Cinema paradiso under summer stars

Sitting beneath the stars on a warm summer evening in the beautiful setting of a natural amphitheatre sure beats watching a movie on the box at home.

Black Barn OpenAir Cinema is open for its eighth season and showing films across many genres, carefully selected by event organisers Doris and Urs Blum.

"We started [selecting films] early this year, in April. We watch a lot of movies and aim for a variety," Mr Blum says. "We always try for a Kiwi movie, a kids' movie and a nature movie, then we have the action and comedy, so it's going to appeal to a lot of people."

In previous years the couple had learned that limiting films to just one type narrowed their audience.

"We started out down the film festival track, but that didn't work because even if you are a film buff, you are not going to come to all nine nights whereas, this way, if you like comedy and nature or action and comedy you come along for two nights."

The OpenAir cinema relies on word of mouth for advertising and Mr Blum says it is positive to see people coming along with family and friends.

"We aim for a unique experience. Where else can you sit, watch the sun go down, eat some lovely food and then see a movie?

"This is something different, it's one of those events people embrace, it's not just another concert - that's the beauty of it."

Already three of the nine movies have been shown, and so far the weather and crowd numbers have been positive.

"It's been going really well. The weather was on our side for the first night," says Mr Blum.

About 500 people converged on the venue for the first showings.

Behind the scenes, TC Systems, which has supplied the screen and projector since the OpenAir Cinema began, spent about two days setting up in preparation for the crowds.

"The canvas had to be stretched and the screen winched into place," says the owner of TC Systems, Tony Osborne.

The films begin about 9pm, when darkness falls.

For more information and details about movies or to buy tickets see: www.blackbarn.com