Ayana Morris, Founder of Newark Moonlight Cinema, joins ChedHER to discuss how she's bringing a unique entertainment experience to the Newark community where the Baxter Terrace housing projects once stood, and gives advice to other business owners out there.

chedHER

How This Black-Owned Drive-In Movie Theater is Reimagining Entertainment

So joining us now is Aiyana Morris founder of Newark moonlight cinema Ion is such a pleasure to have you here. I love a drive in movie theater. So tell us the story behind moonlight cinema. I mean like most my family and I, we were stuck in the house, we had nothing to do. I had just recently completed a film. I thought I was going to be traveling with this film and then Covid shut all of those plans down. Um, my husband and I, we went to a drive in movie theater and I was like, this is the really cool like we had to create this in our city. Um, and he agreed and then 45 days later we opened the, okay, so let's talk about the challenges of launching, especially during the pandemic and what ways did you sort of have to pivot your business as a result of all of that. I mean the driving itself was a pivot. Like I said, I thought I was gonna be out travel with my film wise, we americans and you know, we had to figure out what was the plan B, how do we still, you know, my husband is also a real estate developer and construction was shut down. So it's like how do we, you know, make the best of this time and creating this movie theater. Um, I want to say honestly there weren't many challenges when we brought the idea to the community. So many of them thought it was a good idea, idea, the administration, the people who worked at code enforcement zoning. So everybody's like, let's, you know, all bunker down and help you to get this pushed through so that we can all have something to do. So, you know, I am thankful to my community for really helping the spear spearhead this project. Absolutely. Let's talk about the location and all of this because it was built where the Baxter terrorist housing projects once stood. Tell us a little bit about the significance of the building of where your business is at here. I mean back to Terrace is a very special place to me. It's where I grew up, it's where my entire family comes from and uh you know, we lived on those housing projects for forever. My grand, my great grandparents is one of the first family to move into that community when they so, you know, when he toured the projects down, I really left a hole in all of our hearts and you know, made us really sad. So when we had to move from our original location, my husband's like, you want to do it back to paris. And I was like, absolutely, you know, he's really good and coming up those kinds of suggestions. So, you know, to bring this drive in movie theater to my former home means so much to me, means a lot to my family and we're very proud. It's nostalgic. Well what sort of been the response so far from those who have gone to this, especially given the fact that this place, this location means so much to so many people. I mean the feedback is great. You know, people are happy to see a black movie theater uh driving in the theater in the community, something we've not seen since, like you said since the 19 sixties and my family, you know, the first night we opened, many of us were like crying because it's like, you know, this is where back to paris used to be and you know, you walk around a lot like I used to play in this sport up here or you know, my family's apartment was here and you know, it's just, it brings back so many great memories and just to see how the community has embraced us, it lets me know that we're doing good work. Absolutely. We know launching a business as difficult as it is. But launching a business during the pandemic is a whole, Another thing I wanna, what other advice do you have for people who want to start a business? I mean work your plan. If you have an idea, do it, do not give up. I feel like that's kind of cliche advice, but it's very real real because so many obstacles will come in your way as you, you know, pivot or you transition or you try to go forward with an idea that you think is great, but if you believe that you believe an idea don't let any obstacles stop you And it's very important? And you have a great team behind you. Chase has been a great partner for me and you know, and moving relocating the business, just getting my finances in order to scale the business up. So, you know, if you want to look at the long term, the longevity of your business, it is very important to bank with people who really supported me. Absolutely. So you're already telling us how the community has really responded to this and they love it. What are your plans to continue innovating and bringing more entertainment to this community? Um you know, we don't stop, we want to show up in other communities as well, but during the fall into the winter season will be doing a drive through White show called Dashes Light Show and york moonlight cinema. Um it's another to drive through christmas light experience. It's another covid friendly expiry for families. And you know, my husband and I were really cornering the market on socially distant entertainment. So I'm excited to reopen Dashes Light Show for our second season coming in november and make sure you follow us on social media to check out our official opening. Absolutely! I have less than a minute left. What's next for you guys at moonlight cinema, we're really working on expanding the business. Uh we're trying to figure out what we're working on figuring out how to support more independent filmmakers as an independent filmmaker myself? You know, and I have a lot of people reach out to me like can you play my movie? How can you support me? And we really want to figure out how to do that? So we're in the process of forming a nonprofit organization to be able to support independent filmmakers, you know, young people who want to get into film, who want to learn about distribution and also support artists, entrepreneurs. This is so amazing. Ionic, congratulations on all your success. What an amazing business success story here, Anna Morris, founder of Newark Moonlight Cinema.