Film passion turned to business

From stadiums to backyards, Exuberant Outdoor Cinema has made it their mission to create the ultimate contemporary outdoor cinema experience for the clientele. The small to medium sized enterprise aims to create wholesome outdoor screening experiences for Namibians across the country. “Exuberant Outdoor Cinema and our goal is to go beyond the traditional cinema and offer magical outdoor cinema experience by bringing entertainment to the homes and lives of our community,” said Carmen Swartbooi, the founder of Exuberant Outdoor Cinema. The Okahandja-born and bred Swartbooi, who has ventured into several businesses while serving as a senior administrator at Old Mutual Short-Term Insurance as well as the vice president of Public Relations at Tarentaal Toastmasters International, had her light bulb moment for Exuberant Outdoor Cinema during lockdown as she reminisced on the drive through cinema Windhoek had years ago. “During the Covid-19 pandemic, we were all restricted from going to the traditional cinema and I had that “aha” moment of how great it would be if we had an outdoor cinema in Namibia. As I am a movie fanatic, the idea was birthed, nonetheless Exuberant Outdoor Cinema did not materialize till this year. All though this is not totally a new concept to Namibians as back in the day there was a drive through cinema In Windhoek but unfortunately, I never got to experience growing up in Okahandja,” Swartbooi recounted.

The business that has been in existence for six months aims to produce captivating outdoor screening for clients by hosting private events and also puts some of their equipment up for hire, such as their vintage popcorn machine, a 6m by 4m in length inflatable screen as well as the projector and speakers for a private outdoor functions. The business that is current being run by Swartbooi, with technical and marketing assistance from two other individuals.

Furthermore, Swartbooi hopes to intensify brand awareness and increase the number of private functions they host over the course of the next two years, while building and maintaining good clientele rapport. “What drives me to continue is the customers’ feedback after a private or public screening, they absolutely love the idea as an outdoor cinema is a contemporary concept. The smiles on their faces, especially the little ones, brings extreme delight to my heart. I am very optimistic about the future as Exuberant Outdoor Cinema has a lot of potential for growth as the demand and awareness is increasing. I am proud of the fact that I brought back something nostalgic that was once here, but it caters for a larger market segment, targeting people of all ages, class and demography. ,” a gleeful Swartbooi explained in an interview with Careers.