ABSTRACT
Hollywood Forever has been the screening space for a popular outdoor movie theater since 2002, when Cinespia began projecting films on the exterior wall of the Cathedral Mausoleum. Moviegoers at Cinespia create their own rituals as they gather with friends to establish their space on the Fairbanks Lawn with blankets, chairs, and elaborate picnic spreads. Being outdoors in open space eases some of the constraints of social decorum that dictate behavior in an indoor theater. This openness is enhanced by music and socializing before the screening, which evoke a more party-like atmosphere. By screening classic and contemporary cult films, Cinespia works to create new meaning for old films.
