FRESH AIR FLICKS

Mark Bowen grins and heaves hard as he hoists his end of a 10-foot projection screen up an inconspicuous pulley that runs up the side of the orange Soma coffeehouse sign overlooking Grant St. The screen, swaying slightly in the wind as it's raised, is part of a makeshift movie gallery set up for evening movie-goers who use the deck of the Laughing Planet Café for their seats and the air above Soma as a place to screen the film. Bowen, a senior and worker for Ryder films, helps set up the gallery technically for enjoyment of patrons. The screen he helps mount ties securely at the corner of Soma and its sign pole, and the multiple cords that bring the electricity for the film outdoors loop up the steps, into the Café and over its neon "open" sign. Bowen laughs as he drags out still more cords to hook up the silver projector. \n"It's a pretty elaborate system of cords and pulleys here," he says, reaching for another black cord.\n However, the effort is well worth it: this Monday marked the first of the Ryder films to be shown outdoors in the cool summer dusk from the Laughing Planet's spacious deck.\nRyder films, known for their "artsy" appeal (this month's films include "Mystic River" and "Osama") are typically shown at Bear's Place, a local bar and eatery, at the Cinemat, a movie store, or in the Fine Arts building - all indoor locations with built-in screens. However, summer Ryder fans get an added treat as the films make their move outside, joining the hundreds of summer Bloomington residents who love to spend time under the sun as the temperatures continue to rise.\nThough showing films outdoors can pose extra problems and pressures due to unpredictable weather ("We don't do it if there's lightning," Bowen explains) the outdoor series is usually popular. This summer will mark the third that Ryder films have lit up the Laughing Planet's deck, attracting both regulars and curious passerby into sitting down to watch a flick.\nAs for Bowen and fellow worker Steve Patterson, who provides the projector and collects the cheap $4 ticket money for the films, a few basic rules are in place for outdoor films. \n"Safety is really our number one concern," Bowen says. "But what's number two?"\n"We have to make sure it gets dark, and turn off the sun," quips Patterson.\n"And we don't do it if there's lightning" adds Bowen.\nOf course, turning off the strings of colored lights surrounding the deck helps to set the mood too, and increases the chances of seeing the night stars twinkling above the screen. Though car sounds and occasional bright lights flash across the screen, momentarily ruining the picture, the air is cool and crisp, and many patron stretch out on the deck or adorn the plastic chairs set up directly in front of the screen. Plus, the movie screen always attracts patrons off the street, and the whispers drift directly onto the deck. "What's going on up there?" whispers a passerby -- and the viewers on the deck just smile at each other.\nFuture plans for outdoor movie showing may include movies on the lawn at Ivy Tech (Patterson believes that this is still in the works, but may happen later in the summer) and movies in Bryan Park, which usually start in June.\nThe next viewing of an outdoor film on the deck of the Laughing Planet will be Monday at 8 p.m. The film shown will be "Osama," and just like other Ryder movies, the cost of viewing the movie is $4.