Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY Alliance Launches ARRAY Drive-In

With Downtown LA’s skyline and the sunset as a backdrop, Ava DuVernay’s non-profit ARRAY ALLIANCE is bringing a free cinematic experience to its Historic Filipinotown/Downtown LA neighborhood on August 14 and 15. With movie theaters still closed in Los Angeles due to the COVID-19 health pandemic, ARRAY DRIVE-IN, a two-night community cinema pop-up, will screen two powerhouse films centered on iconic musical performers, Prince and Selena. Singing along is encouraged. 

The critically acclaimed, Golden Globe-nominated biography SELENA, about the fast rise and tragically shortened life of singer Selena Quintanilla, played by Jennifer Lopez, will screen Friday night, August 14. Saturday night’s featured film is the Oscar winning, fan-favorite musical drama PURPLE RAIN, starring Prince in his acting debut, playing The Kid.

The ARRAY DRIVE-IN pop-up will take place at  LA Center Studios with presenting partner Lyft. Lyft recently launched a new initiative called LyftUp, that provides access to ride credits in underserved communities as an effort to make getting to the polls for voting easier and more affordable for those who need it most, which resonates deeply with ARRAY’s mission of providing various streams of access in Black and Brown communities.

Admission to both screenings is free with advance registration at www.arraynow.com/drivein. While adhering to the County of Los Angeles social distancing and health safety mandate for staff and attendees, the ARRAY Drive-In will provide attendees with an immersive and engaging evening. The films will be screened on a 40-foot screen with in-car audio accessible via AM/FM radio.

“At ARRAY’s core, we produce, distribute, exhibit, and amplify images by Black artists, people of color, and women of all kinds. While the Amanda Cinema at our ARRAY Creative Campus is closed for safety, along with all theaters in LA, it was important for us with this event to continue our mission of offering free film screenings in communities that are underserved,” said Mercedes Cooper, Director of Programming, ARRAY.