I have well and truly caught the Secret Cinema bug over the past 3 months. Ever since I first heard about the movie theme for this year’s show I was desperate to be a part of it! Back to the Future has always been one of my all-time favourite films; one of the staple movies that all children should be brought up on, in my opinion. I knew that I HAD to see this Hill Valley re-creation for myself.
Before the event had started, in the months leading up to it, your excitement is peaked by emails from Secret Cinema that resemble type-writer documents, calling for you to attend the 1955 Hill Valley Fair. All communications are pretty coded but working out their meaning becomes part of the fun. Each attendee is assigned a 1950’s persona along with job and a relevant ID card (I was a journalist for the Hill Valley Telegraph whilst my wife was a Hill Valley high school student). These emails also instruct you to bring certain items with you that will enhance your experience within Hill Valley, such as articles of clothing to wear, a family photograph, etc. These were not necessary for getting in but blimey do they make the evening more fun!!
There were no mobile phones or digital cameras allowed inside (as they did not exist in 1955) however fortunately disposable cameras are sold inside so photos can still be taken. You will see some of these amongst the images in this blog.
So, it began for us inside the barn at Twin Pines Ranch (where the Delorean crashes in the first film). As you enter the event you are lead through that barn and into the farm complete with live sheep and goats. Here was where my wife and I experienced our first interaction with the event. The farmers daughter ran over to us, having seen my reporters ID attached to my hat, and proceeded to overload us with information about a strange UFO that had earlier crashed into their property and for me to report it in the paper. UFOs? Really? Preposterous! Unfortunately she didn’t like my apparent negativity so marched us off her land in front of a growing group of bystanders. As we made our way towards the town centre we could still hear her shouting at us to never come back, but also to make sure we got the story published….Brilliant!!
Still reeling from the crazy farm girl we rounded the next corner onto what can only be described as a quintessentially 50’s suburban road, lined on both sides by houses. Getting closer it became apparent from their postboxes that these were inhabited by the main characters from the films. Each is brilliantly decorated with furniture, pictures and, in Biff Tannen’s case, a working radio reeling off sports results…no Sports Almanac in sight though.
Heading past the houses brings you out into the main courtyard of Hill Valley, with shops and businesses lining both sides, Joe’s Café sits at the front and the famous clock tower standing at the far side. Hill Valley police prowl the streets so DO NOT jaywalk here…we found out the hard way!! Here was where we came across probably our only negative of the night; the streets are far too narrow for 3,500 people to walk along. It becomes quite claustrophobic navigating from business to business.
Upon entering the high school we were invited to leave a graffiti message on the lockers before entering the school hall for the ‘Enchantment under the sea’ dance. Marvin Berry and the Starlighters were playing away on the stage while couples dance the night away – very surreal!
When we were back out into the courtyard it becomes apparent that if you want to sit on the grass for a good view of the film you need a British holiday-maker’s attitude to reserving space; towels and rugs fill the grassy area, reserved for those who really planned ahead. Fortunately we were happy just to take in the atmosphere and visit all of the various businesses. Joe’s was rammed at all times, queues feeding out of the doors filled with those who were desperate for a classic milkshake or burger. We found a large food court and fun fair behind the café that was considerably less busy, so tucked into burgers there. A carousel and ferris wheel were doing good business, as were the stalls for hook-a-duck and shooting range (which I found out I’m rubbish at).
Actors break into re-creations of popular scenes from the film all around you. We witnessed Marty getting hit by a car outside his mother Lorraine’s house, Biff and his crew chasing Marty around the courtyard and Doc Brown setting up his ‘weather experiment.’ We seemed to walk round in awe of the spectacle, with big grins on our faces the whole time.
The effort that so many people had gone to with their costume choices were amazing. We genuinely thought that we had done well with ours, yet we paled in comparison to some. We even saw a group of gents dressed as the Libyan terrorists from the film’s start! Impressive fancy dress! It just added to the incredible atmosphere that really did immerse you in the theme. I have never seen so many trilbys, bow-ties and petticoats in one place…
The film finally started as the sun began to set. This was where Secret Cinema really pulled out all the stops. They effectively recreated every major stunt from the film and acted them out in sync with the big screen above. The Delorean raced around the front of the courtyard and disappeared in an explosion of light and pyrotechnics. Actors ran around as the crowds cheered and screamed. It was an awesome spectacle of lights and stunt work.
But then it wasn’t until after we left and looked back at the site alongside the other structures at the Olympic park (Stratford, London) that it really dawned on us just how large-scale the whole project was. The clock tower stood 4-5 storeys tall and the whole set took up about a half-mile square piece of land.
Its also worth saying that being a part of a 3,000 strong group, dressed in 50’s fancy dress, filing out of Hill Valley and crossing the street towards a massive John Lewis is a bizarre and hilarious sight. It takes us all of 30 seconds to get Back to the Future on our own – not a time machine in sight…
Secret Cinema’s motto is ‘tell no-one’. There’s not a chance of me sticking to it after that show!
Thanks
Chris J
Alterego Fancydress
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