The always idyllic pastime of sitting beneath the starry sky of a cool summer night and of watching a classic film among other movie-lovers can once again be enjoyed at Screen on the Green, a free film festival held Monday nights on the National Mall between July 16 and Aug. 13.
The festival, which will be hosted by HBO for its eighth consecutive year, serves up a variety of classic films. The first and last nights offer standards such as "Annie Hall" and "Casablanca" respectively, while the nights in between bring science fiction ("The Thing"), crime thrillers ("Wait Until Dark"), and political drama ("All The King's Men").
"The idea behind [Screen on the Green] was always community outreach for [HBO] and [to] sort of cultivate the movie-lovers to see the old classic on the big screen," said HBO's Director of Corporate Affairs Suzanne Pinto.
HBO first began its outdoor film series in New York City's Bryant Park 15 years ago. Since then, the concept grew in popularity and quickly spread to other cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Boston and Washington.
Though some of those festivals have disappeared or are no longer hosted by HBO, others, such as the ones in D.C. and New York, continue to thrive under the entertainment company's supervision.
"I know [our outdoor film festivals] started off with some smaller crowds at first," Pinto said. "But they became increasingly more popular, and I feel like we try to keep ours unique by showing the classics that aren't normally seen on the big screen."
AU students and alumni spending the summer in D.C. say they're interested in the event. Watching movies is, of course, something many of them do on a regular basis.
"We usually watch movies with friends anyway, so that would be great to go outside [to see a movie] and not pay for it," said Chris Focarile, a Class of 2007 graduate of AU's College of Arts and Sciences.
Paul Perry, a Class of 2007 graduate of AU's School of International Service and a former Eagle columnist, said something like Screen on the Green is not only inexpensive but also "just something different" from going out to a bar or a club at night.
Weather is certainly a factor in determining the number of people who attend Screen on the Green. A particularly cold or rainy night can easily ruin a screening, but when the weather's just right, the film festival draws enormous crowds, Pinto said.
"We have amazing, huge crowds every year," she said. "I would say 50,000 plus when it's a nice night, so I think it's truly become a summertime tradition down there."
The films begin at sunset (approximately 8 p.m. each Monday night), but people come out as early as 5 p.m. to claim their seats, according to Pinto. The screen itself is located between 4th and 7th streets in front of the National Air and Space Museum.
Screen on the Green's Web site advises moviegoers to bring blankets, insect repellant, umbrellas, warm clothing, snacks and beverages. It also notes that tall chairs and alcohol should be left behind.
For any more information regarding Screen on the Green, call 877-262-5866 or check out AOL's City Guide Web site for Washington.
Upcoming Movie Schedule:
July 16 - Annie Hall July 23 - The Thing (From Another World) July 30 - Wait Until Dark Aug. 6 - All The King's Men Aug. 13 - Casablanca
