Weather dampens outdoor cinema plans

Thursday 20 September 2018

The first of hopefully many outdoor movie screenings on Royal Square has had to be pushed back due to poor weather predictions.

Music and movie enthusiast Stefan Rousseau and the Parish of St. Helier had planned to show Harrison Ford on a 240-inch screen set up against the United Club embodying hero Indiana Jones in classic 80s flick, 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'.

Movie-goers were initially invited to bring their own chairs and blankets to fend off September's cooler evenings.

But with showers and Force 6 winds forecast for Friday, it soon became clear that conditions were not going to be ideal for the best movie experience and decision was made to transfer to the Town Hall. Then news came last night that the event had been cancelled altogether.

The screening of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' was hoped to be the first of many.

Stefan as well as the Town Manager Daphne East wanted to plant the seed of a community cinema in St. Helier, to follow the trend that has recently exploded in Europe and the UK.

Despite this week's setback, the team aren't letting the weather dampen their morale, with the current plan to bring it back in Spring.

Ms East told Express that not being able to allow Indiana Jones to 'raid' the screen was "extremely disappointing", but that next spring should bring better weather, allowing them to continue their idea in the "ideal location" of the Royal Square.