Secret Cinema - Casino Royale (Immersive Screening) - May-October 2019, Shanghai from November

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  • Red_SnowRed_Snow Australia
    Posts: 2,494
    Secret Cinema chiefs talk global ambitions, management changes and 'Casino Royale'
    https://screendaily.com/features/secret-cinema-chiefs-talk-global-ambitions-management-changes-and-casino-royale/5136312.article

    In the case of Casino Royale, Eon has been heavily involved in its prequel narrative, as well as every other element. “They’ve certainly been more active,” says Davidson. “It’s very much a live approvals process. We see them very regularly. They have very strong opinions on how Bond is portrayed. We are guided in how we portray him and the other characters, and how we portray the world.” She adds that the Eon involvement is “at senior level”.
  • CatchingBulletsCatchingBullets facebook.com/catchingbullets
    Posts: 292
  • Got the first email today with a bit of info related to next steps! This is going to be amazing.
  • Next email arrived today, with the link to register and find out all the details about location, alias, dress code, etc.!
  • I attended the 5 June performance of Secret Cinema Casino Royale. It was quite awesome in scale, with multiple locations from the film constructed for visitors to check out. The actors in character are very good, and you totally get the feel that you are in the movie. If you attend, be sure to talk to people in each area who definitely seem to be hanging around in specific locations at all times (for example, a man standing at the bar, chatting up everyone who comes by). The movie itself is, well, Casino Royale, so you know what you are getting whether you like the film or not. But they do add some more "immersive" parts to it, including two very special guests...

    A few tips: if you are going with folks who don't know much about the movie or don't care to engage in the additional immersive mission parts of "Operation Wildcard", just have them stay along with you. They can join you wherever you might end up and take in the experience that way. My wife and I got split up, and I had an amazing experience, whilst her time was not so great. She was unable to get anyone to help her figure out what she needed to do, so she ended up confused and frustrated and we barely found each other in time for the film screening. Also, there are A LOT of people in there. The night we went was opening night, and it was well attended. I would estimate 1500-2000 people. That was a Wednesday...not sure how the weekends will be.

    I would also recommend dressing up as much as you feel comfortable. People were going all out with their outfits, and if you go wearing anything less than a suit for guys, or a dress for ladies, you will stick out like a sore thumb.

    I would recommend any Bond fan check out Secret Cinema presents Casino Royale. They did a great job capturing the feel of the movie and made sure it would satisfy die-hard and casual fans alike.
  • gt007gt007 Station G
    Posts: 1,182
    Sounds awesome, @MrArlingtonBeach. I'm going in August and can't wait!
    A few tips: if you are going with folks who don't know much about the movie or don't care to engage in the additional immersive mission parts of "Operation Wildcard", just have them stay along with you. They can join you wherever you might end up and take in the experience that way. My wife and I got split up, and I had an amazing experience, whilst her time was not so great. She was unable to get anyone to help her figure out what she needed to do, so she ended up confused and frustrated and we barely found each other in time for the film screening.
    Thanks for sharing this tip, @MrArlingtonBeach. I'm going with my other half as well. Does it matter if you're a different colour? Can you still go through the whole thing together? Or do you have to follow a different path depending on your colour?

    And another quick question. Do you know what's in the VIP gift bag? Does it include the things from the kit they sell on their website (lapel pin, poker chip, money clip, etc.)?
  • edited June 2019 Posts: 110
    @gt007

    I was Q Branch Cyber (purple) and my wife was Q Branch...something else (but her color was red). Without giving too much away, each color gets different instructions by their contact holding flowers outside the venue, before the show even starts. I got different instructions/information than my wife did. That is why we ended up getting split up - we both thought we HAD to do our missions.

    I would say that your other half can just tag along with you wherever you go, however. Others that got pulled into the same scenario I did had significant others with them, too, who wore different colors. That said, if your significant other DOES want to do their mission, they will be on a different path than you are, for sure - meeting different characters in different locations, etc.

    I wish I knew that my wife could have joined me, and I think she wishes she did, too...

    As for VIP bag, I am not sure what is included - I did not buy VIP tickets to the event...But I did order the mission kit with the pin, poker chip, money clip, etc. Honestly, it was more for the souvenir aspect that I bought the kit. But a very helpful piece of information I needed for my mission was given to me because I called a number on the SIS/Universal Exports business card in my mission kit...

    VIP ticket holders did get a fast track line at the entrance, and a special room inside the event itself, which is where the bags were probably handed out, I am guessing. I think you got 2 free drinks as well, and maybe better seating during the movie. Hope this helps!

    EDIT - just read on another site that "...the VIP gift bag was a bit disappointing , just snacks and chocs".
  • edited June 2019 Posts: 110
    Sorry for the double post...but I figured I would post my full experience for others if they were interested to hear how the evening at Casino Royale played out, but might not be able to get to the event. See below for how my adventure unfolded...

    SPOILER ALERT!!!!
    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!
  • Posts: 19,339
    That sounds amazing @MrArlingtonBeach ,thanks for sharing that with us !
  • @barryt007 No problem! I cannot recommend it enough if you are able to attend!
  • edited August 2019 Posts: 3,164
    Finally got to go tonight....
    If there's one thing I'd honestly say - GET. THERE. AS EARLY. AS. YOU CAN. Because even at the latest times, unless you have the mission kit (which I thankfully did) you don't have a mission or anything....you're just left kinda exploring for 45 minutes before the film starts. Really disappointed and quite upset in that regard, all that effort (business cards etc) essentially all for nothing, which makes me wanna try it again maybe, at some point....

    But otherwise, the set-up itself and the screening especially are incredibly done, the attention to detail in the sets is amazing...and at least *some* of the staff are up to speed on the Craig era lore haha (though no Vesper martinis or shaken ones...shameful :P

    UPDATE: if anyone wants a discount code...can confirm it works, going for round 2 next week - let's do it properly...
  • Posts: 1,165
    I'm looking forward to Secret Cinema this weekend. My partner and I have two different theme colours. I was just wondering how strict the organisers are on this. My partner has the blue theme and I was wondering if I could jump in on her mission? Would this be allowed?
  • Posts: 3,164
    TR007 wrote: »
    I'm looking forward to Secret Cinema this weekend. My partner and I have two different theme colours. I was just wondering how strict the organisers are on this. My partner has the blue theme and I was wondering if I could jump in on her mission? Would this be allowed?

    It doesn't seem like a problem...just get something blue to match and when you meet the initial contact by the tube station you meet them together.

    Just ARRIVE EARLY! haha. I'm going again this weekend, hopefully there'll be more of a mission this time
  • Posts: 1,165
    Super. Thanks for the help @antovolk , much appreciated. Enjoy your trip there this weekend!
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    TR007 wrote: »
    I'm looking forward to Secret Cinema this weekend. My partner and I have two different theme colours. I was just wondering how strict the organisers are on this. My partner has the blue theme and I was wondering if I could jump in on her mission? Would this be allowed?

    They’re not strict. Be warned, don’t muck about when you get in, you want to get straight on to finding your ‘target’. If you go with it there’s some fun stuff. One bit in particular is brilliant.
  • Posts: 3,164
    Went again...not only it pays to arrive there on the first possible slot, but it also pays to go on a Sunday (though I heard either Friday or Saturday have longer post film opening hours for the bars. But on the other hand those are the busier days where it can take waaaay longer to get in even if you do arrive early).

    Finally got a proper mission, with which I got straight on, lots of character interactions (and another advantage of arriving early, more film characters to interact with - which I now wish I stepped outside my mission to do more of), did at times feel I was hitting the boundaries of the whole act but putting effort into it all is definitely mega rewarding, particularly if you know the lore (though there is a danger of knowing too much lore LOL)
    the annoyance when you almost have an in with Mr White himself but he's nowhere to be seen (he wasn't even in the film reenactment) and you just miss out on spectating on the main game though...

    P.S. I have heard rumours of groups being recruited for a special Operation Faucet. If anyone is going soon, watch out.
  • Posts: 12,506
    antovolk wrote: »

    A nice appetiser for NTTD in China! :-bd
  • Posts: 3,164
    CR is this week's Secret Sofa watchalong on Friday night. Basically, the Secret Cinema team are running a Facebook group for watchalong screenings, encouraging audience participation. More info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretsofa/https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?e=[UNIQID]&u=ed73b891086ee308f60347155&id=75d9393f7a
  • Posts: 12,506
    antovolk wrote: »
    CR is this week's Secret Sofa watchalong on Friday night. Basically, the Secret Cinema team are running a Facebook group for watchalong screenings, encouraging audience participation. More info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretsofa/https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?e=[UNIQID]&u=ed73b891086ee308f60347155&id=75d9393f7a

    Sounds good, but I think I will wait for the MI6 podcast watch along as they are very entertaining. :)) With the long delay on NTTD and also the strong possibility of a further delay? I am hoping they do the entire series?!!! :-bd
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,861
    antovolk wrote: »
    CR is this week's Secret Sofa watchalong on Friday night. Basically, the Secret Cinema team are running a Facebook group for watchalong screenings, encouraging audience participation. More info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretsofa/https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?e=[UNIQID]&u=ed73b891086ee308f60347155&id=75d9393f7a

    Yeah I've been trying to work out what they've actually been doing with these these last few weeks. They can't actually be any good.. can they?
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    edited May 2020 Posts: 7,518
    Wouldn't be my first time suiting up and making Vespers to watch Casino Royale. May as well do it with some other fans as well. :P

    In my own defence I don't think I've actually put a suit on to watch a film in my own house. Bond films in theatre though, yes.
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