Masterton screening to clock up world f irst
WITH its relaxed pace and rural setting, Masterton seems an unlikely port for a time-traveller zooming into a future full of technological wonders.
But the same could be said of Hill Valley, California. That fictional town is where actor Michael J Fox’s character Marty McFly arrives while time-travelling to the then-distant date of October 21, 2015 in the sequel to 1985 blockbuster Back to the Future.
Because of New Zealand’s position right beside the International Date Line, and Masterton’s position on the east coast, it’s believed the town’s Regent 3 Cinemas will be the first in the world to screen the movie at the exact moment McFly arrives in Hill Valley in the movie – 4.29pm, October 21, 2015.
The screening is being organised for Wairarapa’s Kokomai Creative Festival by events promoter Up With People, alongside screenings of other ‘‘classics’’ Goodbye Pork Pie, Alice in Wonderland and The Italian Job.
‘‘It’s a rare chance to see a blockbuster 30 years after it came out, as it was intended – on the big screen,’’ said Up With People’s Mark Rogers.
The approach of ‘‘Back to the Future Day’’ has produced hoaxes, with people altering the screen-shot from the movie to show different dates.
However with the real date drawing near, events were planned around the world, Rogers said. ‘‘But as luck would have it, we get in first.’’
The screening is one of dozens of Kokomai events from October 16 to 25.
Festival spokeswoman Jenny Gasson said Back to the Future might look strange alongside other festival highlights such as ballet Swan Lake, musicians Don McGlashan and Julia Deans, or Jane Austenbased comedy musical Promise and Promiscuity. But in fact it fit perfectly with Kokomai’s mission to make the full arts spectrum accessible to all.
‘‘The whole focus of the festival is being region-wide and genre-wide, and the timing just fitted in because right in the middle of the festival is where Back to the Future happened,’’ she said.
Regent owner Brent Goodwin thought the screening would be popular, judging from recent strong ticket sales for the New Zealand International Film Festival.