Creatures, costumes and props from everyone's favourite movies,
together for the first time ever in one exhibition in your venue.
On press day, local Sci- Fi groups could not resist the invitation to attend in
full costume. Dave Prowes, the actor who played Darth Vader in the Star Wars®
movies, was in attendance to give his take on the things and sign autographs
for the groups of invited VIPs and school kids. The press were keen hear
about the planned creative workshops and all the activities involving local
community groups, clubs and societies, actor's groups, all to the delight of the local and national sponsors, who were also co-funding bolt-on, complimentary activities such as creative drawing and writing events. Making use of all the advertising material that came with the exhibition package, the flyers were distributed, posters up, advertising booked and the web site went live this morning - extending interaction and initiating home/venue interaction.
It had been hailed as an inclusive, diverse, educational and inspirational exhibition, a great learning resource platform.
It promised to live up to its reputation as one of the most compelling, popular culture based, touring exhibitions in the UK.
From family tours to primary and secondary "experience" school trips,
treasure hunts, design and writing workshops, everything was in place.
The science fiction premise: Alien life (on other planets) and Alien civilisations
effortlessly ties in with your venue’s existing collections, the psychology of
collecting is also explored, Your city’s cultural contribution to the creative
industry, in film, TV, music, costume, props and writing will also be
cross-referenced within the exhibition, local heroes will be identified
and form the backbone of ongoing PR, helping to sustain press interest.
A support video presentation will show short films by local film makers
For a time your locale becomes Hollywood.
With everything stacked in favour of a successful event, why would one
group of individuals based at the the venue feel particularly squeamish about
the whole event? And what has moved one of these individuals to step out
from the darkness and reveal the true nature of his objections. We talked to Dr, John Martino who after many years of work cloaked in mystery and subversion,
explained why now is the time to come clean. "Frankly, with an event of this
magnitude and with all the press running around it was only a matter of time
before someone would discover the truth anyway." He went on, " You'll see
as part of the main exhibition they've chosen to highlight many of the UFO
and alien stories that have appeared recently in the media." Increasingly
these stories centre around one area in the UK, namely Glasgow.
"I can tell you, the stories and pictures that surround these, are works of fiction, I can be sure of this because.... well, I was behind them." He asked that we did not judge him too harshly for this deceit.
The plan was that these fake sightings would be so transparent, so obviously
faked up, so as to diffuse any real information that may slip through the net.
As the penny dropped, with a resounding clunk, we began to realise that he
was asking us to believe that he and his team were involved in very real
research on Alien activity on here on Earth, right here under our noses.
Apparently, during the recent excavations for the venue, contractors had
uncovered unusual, unidentifiable structures. These were subsequently
and rather hastily back-filled and sealed off, workers were told not to speak
of the discovery and were subject to the rigours of the Official Secrets Act.
In a top secret project, Dr. Martino and his team were charged with uncovering
the facts code-named: UFO Burial. Working away in a restricted, sealed-
off chamber, he and his colleagues had pieced together a scenario that
would challenge our accepted picture of the universe.
Dr. Martino leads us through the main auditorium, smiling and nodding
politely at the many visitors enjoying the spectacular displays of sci-fi movie
props and costumes from Alien®, Predator®, Star Wars®, X-Files®, Robocop®,
Mars Attacks®, within this context, we were at the same time both
sceptical and predisposed to persuasion. He seemed amused as he pointed
to a group of visitors who were watching a large screen video
presentation.
The Art of Science Fiction -
Sci-fi illustrations, cinema posters, comics, books, toys and old tin robots.
Large format photo-panels establish the context of the exhibition an offer
more potential for links with external sponsor's.
Space art, astronomical art, science fiction art. Links with scientific illustration,
connections to the history of science and mathematics.
True Science or Science Fiction?
Opportunities to dress the exhibition space have not been overlooked.
Direct links with film companies are explored with a number of exhibits on loan.
In the past, Warner Brothers loaned costumes from Batman for example.
Expose of reported alien / UFO sightings. Photo panels show original
press cuttings, from Area 69 to Loch Ness Monster and points to logical
explanation. Tucked away within this will be a subtle reference to the
crash site discovery by contractors who built your venue.
We are led to door marked simply Ufob,
Martino entered a nine digit number and the door opened with a unremarkable click.
Alien forms and artefacts were discovered during excavation work on the site of your venue. After the initial euphoria, It was agreed that all research was to cease on completion of the construction works. All materials had to be taken off site or destroyed prior to the opening of the public spaces. Fearing that they and their work would become a freak show at best, or at worst initiate world-wide mass public hysteria as everything we have understood about the universe is thrown open to challenge. Until now, government scientists have been reluctant to reveal to anyone that in fact, Alien life form had been uncovered and that these entities could be sustained by artificial means. Faced with an imminent withdrawal of funds the scientists have agreed special terms with central government which will allow them to continue their research on the condition that they are in a position to fund their work independently (a kind of management buyout). With some ingenuity and determination, they have put forward a scheme to do this by utilising the very thing that they feared most - public interest. The plan is to create a platform which raises doubt generally over UFO sightings and other Alien mysteries of a global and local nature. An exhibition of science fiction props and costumes will be the main attraction. The exhibition is called INVASION. "This" in the words of the head of research, “will take the heat off the UFO Burial crash site”.
The burly ex-security guard on the entrance gate, is awkward in his new role of tourist officer, never allowing vehicles through without first giving it them the 'once over' for concealed recording devices.
In the entrance lobby to the exhibition, visitors are welcomed by a young lady dressed in a white lab coat. She sits behind a large wooden desk, beyond her a sign which reads Welcome to INVASION illuminates the exhibition entrance. In small groups, visitors are invited to enter the exhibition, a collection of creatures, costumes and props from everyone's favourite movies.
The final part of the exhibition consists of a large screen video presentation
outlining press reports and interviews around UFO sightings, offering logical
explanation for these. However one rebel scientists has other plans. He
believes that the world has a right to know what is really going on. He has
hijacked the video presentation inserting an pre-recorded invitation
to everyone to enter the door behind marked
'OFF LIMITS TO UNAUTHORISED PERSONNEL'.
Beyond the door the now somewhat confused visitors are faced with an
anodised metal staircase which rises through a metal tube-like structure.
Pierced slots allow shafts of light to hit the steps. A revolving light at the top
of the stairs seems to beckon them. There is a distinct drop in the temperature,
a strange smell permeates the stairwell and eerie sounds can be heard in
the distance.
At the top of the stairs they walk silently along a narrow gantry. To one side a muffled, gurgling sound is coming from large tanks, chambers inside which
shapes of alien figures can be identified.These Alien life support systems keep four distinct Aliens subdued - for now.
These Alien life support systems keep four distinct Aliens subdued - fo now!
They are connected to cables and tubes linked to computer driven devices
which seem to be monitoring their vital organs, suggesting that these creatures
are in some form of suspended animation. Each tank has a reference number
and to the other side of the gantry this is cross referenced to an array of
beautifully presented exhibits. Some of these are metal, some are biogenetical
and therefore contained in cryogenic chambers again monitored for signs of
degeneration. Each of these exhibits seem stranger than the previous.
At ground level there are banks of cutting edge computers and other unknown
technology, lots of blinking lights and reams of computer printouts. A mug of
coffee and a half eaten donut suggest who ever works here will return soon.
Monitors blink. After a time, a voice can be heard at the far end of the gantry
"Oh my God, look at this" the visitors gather round.
Though the lighting is poor the visitors are left in no doubt as to what they
are looking at. A vast object is laid out before them, the remains of a crashed
Alien transporter.
Continuous electronic monitoring of the lab detects that visitors do not have
the required access rights, Their presence could easily interfere with the
delicate environmental conditions.
An alarm sounds and warning lights rotate. One of the creatures begins to
get restless.