PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Living at the mall might sound like a prank, but for a group of Rhode Island artists in 2003, it was reality. Not only did they pull it off, but they managed to stay hidden for four years — tucked away within the walls of Providence Place. Friday marked a full-cir cle moment as the highly anticipated documentary "Secret Mall Apartment" premiered in the very mall where it all began nearly two decades ago. RELATED: ‘Secret Mall Apartment’ documentary set to premiere at Providence Place Directed by Jeremy Workman and produced by Jesse Eisenberg, the film explores how and why the group pulled off the stunt while highlighting Providence's intricately woven artist community. It also features never-before-seen footage captured by the artists during their first two years living inside the mall. March 21, 2025 - Secret Mall Apartment documentary premieres at Providence Place (WPRI-TV) While many walked into the theater with only vague knowledge of the story, they left with a deeper understanding of the people behind it — and of Providence itself. For some, the film's comedic approach was a major draw. As a private investigator, Charlie Galligan said the prank aspect piqued his interest. "I've made a living off being a prankster myself," Galligan said. "So I've had to get into places where I don't belong and get people to give me information and things they don't want to give me." But after watching the film, Galligan said he was more than just entertained — he was thoroughly impressed. "Not many pranksters can really impress me, but those people did," he added. "What struck me was what kind people they all are. Their motives were pure. They got a good combination of good heartedness, goodwill, helping the fellow man and comedy — right up my alley." Similarly, Michael Anania had only heard fragments of the story through rumors and word of mouth. "I sort of had an idea of it. I thought it was in the parking lot, not a weird crevice," Anania said. Seeing the full story play out on screen — and at the very mall where it happened — added another layer to the already fascinating experience. "It was really cool to see here. It was like layer of layers on Providence history," Anania said. "There are so many shots of the mall itself and so many different takes on the idea of the mall — thinking it would be a huge boost to the local economy, a lot of artists had complaints and grievances with the mall." As a longtime Providence resident, Anania said watching Secret Mall Apartment made him appreciate the capital city even more. March 21, 2025 - Secret Mall Apartment documentary premieres at Providence Place (WPRI-TV) Workman, the film's director, said he was beyond thrilled and ecstatic to have the documentary premiere at Providence Place. "This was a dream of ours when we first started working on the film," Workman said. "It is such an interesting layer and the movie embraces the mall and Providence history so we really wanted to bring it here." He added that audiences will "enjoy the ride of the film" and likely connect with the deeper themes beyond just the “prank” itself. "They come in for this incredible, insane prank that they've heard about, but then they discover that the movie goes into deeper ideas," Workman said. To find showtimes and buy tickets for future local screenings of the film, visit the Secret Mall Apartment website. MORE: 'Secret Mall Apartment' director previews film at Rhode Island College Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media:                     Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW ...read more read less