Get out to the movies
– literally
It’s summer time. The weather is hot, the skies stay bright
nearly to bed time and it’s a great time to enjoy a movie.
Get out to the movies – literally
It’s summer time. The weather is hot, the skies stay bright nearly to bed time and it’s a great time to enjoy a movie.But for those who are leery about fighting the crowds to see the latest summer blockbuster – or who can’t stand to see another teenager in an emo boy shirt or wannabe gangster jeans at the nearby cineplex – there is a better way to enjoy films this summer. Get out to one of the many movie screenings under the stars.
I watched my first movie screening outdoors when I was a media studies student in Southern California. At the end of the semester, my professors invited the class to their humble home in Pasadena where they had set up an old home projector and a white sheet. We screened movies we had made in class and drank homebrewed beer the professors’ neighbors had made. Dogs wandered past the makeshift screen and toddlers toddled by. The sound was low to allow for conversation and the screening only became the centerpiece of the event after the sun had set. There wasn’t a bad seat in the house.
Recently outdoor movie venues have become popular in urban areas as a way for restaurants and bars to bring in more customers on off nights during summer. Regardless of the reason for the renaissance of outdoor movies, they offer a neat movie-going experience.
There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding to see an outdoor movie, some of which I learned on my second attempt to view an outdoor film. A few years back, just after it opened, Santana Row had a summer film series. I made plans with a friend to see a screening one weeknight after work. We figured we’d show up an hour and half before the show started, grab a bite to eat and get a good spot on the grassy patch near the movie screening.
The plan didn’t pan out quite so well. I had twisted my ankle earlier that week and could hardly walk on it. By the time my date showed up, late from work, and we walked (I hobbled) to the open space near Maggiano’s where the film was to be screened, the lawn and sidewalks were already packed. Without lawn chairs or a blanket, I couldn’t manage on my ankle for the entire two-hour movie. No movie for us that day.
The thing to keep in mind about outdoor venues is that unlike regular movie theaters, they don’t come furnished. Brining along lawn chairs or a blanket is always a good idea. Also, depending on the weather, it can get breezy and cold after the sun sets so dress appropriately – or bring someone along to keep you warm. With the movie screenings outdoor, the atmosphere is a lot more casual so expect a lot of chit-chat and kids running around at the more kid-friendly screenings. And get to the venue early. Space is limited and usually fills up quickly.
Best local outdoor venues
Cinequest, the organization that puts on a yearly film festival in San Jose, is hosting two summer film venues – Cinema San Pedro and Cinema St. James. All screenings are free and start at 8 p.m. with a pre-show of short films before the main attraction. Beer and wine is available for purchase at Cinema San Pedro as well as other refreshments, though no outside food items are allowed. Coolers and outside food are allowed at Cinema St. James. For more information, visit www.cinequest.org/festival_info/cinemaSanPedro.php.
Downtown Santa Cruz is also hosting a film festival of its own near the library on Church Street. The show starts at 8:30 p.m., though a free concert will be available before some screenings. For more information, visit www.downtownsantacruz.com/ and click on the Outdoor Movie Series link.
