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.
August 10th, 2009
We recently ran across this great article from Lorie on busymommy.us and wanted to share it with you. (You can see the full article by clicking here.)
My kids love pizza and love to watch movies, so why not do both in one night? This summer my kids made a list of fun things they wanted to do this summer and Pizza and a Movie night was one of those. I really like to do these nights because it’s a time for my family to spend together doing something fun. We usually get our movie from the Redbox, which cost $1.00, but we have also gotten movies from the library for FREE. I don’t cost the count of the pizza because I make it homemade and we would have had dinner anyways. So, I think this is a pretty frugal summer activity.
Here are the recipes that I used to make our pizza, pizza sauce cheesy breadticks, and Monkey Munch (our movie snack):
Pizza Hut Style Pizza Dough or Cheesy Breadsticks
* 1 1/3 cups water
* 2 tsp sugar
* 1 1/4 tsp salt
* 2 Tbsp olive oil
* 2 Tbsp cornmeal
* 3 1/4 cups flour
* 1 tsp baking powder
* 1/4 tsp garlic powder
* 1/4 tsp onion powder
* 1 1/2 tsp yeast
Add ingredients to bread machine, according to manufacturer’s settings, and run dough setting. After the machine beeps, roll out the dough. You can roll the dough into two 9×13″ pizzas (great for kid’s lunches!) or into two medium pizzas or a large pizza and an order of breadsticks (as instructed above). Parbake the crust with a drizzle of olive oil on it at 450 degrees for ten minutes. Remove the crust and add sauce and toppings. If making breadsticks, add your breadsticks at this time. Place into the oven for another ten to fifteen minutes or until golden and bubbly. Enjoy!
You can freeze your pizza dough for an easier night.
Easy Pizza Sauce
* 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
* 2 cloves garlic
* 3 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
* 4 teaspoons dried onion flakes
* 1 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1 teaspoon dried basil
* 2 cups water
Combine tomato paste, garlic, parsley flakes, onion, oregano, basil and water in 2 quart saucepan. Cook over medium high heat until mixture boils. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Cool a little and spread on your pizza crust and proceed with remainder of your toppings.
Makes 3 cups
You can freeze this pizza sauce easily.
Monkey Munch
* 9 cup Chex
* 1 cup chocolate chips
* 1/2 cup peanut butter
* 1/4 cup butter
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Put cereal in large bowl. Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over Chex cereal, put into a large plastic bag with powdered sugar and shake well to coat.Spread mixture evenly on wax paper and allow to cool.
This does not last long at my house!
We will be doing this several more times this summer. I hope you get to plan a Pizza and a Movie night for your family this summer.
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And if you want to upgrade your movie night, why not nab a high quality DVD projector rental from Projector123.com? We’ve got a $99 weekend rate that gives you 4 days of movie and gaming fun — place a projector rental order to get started.
August 3rd, 2009
1. Sprinkler Time
Sure it may be old-fashioned and at least a bit nostalgic — but what could be more fun than letting the kids run back and forth through the sprinkler? Invite some of the neighborhood kids over and get out some kiddie pools or add water balloons if you feel especially daring. Be sure to use plenty of waterproof sunscreen and re-apply at least every hour. Before you plan this event, check in with your local authorities to see if there are any watering restrictions related to what time of day you can use the sprinklers. Many communities allow sprinkler fun at any time — despite any lawn watering restrictions that may be in place.
2. Don’t Forget about Fido & Fluffy
Keep your pets cool during summer months by offering plenty of fresh, cool water and ensuring they can spend time indoors or in the shade during the hottest parts of the afternoon. If possible, exercise your dog in the early morning or late evening, when temperatures are lowest.
3. Go greener.
You can save money and lower your carbon footprint by opening windows at appropriate times of day to take advantage of cooler breezes in the early morning and during the night. If you are home most of the day, try getting out of the house (instead of lowering the thermostat) during the late afternoon hours when the summer sun is at its most intense. Use the grill instead of the oven or stovetop when you can, to avoid warming up the house through ambient heat.
4. Find cooler alternatives.
If the only time you’re able to exercise is during the hot part of the day, hit the gym or powerwalk your local mall. Take the kids to the library or run errands during those hottest afternoon hours instead of playing outside, and remember to bring plenty of fresh water to keep everyone hydrated.
Looking for a cool family event? Why not create an indoor movie night or backyard movie night in the cooler evening air? Projector123.com has plenty of projectors for rent — at a price that might surprise you.
June 23rd, 2009
There’s still time to grab a projector rental before your Independence Day celebration gets underway. Here are our top 3 ways you can use this fun and affordable tool to light up your July 4th weekend:
- Artificial Fireworks
Families with small children often have to miss out on the big local fireworks display because (depending on where you are in the U.S.), summer sundown occurs right around–or sometime after–the kids’ bedtime. This year, avoid the parking hassles and cranky kids by creating your own fireworks show right at home. If local fire safety restrictions prevent you from lighting up your neighborhood, create an artificial fireworks show with a fireworks DVD, a blank wall (or a hanging white sheet) and a projector rental from Projector123.com. This way, everyone stays comfy and safe, and the fun lasts as long as you like.
- Family Movie Fest
Enjoy new releases and your favorite classics in vivid color and larger-than-life display with a weekend projector rental. Double the popcorn batch and invite your neighbors over for an outdoor Film Fest in your own backyard and you’ll be amazed at what you saved on a trip to the theater. The projector can be used inside or out, so you can mix it up all weekend to keep things fresh and fun.
- Video Game Tournament
All you need is a blank wall (or a white sheet) and a rented projector and you can turn virtually any video game system into a full-blown gaming competition. Whether your family prefers to rock out to Guitar Hero or get physically interactive with the Wii, a projector rental kicks up the gaming experience to a whole new level. This is family entertainment that will keeps the kids rocking all weekend long.
What’s your innovative idea for family fun with a projector rental? Email us your favorites, or post a comment here.
June 19th, 2009
As the temperature rises, families begin to look for fun and interesting ways to spend the long summer weekends. With kids out of school, parents are scrambling to find fun, affordable and entertaining ways to pass the time and what better way to beat the heat than with a Family Movie Night?
But forget about the way YOU remember family movie nights, crowded around a small TV watching whatever “family movie” happened to be running on cable.
It’s time to up the ante with a world-class family movie night — on a budget nearly anyone can afford.
Backyard Movie Night
As more and more families are exploring “staycations” as an alternative to costly vacations, backyard movie nights are becoming increasingly popular. 
All it takes is a great batch of movies (choose from classics or favorites that you own, or plan ahead a bit and grab an inexpensive rental from Netflix or your local Redbox) and a projector rental from Projector123.com
Afraid you can’t afford a projector rental for the weekend? Then this might surprise you:
In 2008, the average cost of a movie ticket was around $7. For a family of 4, that equates to $28 in admission cost only.
Add a large popcorn, 4 sodas and candy, and that brings the total closer to $50 or more.
(Leaving the kids at home wouldn’t help much, as babysitting can cost upwards of $12 per hour, plus food)
Would it surprise you to know that you could rent a projector from Projector123.com for the whole weekend starting at just $99?
Invite over some friends and neighbors, and you’ve got yourself quite a gathering.
This summer, why not start a new tradition? Get together with a group of your friends — say 4 or 6 families, and each family can take turns renting the projector. You could even choose themes for each gathering — favorite animated films, action movies, classics, chick flicks, you name it.
Go ahead, go crazy. Here at Projector123.com, we’re ready for you.
