Elite Event: ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL

I had no idea Backlot Studios existed before this event — what a great space! A cozy cinema, with interesting movie memorabilia to peruse in the foyer, and a great little bar. It towed the line between feeling exclusive and like your new favourite hangout. The movie was moving and visually stunning, and the goodie bag full of delicious treats was much appreciated. Another unique and fun event!

As with the previous screening of Aloha, this was an excellent event and a good movie. I suspect the consensus will be that this movie was better than Aloha and I suspect that it is a better movie, though I think I liked Aloha more. It was a mess, but an interesting mess. This movie was well made and touching but (obviously) less fun. Pittsburgh is not as nice of a place to spend two hours in as Hawaii and the movie ends with a young girl dying of cancer so it is not exactly a «feel good» movie, though it is not dour either. One thing I really appreciated is that the movie is more genuine and authentically emotional rather than emotionally manipulative like some movies in this genre and that is refreshing. Overall, I had a lot of fun, enjoyed the movie, and née dot find a reason to book this theater.

I won tickets to this Elite event which was at the Backlot Studios in South Melbourne.
We were greeted at the door and shown over to the bar. After checking in on the app, we reeived our free goodie bag which contained everything we needed for the night — snacks and tissues for the tear-​jerking moments in the movie.
We sipped on Sofi Spritz drinks and were soon seated in the theatre. The lovely Tresna introduced the film as we got comfy in our seats and sifted through goodies.
The movie was entertaining, heart warming and tear jerking — all the elements for a great film.
Thanks to Tresna and the team for a great night!

Backlot Studios + Me and Earl and the Dying Girl = Ruined Mascara. Fortunately Tresna had the foresight to stock the snack bags with Unilocal tissues. Plus I had sweet Yo-​Chi chocolate and Sofi Spritz to help console me. It was my first time crying at a Unilocal event, but my plus one and I had a fantastic time!
Backlot Studios was a great venue for the movie preview. And their comfortable, wide seats meant I could sniffle at a distance from the rest of the movie goers. I didn’t know what to expect from this coming-​of-​age film, which was a good thing. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s story took me back to my days in high-​school, with all of the intense emotions of friendship, love, and loss. It was such a treat to preview this movie with Unilocal

I do love these Elite events, it always feels like a little exclusive treat & tucked away at Backlot Studios I felt like I was having a private screening of a great film. The venue was cosy & the seating very comfortable although I was glad to be on the back row & not right down at the front as that would have been a little too close to the screen for my liking.
The Sofi spritzers were delicious and the goodie bag was full of just enough sweet treats to get me through the movie.
Thanks Tresna & the Unilocal Team for another great event :)

It’s an odd location, but Backlot Studios is a neat little place. Imagine if a super rich movie buff built a home theatre with comfy seats, both singles and doubles, to watch their favourite films in widescreen. Oh yeah, and it’s under a bridge. But, you won’t hear any traffic because you’ll be too busy sobbing into your tissue. At least if that movie is Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl. The tear jerker is not my favourite genre, but at least The Man was next to me in the double seat (maybe he shed a sneaky tear or two himself. I won’t tell.) Tresna had a snack bag packed up for us filled with fun treats. We also sipped on Sofi wine spritzers before the movie, and darn if it didn’t transport me to a summer day, and a BBQ near the beach. It may still be a few months off, but we can dream!

I’m a lucky girl! These Unilocal events are just plain awesome. What’s not to love? Backlot Studios is amazing, I want to have a birthday party or big event there! Movie snacks, every treat you could want and oh yes, i ate every one, all while watching a really good movie BEFORE the general public. Then swag! I’m loving the Unilocal reusable shopping bag. Everybody loves those, especially the earth. Huge fan of the Sofi Spritz, delicious. I’m glad those are coming back in fashion. Had one too many of those! A wonderful night :)

An example of where an ultra bland Melbourne street can hide an oasis of coolness. Backlit Studio sits in the shadow of an overpass and seems to be just another ’80’s constructed factory but step inside and be awed.
Me, Earl and the Dying Girl caught me unexpected. I’d seen the promo posters around town and hadn’t thought much. But this movie made me think and made me cry and I highly recommend it.
As for the Unilocal event; it was my first and it grossly exceeded my expectations. Very friendly, out-​going group of people and a well choreographed event. Thank you!

What a wonderful way to spend a wet Melbourne evening cozy-​ing up with a bunch of fellow Unilocalers in a dark room under a bridge in the middle of the city (it’s much better than it sounds).
We were treated to a goodie bag of tasty treats to snack on though the evening and I’m really glad that Unilocal tissues were included because they were well needed. The film itself was charming. I hadn’t actually seen any promos for it myself but it had been so long since I’d been to the cinema I was happy to watch just about anything. Me and earl and the Dying Girl was heart warming and heart wrenching all at once. I laughed and I cried and I didn’t need to blame it on the hormones.
My only regrets were not being able to sample those tasty looking beverages and getting stuck sitting in the front row while 5.5 months pregnant. Trying to find a spot where I was comfortable enough and able to crane my neck back so that the panning shots on the screen didn’t make me dizzy proved very hard but I’m sure I would have fared a lot better if we’d foregone the toilet stop on the way in to nab more pregnancy friendly seats.

An unassuming venue hidden in plain site is a complete gem of a find. The illuminated doorway to backlot studios provided a sanctuary out the pouring rain. We were greeted warmly as always and showered with tasty treats for the screening.
This cinema itself is supremely comfortable with lounge seating and even a couple of vouches for those who prefer to cuddle whilst watching a movie.
As for the feature. Great choice of movie, emotional journey a few tears were shed. All in all excellent way to spend a Wednesday night. Big thanks to the Unilocal team.

Such a great way to spend a Wednesday night in town :) An amazing movie (a must watch) ME, EARL AND THE DYING GIRL.
Thanks guys
(snacks and drinks were a bonus)

What a fab flick! Tugged the heart strings, made me lol and it surpassed my expectations. Thanks to friends and the Unilocal team for a lovely evening:)

Awesome event! Man are the seats comfy at The Back Lot studios! Thanks so much for my snack bag, I haven’t had burger rings for ever and the tissues came in super handy! Great night out! Thanks Unilocal

Way to pull on the heart strings guys! Luckily for me that tissues were in fact provided as without them my face would have been a mascara ridden hot mess. Me, Earl and the Dying Girl is a quirky and adorable indie flick that provided the goods with genuine laughs and many tears. The set up of Backlot Studios is super sleek, hidden and trendy, situated literally behind a parking ‘lot’ in Southbank. The secret door that resinated a blue halo out onto the street was the only indication of its existence and that really got me excited. The Sofi Spritz drinks were DELICIOUS and plentiful! Not to mention those seats which almost hugged you from behind made it that much more disappointing that the movie was over and we had to leave… :(Great venue, amazing drinks, good company and a film that won’t leave my mind. what more could you ask for!!! Thank you so much Tresna and the Unilocal Team!

Thanks to Tresna and the Unilocal crew for putting on another great Unilocal Elite event at the Backlot Studios.
The venue is perfect for a private screening or corporate function, seating approximately 60 people. A hidden gem across from the Crown complex and a stunning venue to see an amazing movie. Got to love those amazing couch seats!
Sometimes the best way to see a movie is with no clue of the content and no idea as to what or how it will unfold. This is how it was for me as I sat in one of the comfy seats to watch Me, Earl and the Dying Girl. From the opening scenes, this quirky movie has your attention as it deals with the difficult subject of a terminal illness with humour and honesty. Thanks Tresna for including a pack of tissues in our goodie bag!
Thanks also to Sofi for supplying the yummy drinks
It was so nice to catch up with fellow Unilocalers; all in all a great way to spend a cold and rainy Melbourne night.

101 on how to spend a rainy evening in Melbourne: head to a secret, sexy, private cinema and watch a beautiful new indie film with a bucketload (literally) of yummy drinks and treats.
It was a delight to discover Backlot Studios — who knew such a cool space even existed?! The extra large seating meant there was space for me and my giant goody bag, but also ensured a close shoulder to cry on. Plus the cool memorabilia hanging throughout the venue gave me serious wall envy (the Picnic a Hanging Rock poster was glorious, as were the Snow White cutouts.)
And the film, THE FILM! I admit, I was choking back tears by the end (you may have heard a gentle sob coming from the back row) but Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is easily something I can recommend to everyone. Incredible actors, a poignant story and ultiamately a film I will remember for some time to come.
Thanks to Tresna and Unilocal for putting on such a fun event. Can’t wait for the next one!

Thanks Melbourne for the perfectly movie weather. The drizzle and fog may make for a great mood setting film but I prefer to be watching the movie rather than getting frizzy hair making a moody movie.
Five stars for this Great Film. There are movie knowledgable movie folk in attendance who can tell you about who film it, who wrote it and who dressed the hamster. I don’t know these facts but I know that it was a really good movie, well put together and well worth going to see. I’m also now hankering for some phở.
Still so much love for the comfy seats that are on offer here.
Cheers to Tresna for the snack packs. Which I forgot to eat as I was way to into the movie. Popcorn for the train ride home! Win

Tucked away beneath an underpass on the border of Southbank and South Melbourne, Backlot Studios is a cute little screening room that makes for an intimate and unique event space.
Greeted with a goodie bag of delicious movie snacks, we got some time to eye the awesome display of movie posters and paraphernalia that made my empty walls at home feel plenty envious. Then, it was into the cinema and time to start the show.
I didn’t know anything about ‘Me, Earl and the Dying Girl’ going in, which was a fun way to approach a film in a time where the Internet usually ruins half a film for you before you see it (*shakes fist at Internet and tells it to get off my lawn*).
It was a really touching coming-​of-​age tale that subverts the usual clichés and aims for a greater truth about love and loss in the adolescent years, all with an off-​beat but real sense of humour rare in such ‘teen films’. A perfect double-​bill with ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ surely beckons.
Also noticed Backlot do a monthly cult film screening which sounds like a lot of fun. Have subscribed to the twitters and facebooks to keep updated on those.
Thanks Tresna and all involved!