As New Mexico nears its sixth month of lockdown, many residents are eager to get out of their homes and experience what the city has to offer without compromising the health and well-being of others.
Local performing arts theatre company Fusion Forum has made this possible with outdoor film and movie screenings.
Fusion showed the Joel and Ethan Coen classic “The Big Lebowski” on the evening of Aug. 23 and plans to continue the trend by showing the pilot episode — as well as the final episode of “Breaking Bad” — on Aug. 29 at 7:55 p.m.
In the coming months, Fusion Forum will host screenings of several short films produced by Albuquerque filmmakers as well as many other films selected by organizations in order to support different industries across town.
“We’re acting as a catch-all for all kinds of arts organizations; those that are in peril,” Fusion Forum president Dennis Gromelski told the Daily Lobo. “We have opened our arms to them and are helping out in any way possible.”
With a no-mask, no-service policy in place and tables spaced a cautious eighteen feet apart, Fusion Forum welcomed a crowd of about thirty people with proper safety precautions and delicious Mexican cuisine.
Attendee Ken Neundorf said he felt completely safe at the screening.
Hand sanitizer and masks were provided when necessary. Seating arrangements were also assigned prior to the screening to prevent any unwanted contact between groups.
“We’re really trying to do this sanely and provide a resource to the community as an entertainment outlet, an educational outlet, but also as some financial relief,” Gromelski said.
Shortly before the film began, Gromelski assured the audience that “(the venue) is at the current gathering regulation for the state.” Fusion Forum was forced to close its doors to the public on Mar. 11 but hopes to continue providing much-needed public entertainment.
On Saturday, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s amended public health order will take effect, allowing for groups of ten – rather than the previous five — to congregate in a public setting.
Fusion will be hosting all screenings outside of the Cell Theater on First Street. The overarching goal is to support local artists and organizations during hard times.
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“We are going to be screening into the beginning of November,” Gromelski said. “There are going to be a lot of different groups and organizations involved that will be screening subject matter of their choice, performances of their choice — and not just arts related.”
Many audience members were excited to finally get out of their homes and be a part of a crowd again.
“It’s got a nice little community feeling,” patron and New Mexico natural resources trustee Maggie Hart Stebbins said.
The only complication came in the form of light rain and wind present through the first act of the film. The batches of bad weather was not enough to prevent the patrons from enjoying the movie.
“I’m ready to go every night,” attendee Eric Stebbins said.
At the screening, Fusion Forum announced a future project to construct an outdoor stage for the next season in order to adapt to the current times.
“We are going to be able to host rock and roll shows, jazz, kids’ dance and music recitals and many other local performances with the new outdoor stage,” Gromelski said. “I’m anticipating us being done with the stage by the new year.”
Samuel Fleig is a freelance reporter at the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @samfleig
