With courage, creativity, fortitude and persistence, Scott and Shannon Guggenheim, owners of 3Below Theaters, brought Up on the Roof dinner and a movie to downtown San Jose from Oct. 9-Nov. 1.

The 3Below website explains their objectives:  “When we shut down in March 2020, no one could have imagined we'd still be reeling from the impact of the pandemic so many months later. As each month passed, and we kept pushing our events further and further into the future, it became clear nothing was going to return to normal anytime soon.

“As much as we want to do what we do and not reinvent ourselves, we know we have to adapt. And if we can do so in a safe way, for our team members and our patrons, we know we have to try. So, it's time for things to start looking UP!”

3Below, which is located at the corner of Second and San Carlos streets, on the ground floor of a four-story garage over them, proceeded to present 44 films curated for change and social justice in the open air of the top floor of the garage, drive-in movie-style, well, sort of.  Instead of sitting in cars and watching the film, customers sat in theater chairs, arranged in “bubbles” that allowed customers to watch the screenings in socially distant safety.

The experience included dinner and snacks.  Working with the City’s downtown manager, San Jose Department of Transportation parking officials, and San Jose Downtown Association, which had also thought of the idea of bringing movies to the top floor of a garage, the partners spent weeks working out the details so that the events would meet Santa Clara County anti-Covid protocols.

"City staff worked hard to come up with out-of-the-box ideas to make the project work and be safe for visitors," the Guggenheims said. 

The 3Below owners called Up on the Roof a success.

“Up On the Roof was a labor of love,” said Scott Guggenheim.  “The cost to produce the event outpaced the revenue but it gave us the opportunity to pay our staff, stay connected with our audience, and do what we are most passionate about, which is bringing the arts to our community."

Sixteen-year-old Elena Young liked the event so much, she paid to see three films and then volunteered to help seat customers at three more screenings.

“When I was volunteering and showing people to their seats, they seemed elated to be out,” Young said.  “I think it brought a sense of normality.

She added:  “I loved being up on the roof. I've never been to a drive-in but it reminded me of the concept. It was really fun to be able to share the experience with others even at a distance.”

Young was able to laugh with her mom at Coco; learn from RBG about how Ruth Bader Ginsburg paved the way for the women's movement today; and was moved by Miss Representation.  “This movie really hit home,” she said.  “It describes so many things I've experienced. And covered so many topics that inspired conversation.”

Further, she said:  “There is always a space for hard conversations and tough topics. 3Below has become a trusted source for a safe conversation.”

Billed a “movies with meaning,” 3Below showed two different films each night, 44 in all, including 14 Black Lives Matter films; six celebrating LatinX filmmakers; six celebrating Asian Pacific American filmmakers; nine power of women; seven giving voice to the LGBTQ+ community; two about climate change; 14 documentaries for change and eight must-see blockbusters.

More numbers:

• 1,551 paid staff hours
• 2,800 professional hours for production design, marketing, electrical and AV work, and an all-night seamstress when the wind shredded the movie screen
• 558 parking validations
• 10 gallons of hand sanitizer and more than 2,200 disinfecting wipes

As for meals, the surprise runaway favorite was the teriyaki hot dog, the Guggenheims reported.  Gelato, popcorn, classic beef hotdogs, taquitos, samosas, bottles of water and brownies all sold in the hundreds, they said.

“Good vibes during scary times” one patron described the event.

Added Elena:  “When we saw the Won't You Be My Neighbor documentary, I was reminded that my mother always quotes Mr. Rogers saying, ‘When things are tough, always look for the helpers.  You will always find people trying to help.”