A Film Aficionado’s Fantasy:

Movies on the Green in Woodland Hills Gears Up for Summer 2016

It’s often been said that Saturday nights at the cinema with a date, or the family, is about as American as apple pie and a Chevy truck…and there’s something so true about that statement. But taking the concept to a whole other level is participating in al fresco – i.e. outdoor – cinema, where a giant screen fulfills our fantasies of indulging in a heartfelt romance or nail-biting action blockbuster while the gorgeous summer night air provides us the best of both worlds. The Valley Cultural Center delivers to film aficionados that exact opportunity when they host Movies on the Green every Saturday evening at the Lou Bredlow Pavilion in Warner Center Park, located at 5800 Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Woodland Hills.

Presented by UCLA Health, Movies on the Green in Woodland Hills returns to Warner Center Park this summer with a lineup of big “tent-pole” blockbuster hits of the past season, scheduled to run from July 23 to August 27, starting from 7:15 pm and ending at approximately 10 pm. Pre-feature entertainment begins around 7:15 pm and is provided by Theatre of Will, with all films shown on a genuine theatrical screen that’s 30-feet wide and which boasts high-resolution digital projection backed by a concert-quality, state-of-the-art sound system. As if that wasn’t enough to get a film fan’s heart racing, a full concession stand will be available for when that snack craving hits like the meteor in Armageddon.

Though film title selections, times and dates are subject to change with or without notice, the following blockbusters are scheduled to play out at Movies on the Green in Woodland Hills this summer:

Cinderella (2015)

The timeless and awe-inspiring live-action take on Cinderella will show on Saturday, July 23 at dusk, to conclude by 10 pm, directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Lily James as the put-upon young woman forced to endure a life of labor at the hands of her stepmother (Cate Blanchett) after her father dies unexpectedly. Indeed, is there a better way to kick off the summer al fresco film-watching season than with the legendary Cinderella?

Jurassic World

When the great Steven Spielberg made our jaws drop in the original Jurassic Park, film buffs knew this franchise wouldn’t go quietly into the night – and it didn’t. With two sequels before it, Jurassic World became the fourth installment in the exciting dinosaur series, released last summer and starring Bryce Dallas Howard as a park executive in charge of day-to-day operations of the finally-realized theme park filled with genetically-resurrected monsters. The latest addition to the Jurassic Park franchise will premiere at Movies on the Green on Saturday, July 30 at dusk until 10 pm.

Star Wars – The Force Awakens

Is there another film in the history of cinema that is as instantly-recognizable as George Lucas’ Star Wars? In a controversial – to many diehard fans – move, director J.J. Abrams (who also resurrected the Star Trek “universe”) continued the legendary space opus with his Star Wars – The Force Awakens last Christmas, and love it or hate it, the film made a cinematic splash and sparked a buzz like perhaps never seen before. In Abrams’ film, ex-Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega), scrappy desert dweller Rey (Daisy Ridley) and droid companion BB-8 get caught up in a galactic war when they come across a map having a lot to do with the legendary Luke Skywalker. The Force Awakens shows at Movies on the Green on Saturday, August 6 at dusk until 10 pm.

Inside Out

A little girl’s mind is overrun by emotions when she is removed from her tranquil existence in the Midwest and takes up residency in the City by the Bay in the Pixar hit Inside Out, showing on Saturday, August 13 at dusk till 10 pm. Directed by Pete Docter (Up, Monsters Inc.), Inside Out is a vivid excuse to round up the kids and enjoy a fun night under the stars at Warner Center Park!

Minions

Minions, the followup to the highly successful Despicable Me, will hit the outdoor big screen on Saturday, August 20 from dusk till 10 pm, and will cast the audience into Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda’s world of animated comedy that features the voices of Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney and Steve Coogan.

Hotel Transylvania

Finally, Hotel Transylvania 2 will play at Movies on the Green on Saturday, August 27 at dusk till 10 pm, featuring hotel owner Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) who is concerned that his half-human grandson Dennis isn’t embracing his vampire heritage – and so he and his fellow ghouls put Dennis through a “monster-in-training” boot camp. Get ready for laughs the whole family will engage in!

In conjunction with its presenting sponsor, UCLA Health, Movies on the Green is sponsored this year by Chase Bank, Farmers Insurance, Film LA, iHeart Media, Mini Cooper of Valencia, Northrop Grumman, Shelley’s Stereo & Video and Wells Fargo.

For more information visit www.valleycultural.org/concerts-programs/movie-schedule-2016/.