In Los Angeles, catching a flick at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary is a rite of passage. “I’ve heard it said that if you don’t go to Cinespia, you’re not really an Angeleno.” John Wyatt, founder of Cinespia, shared with a laugh during a recent phone call. “I hope that’s true.”
Cinespia, presented by Amazon MGM Studios, is a cornerstone of the entertainment capital’s varied cinematic experiences. John Wyatt started Cinespia in 2001 as a passion project. It began as a small film club to watch classic films with buddies but has since evolved into a community event, drawing up to 4,000 moviegoers to each scheduled event at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
For Wyatt, Hollywood Forever was the ideal backdrop for a budding cinema club. When a friend who worked at the cemetery mentioned that the owners were open to hosting events, Wyatt saw the opportunity. Twenty-three years later, the event has become a massive L.A. mainstay.
“More than being our home for Cinespia, it’s such a great historical place because there’s so much Hollywood history there. So many of the people who worked on films in the golden era are buried there,” he said. “It’s right next to the Paramount Studios and Gower Studios. It’s in the center of all of that history, and it’s just a lovely place with architecture from the past 100 years. There’s a lake and then this giant lawn where people can sit. Not on graves, of course.”
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This year, Cinespia’s annual summer movie series is still drawing in cinephiles to lounge on the cemetery lawn, often with picnic blankets and stocked baskets, as the event allows attendees to BYOB. Last week, they announced an additional film screening for July along with their August lineup.
Prime Video will host a free screening of its new animated series, “Sausage Party: Foodtopia,” on Wednesday, July 10. The series is based on the 2016 animated feature “Sausage Party,” which follows Frank, Brenda, Barry, and Sammy as they try to build their own food society. It will premiere on Thursday, July 11.
Throughout the years, Cinespia has been known to occasionally bring in film stars, including Demi Moore, Drew Barrymore, Paul Reubens, and Elizabeth Berkley, who have surprised guests with mini panels, although these appearances are typically never pre-announced. However, for “Sausage Party: Foodtopia,” fans can expect to be joined by stars Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, and Sam Richardson for the first three episodes of the highly-anticipated series.
“One of our favorite things to do is bring actors to Cinespia for panels and surprise appearances,” Wyatt said. “It’s also hard because it does take a lot of planning since we really try our best as a team to make it a secret so that we have a special moment and the audience has no idea and then suddenly the star of the film is right there in person, in front of them. It’s one of the great things about having Cinespia in Los Angeles.”
Attendees at the “Sausage Party: Foodtopia” screening will also receive free treats, photo ops and other surprises throughout the night.
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Cinespia is also bringing back its annual Slumber Party, featuring a special back-to-back screening of “Bring It On” and “The Virgin Suicides.” Wyatt notes that this tradition has been a staple for almost a decade, celebrating late into the night until 2:30 a.m. Attendees can enjoy drinks, food, and dancing, thanks to an in-house DJ and a dedicated dance floor.
“The Slumber Party has become so popular, and so many of our customers dress up, whether that’s pajamas or something related to the movie, and it’s just fun,” Wyatt said. “We always have a couple more things that we do during the Slumber Party event, with more photo ops, a couple of surprises, and giveaways, and we love being able to continue the tradition.”
The screening lineup for August includes “Bridesmaids” on Saturday, Aug. 3; “True Romance” on Saturday, Aug. 10; “My Old Ass” on Friday, Aug.16; “Bring It On” and “The Virgin Suicides” as part of the annual Cinespia slumber party night on Saturday, Aug. 17 and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” on Saturday, Aug. 24.
As for the future of Cinespia, Wyatt hopes it remains a key component of Los Angeles’ rich history. While movies are the highlight, Wyatt shares that the real stars are the memories and gatherings of loved ones under the Los Angeles skyline, coming together for a film.
“A few years ago, this woman came up to me and shared that her entire family made a promise a couple of years back to have their family reunion at the Slumber Party event,” Wyatt said, adding that every year the family flies in from all over the country to meet at Cinespia.
“Being able to witness that has been a wonderful privilege. I have a front-row seat to watching everything unfold. From what people have told me through the years, they treasure having a place like this, feeling like they have a community in Los Angeles. It’s not often that we truly get that. We’re part of the history of Hollywood now, and we cherish that.”
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For more information on tickets and parking, visit cinespia.org.