Can I turn up on a bike?
With cinemas closed, more people are thinking of how to still have a night out at the movies, including a group of Groningen residents that are currently looking into how they can set up a drive-in cinema in the city.
The proceeds from an evening out at the drive-in will then go to the Red Cross. The initiators also want to support local entrepreneurs.
Safety is of course paramount and that is why the initiators have been investigating whether the plan is feasible for the last two weeks with the municipality. “If it comes to that, we think it would be nice to start every movie night with an ‘honoring moment’ as a thank you to all care employees,” says one of the initiators, Jorine Witte.
She is a member of the Zienemaan & Sterren Foundation – the same team that organizes Zienemaan and Kino Klandestino in Groningen, two movie events in Groningen.
“We got the idea for a drive-in from all sides! But the immediate idea for making this plan comes from thirteen-year-old Marrah. She walked past the empty car park at the Sontplein in Groningen and came up with the idea to organise something beautiful in these very difficult times in which everyone has to stay at home and keep their distance and in which the cinema is also closed.”
“I thought that people could use a safe trip, what if we could organise something for the city. I had thought: why not a safe drive-in cinema. The most important thing is of course: that it is safe and that it brings people a lot of fun and brightens it up! ”
“We can convert any large parking lot into a drive-in, but given the history of Zienemaan, the Suikerunieterrein is obvious, provided it fits enough cars.”
“There are several reasons why we want to organise this. In the first place to raise money for the Red Cross. How nice would it be to sponsor the Red Cross with your ticket and to support local entrepreneurs by buying snacks and drinks? That is what we call a “win-win drive-in”. The national emergency ordinance basically makes organizing events impossible, so let’s not cheer too soon, but let’s hope for the best! “.
‘A second motive is that we can help local businesses by selling their snacks and drinks.We can also support caregivers and other people with vital professions. To kick off the film, everyone could then honk collectively as a thank you to caregivers and people with vital professions.
And the last motive is that we can promote general well-being with it. All holidays, birthdays and outings have been canceled. How nice is it to still be able to go somewhere and be together in a way that is safer than going to the supermarket?’ says Witte.
Image via Wikimedia user Fab Subeject. License here.
