A Trinidadian Filmmaker and Her Husband Make History Launching Newark’s First Drive-in Movie Theatre in Decades
photos taken by Caribbean Collective Magazine
written by Shanida Carter
If you build it, they will come. That’s what filmmaker Ayana Stafford-Morris is hoping for. She’s not building a baseball field like Kevin Costner’s lead character in Field of Dreams, the movie that made that line famous (though the exact line is “If you build it, he will come.”) She’s bringing a pop-up drive-in movie theater Newark Moonlight Cinema, to the former Newark Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium in New Jersey’s largest city! Apropos to the location, where the Negro National League Newark Eagles played baseball in the late 1940s, Stafford-Morris is opening Newark Moonlight Cinema with films starring African American Newark natives Michael B. Jordan and Queen Latifah.
Newark’s last drive-in theater opened in 1955 and closed in 1982. At its height, The Newark Drive-In on Foundry Street could host up to 2,500 cars and was the nation’s fifth largest drive-in. Today’s Newark Moonlight Cinema has space for more than 300 vehicles. This new version of an old night of fun is still nothing short of amazing. The venture has been so successful that Amazon even pulled up, offering a few free movie showings curated by Jordan. Newark Working Kitchens served complimentary dinners during an Amazon night also.
I spoke with my fellow Trini mother of two a few days before the opening of Newark Moonlight Cinema on July 24. Read on to find out how she’s knocking it out of the park by serving up a COVID-safe pastime, while demand is high for African American businesses and storytelling in the midst of the nation’s grappling with racism, coupled with the undeniable force of the arts movement in Newark.
Let’s start by shouting out your Trini roots! Towns and all. Tell me about your background.
“My mom is American. My father is from Trinidad. He’s from Chaguanas. All of my father’s family lives there. My father recently moved back to Trinidad, maybe 6 or 7 years ago. He lived in Brooklyn for 30-something years and then he decided he wanted to go back home. Trinidad is home.”
Oh wow. So your dad is at home.
“Yeah, I went to see him two years ago and he wanted me to come down but COVID happened, so I haven’t been back yet.”
What does your family back home think about the drive-in?
“They’re excited. They’re really excited. I’ve had my family from Trinidad writing me on Facebook like, “We’re so proud of you,” so they’re all excited for the venture.”
That’s great! As you know, drive-ins have been popping up all over due to COVID and limited entertainment options, but you’re making history with Newark’s only drive-in since The Newark Drive-In on Foundry Street closed in 1982. When and how did you come up with the idea?
“I’m a filmmaker and I recently did a documentary on the Baraka family. (The film is titled, Why is We Americans?) Ras Baraka is the mayor of Newark. They’ve been an integral part of the city of Newark. [The film] premiered at the Lighthouse International Film Festival in Long Beach Island back in June, and they did the drive-in movie theater concept. They picked blocks throughout Long Beach Island, had the inflatable screens, had the cars drive up to be able to screen the films and I thought it was really creative and a great idea. Because of COVID, a lot of festivals had to cancel their screenings or do virtual screenings, and this is the first one to be able to have screenings because they adopted this old-time classic experience. So after that, I was like, you know what, this is a great idea. I need to bring this to my city, and I brought it to my husband (Siree Morris). I said, “I want to do a pop-up drive-in movie theater.” He said okay. He’s a real estate developer so he understands construction. He thought of the Bears Stadium site. He reached out to the owner, the director of my film. I’m the co-director and the director of my film is good friends with the person who owns the Bears Stadium lot, so I reached out to him. He made a phone call and Ben Korman (CEO and founder) from Lotus Group said yes.”
I’m glad you brought up the Mayor and Newark because this city has been doing an excellent job of collaborating to bring great projects to life, especially in the arts. Talk a little bit about the partnership that happened to bring the drive-in to fruition.
“The partnership is between me, Lotus Group, they’re allowing us to use the space. I spoke with the Mayor early on about the idea and he thought it was wonderful and said that he would do whatever in his capacity he can do to support us and get it off the ground, but it’s a small business. It is a private venture with some support from the city, but it is truly a concept of me, and my husband, and Prudential just recently signed on as sponsor to support the venture as well.”
How has the response been so far, and which response has been most surprising?
“The feedback has been really good so far. Everyone from the community is excited. People are looking for things to do because of COVID. I don’t want to sound unhumble, but I guess I kind of expected that, too, because when I saw that it was on, I was like, “Oh my God. That’s so dope,” so that was the feedback that I was hoping for and we have guidance so no surprises thus far. Everyone is very supportive and excited for the opportunity and being able to come to the drive-in theater.”
Walk me through the patron experience, so from the time people buy their tickets to the time they settle in for the movie, what’s the process or what should they expect?
“You drive up. Our ticket scanners will greet you with a smile, of course.”
[Shanida Carter] “Of course.”
“They’ll scan your ticket to verify your entry because you do have to pay for each person in your vehicle. Once they verify your ticket, the parking attendants will usher you to your parking spot. At that point, you will be encouraged to download the fan food app where you can order food through the app. Once you order the food, our concession area will receive the order. They’ll process it. They’ll send you a text message when your order is ready. You will get the text message to your phone. You’ll approach the concession stand. They’ll give you your order. You’ll sit back in your car and you’ll enjoy the show starting at 9 o’clock but we are encouraging everyone to get there early, to try to get there at 7 to be able to get settled in, get your car parked, order your food because the movie will start promptly at 9.”
I saw on your website that children between ages 4 and 12 pay $8 and, adults over age 13 pay $12 for an admission ticket. Why did you decide on the pay-per-person model instead of paying-per-car?
“Most drive-in movie theaters do a pay-per-person model. Before I did the venture, I went and visited the closest drive-in to Newark, which is in Warwick, New York, and they also had this model where they do a per person ticket, and then also, in terms of licensing and films, you have to pay for each person that sees the film. You have to split the tickets with the licensing, so we don’t even…We have to split the cost of the ticket with the movie licensing company so that was a part of that decision.”
Speaking of movie licensing, I love that the Cinema is highlighting Black filmmakers and starting with films starring Newark natives like Michael B. Jordan and Queen Latifah. Are there any plans in the works for new release films, indie films or movies by West Indian filmmakers? I know this only runs through October. Can you give me a little sneak peek about the movies that are coming?
“The goal is to definitely highlight some local and independent filmmakers. We are showing, later on, a film by Dee Rees. She’s an up and coming filmmaker. She’s considered an independent filmmaker. The name of her film is called Pariah, so we will be screening that one. (It’s worth mentioning that Rees directed the HBO film Bessie, starring Queen Latifah, and was the first Black woman to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.) I’m working on a partnership with Newark Museum to try to feature some local artists. Right now, we’re only open Friday through Saturday but the goal is to add a Thursday roster as well so that will be an opportunity to highlight more independent filmmakers and some local filmmakers as well… and West Indian filmmakers as well.”
If the pop-up does well, are you considering establishing a permanent drive-in or, at least, bringing it back next summer?
“The goal is definitely to do a seasonal and even start earlier next year. That is the goal. I am hoping it goes well because it is a venture that I would like to continue.”
Is there anything you’d like to add?
“Come visit us! Come enjoy our experience. Come watch a movie with us under the Newark moonlight.”
To learn more about Newark Moonlight Cinema visit their website here.
Newark Moonlight Cinema is located at 54 Bridge Street, Newark, New Jersey. Movies are shown Friday through Sunday at 9pm from through October 4, 2020. Tickets and concessions can only be purchased online. Rain dates will operate the following Monday after any cancelled feature unless otherwise announced on the website.