Building community through outdoor cinema

The outdoor screening project officially started in 2004, when Michael Berrier, one of the owners of La Tuna, called us with an idea of a use for the giant concrete slab in the parking lot across the street from the ice house. Until then, we'd been creating spectacle on St. Mary's street, in the parking lot of our since demised video store, Planet of the Tapes.

Our very first show at La Tuna was the 1959 campy movie, Bucket of Blood. We used a borrowed projector from Larry and Ruth at El Sol Studios. There was no external sound, only what came out of that projector. You had to sit within five feet of the machine to hear.

In the begining, it took about an hour each night to set up the screen: first corrugated plastic and later a spandex sheet we'd tie to a metal frame. One of our happiest days was when Ruth Polston and Mike Looney surprised us with a permanent Kilz painted plywood screen we wouldn't have to take down after each show. Our video and sound equipment progressed too, now we have two self-amplified speakers and a lot of lumens.

In 2008, the La Tuna Slab was sold for development and we found ourselves looking for a new venue. The City of San Antonio was interested in creating more community events downtown, and it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship: the Movies by Moonlight in HemisFair Park collaboration was born. At La Tuna slab, all of our films were independents or from the public domain. At HemiFair we are able to offer a fun, versatile catalog.

In 2009, we also teamed up with the Main Plaza Conservancy to offer CineMundo at Main Plaza, showcasing foreign and classic films in a beautiful intimate setting.

Our outdoor films screen during the warm season, roughly April through October. If you are interested in hosting your own film event, please contact us. Our inflatable screen loves to travel. More info.