Still sad about Prince? You can watch ‘Purple Rain’ in a cemetery with 4,000 people
Prince fans have had an array of outlets for their feelings since the influential singer and songwriter died last week, from spontaneous dance parties to a re-release of his movie “Purple Rain” in AMC theaters.
One event this summer will seek to combine cinematic and musical catharses for the artist, with a Prince tribute at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Organizer Cinespia will screen “Purple Rain” on the lawn to an audience of 4,000 people on July 2, and plans DJ sets, special guests and a photo booth.
When Cinespia, an organization that hosts showings of classic films in L.A., screened “Purple Rain” in 2014, it was one of the more electric nights in the 14-year history of the event, according to founder John Wyatt. Questlove deejayed, and did a special Prince set.
“There was this huge outpouring of emotion,” Wyatt said, of the 2014 screening. “It turned into a dance party before the movie was even over.”
Attendees dressed in Prince-inspired clothes and sat for shots in a photo booth designed as a plush purple bedroom with a round bed.
“People really got in the spirit of it,” Wyatt said. “It was genuinely kind of sexy. Prince has that effect on us.”
After learning of Prince’s death last week, Wyatt said he called distributor Warner Bros. about screening the film again.
“I felt really strongly that everyone would want to get together and celebrate,” Wyatt said.
Cinespia’s 15th season begins May 14 with a screening of “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
Tickets for the “Purple Rain” event go on sale Monday at Cinespia.org.