Elvis Presley at 80: 2015 Celebrations and Events in the UK

2015 is looking to be a big year for Elvis fans! January 8th 2015 would have been his 80th birthday and there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate this fact in the UK this year. I am going to highlight 5 big events that are taking place over the next 6 months for Elvis fans across the country. Most of these are annual events but will take on extra significance this year because of the King’s upcoming birthday.

We at Alterego Fancydress have a lot of love for Elvis Presley and his fans – always making sure that we have a variety of costumes available. We are the only fancy dress retailer in the UK selling a plus size Elvis costume. So this is a reminder to those of you who might be attending one of these events – make sure you’re kitted out appropriately (or you might end up being the only rhinestone-free fan around!!)

European Elvis Championships, 2nd – 4th January 2015, Hilton Birmingham Metropole

This event is held annually on a weekend around the time of Elvis’ birthday. The weekend itself is recognised as the No. 1 European Elvis Tribute Artist Convention. Tribute acts travel from around the world to compete to become ‘European Champion’.

There is plenty here for both die-hard and casual fans alike: Live bands, Elvis showcases, rock n roll, Elvis Merchandise, Elvis Disco, Elvis Video, Elvis Gospel Contest, Elvis Novice Contest and of course the main event The European Elvis Championships.

More info at www.elviscontest.co.uk

Elvis Easter Spectacular, 4th & 5th April 2015, Hilton Birmingham Metropole

Another event now from the same company at the same location. However his time instead of the focus being around a competition the event will instead showcase some of the best Elvis performers from the UK and USA. The organisers promise 100% Elvis day & night, along with the Best Bank Holiday Elvis Event of the year…no pressure there!!

More info at www.elvisspectacular.com

Elvis Party Cruise 13th – 18th April, Harwich to Aarhus, Denmark

Celebrate Elvis’s 80th birthday year on the Elvis Party Cruise, featuring award-winning Elvis tributes Ben Portsmouth and Ben Thompson as well as Elvis discos, film shows and a great Elvis party at sea! Plus there’s an optional visit to Graceland Randers where you will see some amazing original Elvis related artefacts and there’s an American Diner for that authentic lunch.

There is an optional excursion available during the cruise to Graceland Randers, Denmark.  It is inspired by Elvis Presley’s Graceland home in Memphis and is the ultimate tribute to the King. Graceland Randers sees itself as helping to nurture the Elvis legacy, his life, music and memory. As well as the Elvis Museum and Elvis Shop, there’s also Highway 51 (an American Diner), Ballroom, and Mini Movie Theatre. The collection of original artefacts from Elvis’ life is truly amazing and worth a visit.  These include all the Sun records, the trousers that Elvis wore during the I Want You, I Need You, I Love You recording session, a jacket that Elvis wore in 1959, one of Elvis’ guitars from 1975, shoes, documents, letters, concert belt and so much more.

More info at www.arenatravel.com

Europe’s Tribute to Elvis 3rd – 5th July, Winter Gardens, Blackpool

Visit this for an amazing festival honoring the life, music and fans of Elvis Presley.  The third annual Europe’s Tribute to Elvis Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest preliminary will be held here.  The event will be hosted by Tees Events Ltd and will feature the Ultimate Elvis preliminary contest, the winner of which will represent Europe’s Tribute to Elvis in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest finals in Memphis in 2015.

The festival will also feature Elvis themed shows, including some of the world’s best Elvis tribute artists on stage in the The Empress Ballroom. Plus there are special guests, merchandise stalls, after-show private parties, raffles and much more.

More info at https://elvisfestival.co.uk

Porthcawl Elvis Festival 25th – 27th September, Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Wales

Claiming to be one of Europe’s biggest gathering of Elvis artistes and their fans, this event offers three days of fun and music all over the normally sleepy seaside town of Porthcawl, roughly halfway between Cardiff and Swansea, near to Bridgend.

The feature events are the Official Shows taking place in the Grand Pavilion. These include The Elvies the World’s premier event for Elvis Tribute Artists. In addition, The Hi Tide host over 100 shows over the weekend, many with free admission.  Additionally over 20 venues in and around the town form the fringe festival.

The O2 Arena, London is hosting an exhibition honouring the life and legacy of The King entitled ‘Elvis at the O2’ alongside these events and birthday celebrations.  Britain will get personal insight into the life of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, through the largest Elvis retrospective ever mounted in Europe.

The nine month exhibition will showcase over 300 artefacts direct from the Presley family’s treasured Graceland Archives, some of which have never been exhibited outside of Graceland in Memphis.  It runs from 12th December 2014 to 31st August 2015 and is a must-visit!!

So there you have it – plenty of Presley going on in 2015!

Oh, and if you were considering dressing up for them then check out our exclusive plus-size Elvis costume in action here when it was used in Emmerdale last year:

Thanks

Chris J

Alterego Fancydress

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Spooktacular 2014: Our Night Out

   

On the 1st November 2014 six of us from Alterego Fancy dress attended the annual Spooktacular scare event at the Heart of England Centre, Meriden.  The event itself consisted of a three course meal, disco and games, along with a unique themed scare attraction set within the forest-land surrounding the site (more details on that later).

Many of our team had been to one of these shows before however this was my first time.  I, along with my wife, have been to ‘scare-fests’ before so had some idea of what to expect….and yet we saw none of it coming!

   

We all kitted ourselves out with top costumes….as did everyone who was there.  When we arrived it was obvious that no expense was spared – the centre lavishly decorated with Halloween staples such as cobwebs, tombstones & ghouls along with horror props and characters from films.  All tables surrounded a stage which was book-ended by two large movie screens showing iconic scenes from classic horror films whilst all of the ‘victims’ mingled and meandered their way to the tables.  A mixture of Death & Heavy Metal boomed through the speakers to complete a ‘Horror-Assault’ on the senses!

I find Halloween parties a surreal experience at the best of times, due to the experience of seeing so many people in-character as something generally frightful or unpleasant.  The feeling of fun and freedom is addictive and contagious – and there was no lack of it here!  The atmosphere that was created was palpable!  Where else would you see an 8 foot animatronic spider drop from the ceiling to dangle above the stage throughout the celebration?!

     

So…the scare event was structured to take enough people from two tables at a time.  This means that throughout the night two tables at a time disappear for half an hour whilst the others have their delicious food served.  This kept the flow of the evening going nicely (however we were all very glad that we weren’t on the last tables that finally got their turn at nearly midnight).

       

We were on table 12 which was pretty much bang in the middle.  When our number was called we were led outside to a large truck (or, as we were told, an amphibious vehicle).  We were driven deep into the forest towards an unknown building.

At this point its probably apt for me to set the scene!!  At the start of the evening a compere, dressed as a Military official, stood and introduced the night’s festivities.  We were all attending for a specific reason.  In 1944 a number of brave soldiers died in this area of the forest due to the war – but their deaths had only recently been unearthed.  We were all descendants of these soldiers and were legally obliged to pay our respects to them.  The compere was brilliant, shouting at people from the stage and generally setting the tone of the evening “Be quiet!  Treat this evening with dignity and respect, dammit!”

       

So we were on this truck to see where our loved ones departed this earth, so many years ago.  The compere accompanies you as your guide…again shouting for order and quiet – very believable! Once off of the truck we were led into the compound, and this was where the fun (and fright) really began!  Zombies begin bursting through doors and windows as we meandered our way through twisting corridors and rooms, frantically trying to find an exit.  Towards the end we encounter the mastermind behind the undead – Dr Vivian Mortus.  He explains that our dearly departed never really died – and that we were next in order for him to create an undead army of super-soldiers….no thanks!!

A mad dash to the exit ensues – everyone screaming as zombies advance on our position.  Finally we got back on our truck and head back to the party although its not quite over.  The zombies burst through the doors to the compound and ran after the truck almost all of the way back…phew!

       

When we got back to the centre the evening was in full swing with the disco up and running – so we were able to dance the night away….safe in the knowledge that the zombies were securely locked outside!

       

Everyone had a fabulous night.  It was clear that no expense was spared for the scare event and the theme / story line really padded out what can sometimes be quite a repetitive affair.  The compound was chock full of really believable zombies and scary moments.  Absolutely loved it! I would recommend this evening to anyone who fancies immersing themselves deeper into Halloween, so next year watch out here for details of the upcoming event!

Thank you to the Heart of England for having us there, although we will be happy if we never have to go back to that compound ever again!!

Thanks

Chris J

Alterego Fancydress

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Boo!! Shocking, Spine-tingling, Sensational – Some of Our Favourite Costumes For This Halloween!!

Halloween is nearly upon us yet again.  The pressure is well and truly on to find that costume that’s going to put you ahead of the rest this year.  Last month we highlighted the incredible Ani-motion mask as a top costume choice, however, there really is so so much more on offer from us at Alterego Fancydress!

What I am going to do today is showcase some of the best Halloween choices for you this year.  Enjoy!

For Women

Royal Vampiress

 She is the empress of the night and she will get what she wants. The Royal Vampiress costume includes an elegant black and white dress with attached corset and collar, and cameo choker.

Dreadful Doll

She wants to play. The Dreadful Doll costumes features a sequined dress with lace up trim. Also includes mop cap, stripped thigh highs, and frilled collar.

Naughty Jester

She just can’t help but get into trouble. The Naughty Jester costume features a checkered dress with a laced detailed sweetheart neckline and attached sleeves. It includes a two toned eye mask, a frilled collar, thigh highs and a miniature jester hat.

Dark Alice

On the other side of looking glass there is only her dark smile. The Dark Alice comes with a dress with attached apron, glovelettes and thigh highs.

For Men

Jack The Ripper

This infamous murder carved out his grim legacy in blood.

Night Fiend

Not all vampires care to be suave. The Night Fiend costume comes with jacket, character hands, hood, and ani-motion mask with moving mouth action.

Evil Jester

This guy is not joking around. The Evil Jester costume comes with: shirt, waist sash, jester hood/collar with skull trim and mask.

Big Frank

Still one of our favourites…He is an experiment made to party!  Jacket, Pants, Inflatable Shoulder Components, Socks, Character Mask & Hands included.

Plus Size

Lady Reaper – Magnificent Witch – Dark Red Riding Hood

                      

Evil Unchained – Vampire B Slayed – Jokes On You Jester

                          

Best of the Rest!!

This section showcases some of our best costumes for those of you who might not want to ‘go scary’ this Halloween!!  Sometimes it really doesn’t matter what the theme is…just dressing up is half the fun, right??

Lady of Camelot – Twilight Fairy –  Sequin Flapper – Spanish Pirate

                

Blackbeard Pirate – Electric Mad Hatter – Massive Mobster – King Arthur

                        

So there you have it, just a taste of some of the fantastic fancy dress costumes we have on offer this year.  I hope that we have given you plenty to think about this Halloween!  Just remember – enjoy yourselves!!

Thanks

Chris J

Alterego Fancydress

Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events.  And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter.  Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.

Halloween Fright Nights Preview – Spooktacular, Meriden

So, Halloween is a little over two weeks away. The time has come to decide how best to celebrate this event. Most eventualities will involve costume dress-up, getting scared out of your skin or having a party. What better than a combination of the three, right? Halloween scare events have become increasingly popular in the UK over recent years with over 100 organised fright-fests taking place in October 2014, not even including murder mysteries and parties/discos. The concept of being able to immerse yourselves in an interactive horror experience plays to our primal fears to a far greater degree than simply watching a scary film and, speaking from personal experience, its way more fun!!

The history of such events is difficult to pinpoint, however they originated from – yep, you guessed it – the United States. They have evolved from the classic premise of a Haunted House where guests would walk through it’s rooms and corridors, being scared by actors and sound effects. Visitors may experience intense animatronics, bloody and frightening set pieces, rustic antiques, scary music and sounds, dynamic lighting, fog, costumed actors with elaborate make-up or masks, and other special effects used to create scenes of terror. Haunted houses can be located in hospitals, grocery stores, shopping malls, warehouses, semi trucks, factories, boats or ships, dilapidated homes, etc.

Another evolution of the Haunted House that I’m sure a large number of people have experienced at one time or another, whether at a theme park or local fair, is the Ghost Train. These would generally be set within a house like before, or sometimes a cemetery. Visitors would once again encounter actors in make-up along with other environmental scares. The beauty of these rides are that because the speed of your movement is controlled, there is little chance to properly brace yourself for the next scare! A dark ride does not have to be dark. They are enclosed, so all illumination is artificial, and most use special lighting to achieve theatrical effects. Selective use of darkness helps hide the ride mechanisms and increase the visual drama of the experience.

So these scare attractions attempt to combine the very best of what works with conventional Haunted Houses or trains, before taking them a step further. Usually set within a specific theme, these attractions generally involve visitors walking though a themed maze of sorts or travelling from one enclosed room to another.

 

Spooktacular – Heart of England Conference & Event Centre, Meriden

This Halloween we at Alterego Fancydress will be attending the Spooktacular, at the Heart of England event centre. These nights of horror are the brainchild of Stephen Hammon, Managing Director of Heart of England, and feature seriously spooky live Halloween entertainment with a cast of terrifying characters, a host of evil props and a trip to the hauntingly scary woods. This will be our third outing here – its that good!

The Heart of England have been running these events for many years now. This year’s theme is ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ – and is described as follows:

“Shortly after the end of WWII, a team of scientists operating under the command of Professor Vivian Mortuus began work on a top-secret experiment designed to create a new breed of super-soldier. Professor Mortuus’s formula was said to heighten physical abilities, phenomenally increasing muscle growth.

Military volunteers referred to as ‘candidates‘ were sent to a location so secret that its whereabouts was kept from all but those few working there. Work was extraordinarily successful at first but before long, disturbing reports began to emerge.

Last communication received mentioned the appearance of unexpected and apparently frightening side-effects. Massive deformities in certain subjects, before the onset of sudden death. Strangely the bodies, although showing no signs of life, appeared in some cases to continue ‘growing‘. The decision was made to bury the cadavers within the secure compound, and evacuate immediately. But it appears that all contact was lost before this task was ever confirmed as completed. And none of the base personnel ever reported for duty again, presumed AWOL.

The location has remained a mystery…until now…”

Have a look at a video of last year’s event, ‘The Possessed’

We are extremely excited about this year’s event, and for good reason. People travel from all across the UK to visit this scare-fest and with the reputation that it has garnered, the ante is upped each time.

Please check back in 3 weeks for our review of ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ and click here for tickets, but be quick, there is only limited availability now!

Thanks

Chris J

Alterego Fancydress

Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events.  And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter.  Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.

Staying in this Halloween? Awesome House Party Theme Ideas

Not everyone wants to go out on Halloween…sometimes its easier, and way more fun, having everyone round for a kick-ass party right at home.  Halloween can be so easy to do with a few interesting decorations and fancy dress costumes.  However sometimes a specific theme can just make everything way more fun!  Even the preparation!!  In this blog I’m going to outline some images and videos that encompass the three main sections (decoration, food & drink and fun games) and how to have some fun with it!

1.  Decoration.

This is the area that I would probably have the most fun with.  It lends itself to people with a penchant for artistic flair!

There are literally loads of common themes  that are used for decorating houses and rooms like cobwebs, pumpkin jack-o-lanterns, bats, cats, skeletons….the list goes on and on!!  The main thing you need to decide is whether its going to be silly or scary!  You don’t want the theme to clash with the mood you are trying to set.  You should be looking to put up bunting on the walls, perhaps lighting in the front or back lawn, and bucket loads of nonsense decorations everywhere….the key is to be excessive!!

2.  Food and drink.

If you’re having people over for a party, then you probably need to cater it.  And as far as I’m aware, people need to drink to survive so thats a definite!!  Lots of fun can be had with this though, just watch this video below!!

How to make Halloween Gummie Worms

Putting on a fun food & drink spread can really take your party to the next level but it can be really easy to make it interesting.  There’s plenty of halloween themed sweets and candy about (especially at this time of year) so you only really need to put effort into the presentation.  That doesn’t mean that homemade food won’t go drown a treat too!  Go crazy with the Jack-o-lanterns…they’re a classic.

 

3.  Fun games.

Apple bobbing.

You will need:

• large bowl or bucket
• large towel or plastic sheet
• apples
• towels for drying off

Fill your bowl or bucket to 3/4 of its capacity with cold water and place your towel or sheet under the bucket. Put about 4-6 apples in the water and let each child have a turn at getting as many apples as possible – hands must remain firmly behind backs!  The easiest way to get the apples involves getting very wet (you need to push the apple all the way to the bottom of the bucket) so have a towel to hand to mop up wet faces!

 

Dress the mummy.

You will need:

• a big supply of toilet paper or kitchen towel!

Split the party guests into groups no smaller than two and give them a substantial supply of toilet paper. The object of the game is to try and turn one of the group into a mummy by wrapping them entirely in the loo roll! Prizes go to the quickest or the best attempt.

 

Pass it on ghost story.

Try this simple Halloween game. Fun and simple party or class game!

Turn off or dim all the lights and have all your guests sit in a circle. Start out by holding a flashlight so it illuminates your face and start telling a ghost story. At an exciting point in the story, pass the flashlight to the person on your left. They can then continue the story where you left off. Keep going for as long as you choose, it can be once around the cirlce or even longer. You can also set a timer for each person.

 

The devil is in the details.

Feeling like your guests haven’t fully appreciated the amount of detail you’ve put into your party atmosphere? Devise questions that deal with your decorations and watch them explore your haunt.

It’s simple, really. I created handouts with questions like “List the different types of vermin in the room” and “There are a total of 5 items in the lounge that are often used as weapons. List them”. I’ve created questions that had people checking the labels on prop bottles. Use your imagination.

 

I hope that you have been suitably inspired as to how to put on your very own Halloween party…remember, just enjoy it and have fun with it!!

I hope that you have found some inspiration here and have chosen the theme will make your Halloween night…however, if your plan is to go out then check out our Halloween cinema choices blog instead.

 

 

Thanks

Chris J

Alterego Fancydress

Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events.  And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter.  Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.

Going out this Halloween? Must-see Horror Films at the Cinema

So, its Halloween, you want to get out of the house and you need something to do…why not go scary yourself silly at the Cinema this October?  There’s going to be plenty on this year so here are a few of the ones we’re looking forward to.

 

1.  Horns

A very quirky twist on a Horror film this year.  Daniel Radcliffe, all grown-up, plays a man accused of brutally murdering his girlfriend – and as everyone starts seeing him as a devil, those horns begin to grow…

 

2.  As Above, So Below

Deep under the streets of Paris, a group of friends begin to explore the miles of mazing catacombs hidden below.  Unfortunately for them there are secrets beneath that should not be uncovered.

 

3.  Dracula Untold

I know what you are thinking…is there really anything left untold about the Dracula tale?  Well, as this movie attempts to focus on how the man became the vampire, then perhaps…

 

4.  Annabelle

This film is a spin-off to last year’s breakout hit “The Conjuring'” however this movie is focusing on a crazy doll with supernatural powers.  If it is even half as good as it’s parent movie, then t will be worth a watch!

 

5.  Tusk

Not your typical Kevin Smith film, although, from the trailer, its clear there will be plenty of his personality in this comedy-horror that both lampoons horror-film stereotypes and genuinely scares you in places.

 

6.  Ouija

Ouija boards are just plain scary….fact!  Why do kids keep insisting on playing this stupid game in films?!  Honestly, when does it end well??  Looks like a lot of jump-scares in this horror movie.

 

7.  Oculus

Two teenage siblings are orphaned by the murder of their parents.  The brother is accused and convicted of the crime but the sister is unconvinced…could something scarier and more sinister be behind it?

 

8.  The Pyramid

This is my personal favourite trailer….can’t wait to see it in cinemas!  A team of U.S. archaeologists get more than they bargained for when they discover a lost pyramid unlike any other in the Egyptian desert. As they unlock the horrific secrets buried within, they realize they aren’t just trapped, they are being hunted.

 

I hope that you have found some inspiration here and have chosen the movie that will make your Halloween night…however, if your plan is to stay in then check out our Halloween house party blog instead.

 

 

Thanks

Chris J

Alterego Fancydress

Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events.  And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter.  Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.

Oktoberfest 2014 – What’s it all about?

So…most of us know the term Oktoberfest.  A majority can tell you that it’s German.  Some of us would estimate that it occurs in Oktober – sorry, October (*ahem*).  A select few may be able to inform us that there’s more to it than copious amounts of beer.  I wouldn’t have been one of these people!  More to it than beer??  Read on, you might be surprised…

History

The first festival occurred in the lead-up to Crown Prince Ludwig’s wedding on October 12th, 1810 in Munich.  Citizens were invited to join in the festivities in the fields around the city to celebrate the Royal event.  The timing of Oktoberfest was later moved to September to make the most of the better weather and now finishes on the first Sunday in October.

A large part of the show has always been it’s agricultural festival – first occurring in 1811.  1816 first saw the appearance of carnival booths, with prizes originally being gold, silver and jewellery (not a single goldfish or stuffed bear in sight).  The parade became an annual and integral event in 1950, shortly before fancy dress became popular attire.

1950 saw a 12 gun salute mark the start of the festival – which also became a yearly tradition.  The tapping of the first keg would then be celebrated.  At around this time the festival began to gain international recognition, people were starting to travel from far and wide to revel in the festivities.  Bavarian hats are traditionally worn by Munich citizens during the event, although the tradition has been weakened by the popularity of cheapened, mass-produced hats used by tourists.

Until 6pm Oktoberfest will now play quiet music in order for its festivities to be enjoyed by the whole family. Also, sorry smokers, but having a cigarette has been banned in the beer tents and function rooms since 2011 – although apparently the smell of smoke masked the smell of stale beer spilled all over the floor!

Fun Facts

Horse Races were held at the first Oktoberfest!  But by 1819, the race had been called off, replaced by beer carts and a carnival-like atmosphere. The leaders of Munich decided that Oktoberfest would be held each year, no exceptions. And though Oktoberfest originated as a one-day commemoration, it was thereby extended to 16 days of revelry and heavy drinking.

Unbelievable, but in the beginning, beer was not available at the Oktoberfest. Alcohol could only be purchased and enjoyed outside of the actual venue. Authorities soon realized that it would make sense to open the Oktoberfest venue to vendors and it was only then that the traditional beer-halls became popular.

Oktoberfest has been cancelled 24 times, twice by cholera epidemics (1854 and 1873), once in 1870 for the Franco-Prussian war (causing thirsty Bavarians to carp that this Prussian conflict had nothing to do with them), and in the years during and after World War One and Two. (Wars are always bad for beer, which seems reason enough not to have them at all.)

Beer consumption surpasses 5 million 1-liter mugs. The mugs themselves are a hot item. Security guards annually recover approximately 150,000 from would-be souvenir hunters. Many are not recovered; the Hofbräu tent alone averages 35,000 missing each year. The fine for stealing a souvenir mug: $60.00!  There are many problems every year with young people who overestimate their ability to handle large amounts of alcohol. Many forget that beer has 7,5 to 8% alcohol, and they pass out due to drunkenness. These drunk patrons are often called “Bierleichen” (German for “beer corpses”).

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has celebrated Oktoberfest since 1992 and it is held at the Hotel Equatorial.

Cincinnati, Ohio, which claims to hold the “largest authentic Oktoberfest” in the U.S., draws about 500,000 people to its 2 day celebration.  Munich, Germany, home to the original Oktoberfest draws about 6 million festival goers.  Not bad Cincinnati!

 

So next time you’re at a Beer Festival and one of your mates dunkenly likens it to Oktoberfest, kindly remind them that if there’s no horse-race, it ain’t even close!!

 

 

 

Thanks

Chris J

Alterego Fancydress

Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events.  And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter.  Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.

What Should Secret Cinema Do Next?

For anyone who isn’t yet familiar with Secret Cinema, firstly, shame on you! Secondly, it is an immersive film experience, attempting to literally put you into the action as an interactive character who can experience pivotal scenes from these movies first-hand. The team are currently running Back to the Future which is their most ambitious project to date (and due to this might mean that you have seen some teething issues that have been widely publicised on-line). I have not yet been myself, but will be this weekend – so keep your eyes open for our review in next weeks blog!

Reading the current reviews on it, and scanning the various images from the event, got me excited. It looks amazing!! But I was also thinking….what next? The team are becoming increasingly ambitious, and with ever increasing budgets, so surely that trend will continue.

So…with this in mind I’m going to throw my hat into the ring and suggest some possible ideas for future events. I had no real criteria other than it has to be able to occur in a single locale or setting from the movie and that the films can be broadly accessible by a majority of movie-goers.

Here goes nothing…

5. Die Hard

One of my all-time favourite films, easily Bruce Willis’ best in my opinion. When I started thinking about doing this movie I thought that setting it all in a skyscraper would really limit its scope, however after much thought I reckon this could work. As long as multiple floors can be utilised this could be a fantastic event. Picture the xmas party on one floor, the one above being refurbished and maybe the one above that full of PCs and offices – if you can also secure the roof, even better!

The event starts with the xmas party in full swing – grab yourselves drinks from the bar, its going to be a fun night. But then…oh no…terrorists gatecrash, led by Hans Gruber! You are huddled into groups by men with guns. Some are escorted to other floors whilst henchmen come down the lift tied to chairs. Yippie kayeee!

4. Pirates of the Caribbean

This one should be set in one place, and one place only…Tortuga!! I’m seeing an entire port-side town populated by hundreds of pirates. Get to the bar to sign up for Jack Sparrow’s voyage. Visit the caverns where the Aztec gold was stored. Throughout the evening bar fights are in abundence so watch your backs!

Follow the crew onto the Black Pearl and explore it’s cabins. Avoid the sword-fighting crew and maybe even walk the plank. There could be shops dotted around Tortuga selling treasure, grog and grub.

3. Terminator 2: Judgement Day

I really do reckon this would be a top event if it could be done right. The atmosphere and event acting would be fantastic to see. I think the difficulty would be to find a contained locale to set it all in. After much thought I believe I have just the idea.

This one should be set at Cyberdyne System’s headquarters. We have all been invited as prospective investors to see the advances they have made in AI and automated defense systems (namely Skynet) in order to convince us to part with our hard earned cash as an investment. However, after drinks and appetisers all does not go to plan. Arnie and co turn up to eliminate their threat, Miles Bennet Dyson, and the crowd is caught in the crossfire.

As the Terminator and Connor family take hostages the function room is surrounded by police. The T-1000 has also stopped by to eliminate the intruders. He could be anyone in the crowd…keep your eyes open for anything unusual and alert the Terminator if you suspect anything!

2. Raiders of the lost Ark

My favourite film of all time, and definetely a secret cinema I would die for!! So, the setting is a Cairo street market, with a Nazi airbase close by. The market stalls everywhere are selling bric-a-brac along with food and drink. Brawls are breaking out around you, maybe between Nazis and locals, or between Indy and some swordfighting rebels. I can see set-pieces galore here (its easy to picture if you’ve been to Disney world and you’ve watched the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular).

You could then follow Indy to the airbase in order to rescue a kidnapped Marion where mayhem ensues. I see the movie being shown at the end in a set-piece reminiscent of the climactic ark-opening scene.

1. Western – Tombstone / The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

I really believe that Secret Cinema would lend itself perfectly to a Western theme. The trouble came when trying to pick a movie that would suitably set the scene for a fantastic evening. I was looking for a film that took place in an adequately clichéd town. My first thought for a Western naturally went to probably the quintessential spaghetti western, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly however a majority of the movie takes place away from the typical old West town, and instead runs parallel to a civil war battle. This led me to think of another picture. I eventually settled on Tombstone or Gunfight at the OK Corral, both movies centred around one of the most famous old west locales, the OK Corral.

So, as my mind runs rampant with ideas, I will begin. A copy of the OK Corral would be built, with a Saloon to wet your whistles, and get your noses bloody in the odd bar fight. There would be shops, Blacksmiths, perhaps a town fayre? Horse-riding and cattle lassoing can be tried, whilst at the Sheriff’s prison new bandits are being locked up.

Towards the end, after you’ve drunk yourself silly and gambled all of your money away at poker you can gather outside to witness a gunfight to the death as Wyatt Earp has arrived…draw! Even though its the wrong film I’m sure we could get away with a bit of Ennio Morrecone playing in the background.

Hopefully Secret Cinema will make note and factor it all in when planning their next show!!

What have we missed out?  What do you think should have made the list?  Let us know in the comments section below…

Thanks

Chris J

Alterego Fancydress

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Comic-Con 2014 – Our Favourite Cosplay Attempts

So…Comic-con 2014 has come and gone.  Spare a moment to think of the San Diego convention centre cleaners, now pushing prosthetic ears and screwed up head-shots around the floor with a brush.

One of the highlights of this event is the lengths that visitors will go to in order to have the most accurate or outlandish costume around.  Cosplay itself tends to be slightly different from standard fancy dress because the wearer is generally attempting to mirror a specific character as opposed to a general theme.  Most engage in a type of role-play, really becoming the character to a certain extent.

As such some really incredible costumes make their way here each year and we have a collection of our favourites below!

Which was your favourite??  Leave us a comment down below…

Thanks

Chris J

Alterego Fancydress

Enjoy this post? Follow our blog for more ideas and coverage of fancy dress events.  And please join our Social Media family on Facebook & Twitter.  Check out our pinterest page for more costume inspiration.