By Doug Duke

This past Saturday, June 4th, 2011, we had the pleasure of attending our first experience at the Outdoor Cinema Food Fest, and let me tell ya: It was a blast! What a fantastic idea! Parks, food trucks, bands, friends, blankets, and a movie. We took advantage of all of these things. To top that off we got a five star film, too: UNFORGIVEN.

Let’s first start off with this: because of our little blurb in the LA Times we were invited to this wonderful event! Naturally, we showed up and Jade had never seen UNFORGIVEN so win-win. We brought two amazing friends with us and we were starving! No problem because we all hurdled around The Munchie Machine food truck! I myself had the Roast Beef with Blue Cheese and onions with a side order of parmesan pesto fries! Yum! Heart attack!

Then we sat down to enjoy the food and the band (The Diamond Light) at our spot on the cool soft grass. It got a little chilly that night but nothing you couldn’t handle. With Clint Eastwood’s UNFORGIVEN up on the giant inflatable screen, I might sit in a snow storm to watch this film!

Co-Founder of Outdoor Cinema Food Fest Steve Allison stepped up to the mic to introduce the film and one of its producers David Valdes. David had a few stories about UNFORGIVEN: The script was around for quite some time in 1980, and while Francis Ford Coppola nearly sold off everything at his production company American Zoetrope, he held onto UNFORGIVEN. It was even going to get made back then with Raul Julia. Clint Eastwood also had to convince Gene Hackman to do his role; he rejected it several times through the years but luckily Eastwood was making it, and he was in. As David said, he was the only actor in all the movies he has been involved with that they had to convince. Hackman went on to win an Oscar for his role as ‘Little Bill’.

After the Q&A, it was time for the film. We wanted to introduce ourselves to Steve and we thanked him for inviting us. He was a great guy and has a fantastic spirit. You can tell he has a deep passion and love for film, especially UNFORGIVEN, which he said was one of his favorites of all time. It’s unfortunate that “older” westerns don’t attract many people, but we are certain that those of us who were there had a great time.

We will definitely be back for more screenings. June 25th’s THE TERMINATOR to be exact! Check out the rest of the schedule. They have some greats coming up: GOODFELLAS, OLD SCHOOL, THE MATRIX, RESERVOIR DOGS, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, FARGO, FIGHT CLUB, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND!

If you are looking to have a fun night with friends in the outdoors this summer and want some delicious food and to fill your appetite for the love of film, we suggest you get your butts outside and go check out OCFF ASAP! Bring blankets, pillows, low beach chairs to sit on, beverages, food, coolers and a great spirit!

Thank you so much to everyone at Outdoor Cinema Food Fest, all the food trucks, The Diamond Light, David Valdes, and of course FILM!