Drive out to some parking lot, some alley, somewhere kind of anonymous and secret... In the car you have packed blankets, maybe a chair, snacks and drinks. You're all set for an evening at the movies. The new and revised and mobile movies are not like the old drive-in movie theatres.
The new drive-in theatres are open air, located in backyards possibly using a home made screen. They may be mobile, appearing in new locations each time. Some of them may be located in theme appropriate locations, like showing horror movies in a cemetery or some spooky, abandoned place.
The guerilla drive-ins are typically free, though donations are gladly accepted.
The backyard cinemas tend to be small business people who also run DJ and other services. (This is how they have the equipment available in many cases).
The mobile movies seem to be where the idea started. People keep in touch on an email list, the movie is picked and the location is given out - like a secret society.
How to Start your Own Guerilla Drive In Movie Theatre
What Should you Bring if you Go?
Check with the drive-in people and see if you need to bring anything, but most likely you should pack some essentials:
- Chairs for sitting outdoors.
- Food, snacks and drinks.
- Blankets or a warm jacket.
- A portable radio to hear the audio.
- Your vehicle, or a seat in a vehicle.
MobMov, Backyard Cinemas, Guerilla Drive-ins: Outdoor movie theaters.
Drive-in Movie Memories
The age of the drive-in movie is passing us by. They plod along like dinosaurs walking into deep, dark pit. I remember going to the drive-in with my family. We had a station wagon and later a huge van with a long seat for each of the four kids. We brought blankets and snuck in our own snacks but still bought more because that was just what you did when you were at the drive-in.
By the end of the first movie we were sleeping. Sometimes I'd get to see part of the second feature. What I remember most about the drive-in theatre was leaving. It was dark, I was sleepy and I liked the feeling of the car going over the hills and valleys of the parking lot as we wound our way out of all the traffic.
Others may think of the drive-in speakers. The times they didn't work. The time you almost (or did) drive away with one. The new drive-ins have you tune in to a radio station now. No need to keep a window down for the speaker and the mosquitoes to get in.
Drive-in Movie History
Abandoned, Lost and Forgotten Drive-in Theatres
There are women gamers who play DnD too.
(People sometimes shorten the name, Dungeons and Dragons, to DnD).
There is so much to a game I can't begin to describe and explain all of it. But, I do think this is a great game for women and families especially. It may have a reputation as a geeky game for a bunch of college boys. That is so limiting.
I played Dungeons & Dragons with my family in the 1980s. My nephew played with young men and a few young women in high school too. I know there are women players out there. I would love to be part of a regular group of all women DnD players.
You might pick up the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set from Amazon. This is my affiliate link. The Starter Set is worth including and does give you the dice, rulebook, and etc. so you don't need to buy anything else to get playing. I'd suggest not buying fancier dice, roleplaying figures, and anything else until you know you like the game and will continue to play. It can become a very expensive hobby if you start buying extras.
Essentially a role playing board game.
To play the game you need a group of people, at least three. One is the Dungeon Master and the other two are players.
The players create a character by choosing some elements and rolling a dice for others. This way no character is ever just like another character. The random chance of rolling the dice brings some unpredictability to the game. Not everything is in your control and levelling up becomes more important as your characters advances in the game. You will find yourself learning new skills as well. Map making and orientation are two great things I learned more about as I played DnD.
Then there is the Dungeon Master. It may sound sinister or creepy but the Dungeon Master (shortened to the DM at times) is the one who plans the route of the game, literally. The Dungeon Master creates a world, a campaign or a map (depending on how much time is available for the game) and the players venture into it.
Players explore the map one virtual step at a time. The DM has set up traps, treasure and monster for them to find along the way. Each step of the game can be a surprise, a puzzle to solve or players could muck up their map making and become very lost and confused. This is why you can't just step into a game of DnD without setting things up ahead and learning at least something about map making.
Wizards of the Coast -D&D Beyond
Dragon Con
"Life's more enjoyable if you pretend that you have an audience." Jeff Martin.
This was from a link in The Unholy Trinity's column this week. It's such a delicious quote. Made me think about why we do anything. Isn't there always some element of performance? Isn't that why we get out of bed in the morning? Isn't that the real reason we drive ourselves to look like seductive wenches even though we're just going to pick up a few things at the grocery store? That audience is why we do just about anything not necessary for our immediate survival.
Just like boys playing hockey, when they are by themselves they like to narrate the event. I listened to my brother do his hockey narration against the garage door. Back then he wanted to be called Gus. (I doubt he knew Gus was short for Augustus, I never told him.)
Anyway, do you ever do your own narration? I do. Even if I'm not thinking about it it's there, somewhere in my mind. I evaluate how I get out of the car. "She did it again, a perfect exit, keys in the pocket with that stylish flip of the key ring." Did anyone see how graceful that was? Or, countering that, did anyone see how ungainly that was, do I get a redo? Take two, getting out of the car... ok Action! Ok..., that's perfect, cut and print! The audience applauds.
It's wonderful to be admired. To be the adored one. I think we all have some fantasy of being the movie star, worshipped by millions of men. The top model, the one who leaves all men with their jaw hanging down, drooling and hoping for one scrap of our notice. That woman, the one who seduces men with just a casual smile. Look at her, everyone, isn't she ever so worthy of watching?
Certainly we have performance anxiety at some point, when there is a real audience. But, that's different. A real audience isn't under our control. You can ignore the imaginary audience or have them laugh with you over your goof ups. They always laugh with you. How could they not, you're so incredible!
Maybe you feel less alone in the world if you have an audience. Or maybe it drives you to a better performance. Whatever it is, life is more enjoyable when you're performing for an audience.
Applaud now.