December 10th, 2009
Why let drive-in movie theaters get all the credit for outdoor movie-viewing? Get your pals out of the minivan and on to a picnic blanket by creating your own outdoor movie night right at home. It’s an inexpensive way to avoid the frigid movie theater A/C and enjoy the summer weather.
Find a venue
And by “venue,” we mean your backyard. Making your outdoor movie theater is mainly a factor of space.
If you want a really big screen, remember that you’ll need to move the projector farther back to increase the “throw distance.” Your throw distance can be anywhere from 10 to 30 feet, depending on the projector’s specifications. Also factor in space to sit comfortably.
If you’re using our 2000 Lumen projector, 10 feet will get you a 76” screen, 20 will get you 151” and 30 feet will provide a 226” screen (diagonally). If you’re using our 3000 Lumen projector, 10 feet will get you 62”, 20 feet will get you 124”, 30 feet will get you 185” and — because of the extra light power — the 3000 Lumen projector can sit 39 feet away and fill a 243” screen.
If you can’t fit the show in your backyard (or you don’t have one), remember that you can’t just set up on the roof or in a park. You need access to power — a very important element. Between a projector, player and sound system, you’ll need plenty of it.
The screen
If you’ve got the cash for a projector screen, more power to you. We prefer to take the DIY approach to save a little cash. Affix the right surface to a wall (or just use the wall) and you have an instant screen.
The Wall
There aren’t many outdoor walls that are ideal for projecting against. Textures can cause a lot of distortion, so garage doors and cinderblocks are out. But a smooth white wall — even a slightly grey one — will work excellently.
The Bed Sheet
What’s the one largest white item you own? A bed sheet. Indeed, it’s a frequently utilized item for an impromptu projector screen. That’s because it works.
Make sure you measure in advance. You could need as many as two king-sized sheets sewn together.
The Fabric Store
If you’re going to the trouble of making your own screen at a fabric store, there’s one material that’s perfect. Look for “black-out fabric.” It’s designed for blocking light from coming through dainty window treatments, but its white vynil surface is very similar to an actual projector screen. Some devout DIY-ers make their own home theater screens from this stuff. It’s on the pricey side, but worth it.
Or, you can also read our article with additional tips for creating a simple projection surface.
Handling the actual A/V
Connecting your computer or DVD player is the same outdoors as it is inside — your projector should come with everything you need, including the instructions to walk you through it.
Handling audio in the backyard is a little more difficult. While many projectors (including Projector123’s) have built-in speakers, that won’t cut it in the great outdoors. Instead, you’ll need to run audio from your player to some external speakers. You have two options without calling in an over-priced sound pro:
Computer speakers
Computer speakers are ideal because they have an amplifier built right in. That means your outlet boosts the sound coming from your source (the laptop or DVD player), which makes the sound big enough to reach a small crowd.
IPod speakers will also do the trick.
Your indoor speakers
If you’re entertaining more than 15 people, you’ll probably need a beefier audio set-up and your indoor system will probably do the trick, even if the speakers look small.
Unlike your computer speakers, the ones on your home system don’t work by themselves. They need the help of an external receiver or amplifier. That’s also what makes them more powerful.
Using your indoor system is a much bigger commitment to wiring outside and disassembly inside, but it’ll make all the difference for a large group trying to enjoy an awesome explosion.
Between your speakers, source and the projector itself, you’ll be pulling a lot of power. Have a surge-protector in play as well.
The finishing touches
On the big day, plan on having everything ready before sunset. You’ll need the light to see what you’re plugging in where. And it’ll help you see the final checklist better. (You have a checklist, right?)
As the sun begins to dim, it’s advantageous to make other tweaks. You’ll be able to see how the image looks on the screen. First, make size adjustments, which might mean moving your whole arrangement. And as you loose more light, begin playing with the color, tint and brightness.
Once everything is tested and ready to go, find a nice patch of grass, some popcorn and a date. Enjoy the show — and the first movie theater you’ve ever been to without painful seats, over-priced snacks and those intimacy-hindering arm rests.
Images via Creative Commons 2.0 license courtesy of Flickr users Symic and Jetheriot.
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