Silver Lake Picture Show back again for the summer
The Silver Lake Picture Show is back again for its second summer, with a slate of free films to be shown outdoors on a patch of Sunset Boulevard real estate known as Sunset Triangle Plaza.
Co-founder Nicholas Robbins says seven movies will be shown this summer, at sunset, every other Thursday. Movie lovers are encouraged to bring their own seating for a series of movies curated around an 1980s and ‘90s theme.
Upcoming films are “Wet Hot American Summer” showing on June 27, “The Sandlot” on July 11, “Zoot Suit” on July 25, “Empire Records” on Aug. 8, “To Wong Foo” on Aug. 28 and “The Princess Bride” on Sept. 5.
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Also to be shown are short films by local artists. This year, that means 14 short movies, nine of them made by students at the nearby Echo Park Film Center.
“The partnership is a mutually enjoyable relationship,” said Paolo Davanzo, founder of Echo Park Film Center. “We want people to acknowledge and celebrate these voices.”
Last year’s most popular film drew a crowd of 500 people, Robbins said. The first film of this season, “Wayne’s World,” showed on June 13 and attracted about 350 moviegoers.
Although last year’s season was successful, Robbins and his group of friends that run the event almost discontinued it, after losing their initial investment. Robbins said last year’s event cost $5,000.
This year, Robbins and his associates got funding support from the Silver Lake Improvement Assn. and Topshop Topman, a clothing brand. Other businesses also helped out, including the local coffee shop Mornings/Nights, which provides electricity for the event, and Yummy.com, a neighborhood grocery store.
The Silver Lake Improvement Assn. allocated $5,000 for the picture show through a grant from the Los Angeles City Council District 13.
“It was the type of event we wanted in the neighborhood,” said Genelle Le Vin, association president. “We liked the whole idea.”
For Robbins, the great challenge is picking a slate of movies appropriate for the very diverse population of the Silver Lake community.
The goal? “Strangers becoming neighbors,” Robbins said.
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Twitter:@DiangeleaMillar
angie.millar@latimes.com
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