It’s movie time at the Big Island Drive-In once again. After legal rigmarole with the province almost shut down the season before it began, cars are parked and the show is back on - with a handful of changes.
In the meantime, for the business owners, there’s a more pressing concern. The projector failed a couple times during a recent showing - nothing that couldn’t be soon fixed, but enough to leave the Hladys peeved. Dawn and Dan, husband and wife and the owners and operators of the drive-in, are both projectionists and perfectionists.
“We have some really good projector techs that were able to walk us through those things. The whole movie world is changed amongst COVID-19,” Dawn said.
Modern problems require modern solutions. The technician for the drive-in is in Alberta - another technician for the drive-in is based out of Ireland. Keeping the theatre going is a worldwide effort.
COVID-19 has meant sweeping changes for many industries, including outdoor picture shows. One set of changes that hasn’t needed to be brought in relates to social distancing while watching - that’s something the Drive-In already has down to a science.
Few drive-in theatres still operate within Manitoba - as low as two, by some counts - and in most ways, they are seen by authorities in a similar way to conventional indoor theatres. When provincially mandated business shutdowns were announced for theatres, the Hladys thought, being outside, they would be in the clear.
Not so fast.
“I really didn’t think there was going to be any objection from the province at all. I was following the drive-in industry from all over the world and everyone was allowed and thriving. I thought, ‘Perfect. We’re going to be okay,’” she said.
“I started messaging a bunch of provincial business services and I was told, ‘Uh, no. You can’t open. You’re a movie theatre.’ We’re not a movie theatre, we’re an outdoor theatre, but that’s how they were categorizing us. They weren’t even accepting any sort of business plan from me.”
Hlady submitted new plans to accommodate COVID-19 to business authorities. Those didn’t have the desired effect at first.
“At that point, they would allow us to serve concession food and people could stay in their cars - they just couldn’t watch a movie,” she said.
“It just didn’t make any sense.”
Hlady started pushing the province over the restrictions. Eventually, she ended up doing a press run, doing multiple interviews with news outlets and sending letters to elected officials in hopes that her business wouldn’t fall through the cracks.
“It was still a no. Everywhere I was turning, it was a no,” she said.
Then, not long after yet another rejection, Hlady got a phone call. With little warning or explanation, rules on drive-in theatres were changed and the season was saved.
“By like three in the afternoon, I got an email that said, ‘You’re now included, you can now open up. I thought, ‘wait a minute, you just said no three hours ago,’” she said.
Once the news came in, there was a scramble to start preparing for the season again and update the drive-in for new guidelines.
The drive-in now uses contactless payment and debit. A new on-site WiFi network and cell service booster allows people to check their phones at the site - something that was a pipe dream only a year or two ago.
“For a mostly simple cash-only business, all this technology can sometimes be problematic,” said Dawn.
“It’s all finally working to our expectations as of yesterday and it’s week three [of operating].”
Ordering from the concessions, with local curio like pickled eggs, breaded pickle spears and the like, can be done through the Drive-In’s website. That same concession has a limit of 10 people inside and a one-way entrance and exit system.
“There was no technology of any sort like that here before. Now, we’re talking Wi-Fi,” said Dawn.
“The technology cost has been extreme this year because of the debit and mobile ordering from your car.”
Flyers updating viewers on social distancing rules and guidelines are handed out to people when they come into the theatre area. There are no limits on the number of cars that can come and park, but once people step out of their cars, the rules are in effect.
While drive-in movies already include social distancing in normal times, operation of a drive-in during COVID-19 hasn’t always been a straightforward business.
The disease has also led to a larger problem the drive-in and the Hladys can’t solve - access to new movies. Dawn said she had access to a small number of new movies all season, due in large part to the pandemic.
“Getting movies is different because all the shipping depots are closed. Instead of movies coming from one location, I’m literally tracking movies coming from all over the country, all over the U.S,” she said.
In the meantime, old movie posters are up in the concessions - “There’s Something About Mary” is in the display case, for instance - and there are plans for some old-school drive-in classics like double bills, creature features, possibly even a sing-along or two.
“This year’s going to be classics. It’s going to be those fun old drive-in movies from the past, kids and family oriented sort of themes.”
Next year may include some similar issues, as film production and distribution has essentially ground to a dead halt. Right now though, Dawn said the opposite may be true for the drive-in - next year they may have too many movies to show.
“We’re already thinking we might have to open seven days a week, just to accommodate it all,” she said.
The theatre has served as a sign for some community members that life is continuing, that summer has arrived even through a late winter and spring unlike many people had ever seen.
“There's people that literally haven't left their house since the middle of March. I've talked to those people here and this is the first place they've come. They're just completely full of gratitude for something to do,” Hlady said.
“After this, it’s been so overwhelming. This little business in the middle of nowhere has put Flin Flon on the map.”
