The Guerilla Drive-In, which usually occupies 'urban wastelands,' unused lots around town, to show short and feature-length films for free to the public, occupied two corners on Pacific Avenue on Friday, August 3, 2007. The evening featured a series of "Subversive Shorts" projected next to the Cineplex 9, a commercial theater downtown and aimed to challenge what is described as the "downtown police state."

At regular showings, the Guerilla Drive-In plays sound for the films over speakers set up at the location. At the Pacific Avenue showing, however, attendees were advised to bring radios because the sound was to be broadcast live on an FM radio frequency to avoid breaking a law prohibiting amplified sound downtown. Before the show, Drive-in organizers advised the crowd that no one was doing anything illegal, and in case of police interference everyone was well within their rights to remain on the Pacific Avenue sidewalk. Though many passer-bys questioned what was happening, and I heard many comments, obviously from tourists, of "only in Santa Cruz," the short film festival went off without a hitch and undisturbed by police.