A re-creation of the exorcism scene from the 1973 film, The Exorcist (Image courtesy: 360 Screenings)
Everything about 360 Screenings is shrouded in mystery. At the Ontario Heritage Centre, people clutched their tickets and stood in line to watch a secret movie. They were instructed to dress in black, bring along a confession and arrive at the location, which was disclosed only 24 hours before the show.
Once the event started, certain scenes from the movie were acted out in different rooms and audience members had to explore the set and interact with actors to guess the film.
A doctor ordered a CT scan and did pulse checks for some guests. A young female attendee was told she needed immediate brain surgery.
A priest asked everyone to write down their confessions and about an hour later, there were chants of that famous line — “the power of Christ compels you” and an exorcism took place. There were gasps and shouts of glee from people who had guessed the name right.
The guests were then shown a screening of the cult classic, The Exorcist.
Welcome to 360 Screenings – where movies come to life right before your eyes.
Founders Ned Loach and Robert Gontier have put the thrill back into movie nights by coming up with a unique cinematic experience that encourages audience members to join in.
During their time in New York and London, the creative duo came across many events that involved immersive cinema, which inspired them to bring that experience back to Toronto.
After the launch of 360 Screenings in 2012, audiences were able to enjoy theatrically recreated movies such as Ghost, Fight Club, 28 Days Later, Amelie, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and The Exorcist.
Both Ned and Robert come from theatre backgrounds and possess a strong passion for film. They currently have a list of forty to fifty movies that they hope to recreate but it’s a hush-hush project.
According to Ned, the movies are carefully selected based on three considerations.
Audience members interact with actors at the One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest event (Image courtesy: 360 Screenings)
“First, the movie’s characters are usually ones that people have grown to admire or are drawn to, whether it’s the protagonist or the antagonist,” said Ned.
“The character of Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest for example, is a formidable character but at the same time a fun one to re-create for the event.”
“The second thing is the film’s setting and environment. We really try and pick films that are a lot of fun for our design team to recreate. Amelie is a visually beautiful film and the colours are so stunning.”
“The third consideration is the story line and character arc. With 28 Days Later, it was all about the idea of survival and how far people were willing to go to ensure their safety and survival.”
Preparations for the event usually take a minimum of three months and happen at different heritage buildings in the city.
“The heritage building locations are what make our screenings and events different from what’s happening in the UK and New York. A lot of these places are often overlooked because of new buildings that have come up and we want people to experience these special gems in the city,” Ned revealed.
Another aspect of 360 Screenings that sets it apart from performances at traditional theatre companies is the acting style. Almost all of the acting is based around improv, which makes it an interesting experience for those who attend the events.
Food and drink that appear in the movies are also incorporated onto the set. For Fight Club, a special lobster bisque was prepared and for the Amelie event, there were many delectable Parisian treats to munch and indulge. Guests can also apply some cool makeup associated with the film.
After the show, the guests are shown the actual movie (Image courtesy: 360 Screenings)
Like any new business, there were some challenges in the beginning and the biggest one that 360 Screenings faced was getting the word out and getting people to buy tickets.
“The mystery element which is really exciting and fun for some people could be scary for others because they don’t know which movie they are going to see or where they are going to see it. But once we did a few shows and built a reputation, it became something that more people wanted to experience,” Ned said.
Through word of mouth, more people have come to know about 360 screenings and they bring family and friends to share the experience. Unlike a regular cinema, the events also encourages people to socialize as they try to figure out the movie together.
Because of high demand, there are now three performances of an event. Those who have seen an earlier performance are asked to keep it a secret to avoid spoiling the experience for the ones who come for the later shows. So far, the secret’s been safe.
The upcoming event is all about love and the performance will be held at a mystery location on February 7 and 8. When asked if he could provide some clues about the event, Ned simply said that “it will be a big party.”
Ned revealed that they have a lot of big plans for 360 Screenings later this year but remained tight-lipped about them.
“We don’t want to give anything away but we’re excited about it,” he said.
The team at 360 Screenings sure know how to keep their secrets.
