Reel Life

Last week, the Sag Harbor Cinema raised the curtain on its new MovieVan, a Ford Transit cargo van fully equipped to take the show on the road, literally. The van was gifted to the cinema by Robert and Suzanne Harwood, and in the coming months you can expect to see the MovieVan screen popping up at outdoor locations all across the East End, from Agawam Park in Southampton to Montauk Point Lighthouse, offering film screenings for up to 100 fans at a time.

Frankly, we couldn’t be more delighted. With spring now officially here, vaccinations on the rise and people longing to get out of the house after a year of isolation, a little safe socializing is what we all need. While the newly refurbished Sag Harbor Cinema expects to be ready to open its doors by the end of April, COVID-19 restrictions likely will limit the number of patrons permitted in any of the three theaters at a given time in the months ahead.

Which is why on the road is the way to go. With warm weather at our doorstep, the cinema folks are thinking outside the theater box and are making plans to use the van to collaborate with other nonprofits, like the Montauk Historical Society. They’re even planning an East End Bike-In, so cyclists can pedal to village locations to watch bike-themed movies. Other ideas include a weekly outdoor summer screening at Mashashimuet Park and a July “Boat-In” screening at nearby Marine Park.

This idea of small cultural events spread throughout the area is one we strongly encourage other institutions to consider going forward. Not only do initiatives like this bring entertainment options to new locations, they also allow nonprofits to partner and build brand awareness across the region. Guild Hall is doing something similar through its partnership with HamptonsFilm and, beginning in April, will present a drive-in at Main Beach in East Hampton featuring screenings of Metropolitan Opera events.

On a historical note, taking films outside is hardly a new idea. Back in the early 1900s, long before the advent of the mid-century drive-in, there were “airdomes” — walk-in outdoor silent movie set-ups designed to get audiences out of stuffy, un-airconditioned theaters in summer and into the fresh air of the great outdoors. Sag Harbor even had one somewhere on Main Street.

So, pass the popcorn and let the show begin!