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Stormy clouds up, movie is UP

The district’s first official outdoor movie gets accompanying special effects from nature.

Vivian Chui

Omineca Express

 

300 people braved rain-threatening clouds at Vanderhoof’s first outdoor movie screening at Ferland Park last Wednesday.

It’s the District of Vanderhoof’s first year having Movie in the Park.

“[People] came in early and kept coming,” Tom Clement, the Director of Community Development said.

As light disappeared from the sky, the audience was welcomed with the animated movie “UP” for the event’s launch, featuring a 78-year-old balloon salesman about to fulfill his life-long traveling dream.

It took more than a year to including acquiring the equipment and the large screen. Clement noted that the event made good use of the park’s stage for family events.

The outdoor screening will take place every two weeks until school resumes — there will be two more films for this summer.

Show times would be moved back to 8:00 p.m. for the next movie and then 7:30 p.m. for the last, to take advantage of the earlier night fall.

Clement does not know what the next movie will be yet, but he said it will always be a family movie that is two to three years old — to be mindful of and avoid interfering with related businesses in the area.

He had promoted the event with a single post on the Vanderhoof Community Message Board on Facebook, and with its great response, he will continue to advertise the movie series on the social media channel.

For Vanderhoof citizen Ken Young, who provided a live update of the event on the message board, the light sprinkling of rain during the storm scene contributed to cinematic experience by “added realism.”

He also dubbed the event “Flicks in Ferland.”

Movies’ ever-present partner in crime popcorn was also available on site from Integris Credit Union staff by donation, with all proceeds going to Cops for Cancer.

Aug. 26 will be the next Movie in the Park.