Future Cinema: The Lost Boys

Don’t know about you guys, but I dread the pressure of coming up with my own birthday celebrations, especially for the typically significant ages. In the past I’ve gotten away with it – my friends threw me a surprise party for my 18th, and my parents took me to New York for my 21st.

So I was freakin’ ecstatic when I received an email from Future Cinema, announcing the spectacular event that was to happen on my 25th birthday weekend. They turned Canary Wharf into Santa Carla for an epic screening of The Lost Boys. Two things I love – California and Secret Cinema. Perfect!

Depending on surnames, everyone dressed up as a Lost Boy (vampire), Frog Brother (vampire hunter), surfer or hippie/acidhead. In 1980s California, man. Sweet.

The crowd looked incredible. They screened The Lost Boys on Saturday and Top Gun on Sunday, and both days were completely sold out (that’s 8,000 people!)

Oh and what was I? …a Frog Brother ”fighting for truth, justice and the American way!” Those vampires didn’t stand a chance.

I shot a video when we were singing along to the opening credits ‘Cry Little Sister’. We sound terrible, but we were having so much fun!

Secret Cinema: Battle of the Algiers

I am a big fan of Secret Cinema, and would recommend it to anyone. They do not tell you what film is to be screened until the credits roll, but you get a cryptic clue or two, to allow you to dress for the occasion.

This time round, the French identity documents and choice of attire (1960s European or loose-fitting whites) might have given it away if I’d actually heard of ‘Battle Of The Algiers’. But being as useless as I am with films, despite its critical acclaim, I had no clue. They’d hired the Old Vic tunnels under Waterloo, and I was blown away at the attention to detail to transform the entire place. Suddenly I found myself in a tense colonial Algeria, witnessing plots and being shouted at by French officers (hired Secret Cinema actors).

After a few hours of exploring the mosque, milk bar, scientist’s home, Air France terminal, torture chamber (all scenes in the film), we were summoned to an announcement by the French officials. During the speech, a bomb explosion was simulated, and we were ushered into the theatre… and it was time to watch the film that we were already living. Amazing.

Molasses, and very tasty popcorn from Love Da Pop!

On a technical note, there were so many amazing people and scenes that I could not photograph – simply because the light was very low and I refuse to use the flash. I did my best with my humble 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, but oh how I lust after the likes of the 24-70mm f/2.8…