Return of the Drive-In

September 5, 2005 — Brooklyn Heights Courier
By Gary Buiso

Will inflatable movie screens one day become what drive-in theaters once were?

In DUMBO, hope springs eternal for Glen Sanders, 34, founder and president of Fresh Air Flicks, a rental agent of two-story inflatable movie screens.

In June, Sanders, a New York University film school graduate, moved his company to 55 Washington Street, a mixed-use building developed by Two trees Management Company. The company occupies 1,100 square feet in the building, Sanders said.

Sanders last year operated Fresh Air Flicks from his Carroll Gardens home.

Today Sanders' company has completed its first season supplying screens to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy's fifth annual summer film series.

Sanders said his company chose DUMBO because of its reputation as an emergent artistic community and the "entrepreneurial spirit" of the area's new media companies. Its proximity to major transportation arteries also allows it to serve the entire region.

Sanders said his company's participation in the Brooklyn Bridge Park Summer Film Series "cemented our involvement in the community."

Sanders said the two-story rubber and perforated vinyl screen (to allow air to pass through) is a more affordable option for private companies or non-profit firms.

"The cost of the technology has come down significantly. You can achieve great results at a much better cost," he sid.

Instead of constructing an aluminum framing system - often a labor intensive and costly endeavor - Sanders' crew of two simply inflates the screen and secures it to the ground.

Unlike unsightly multiplex theaters, inflatable screens can be dismantled in a matter of munutes, with minimal manpower.

This summer, Sanders' inflatable screens enjoyed great success along the waterfront. Some 1,200 moviegoers came out to see "Jaws," and over 2,000 spectators made the trip to watch "Shrek."

Fresh Air Flicks supplies creens throughout the northeast. For more infomration, go to www.freshaiflicks.com or call (877) 215-5500.