Secret Cinema has been at the forefront of immersive live experiences based on beloved films and cultural franchises since their founding in 2007. Known for immersive productions of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Casino Royale, and the recent Dirty Dancing, Secret Cinema’s work revolves around the question that we often tackle at Future of StoryTelling: How can we make the audience the hero in our stories?
Leading the company’s creative and strategic studio for brands, entertainment partners, and new immersive ventures is Dean Rodgers, the experiential director at Studio Secret Cinema. In this conversation, Dean talks about the art of world-building and what he calls “world belonging,” the importance of creating moments of collective awe, and why live, participatory experiences may become even more valuable in an increasingly digital world.
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© 2026 Future of StoryTelling, Corp.
Produced by Future of StoryTelling, Corp.
124 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10011
Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher
Director, Carolyn Merriman
Assistant Producer, Tsuki Carlson
in collaboration with Charts & Leisure
Founder, Jason Oberholtzer
Producer, Michael Simonelli
Editor, Garrett Crowe
Mix and Music, Michael Simonelli
With special thanks to Dean Rodgers, Madison Brown, Lor Simpson, David Gray, Bonnie Eldon, and Megan Worman.