's West Hall, Palm Court, West Corridor and the Great Hall into scenarios representative of the film including an authentic market in the West Hall and a screening area in the Great Hall.
The main challenge for Kenyon was to provide a full design and supply package - including power for all catering, projection and sound and all decorative, feature and scene lighting, distribution and control - to each of these areas, at very short notice and over a Bank Holiday weekend. Once more, Kenyon called upon Point Source Productions to provide the equipment he needed.
Ten tons of sand were brought in to create dunes through which Lawrence makes his entrance on camel-back prior to the start of the film. Kenyon's lighting gave an expansive 'epic' feel creating the illusion of the sun and heat of the desert. This he did using big swathes of single source light and shadow created by a rig composed almost entirely of 5kW Bambino and Leonardo Fresnels with Rainbow colour scrollers and a 4kW HMI Fresnel projecting through the rose window to represent the point source of the sunlight.
"The surprise element of Secret Cinema's events means that instructions tend to arrive very close to the event date," says Kenyon. "The fun part is not knowing where the event will take place or what the film will be ...and then having to react quickly!"
"At Point Source Productions we understand, and work closely with, our clients which means we are ready to adapt our working processes to facilitate their requirements at short notice," says Point Source Productions MD, Stephen Capel, "even on large scale projects like this one."
The next mystery event from Secret Cinema takes place early next year 'somewhere in London' - Point Source Productions is standing by.
(Jim Evans)
