Underground Cinema: Money

Overview

Underground Cinema — Melburnian innovators of secret immersive film experiences — have announced their latest instalment: Money. These are the people who take cinema out of the cinema and into boatyards, beaches and after-hours schools, creating a world in sync with the evening's film through real-life actors, evocative food, intricate sets and costumes. It's all themed to set the scene and get guests guessing, because the film, of course, is a secret.

So what do we know? We know that UGC Money will transport guests back to the pre-market crash 1980s for a cinema event that's more like walking onto a film set than anything else. Think fast cars, shoulder pads, yuppies and stock brokers. Dress is "'80s power", and you're required to "bring your A game". The dates confirmed for Melbourne are Thursday, July 2; Friday, July 3; Saturday, July 4; and Sunday, July 5.

Whatever the film is, viewers can expect immersion bordering on camp. In the past they've taken toga-clad cinema-goers to ancient Rome (for Life of Brian) and given out white jumpsuits, student cards and medical examinations before filing people into a snow-covered Swedish academy (Let the Right One In). As distinct from World Movies Secret Cinema with its ambitious locations, the focus here is really on interactivity, immersion and theatricality, quite like the UK institution Secret Cinema.

Tickets are on sale on Tuesday, May 19, at 1pm sharp. There's a cash bar and hot food on site, and all ticketholders will be sent details of the location via SMS on the day. Keep an eye on the UGC Facebook page for more details.