Cinespia, the well-loved Los Angeles staple for outdoor movie screenings, is back for its 25th season at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Perhaps it seems fitting that the most quintessential outdoor cinema in Southern California lands at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, right in the middle of metropolitan Los Angeles. What started as a mere film club in 2002 has grown into a staple for cinephiles all over under the name Cinespia.
For Memorial Day weekend, Cinespia announced the launch of their annual summer season screenings with E.T. The Extra Terrestrial on May 23, via Instagram, along with special quarter-centennial anniversary showings of the 2001 films Moulin Rouge! and Mulholland Drive.
Cinespia hosts over 30 events per year with founder John Wyatt at the helm. The native Angeleno and classic film lover started Cinespia with the belief “for people [in L.A.] to get together and watch films with each other… on a big screen with a large audience, emoting, screaming and laughing,” according to Cinespia. Now, the organization hosts screenings beyond just the summer outdoor seasons, accumulating presenting partners Amazon MGM Studios and Amazon Prime.
Cinespia events draw in fans and industry professionals alike. Drew Barrymore, Ben Stiller, and Ryan Coogler are just some of the names that frequent the screenings. The reason why probably lies in the fact that Cinespia’s outdoor screenings are an entire performance from start to finish.
A typical showing begins with the choice of film, which Wyatt explains is a deliberate, meticulous process that takes audiences’ reactions into account.
“We spend a lot of time on it. I’m putting myself in the audience’s shoes. Is this going to rock your world? Are you gonna laugh? Is it going to keep your attention?” said Wyatt in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Wyatt also noted cultural relevance as a factor in the decision.
The film of choice is then advertised through the official Cinespia website, socials, and mailing list, though the marketing strategy has changed quite a bit over the years. What started out as simple snail mail left behind a paper trail of nifty little promotional cards with stills of the movies being shown, which Wyatt recalls stamping and sending through the post office to interested viewers.
Cinespia’s rain-or-shine showings factor in the importance of atmosphere for their events. On the day of, a DJ will spin curated records that correlate to or set a mood for the movie before and after the film. “We are very strict: The DJ has to start the moment the gates open. So, you’re walking through the cemetery towards the music,” said Wyatt.
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All of the cemetery screenings also feature a Cinespia photo booth, although they are practically movie sets, considering their elaborateness. Alia Penner, the creative director, spearheads the designs behind the sets’ furnishing and decoration. The art team captures photos of audience members with professional photographers and lighting before breaking the backdrop down after the show. Wyatt said over a thousand people use the photo booth per show.
The photos are uploaded to the Cinespia website, where they are available for purchase.
With now 25 years under its belt, Cinespia has truly established itself as a fundamental L.A. experience that reflects the people of its city. “Angelenos are smart, creative, movie-loving people. This town has a lot of people who appreciate the experience,” said Wyatt to Uncover LA, “We’ve been really happy to deliver so many movies over the years.”
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