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Faraone's Cinespots are featured at Campbell's Sundown Cinema

By Stephanie Condon

Cinema buffs can enjoy some old flicks and munch on some popcorn al fresco during outdoor movie nights this summer. This year's Sundown Cinema is also expected to benefit some local up-and-coming filmmakers and a new business.

At the Sundown Cinema, which is in its third year, movies are played every Friday evening in the parking lot between the Courtyard and Orchard Valley Coffeeshop in downtown Campbell. The event kicked off with a showing of the 1964 version of The Pink Panther. The movies run Fridays through Sept. 8.

In the past, the event was run by the nonprofit organization Casa de la Cultura Mexica in conjunction with the Downtown Campbell Business Association. This year, the new business Cinespots stepped up to run the free event with the business association.

Cinespots was started by Saratoga resident Tedd Faraone to create pre-shows for local theaters. The pre-shows include clips of short films from local filmmakers, cartoons and advertising. Cinespots' first client is the Cinelux Theatres.

"I was sitting in the theater one day watching the pre-show and asked, 'Why do they do it that way?' " Faraone said. "And as soon as you ask that question, you have to answer it."

Faraone is donating his time to produce 20-minute pre-shows for the Sundown Cinema as a way to market his new company. He said the pre-shows should also benefit the local filmmakers he features.

"Really what they're trying to do is be discovered," he said. "We get a free spot of quality entertainment, and the filmmaker gets notoriety."

The movies shown at Sundown Cinema will start as soon as it gets dark outside, with the pre-show airing immediately before. There will also be popcorn at the event. Some of movies to be shown include Unforgiven, Titanic and Fly Away Home.