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Cherry Bowl Drive-In in Honor, Mich.

(Melissa Anders | MLive)

Laura Clark isn't sure how she'll be able to afford a new digital projector in order to keep the Cherry Bowl Drive-In movie theater open, but she's hoping her customers -- and Honda -- can help.

The Japanese automaker recently sent film crews to Clark's 60-year-old drive-in theater in the small town of Honor, Mich., located about 25 miles west of Traverse City.

They interviewed theater employees and customers for a promotional video as part of Honda's Project Drive-In, a social media campaign to raise awareness of the challenges facing drive-ins and help preserve a historic piece of American cinema and car culture. Theaters nationwide can enter to win one of five digital projectors from Honda based on a public vote.

"With the mandatory switch to digital cinema, a lot of the drive-ins will not be able to afford to carry on," said Clark.

She and other drive-in theater owners throughout the state and country are struggling with the fact that movie studios plan to soon stop distributing 35 mm film in favor of digital formats, requiring theaters to invest tens of thousands of dollars in new equipment. Digital projectors can run about $60,000 to $80,000 or more, and often require projection booth renovations.

Related: Drive-in theaters could pay biggest price for movie industry's digital projection conversion

Some drive-ins throughout the country have looked to crowd-funding platforms like Kickstarter.com to raise funds for the projectors and save their businesses. But others may have to close.

MICHIGAN DRIVE-INS

• Capri Drive-In Theater, Coldwater*

• Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre, Honor

• Compuware Arena Drive-In, Plymouth

• Danny Boy's Drive-In, Ionia*

• Ford Drive In, Dearborn

• Getty Drive-In Theater, Muskegon*

• Hi-Way Drive-In, Carsonville

• Sunset Drive In Theater, Hartford

• US 23 Drive-in Theater, Flint*

• 5 Mile Drive In Theater, Dowagiac

Note: Star denotes theaters with digital projectors. Format information was not available for the Ford or Hi-Way drive-ins.

Clark has sought a price quote for the equipment and work, but she's not sure she could qualify for a loan. That's why she's hoping her customers from throughout Michigan will rally behind her and vote in the contest.

The contest kicks off today, and fans can vote for their favorite spot online through Sept. 9. See the main Project Drive-In video below, followed by another video about the Cherry Bowl.

"It's a nice way to connect with the community and help this piece of nostalgia," said Honda spokeswoman Jessica Fini.

Fini said the company filmed at a couple of drive-ins across the country. An advertising director working on the project has a home in Traverse City and recommended Honda check out the Cherry Bowl, Clark said.

Michigan is home to at least 10 drive-in theaters. Some 150 drive-ins have already closed throughout the state.

There seems to be somewhat of a renewed interest in the format, as evidenced by a new drive-in that opened in June in Ionia. Operations director Bart Lower told the Lansing State Journal that he's trying to develop a franchise model and has received about 100 inquiries from across the nation.

Email Melissa Anders at manders@mlive.com. Follow her on Google+ and Twitter: @MelissaDAnders. Download the MLive app for iPhone and Android.