MANILA, PHILIPPINES– For fans of American movies and TV shows, many of us have seen scenarios of drive-in movies without exactly knowing how the experience is. With the wide-open spaces in the US, there was a time that open lots allowed people to drive up in their cars and watch motion pictures that were projected on giant screens. Examples of drive-in cinemas can be seen in films like “Grease” and “American Graffiti.”
In the Philippines, however, due to limited spaces and commercialization, nobody had ever successfully set up drive-in cinemas until the global pandemic forced a change in the way film marketers distributed and showed films.
This past July, the SM City Pampanga Amphitheater allowed guests to watch Train to Busan 2: Peninsula and My Spy while in their individual vehicles. A 20m x 80m screen raised three feet above the ground is what spectators were directed to view while given a specific frequency on their car’s FM radio to directly listen to the film’s sounds.
Thursday to Sunday 6:45pm screenings included free regular popcorn, bottled water, and beef franks from Snack Time. Attendees have been limited to the ages of 21 to 59 in accordance with the guidelines set by the IATF.
Over at the New Wing Parking of Ayala Solenad in Nuvali, original Filipino musical romantic drama LSS was the feature of the Drive-In Fund Drive this past November 8. In cooperation with the Volkswagen Club of the Philippines (VWCP), “Volkswagen Day” was celebrated at that particular drive-in in support of the Liter of Light Foundation. Classic Volkswagen Beetles and Kombis were quite the sight, adding to the retro feel that any drive-in cinema evokes.
Food trucks and selling tents will be on site for attendees with part of the proceeds going to the Philippine Red Cross and the Liter of Light Foundation. Drive-In Fund Drive is a partnership among REV UP Event Management & Advertising Services (REV UP) Ayala Land, Ayala Malls , Videosonic, and Jarviña & Associates.
At present, the Ayala Solenad drive-in has two daily screenings scheduled until December 6 with a different movie shown weekly. The truth of the matter is that the global pandemic has hit the global film industry hard. So many big motion pictures that were scheduled for release in 2020 were either rescheduled for later dates or released on streaming services. The anticipation for the live-action version of Mulan and Bill and Ted Face the Music had to be tempered as they became digital releases.
Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet was delayed three time due to the pandemic and has since underperformed at the box office, likely due to concerns about watching movies in movie houses. Also suffering delays has been Wonder Woman 1984, now scheduled for a Christmas release but even that is fluid.
About the author
Jason Inocencio was once the Digital Editor of adobo magazine who still loves seeing great campaigns from all over the world. He proudly shows off his love for all kinds of geeky things, whether it be movies, TV shows, comics, sports, or trivia
