We’re Bringin’ Movies Back: Time Warner Cable Presents Outdoor Films

At Time Warner Cable, we love to talk about convenience. We remind our customers whenever we can that they don’t have to go far beyond their own couch to enjoy a beloved TV program or express themselves over the Internet.

But every now and again, it’s nice to just get up and get out there—especially when it comes to movies. Take the HBO Bryant Park Film Festival presented by Time Warner Cable. For 10 Mondays this summer, you can sit on a cushy grass lawn in the middle of Manhattan and take in a free movie with possibly thousands of other, well, who knows where everyone else is from, but that’s part of the lifestream in New York City.

And diversity isn’t all. Half-way through the summer schedule, the festival is a microcosm of the experience we hope to bring customers whenever possible.

“Do you expect me to talk?” “No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die.”
The festival began in late June with the 1964 James Bond classic “Goldfinger,” which did more for body paint than any collection of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues since. Six films are already in the can, but there’s more great motion pictures like “Rosemary’s Baby” and “12 Angry Men” to come. Bryantpark.org has the complete schedule.

Look Out for Look-a-Likes

Just to get into the movie-going spirit, we’ve got costumed characters and a professional photographer on hand to snap your picture together. All our photos are posted to Flickr and available for free download. Check out my photo from Monday’s “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” screening below. (Despite having a sword to my throat (it was plastic), I was actually having a good time.) Spoiler alert: fans of “Bonnie and Clyde” now have something extra to look forward to on August 23, the final night of the festival.

New Yorkers Live On Line
If you’re among the faithful who arrive on line early to get a good spot, you’ll surely bring bring blankets and snacks, too, but also your iPads and smart devices to check e-mail and Tweet. True story: Bryant Park happens to be a Time Warner Cable WiFi zone that provides free wireless access to its Road Runner subscribers.

You can also enjoy this so long as you do your homework first: in order to connect using Time Warner Cable WiFi, you will need your RR e-mail address and password handy. Many subscribers probably don’t use or even know they have a RR account, but here’s how it works.

Keep Telling Yourself, ‘Eating Ice Cream Helps Kids…‘
Fact: ice cream and summer nights go together like, well, ice cream and summer nights. Last year our $1 ice cream truck donated more than $14,000 to charity. This year we’re doing it again, especially at the HBO Bryant Park Film Festival.

What makes things like the HBO Bryant Park Film Festival really work? Is it the cool, cost-effective ice cream? The ability to remain connected outside of the office or home? The bikini-clad girl covered in gold paint? For me, it goes back to being a kid when catching a movie meant something different: it meant going to the movies, which was more than just the motion picture itself.

Have you been to Bryant Park this season? What movies have you seen? What movies would you like to see? Just please don’t say “Twilight.” Not for another 20 years anyway.

Categories: Cool Stuff, In the Community, What's New, Wireless