With COVID-19 on the rise, movie screenings have had to adapt to the new regulations in a creative way.
It seems like a distant past of classic movie theater premieres. Thankfully, The Knockturnal got to attend a COVID friendly drive-in event for the screening of Quibi’s ‘The Stranger’ at The Americana at Brand in Los Angeles.
In case you’re not familiar with Quibi, it’s the “first entertainment platform built for easy, on-the-go mobile viewing, allowing today’s leading studios and creative talent to tell original stories in an entirely new way.” Guests were invited to attend the special one night only drive-in event where they were given the awesome opportunity to ditch their homes and indulge in a socially distant binge. The entire Quibi series premiered on the parking lot rooftop of The Americana while guests enjoyed a hosted dinner by Umami Burger along with their goodie bags filled with popcorn, candy, hand sanitizer, and more!
‘The Stranger” is a new edge-of-your-seat thriller that all takes place in one life-changing night. If you’re looking for something new to binge, this is it! New to Los Angeles, rideshare driver Clare (Maika Monroe) picks up Carl (Dane DeHaan) from a home deep in the Hollywood Hills. What begins as a routine ride turns into Clare’s worst nightmare: a twelve-hour fight for survival through the city’s seedy underbelly. Almost immediately, things intensify as Carl rambles on about his night and the people he has killed. Carl is not the passenger Clare thought he was. The series shows Clare’s fight to survive in LA. She makes the acquaintance of JJ (Avan Jogia) who becomes her only friend in LA. Commenting on the event, Collider’s Editor-In-Chief, Steven Weintraub said, “We are excited to partner with Quibi for ‘The Stranger’ drive-in event. As a go-to for content creators and entertainment fans, Collider is dedicated to supporting our community as we rebuild in the wake of COVID-19. We look forward to spending an evening under the stars in Los Angeles watching ‘The Stranger’, which takes place over 12 hours in our fine city.”
The audience was then presented with an additional treat! Writer/Director of the series Veena Sud conducted an in-person introduction and after the screening, there was a pre-recorded Q&A with Sud and cast members Dane DeHaan, Maika Monroe, and Avan Jogia moderated by Collider’s Perri Nemiroff. The cast spoke about the series’ theme of digital footprint as well as a couple of standout scenes. The event couldn’t be more well-fitting; gathered in LA under the night sky while in our cars — which is exactly how Clare started her night.