Watching movies on the big screen in a cinema setting remains a dream for most of us. While there have been in the recent past sporadic screenings of certain films in various areas, the idea of movie watching in mall cineplexes hasn’t resumed, given the Covid-19 pandemic setting we are in.  

      However, there must be ways and means to hold a big-screen showing of films. One is the planned outdoor cinema, which the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cinemalaya Foundation wanted to implement last September.

    Unfortunately, the plan didn’t pull through due to heightened pandemic alerts.

    Yet, the idea bears watching. It can yet emerge as a wonderful date activity for young people raring to go out after having been quarantined at home for close to two years.

    It ranks high on the romantic level, too, with all the works: Nice, clean surroundings, cool amihan air wafting, comfy under the stars, on a moonlit night. Guests can bring their own snacks, coffee, and drinks.

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   Cinema Under the Stars (CUTS) is envisioned as an open-air, hybrid outdoor cinema set in the gardens surrounding the CCP.

   CUTS is considered a “movable feast” as the dates are highly flexible and changeable in response to government safety protocols, as well as inclement weather conditions. 

   “This is an example of the changes we foresee for live events and major public gatherings in the coming months, even years, according to CCP Artistic Director and Cinemalaya Festival Director Chris Millado.

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  Showing films in an open-air setting calls to mind America’s drive-in theater. It was a popular entertainment fare among young people in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.

     Teenagers would go on Saturday night dates by checking in to a drive-in theater. There would be stalls on the side where they could buy soda, hotdogs, and popcorn.

      They would choose designated parking for their cars from where they could watch the movie. A large outdoor movie screen, usually painted white, stood in the middle of the parking lot.

      The movie's sound was provided by speakers on the screen, or by individual speakers hung from the window of each car.

   At its peak, it is said that there were as many as 4,000 drive-in theaters across the United States in the late 1950s.

  There are currently only about 330 drive-in theaters that remain in operation in the United States, according to Wikipedia.

  New trends in entertainment, like the emergence of the cineplex, home theater, digitalization, social media, Netflix, among others, killed the drive-in concept in watching movies.

 Outside the US, drive-in theaters are also open in Australia, Iran, and Italy.

 Do you think drive-in theater will find an audience in the Philippines at this time?

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   When are movie houses going to open formally in the country?

   While no confirmation is yet in sight, Mary Liza Dino, chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, says she welcomes the news that government will soon allow the reopening of movie houses to the public.

   Ms. Liza says she will, however, call on the public to follow strict government protocols against COVID-19.

     She also welcomes whatever seating capacity per movie house will be by the IATF if and when movie houses will be allowed to operate again.

     Liza hopes the country can follow the example of South Korea and Singapore which have reopened their cinemas.