SubRosa Community Space

Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In

Report back on Friday night’s Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In screening (the first movie in our summer series after a brief break of about a decade or so).

Some of the many highlights and memorable moments:

- When we arrived to set up we needed a crate to hold projector and found a broken yet functional crate by the edge of the water - perfect! Everything is working out nicely! (And we later took crate away as part of ethos to leave area cleaner than we found it).

- Friends greeting friends - seeing dear ones as planned and unexpectedly and meeting others for the first time (partly GDI is about the films and also about the gathering together in public spaces).

- GDI collective member asking an early gathering of amassed folk if they wanted any used popcorn (quickly clarified that someone donated popcorn not previously eaten). Contribution so appreciated and enjoyed and in the spirit of GDI - which is also an invitation to contribute to each other (and person had to work Friday night and just wanted to add to the event - success!).

- Night sky with shifting clouds as a soon to be full moon shone brightly.

- In the film a teenaged band in the film set in 1982 sang a chorus the gathered along the river took it up with a rousing - “Brezhnev and Reagan – F**k Off!”

- And many more!

More to the story: 3 of us in the GDI collective (5 of us who work together collaboratively to facilitate the showings) and collective member’s partner, arrived along the bank of the river around 8pm. Ah, a pause to appreciate the space - the sandy shore gently sloping down to the water and slight breeze cooling the warmth of the day. 3 ducks float past. Yes, our first screening in a decade (or so). So, nice to be together. The river was higher then last time we were there a few weeks ago to test the equipment, and we figured out where to position the projector and speakers. The big bag of donated popcorn (more on that later) rested on a spread out blanket.

Soon after folk began to trickle in and settle in the sand with more blankets and beach chairs. An area of the beach became the bike parking area. Our projectionist extraordinaire played a compilation of music of British punk bands from the 1970s to greet people as they arrived. A bit after 8:40pm we began a short film before the feature. Although not fully dark yet, the short film from 1994 “Alternative Girls” could still be clearly seen (and heard courtesy of our new wireless speakers - a change from a decade ago when we would roll out yards of speaker cables from THE BOX to our thrift store speakers).

After that, the standard GDI greeting (with a bit of an update) we asked who had been to GDI in past and for whom was the first time - and surprisingly (and wonderfully) a majority of the 60 or so gathered had not been to a Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In event before! Then community announcements beginning with a moving tribute to Oliver Tree (kindred spirit) and someone else voiced looking for collaborators for a music project… and lots about Free Skool Santa Cruz and SubRosa.

Then the intermission! We encouraged folk to talk about what it means to them to be in and share public spaces even when there are legalistic prohibitions against that. In the spirit of the long time GDI theme of joyfully reclaiming public spaces without asking for permission to act freely (we also acknowledge more severe consequences for some depending on their circumstances).

And after a brief intermission our main feature “We Are the Best” - uninterrupted by any outside interference (if you know what I mean) - and of course, we were just enjoying the evening by the river watching a movie in the company of friends and community.

A wonderful evening and we look forward to seeing you next month! We will be back Friday July 31st (last Friday of the month) for a SURPRISE film that we will announce before. Thanks to everyone that came out to contribute to such a wonderful Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In return and to you who didn’t make it we’ll see you next time!

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment. https://www.guerilladrivein.org/

Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In

This Friday! All are invited to the first screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In 2026 season! Back after an extended hiatus! Yeah, this Friday June 26th a bit before dusk.

Before our main feature we will begin with the short 1994 film by Tamara Davis - “No Alternative Girls” - which has been described as is a gritty, unfiltered 6-minute documentary exploring identity and sexuality among female alternative musicians. Featuring candid interviews with icons like Kim Gordon, Kathleen Hanna, and Courtney Love, the film cuts through mainstream media misrepresentations to highlight authentic riot grrrl perspectives.”

After a brief intermission our feature - “We Are the Best” - Three teenage girls in 1980s Stockholm form a punk band despite having no instruments or musical talent. The movie follows the misfits Bobo, Klara, and the more reserved Hedvig as they navigate adolescence and punk culture, creating music as an outlet for their energy and anger, even when told punk is dead. The film captures the spirit of youthful rebellion and friendship.

URBAN WASTELAND LOCATION: From downtown, head south on Soquel Avenue. At Riverside, by the Royal Taj, turn right. Follow the path down to the sandy area under the bridge (and let’s take care of the spot and pack-it-in-pack-it-out and especially when film over after dark please be respectful of neighbors when leaving and use library voices).

PLUS thrilling short films, an intermission, great company and a guaranteed good time!

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable in foldy metal chairs indoors, friends, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome.

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment.

Hooray for Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In

All are invited to the first screening of the 2026 Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In 2026 season! Back after an extended hiatus! Friday June 26th at dusk. PHOTO: here is some of the GDI collective testing our equipment and having a peek of 2 films - in image is “Linda Linda Linda” which perhaps we’ll show another time but for our upcoming showing come for the other film we watched a bit of…

“We Are the Best” - Three teenage girls in 1980s Stockholm form a punk band despite having no instruments or musical talent. The movie follows the misfits Bobo, Klara, and the more reserved Hedvig as they navigate adolescence and punk culture, creating music as an outlet for their energy and anger, even when told punk is dead. The film captures the spirit of youthful rebellion and friendship.

URBAN WASTELAND LOCATION: From downtown, head south on Soquel Avenue. At Riverside, by the Royal Taj, turn right. Follow the path down to the sandy area under the bridge.

PLUS thrilling short films, an intermission, great company and a guaranteed good time!

BRING blankets, pillows, anything you need to be comfortable in foldy metal chairs indoors, friends, snacks to share. Donations to support the project are more than welcome.

SANTA CRUZ GUERILLA DRIVE-IN is an outdoor movie theatre under the stars that springs up in the fields and industrial wastelands. Beyond showing great movies and bringing a broad community together, part of our mission is helping reclaim public space and transforming our urban environment. Find out more at guerilladrivein.org