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DRIVE IN WITH A DIFFERENCE
UP ON THE ROOF!

By Peter Jackson

A joint venture between the Artrage
group and City of Perth Parking (CPP),
Rooftop Movies is proving popular with
audiences wanting to view good and/or
interesting movies in a casual setting,
onths of warm summer nights hopefully with a gentle, cooling breeze.
Mhave meant that outdoor The view of the city skyline at night is
cinemas have long been a popular an attraction in itself.
attraction in Perth and elsewhere in
Western Australia. The cinema advertises its movie offerings
as “old school film favourites, cinephile
In recent years, more of these venues classics, cult and arthouse, going hand Entry is gained via lifts from the ground
have sprung up, some as annexes to in glove with B-grade schmaltz”. floor. A special deal allows patrons to
hardtops; others in picturesque parkland park on the lower levels at a reduced
settings such as Kings Park. For me, it was quite an experience sitting price. So, it’s a drive-in, but you don’t
in a deckchair under the moon and stars sit in the car. ‘Walk-ins’ from the street
Even the annual film festival associated as Major ‘King’ Kong (Slim Pickens), are also welcome.
with the Perth International Arts Festival as pilot of a rogue warplane, saddled
for decades has been held outdoors a nuclear-armed missile and hurtled The audience is a mixture of young
at the Somerville Auditorium in the towards oblivion. adults wanting to see cult favourites or
grounds of the University of Western classics of yesteryear and ‘mature’ folk
Australia. With the rapid growth of There’s a different movie every night who prefer their movies with a bit of age
the northern suburbs, a second festival with some regular double features as well. on them.. There’s also live entertainment
venue was added at Joondalup –– the Selections range from Casablanca to La before the sun goes down, including a
Joondalup Pines. Dolce Vita and Zombie Flesh Eaters. mid-week stand-up comedy night and
weekend jazz.
The evolution of outdoor cinema The decent-sized screen is affixed to The new venue is reportedly doing good
continues with the arrival of Rooftop the side of a sea container and about business and at time of writing was
Movies – on the top deck of a CBD multi- half of the deck is taken up by rows of
storey car park in Roe Street. Organisers colourful deck-chairs into which patrons gearing up for a second season. +
claim this modern ‘atmospheric’ venue sink comfortably.
is the first of its kind. Photographs Courtesy of Artrage.
The remainder of the deck is occupied
by a refreshment area, complete with
imitation palm trees.

Fifties-style family caravans have been
used for the box office, projection room,
bar and food servery. The whole set-up is
like a little oasis in the heart of the city.

Cranes were used to lift the vans, crates
and other heavy gear into place.

CINEMAREC ORD 2012 9